On the recordFebruary 9, 2016
I am pleased that we are going to be considering the Ambassador to Burma. Everyone knows the personal attention Senator McConnell has shown to the country of Burma for many years. I am pleased we are going to get an Ambassador to Burma. I hope everyone understands we are really shortchanging the State Department. We have numerous people held up. The Secretary of State has called me on several occasions lamenting the fact that he is having trouble getting the work done because we don't have the people to do the work. Fifteen foreign policy nominations are being held up by Republicans, and we have a number of Ambassadors who are being held up: Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, and Trinidad--a number of countries that are extremely important to what we are doing here. It is a shame that they are being held by Republicans. It is very unfortunate. ____________________
