Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee nominations hearing. Witnesses included John McIntyre, nominee to be ambassador to Eswatini, Jeremey Neitzke, nominee to be ambassador to Lesotho, Abigail Dressel, nominee to be ambassador to Angola and Sao Tome and Principe, James Holtsnider, nominee to be ambassador to Samoa, Brian Stimmler, nominee to be ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Amanda Jacobsen, nominee to be ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Keith Hanigan, nominee to be ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Kali Jones, nominee to be ambassador to Benin, Stephanie Miley, nominee to be ambassador to Gambia, and Christophe Tocco, nominee to be ambassador to Mauritania.

Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks:

"Well done, Madam Chairman, and I will do likewise.

"First of all, thank you to all of you for being here today. There's no doubt you have important posts we need to get filled.

"On our nominees to African posts - if confirmed, you will engage on U.S. strategic priorities at post ranging from counterterrorism to global strategic competition, internationally recognized human rights to anti-corruption, and development to foreign assistance.

"I am pleased that all but one of our nominees have prior experience serving in Africa. This experience will serve them well, as I know they are well apprised of the strategic competition playing out on the continent between the U.S. on one side, and Russia and China on the other.

"Moving on to Asia - the two career nominees before us today are the first of a new crop of ambassadors at newly established embassies in the Pacific Islands. What they do in the next few years will determine the success of a revitalized U.S. presence in this region.

"Both have management backgrounds within the Department, which is sorely needed at post. Their priorities are simple, but not easy.

"They need to ensure our new embassies are properly supported and resourced. They also need to actively recruit so that people want to serve at these posts.

"We must move quickly. To build our partnerships and strategically compete against adversaries like Russia and China, we cannot let perfect be the enemy of good when it comes to building and staffing up our embassies.

"And finally, on the nomination of ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic - Mr. Stimmler, if confirmed, it will be your responsibility to advance the U.S. relationship in a competitive environment with Russia and China.

"The Kyrgyz Republic was once a democratic bright spot in the region, but the government's recent crackdowns against the free press and political opposition have cast doubt on its future.

"Without good execution of U.S. policy, these tough issues will only continue to get worse. I look forward to hearing from all of you on how you plan to tackle them.

"With that, I'll turn it back to you, Madam Chairman."

These remarks have been lightly edited for clarity. Witness testimony is available on foreign.senate.gov.

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