WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the nomination of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State:
“Marco Rubio and I have served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee together since I came to the Senate in 2013. While we do not agree on everything, I’m proud to support his nomination, and I believe he will make an excellent Secretary of State. He is smart, has significant foreign policy experience, and has a track record of working across the aisle to advance our national security objectives. He has also become a trusted partner to me on issues such as bolstering U.S. leadership in NATO and engaging effectively in the Western Hemisphere. I’m particularly optimistic that Marco will prioritize constructive engagement in the Americas—a region essential to U.S. economic and national security that previous Administrations of both parties have severely neglected. I urge the Senate to move swiftly to confirm him.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a nomination hearing for Rubio on January 15.
During their time in the Senate, Kaine and Rubio have worked on numerous pieces of legislation, including bills to prevent any U.S. President from leaving NATO, counter oppression in Nicaragua, reunite separated Korean American families, support North Korean human rights, modernize the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Bureau, and strengthen security in the Caribbean.
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