WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Ranking Senate Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, issued the following statement today in response to President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement of key members of his national security and foreign policy team.
“I am delighted by the President-elect Biden’s decision to nominate an experienced, qualified, time-tested, and diverse group to lead his national security efforts. With this team, the Biden Administration will be able repair the damage done by the Trump White House here at home and abroad, and will restore U.S. leadership on the international stage by leading, not retreating, especially on issues related to democracy, human rights, and good governance. For four long years, my colleagues and I have watched as the Trump Administration has shunned our allies and dismantled our leading national security and foreign policy agencies and departments. With this group of public servants at the helm, I am confident we will signal that America is back and wants to rebuild our relationships with our closest friends.
“As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I look forward to the confirmation hearings of my good friend, Anthony Blinken, to be the Secretary of State, and of Linda Thomas-Greenfield, to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. I also look forward to hearing from Jake Sullivan in his role as National Security Advisor and former Secretary of State John Kerry as the first Presidential Envoy for Climate. I will carefully track the nominations of Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Avril Haines as Director of National Intelligence. As the author of the National Security Diversity and Inclusion Workforce Act (S.497), I know that a diverse workforce is a strategic asset and enhances our nation’s capabilities and global leadership. This diverse, professional team will bring fresh ideas to the table and best prepare our country to tackle the biggest challenges here and around the world.”
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