Business meeting to consider the nominations of Brent Christensen, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Benjamin Leon, Jr., of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Principality of Andorra, Leo Brent Bozell III, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, and Morvared Namdarkhan, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Consular Affairs), all of the Department of State; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine reviewing implementation of the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act, and future opportunities for U.S.-Taiwan cooperation.

Committee on Foreign Relations

2025-11-20

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations convened a business meeting to address several nominations, followed by a hearing to review the implementation of the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act and explore future opportunities for U.S.-Taiwan cooperation.[ 00:44:06-00:44:16 ]

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 The hearing primarily focused on the critical importance of Taiwan's security and economic stability to U.S. national interests and global stability, alongside concerns about escalating Chinese aggression and the effectiveness of current U.S. support.

Themes

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting conveyed a tone of profound concern and broad bipartisan agreement regarding the escalating threat to Taiwan from China, and its significant implications for U.S. national security and economic interests.[ 00:46:00 ]

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 Despite acknowledging joint efforts to bolster Taiwan's defense, there was an underlying sentiment of frustration and urgency, particularly from senators and witnesses, regarding perceived delays and inconsistencies in the current administration's policy implementation and support for Taiwan. Speakers consistently emphasized the critical need for more decisive, unified, and expeditious actions to strengthen deterrence and reassure Taiwan.

Participants

Transcript

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to come to order.  We're going to have a business meeting, and then we have a hearing.  So we'll start with the business meeting.  We have four nominees before us.  According to the direction, stern direction of the parliamentarian, we've got to take them one at a time, unfortunately.  So we'll start with Brent Christensen of Virginia to be ambassador to People's Republic of Bangladesh.  Is there a motion?  So moved.  Is there a second?
Second.
Is there a debate?  If no debate, clerk, call the roll.
Mr. Ricketts?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Foreman?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Gaines?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Haggerty?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Barasa?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Lee?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Paul?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Cruz?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Scott?
Aye.
?
Unknown
Mr. Curtis?
Aye.
Mr. Cornyn?  Senator Cornyn?
Aye.
Aye, by proxy.  Aye, by proxy.  Aye, by proxy.  Aye, by proxy.
Aye, by proxy.
Aye, by proxy.  Aye, by proxy.  Aye, by proxy.  Aye, by proxy.  Mr. Chairman?
?
Unknown
Aye.
Clicker report.  Mr. Chairman, the aides are 21 and the noes are zero.  Motion is passed.  We'll consider Benjamin Leon Jr. of Florida to be ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain.

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