Senate Foreign Relations Committee hears introductions for six diplomatic and economic nominees; committee business panel advances five to the floor

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee met to consider a slate of diplomatic and economic nominations and to conduct a brief business meeting. Chairman Jim Risch opened the session and said the committee would hear introductions and short statements from nominees and ‘‘when I get the right number in the room, we’re gonna take a break’’ to conduct votes in the business meeting.

Sen. Susan Collins introduced Caleb Orr, President Trump’s nominee for assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs. Collins described Orr’s role in creating and implementing the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic and credited the program’s rapid distribution of relief, saying the bipartisan program ‘‘was signed into law as part of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020, and within three weeks ... had distributed $342,000,000,000 in crucial economic aid’’ and that Orr ‘‘played an absolutely essential role’’ in standing up the program. Orr told the committee he was ‘‘honored to appear’’ as the nominee and said, if confirmed, his top priorities would be ‘‘advancing commercial diplomacy’’ and ‘‘using economic tools to protect national security.’’

Senators also introduced four ambassadorial nominees and heard short statements from each. Sen. Ted Cruz introduced Ken Howery as the nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Denmark, noting Howery’s private-sector background and prior service as ambassador to Sweden. Howery told the committee he would prioritize ‘‘shared security,’’ strengthening defense ties across the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), the economic relationship, and Arctic security.

Sen. Tim Scott introduced Calista Gingrich as nominee to be ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein; Gingrich noted prior diplomatic service as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and told the committee she would work ‘‘to strengthen these partnerships, expand economic opportunities, deepen bilateral investment and trade, and promote the values our nations share.’’

Sen. Scott introduced Summers Farkas as nominee to be ambassador to Malta; Farkas said her priorities would be protecting Americans in Malta, promoting regional security and stability, expanding U.S.-Malta economic ties (including energy cooperation), and countering transnational crime and illicit finance.

Sen. Mike Lee introduced Lee Rizzuto as the nominee to be the U.S. permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). Rizzuto described priorities including border security and regional stability, promoting trade through the OAS, countering the People’s Republic of China’s influence, and OAS reform.

The committee paused the nominations hearing for a short Republican-led business meeting. Chairman Risch moved to send ‘‘Judd, Compass, Kushner, Walsh, and Papalo’’ (as stated at the meeting) to the Senate floor with a positive committee recommendation. The motion was seconded, a roll-call was requested, and the clerk recorded a voice roll in which several Republican members were recorded as voting ‘‘aye.’’ Chairman Risch announced the vote as ‘‘12 in favor’’ and said the motion had passed. The business meeting was adjourned and the committee returned to the nominations hearing.

Chairman Risch closed the hearing by leaving the record open for additional written questions until the close of business the following day at 5 p.m., and thanked the nominees and their families for appearing.

Ending: The committee did not take final confirmation votes on the nominations presented during the hearing; several nominees asked to supplement the record and members were given an opportunity to submit written questions before the record closed.