Heinrich Calls For Confirmation Of Ambassador Nominees To China And Japan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced today that he is supporting President Biden’s nominees for U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, and called for their swift confirmation by the Senate. This week, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations advanced both nominations to the full Senate for consideration on bipartisan votes.

“Our ever-growing strategic competition with China and the critical importance of maintaining a robust diplomatic corps across Asia makes it imperative for the Senate to take up these two highly qualified nominees,” said Heinrich. “I am confident that both of these deeply experienced public servants will effectively represent the Biden administration and advance America’s interests in these two vital posts.”

“I acknowledge that Mr. Emanuel has faced scrutiny and criticism for his handling of police misconduct and specifically the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald during his time as mayor of Chicago,” Heinrich continued. “I do not take that lightly. As I weigh his nomination, however, I must consider the full balance of Mr. Emanuel’s decades of impressive experience in the highest levels of government and his deep commitment to serving our country. I have met with him personally to discuss his nomination. And I am certain that he will bring the right levels of experience, relationships, and work ethic to successfully lead our diplomatic work with a critical partner nation in Japan.”

Ambassador (ret.) Nicholas Burns, a respected former career member of the Foreign Service, currently serves as Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is also Executive Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and Security Forum and Senior Counselor at the Cohen Group. During his State Department career, Burns served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador to NATO and to Greece, State Department Spokesman, and on the National Security Council staff on Soviet and Russian Affairs. As Under Secretary, he worked with the Chinese government on issues as diverse as Afghanistan, United Nations Sanctions against Iran, North Korea ,and U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific. At the Aspen Strategy Group, he organized a policy dialogue with the Chinese government’s Central Party School.  He has taught, written, and spoken on current U.S.-China relations. Burns earned his B.A. degree from Boston College and an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. His numerous awards include a Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award. He speaks fluent French and has familiarity with Arabic and Greek.

Rahm Emanuel, former Mayor of the City of Chicago and White House Chief of Staff to President Obama, has had a distinguished career in public service. As Mayor, he oversaw increased economic development that revitalized the city and helped solidify its status as a global hub of culture and commerce. He ensured Chicago was a leader on the global stage, hosting the 2012 NATO summit, leading the continent in foreign direct investment for six consecutive years, convening mayors worldwide to commit to the Chicago Climate Charter of 2017 and helping establish the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Mayors Forum on Global Cities. He previously served as Chief of Staff to President Obama, where he helped secure the passage of landmark legislation, including Dodd-Frank and the Affordable Care Act, and advised President Obama on all key national security decisions during the President’s first two years. From 2003 to 2009, Mr. Emanuel served in the U.S. House of Representatives where he held a number of leadership positions. Mr. Emanuel also served President Clinton as Assistant to the President for Political Affairs and Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy. He is currently national chair of the Advisory Council of Youth Guidance’s Becoming a Man (BAM) mentoring program. He graduated with a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Northwestern University.

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