Honorable kelly craft, currently the ambassador for canada and nominated to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations. First we have two distinguished guests, distinguished and celebrity guests i might add today. And they are going to introduce our nominees or were going to allow them to proceed with introductions. Usually i do senator menendez and i do our Opening Statements first but were going to postpone because i know our guests introducers have important business to do. Were privileged to be joined by ambassador krafts home state senators today, majority leader mitch mcconnell, senator rand paul will be here soon to also introduce the nominee. Senator mcconnell, welcome to the United States foreign Foreign Relations committee. Long known for its kindness to its witnesses and for civility. Your steady and thoughtful leadership inspire us all as you sail this ship through the heavy seas we encounter daley here and we welcome hearing your considered judgment regarding the matter before us today. So senator, mcconnell the floor is yours. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator mend he is members of the committee, im really pleased to be here this morning to introduce the distinguished stateswoman and leader and of course a proud kentuckian. The blue graz grass is proud of this daughter of of our commonwealth. Our confident our entire nation will be proud of the service she will render as our ambassador to the United Nations. Of course, most of you are already familiar with kelly knight craft. Almost two years ago i just came here to introduce her nomination to be ambassador of canada. I noted her impressive record of Public Service talked about her Unanimous Senate confirmation back in 2007 to serve as an alternate representative for our delegation for the u. N. General assembly. I described how her performance in that role including her work on the new partnership for africas development showed that ms. Kraft is a talented consensus builder. And i predicted that if confirmed she would skillfully manage erik ins relationship with our flab to the north. A week later her nomination was reported favorably out of this committee on a voice vote. And one week after that she was confirmed by the full senate, again by voice vote. So lets talk about the past two years. And the impressive record of this first ever woman to serve as our ambassador to canada. Historically, that post is not one that is typically viewed as one of the tougher assignments in the diplomatic corps. But it would turn out her tenure brought a host of tough issues and thorny questions to the fore. Everything from rethinking nafta to navigating real differences between canadas leadership and our administration. The replace was tested. By all accounts our ambassador rose to the occasion and did an outstanding job. On economics she helped achieve the successful trade negotiations that culminated in the u. S. Mca, helped secure a new chapter for the Regulatory Cooperation Council between the two countries, and defended access for u. S. Businesses. On the dplomic front, her time as ambassador is seen greater cooperation and coordination on numerous critical fronts. Canada joined the front lines of the new u. S. Led International Sanctions on russia over its actions against ukraine. Canadas played of an Important Role with the limba group, the International Coalition committed to a peaceful and democratic transition for venezuela. And just recently ambassador kraft spoke out forcefully when china unlawfully detained canadian skins. This is a record of significant achievement. Reflects hardwork, careful study and great skill. And she has won respect beth at home and abroad. The current premier of ontario has reflected, quote, every preemier i know thinks of world of her. She really proved herself over some tough times. Thats the premier of ontario. And watching ambassador krafts ten yoir of former canadian ambassador to the u. S. Has concluded he did the job well. Has as it happened im meeting with Prime Minister trudeau tomorrow to discuss the usmca. I know our conversations will only be building on a huge amount of successful work by ambassador kraft to forge the path. For this successful tenure from knick hailey its violates that our next ambassador skiflfully advance our nations interests and values. Thats why im proud to say ambassador kraft is a phenomenal selection by the president. Im proud to support her nomination. And im really proud to be here this morning to introduce her to all of you. Thank you very much. Thank you senator mcconnell we sincerely appreciate that. And we know how busy you are. Well certainly excuse you. Were still waiting for senator paul. When he gets here we will hear from senator paul. Until he does, i will make an opening statement, thenally turn it over to senator menendez to make his opening statement. Today we will consider the nomination of the honorable kelly kraft to be the representative of the United States to the United Nations and to be the representative of the United States to the u. N. Security council and the u. N. General assembly. We welcome all of you and thank you thank you ms. Kraft for your willingness is to serve. As her as senator mcconnell has already given an introduction ill speak for just a few minutes about the importance of this position. Of the approximate 200 countries, the United States is by far the largest donor to the United Nations, providing 22 of the u. N. Regular budget and 25 of the u. N. Peace keeping budget. Compare that to the second largest contributor, china, which pays only 12 of the regular budget and 15 of the Peace Keeping budget. Clearly the u. S. Taxpayer has been extremely generous to the United Nations since its founding in 1945. Due to the United States significant support in leadership, we have been some but not universally successful in pursuing policies which support the interests and values which are shared by many, though not all, of the countries around the world. For example, in the Security Council under President Trumps leadership, the u. S. Has been successful at passing the toughest sanctions ever against north korea in an arms embargo and south sudan. Actions in the interest of paul human beings and our allies, not just the United States. However, the skourt council largely due to russian and chinese misbehavior has failed to make significant progress on some of the most pressing international crisises. Thes United Nations exists to ensure International Peace and security. But two of its members are the instigators of insecurity around the globe. For example, russia has repeatedly used veto at the Security Council to shield its brutal ally, the say sawed regime into investigations into this the war crimes committed. And mcblocks consensus on issues related to burmz complicity in the violence against the rohingya population. Because of in impasse at the u. N. Security council, the humanitarian crises have only increased and become pro longed. The u. N. Plays a vital role in responding to humanitarian crisis. This is where we see and urge burden sharing. While the u. S. Remains the largest donorer to humanitarian crisis across the globe, the u. N. System pushes other countries to contribute appear uses our money as a force multiply ner places such as yemen and venezuela. Its important that the u. S. Continue to pressure the United Nations to spend its money efficiently and effectively. The current u. N. Secretary general has been focused on u. N. Reform. And i applaud this effort. Its long overdue. And much needed. There needs to be robust push to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the u. N. System. And miss kraft we will be looking forward to you pursuing that which is to important to many on the committee. We should push for Peace Keeping reform while the u. N. Made a new department of reform. We remain concerned about the resources requested in light of downsizing of key missions the car fur, drc and haiti. Where the United States benefits from being a member of the u. N. , the United Nations benefits more, much, much more from the United States being a member. Miss kraft i lack forward to hearing from you, how you can support u. S. Leadership with the u. N. To ensure that it promotes the interest and values, especially values of the United States and of our allies. I have received materials in advance of this hearing. Im going to include them in the record. I want to point to just one in particular, i have a letter of support from gordon b. Griffin giffin, the United States ambassador to canada under president clinton. Mr. Giffin states that i have no do that the experience gained over two years as ambassador to canada has prepared kelly kraft well for the next assignment. With that ill turn this over to Ranking Member senator menendez for his opening statement. Thank you mr. Chairman. Ambassador kraft welcome to the second confirmation for a deeply consequential position. The United States was instrumental in creating the United Nations in the postwar era. Built on founding American Values of democracy and human rights. Multilateral institutions like the United Nations and nato ha have und pinned the peace, proermts and stability the American People enjoyed for decades. The fundamental values and international institutions, however, are under assault today from actors seeking to exploit them for their own agendas, as well as those threatening to abandon and undermine them completely. If confirmed, you will represent the United States at an exceedingly complex time. With mcs growing influence at the u. N. , russia adventurism and obstruction on the Security Council and President Trumps relentless attacks on multilateralism, undermining and withdrawing from Numerous International agreements and agencies defunding agencies like the u. N. Population fund and cutting contribution to our peace skeepg obligation lks o obligations. The American People need someone with tenacity, experience and a deep understanding of the complexities of Global Affairs and international institutions. Who is exited to multi lateralism and reforming and strengthening the United Nations, not err repairably damaging it. Let me be franke, madam ambassador i have deep reservation base your lack of quacks for the role. Historically they have brought executive experience or experience working directly in Foreign Policy. Before your short stint as ambassador to canada, i understand you were active in kentucky and National Party politics and in 2007 you were an alternate observer delegate to the General Assembly. Furthermore, during your one and a half years as ambassador, you spent an excessive amount of time absent from ottawa leaving duties to deputies. Madam ambassador, the most fundamental role is the actively presently and wholeheartedly add volk for american interests, American Values and American Foreign policy. I find in Staggering Amount of time away from post very troubling and abdomens indication of leader. Sppship if confirmed you would serve alongside some of the most experienced, seasoned and sometimes ruthless diplomats from all over the world. Were cold fronting meerd challenges in the word today, including multiplying the conflict, Climate Change, Nuclear Proliferation cutting across borders which the United States cannot meet alone. While the u. N. And subsidiary bodies are far from perfect they have the power to facilitate remarkable achievementing and leverage prrmts if you are confirmed i hope you address thing following priorities. First, we must actively seek to balance chinas influence. This administrations pullback from the u. N. Risks enabling china to fill the vacuum. Mcis eager undermine u. N. Human rights mechanism and impose chinas authoritiarian world view. Second, the i should say the u. N. Must be fair and appropriately condemn human rights abuses and atrocities and stop politically motivated revelations. Wunt of the persisten weakises nab the ugly approach towards israel. You must use your voice to end and combat these efforts. Third, the United States must pay our arrears. The u. N. Is in a financial crisis in part due to u. S. Short faults for peace skeepg alone we are 776 million in arrears. These arrears have accrued in the last three years from the u. S. Paying only 25 of peace skeepg costs i understand what we owed 28 . Last week, the state department you issued its own report detailing that the u. S. Refusal to pay arrears has, quote, this is the state department speaking diminished our ability to pursue u. S. Priorities, reduced u. S. Ability to promote oversight and accountability at the u. N. , reduced standing to promote the candidacy of qualified u. S. Citizens to assume Senior Management roles at the u. N. And impaired the alkt of peace skeepg missions to operate. Close quote. Fourth, the United States must stop stop seeking to restrict access to sexual and Reproductive Health and human rights that improve the lives of women, girls and communities around the world. Most recently the u. S. Egregiously threatened to veto a u. N. Security Council Resolves for survivors of depender based violence over reference to survivors access to sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. That is appalling. And finally the u. S. Must work to shore up the u. N. s humanitarian response system which is under stress. We must do so not merely because the its the right thing to do but because it is profoundly in our National Interest to do so. The United States shares the burden with less risk when we address devastating humanitarian crisisesly the United Nations. Our National Security is strengthen when we are at the table with the u. N. And u. N. Is more effective with American Leadership and values on dpla. Ambassador i look forward to your testimony today on these pressing issues. Thank you, senator. And now we will turn to ambassador kraft. Welcome. Thank you for being willing to undertake this important engagement on before of the people of the United States and the floor is yours. Thank you chairman risch, Ranking Member menendez and all members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear here today. It is a singular honor to sit before you as President Trumps nominee to serve as u. S. Ambassador to the United Nations. A special word of thanks of course to my kentucky senators leader mcconnell and senator paul for their kind words as well as this their encouragement, wisdom and support throughout my tenure in ottawa. I would like to express my gratitude to President Trump, Vice President pence, secretary pompeo, ambassador lighthizer and Mission Canada for the trust they have shone me as we have worked together to strengthen our bonds with canada and the canadian people. I appear before you today excited at the prospect of representing the United States at the u. N. But also saddened at the thought of leaving my many superb colleagues and counterparts across the northern border. Mr. Chairman i ams blesswood the most loving and supporting family imaginable. My husband joe, our family, ron, elliott, j. W. Mollie. Ryan lauren, kyle, mia, stu, jane and wyatt. Siblings mark and us spos liz beg my sister micah and her husband bruce. And five of the shining stars five out of 11 in our life we have jake, kingsley, holland, lockland, windsor and our friend fifi. When the president asked me to consider moving to new york to serve as our nations permanent representative to the United Nations, i turned to the people behind me to ask for in re guidance. And to god for his. If confirmed i would assum