Nominations
Floor Speech
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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, and finally on nominations, yesterday, I was proud to announce my recommendation of a great New Yorker and a great friend to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Nick Perry, of my hometown of Brooklyn. I cannot think of a better person to represent our country in Jamaica than Assemblyman Perry. If confirmed, he would be the first-ever Jamaican-born American to hold that post.
I always ask folks when I am in Brooklyn, ``What is the biggest island in the Caribbean?'' I tell them it is a trick question. They guess, ``Well, maybe it is Haiti; maybe it is Barbados; maybe it is Cuba.'' I say, ``No, it is Brooklyn,'' which has more Caribbean immigrants than anywhere else.
So Nick Perry's nomination is great news for our community and our country. For decades, Assemblyman Perry has served Brooklyn by doing things the old-fashioned way: working hard, never resting on his laurels, and earning the trust of the people he represents. He is a true American success story: an immigrant, a veteran of the Army, and a graduate of Brooklyn College. I know he will do excellent work as our next Ambassador.
From Patrick Ewing to KRS-One, from Vice President Kamala Harris to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, to the late General Powell, Jamaican Americans hold a key place in our Nation's rich legacy. Nick Perry will continue adding to this legacy, as he has for decades, and I am proud to support him as a nominee for Ambassador.
And, finally, today, the Senate will also move forward on Catherine Lhamon to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education. All her career, Ms. Lhamon has been an unshakeable champion for civil rights and for all students who want a fair shake in their education. This would be the second time she serves as Assistant Secretary, so she has the experience, the leadership, and the dedication to stand up for students from all walks of life--something sorely lacking under the previous administration.
I look forward to confirming her nomination.
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