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Floor Speech

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Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, it is an honor to be here today to ask the Senate to confirm President Trump's first appointment, that being our colleague Marco Rubio to be the 72nd Secretary of State of this great country.

His nomination was voted positively and unanimously out of the Foreign Relations Committee just moments ago, actually.

Sixteen years ago, I came here and sat down on the Foreign Relations Committee. I took a seat at the very end. That afternoon, I got on the Intelligence Committee, took a seat at the very end. Two years later, Marco came in and sat next to me. During that period of time, he and I have worked together a tremendous number of hours on many issues.

We are in a time when America faces threats from nearly every corner of the world. It is no secret that hostile powers, from China, to Russia, to North Korea, to Iran, have formed an authoritarian axis bent on weakening the United States. We need a principled, action-oriented chief diplomat like Marco Rubio to take them on.

Our challenges in the foreign relations lane and the national security lane are enormous and complicated. I can't think of another person better equipped to tackle these issues than our colleague Marco Rubio.

I would encourage anyone who wants a clear understanding of U.S. foreign policy to look at and watch the recording of Marco's performance before the Foreign Relations Committee last week. I would say to you, his performance was flawless.

Marco's qualifications and ability to stand in the shoes of Thomas Jefferson, our first Secretary of State, and the 70 who followed him-- Marco's qualifications are unchallengeable.

I urge you all to join me in voting for Marco Rubio.

(Applause.)

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