U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, addressed her colleagues at a nominations hearing for Senator Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State. In her opening remarks, Shaheen emphasized bipartisan collaboration on advancing NATO and supporting Ukraine while addressing issues in Syria. She highlighted the significance of empowering women in conflict negotiations through the Women, Peace and Security Act enacted in 2017.
Shaheen remarked, “One point that we’ve always agreed on, the Chairman and I, is the need to work together so this Committee can function more effectively. That means holding hearings, advancing bipartisan legislation and confirming career foreign service officers quickly.” She expressed hopes for a continued partnership with Rubio if confirmed as Secretary of State.
The senator questioned Rubio about his plans to ensure career foreign service officers are placed globally and underscored bipartisan support for Ukraine. The importance of engaging with NATO was also stressed during her inquiries.
Shaheen acknowledged new committee members from both parties and reiterated her commitment to cooperation with Chairman Risch. “We came in as governors, so we like to get things done,” she stated.
She raised concerns over potential U.S. policy shifts under President Trump regarding Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. Shaheen mentioned past collaborations with Rubio on related legislative efforts: “You introduced legislation that would ban U.S. recognition of territory annexed by Russia.”
The senator discussed broader Middle East issues focusing on Syria’s humanitarian crisis following Assad’s fall. She urged immediate aid distribution while capitalizing on opportunities to marginalize Iran and Russia’s influence in Syria.
Highlighting women’s roles in peace processes, Shaheen said: “When women participate in conflict negotiations, peace is 35% more likely to last at least 15 years.” She called for expanded initiatives empowering women globally through the State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues.
Concluding her remarks alongside Chairman Risch’s sentiments about America’s challenges ahead if confirmed as Secretary of State Rubio would play an essential role: “I hope we can work together to continue promoting American interests.”
