WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on Committee Democrats' participation in today's Committee proceedings:
"I have always believed it is important that we have Senate-confirmed ambassadors and senior officials in place to represent the United States overseas and advance our national security priorities.
"To that end, I have worked with Chair Risch to advance nominees on a reasonable timeline.
"But I also believe strongly that this Committee should work in a bipartisan manner. Unfortunately, today the Majority did not agree to the Committee’s long-standing rules and traditions to keep the Minority properly informed. Therefore, Democrats did not participate in today’s proceedings.
"Moving forward, it is my hope this Committee can adhere to its long-standing tradition of bipartisanship."
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