▶ 0:21:14Chair Risch: Committee on foreign relations will come to order. I will start as usual by welcoming everyone in the audience to be here today and watch this open hearing. As usual, there will be zero tolerance for any interruptions. Anybody thinking about it probably knows what is going to happen to them, so I will not take that any further. We have three very important noms here today.
▶ 0:21:47Chair Risch: Before we get started, I think we will do this as people want to do introductions. Then myself and the ranking member will make opening statements. Then we will hear from each of the nominees for about five minutes and then open up to a round of questions, second round if people are interested. That is where we are. We'll start with senator ricketts.
▶ 0:22:15Sen. Ricketts: , thank you, Mr. chairman. It is my distinct honor to introduce my friend and colleague an anomaly to be U.S. ambassador to the holy see come Mr. brian burch. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to his family. When I first met bryan over a decade ago he had six kids, now he has nine kids and a grandchild to boot. He and his wife sarah live in suburban chicago. As we have talked about often, these roles are never done alone.
▶ 0:22:48Sen. Ricketts: Wherever their loved one is serving the country needs the support of the family to do their job. Behind every great public servant there is that family supporting. I know that brian is deeply grateful for his family. I have a connection goes back to actually the launch of a documentary series called "catholicism" by bishop robert baron. This series promotes the beauty and truth of catholicism and was watched by millions of americans.
▶ 0:23:19Sen. Ricketts: We connected over the hope that more people would come to know the beauty and appreciate the gift of our shared faith, something Mr. burch has worked on for over two decades, to be able to share that and to advocate for catholicism in the realm of politics, education, and media. He is also not surprisingly a cubs fan.
▶ 0:23:45Sen. Ricketts: I recall being with them on a balcony overlooking wrigley field after game 5 in 2016 turning point in the game, that led to the championship for the chicago cubs. Mr. burch shares that competitive spirit. He is also a dedicated champion of the poor, vulnerable, and pre-born babies.
▶ 0:24:06Sen. Ricketts: He is a man of great integrity, passion for the truth, justice, and patriotism he firmly believes in the tenants of the catholic faith and in particular the concept that we have called the common good. We live in a time when the world's most determined adversaries are expanding their influence, seeking to challenge our values in every region of the world. Now more than ever, many principled, capable leaders who can represent our nation with moral clarity, conviction, and purpose.
▶ 0:24:37Sen. Ricketts: Brian burch is that man. The post for which he has been nominated to serve can easily be understood -- or underestimated. Lest we forget, he was ambassador to the holy see that facilitated the relationship between ronald reagan and pope john paul ii that ultimately led to the downfall of the soviet union. This relationship between the holy see and the united states is no less important today.
▶ 0:25:04Sen. Ricketts: A sovereign state which includes the vatican may be small in size but it continues to help advance the foreign policy interests of the united states around the globe. The global reach and moral witness of the holy see makes this post not just important for what happens in the vatican or in europe but around the entire world. Brian's deep commitment to the catholic faith, unwavering patriotism, and a record of leadership make him an ideal candidate for this post.
▶ 0:25:34Sen. Ricketts: He's a leader that understands the contours of the holy see, catholic social teaching, and the priorities of the united states. Brian's ability to bring people together around shared values and a common purpose is a quality that will serve him well and our nation in this ambassadorial role. As an ambassador to the holy see, brian will represent not only american interests with the spirit of dialogue from mutual respect, and cooperation that defines the very long-standing relationship united states has had with the vatican.
▶ 0:26:05Sen. Ricketts: It's a role that demands diplomatic skill and a profound understanding of the catholic church's global mission. I have every confidence brian burch will carry out his possibilities with honor, humility, and a steadfast commitment to strengthening the relationship between the united states in the holy see. In a world where we are facing increasing geopolitical challenges, your voice, vision, values are needed now more than ever. I look forward to supporting your nomination.
▶ 0:26:37Sen. Ricketts: I cannot think of a better person to represent the united states to the holy see than you, brian. I urge my colleagues to support you as well. You will be a fantastic ambassador for the united states. Couldn't be happier that you are the nominee. Strongly encourage all of my colleagues to support. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:26:57Chair Risch: Senator scott, I understand you have an introduction.
▶ 0:27:03Sen. Scott: Members of this committee, it's a member -- honored to sit here to introduce a fellow floridian, nicole mcgraw to this committee. Ms. mcgraw brings her proud husband mike, their son ruben, who helped the university of florida when the ncaa championship last night over the houston cougars.
▶ 0:27:23Sen. Scott: I look forward to receiving from senator cruz texas barbecue, beer, ice cream, and look forward to watching him proudly wear the jersey. Go gators. Nicole is a florida native born and raised in miami. She has built an impressive career in the art industry. She brings the value of teamwork and service that defined the very best of american leadership. She has founded a nonprofit that raised millions to support public art and education.
▶ 0:27:54Sen. Scott: Her work has created jobs and attracted tourism and strengthen communities, all which translates to the role of an ambassador particularly in croatia. She has a clear vision for deepening U.S. croatian relations, cultural exchange, and cultural cooperation. She has a commitment to our nation's values. She will be a tireless advocate for american interests and a trusted partner for allies and a powerful symbol of dynamic leadership on the world stage.
▶ 0:28:23Sen. Scott: Together with president trump and secretary rubio, I'm confident she will restore peace through strength and stand for america's best interests. I urge my colleagues to advance her nomination quickly. Congratulations on your nomination.
▶ 0:28:35Chair Risch: Thank you, senator scott. A senator cornyn.
▶ 0:28:41Sen. Cornyn: Thank you for holding this hearing. Nomination for my good friend brandon judd to be the next ambassador to chile. Good to see him in a coat and tie instead of the uniform of the united states border patrol agent which she has been for many years. Until his recent retirement. I have known brandon for more than a decade as not only a border patrol agent but as president of the national border patrol council.
▶ 0:29:11Sen. Cornyn: Britain has been a great resource for me and for many of us in the senate as we travel to the border over the years to witness firsthand the very real difficulties of the border patrol agent's face day in and day out. Of course on the national level we've all become acutely aware of the challenges our border patrol agent's face particularly in recent years. Brandon has been in the game for a long time, nearly three decades.
▶ 0:29:38Sen. Cornyn: When he gives me and others policy advice and tells us what works and what doesn't work, we listen. It comes from those decades of seasoned experience on the front lines. The thing I like about brandon especially is he focuses not on rhetoric but on results and on solutions. He started his career as a field agent in 1997 and has become a well-known and highly regarded expert.
▶ 0:30:05Sen. Cornyn: He was chosen by his peers, no small thing, to be where -- to be their representative in the national border patrol council from 2013 to 2024. Throughout the years of service, he led the border patrol union with effectiveness and dignity while upholding the rule of law. His expertise has been sought out by many elected officials not just in the legislative branch but from the executive branch and others, as well.
▶ 0:30:35Sen. Cornyn: He has worked directly with the first trump administration in 2019 to develop a very successful border patrol policies that brought illegal immigration down to 45-year lows. After so many decades in the service of the united states, I cannot think of a more deserved promotion than to serve as our nation's ambassador to chile. I told brandon earlier that my daughter spent six months in chile studying many years ago.
▶ 0:31:07Sen. Cornyn: We had a chance to visit, it's a beautiful country with great potential. I know brandon will work hard to improve our already good relationship with that country. But having seen the consequences of our foreign policy play out here at home at the border, brandon has a deep appreciation for how the geopolitical and economic dynamics at play affect american's daily lives. This will serve him well in his new role.
▶ 0:31:38Sen. Cornyn: It's my honor to enthusiastically support his nomination and I hope after his testimony today the committee will, as well. Thank you, chairman risch, ranking member shaheen, members of the committee for allowing me the opportunity to introduce my good friend brandon judd. Brandon, thanks for your willingness to serve our country in this new capacity. The good news for all the nominees is, usually when there is a controversial nominee, all of these seats are full.
▶ 0:32:08Sen. Cornyn: So you should be glad that they are not all full today, but that is no indication of our lack of enthusiasm and support for your service to the country. It just means that we all have about three different things and three different places we have to be at the same time. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:32:25Chair Risch: Thank you, senator cornyn, and thank you for that in-depth observation ,astute view of the situation. Mr. judd, senator cruz was also coming to introduce you today but he does have, as senator cornyn indicated, prior commitments, like all of us. He has asked me to make a few remarks on his behalf which I will read from his text as an introduction.
▶ 0:32:57Chair Risch: The full extent of it will be included in the record. Senator cruz states, serving as united states ambassador requires a deep understanding of america's interests and I have no doubt brandon is the right person for the job to serve our nation well. Some of you may recognize brandon because he has appeared before congress on 19 separate occasions to offer recommendations and testimony on how to make our country more secure.
▶ 0:33:20Chair Risch: He has consulted numerous members of congress, governors, administration officials on how the unique roles can influence border policy and promote national security. Notably his work with the first trump administration contributed to a 45-year low in illegal immigration crossings in 2019. Now he's been asked to represent the united states abroad.
▶ 0:33:44Chair Risch: It's cleared his good interest to distinguish them as a leader and policy expert but his willingness to serve and deep love of country make him qualified to represent america's interests on a global platform. Members of the committee, brandon is the right person to serve as U.S. ambassador to chile, one of the strongest advocates for securing our nation that we have ever seen. An incredible patriot who loves our country and I encourage my colleagues to support his nomination. With that, I will put his remarks also in the record.
▶ 0:34:15Chair Risch: We will move on now to a brief opening statement by myself and senator shaheen, then we will hear from the witnesses. I will start, Mr. burch, with you. As you know, the voice of the pope has wide impact around the world. As ambassador to the holy see, you keep a direct line between the united states and the vatican, pope francis' leadership. The U.S.
▶ 0:34:42Chair Risch: Without about catholic population, this is an important relationship, and I'm eager to see how you will lead this important and unique diplomatic mission. The good news for you is you probably won't be wrestling with the tariff questions like most of the nominees are that are going out to these various countries. In most places, that is top of the list right now. I doubt it is there with the vatican. Ms.
▶ 0:35:10Chair Risch: Mcgraw, if confirmed, you'll be assuming a post in a country that is critical -- a critical U.S. partner in what is a turbulent time for eastern europe. As ambassador to croatia, you'll be responsible for advancing peace and stability in the western balkans which is key to U.S. and global security. Croatia is the newest member of the european union and nato member. The U.S.
▶ 0:35:34Chair Risch: Should encourage croatia with other european nations to serve as a positive force in the region. A constitutional crisis in bosnia and unresolved disputes in kosovo. I also urge croatia to meet his 2% defense commitment to nato which will certainly be an important part of your work to improve the U.S.-croatia relationship and secure our mutual interests in the region.
▶ 0:36:03Chair Risch: I have no doubt that my friend and colleague who has a deep interest in that part of the world will have some good advice for you here today. Mr. judd, since you are an idahoan, I know this is going to be an easy job for you. We know how to step up. Chile is a strategic security and economic partner whose democratic experiment has come under pressure from terrorist organizations tied to the madera regime in venezuela.
▶ 0:36:35Chair Risch: And russian maligned influence. Chile's multimineral resources, strategic geographical location has also earned the country the intention of china. With heavy predatory chinese investment in its infrastructure and energy sectors. To counter this influence, I hope you strengthen ties with chile to keep our hemisphere democratic, prosperous, and say from international criminals and authoritarian governments.
▶ 0:37:03Chair Risch: I'm grateful to you all for your willingness to serve our country abroad in these challenging times. President trump, members of this committee, and most importantly, the american people are counting on your leadership. Thank you. I will turn to senator shaheen.
▶ 0:37:18Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, chairman risch, welcome to the nominees this morning, to your family and supporters who are here. Welcome. Ms. mcgraw, whether it was the breakup of yugoslavia or the ethnic conflict that followed, the western balkans are a region of the world that far too often has been overlooked both by europe and the united states. As you heard from chairman risch, it's a region of the world that I have a lot of personal interest in.
▶ 0:37:47Sen. Shaheen: I have traveled to the region on a number of occasions, worked very hard to elevate the region's challenges and opportunities and to grow bipartisan support here in the senate. I know senator murphy and senator ricketts also have an interest in the balkans. I think it's critical that U.S. foreign policy doesn't repeat the mistakes of the past. When evans arrives on the ground in the balkans, we must deal with them quickly and effectively. From combating russian influence to maintain support for ukraine.
▶ 0:38:17Sen. Shaheen: As a nato ally, croatia is critical to these efforts. Croatia plays a uniquely important role in bosnia and herzegovina due to ethnic and political ties. As an energy transit point, the entire region including croatia will be vital if europe is going to wean itself off of russian energy. Ms. mcgraw, I look forward to hearing your plans as you think about leading our mission to croatia.
▶ 0:38:44Sen. Shaheen: I hope you will support the dayton peace agreement and bosnia-herzegovina should you be confirmed, as well as paying attention to how croatia is responding to the ethnic of engine the country. Mr. burch, if you are confirmed, you'll be serving as the U.S. representative to the vatican. On foreign policy the vatican often pump -- focuses on promoting peace and humanitarian efforts.
▶ 0:39:11Sen. Shaheen: The trump administration has been decimating american foreign aid programs including disease surveillance, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid. As archbishop gallagher, the vatican's foreign minister said, this is "a very, very serious situation with bad effects around the world." one place where the cuts to humanitarian operations are having an impact is on ukraine's frontline.
▶ 0:39:40Sen. Shaheen: The vatican recognizes this, and on the anniversary of putin's invasion, the pope called the war in ukraine a painful and shameful occasion for all of humanity. I agree with that statement. I've had a chance to visit where russian forces committed horrific war crimes, and it is an absolute shame for all of humanity. Mr. burch, I'd like to hear from you whether you share those concerns about the cuts to U.S.
▶ 0:40:08Sen. Shaheen: Humanitarian assistance and how you'll approach this post should you be confirmed. Mr. judd, you've been nominated to chile which has been a strong partner in the western hemisphere as well as in the support for ukraine. In january, chile's parliament passed a resolution supporting president zelenskyy's peace formula.
▶ 0:40:33Sen. Shaheen: The chile and government has worked with ukraine to elevate the plan to bring back home the ukrainian children abducted by russia. In addition with chile's critical mineral and lithium deposits, it's an important american ally in our efforts to combat the rise of china's influence.
▶ 0:40:52Sen. Shaheen: I'm concerned that president trump's tariffs across latin america against chile will have unintended consequences, pushing friendly governments to hedge their bets with the united states and explore closer ties with china. Mr. john, if confirmed, I would like to hear how you will work to deep in the time between the united states and chile. I look forward to hearing from all of our nominees today. Thank you for your willingness to continue to serve the country.
▶ 0:41:21Chair Risch: Thank, senator shaheen. We will now hear from our nominees. If you would kindly hold it to about five minutes. If you have a link to your statement, we will be happy to include into the record of the hearing today. With that, we will start with Mr. burch.
▶ 0:41:38Mr. Burch: Good morning, thank you. Chairman, ranking member, distinct members of this committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am deeply honored and humbled to be nominated by president trump to serve as the united states ambassador to the holy see. This is a roll of great significance and I'm grateful for the trust president trump and secretary rubio have placed in me.
▶ 0:42:05Mr. Burch: I appreciate the chance to discuss how I will contribute to strengthening the relationship between our nation and the holy see. I would also like to extend my heartfelt prayers and well wishes on behalf of all americans to the holy father pope francis for a full and swift recovery from his recent illness. I would like to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to my wife sarah, whose unwavering support and love has been my anchor through this journey.
▶ 0:42:35Mr. Burch: And to our beautiful nine children including my daughter-in-law and my first grandchild, who remind me every day how blessed I am. My school-age children were given the day off today to watch their dad on tv. I hope to make them proud. Their love and encouragement remind me of the importance of the work that we do and of the profound gift of life and family. I am deeply grateful. I was born and grew up in phoenix, arizona.
▶ 0:43:05Mr. Burch: I attended catholic schools and spent my summers from the age of 12 working alongside migrant workers on a relatives farm harvesting produce and learning the value of hard work. My family is the story of the american dreaming. My mom and dad married early and started with nothing but the only thing that matters, their faith and love. My father taught me that america was the greatest country in the world and never to take for granted our freedom.
▶ 0:43:34Mr. Burch: Last summer, I lost my father to cancer at the early age of 69. I know he is looking down on me this morning and smiling. You were right, dad. In america, anything is possible, including the possibility that his son could be nominated by the president of the united states to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the holy see.
▶ 0:43:56Mr. Burch: As the president of catholic vote and for the last 25 years, I've dedicated my life to helping advance principles and policies aimed at building a civilization of love, a culture of life, and the conditions necessary for brought human flourishing. My work has sought to incorporate a timeless teachings of my catholic faith including the truths of the human person and the common good, and to faithfully apply them to the public life of our nation.
▶ 0:44:27Mr. Burch: These efforts reflect the values of faith and family and authentic freedom, valleys that resonate deeply with both the catholic church and the united states. My work is involved in engaging voters, legislators, and faith leaders and to give catholics a voice in these debates that shape the future of our country. These experiences have honed my ability to navigate complex issues and to build consensus and to cultivate relationships built on human decency, competency, and trust.
▶ 0:44:58Mr. Burch: Skills I believe are essential for effective diplomacy. The relationship between the united states and the holy see is both unique and vital. It transcends traditional diplomacy, rooted in stud in our shared commitments to freedom, human dignity, global peace, and justice. The the holy see is the governing body of the catholic church and plays a critical and influential role in international affairs.
▶ 0:45:24Mr. Burch: We can and must continue our strong partnership while advancing our mutual interests in addressing an array of global challenges, including working to resolve war and conflict in multiple regions around the world, religious persecution, the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable, the scourge of human trafficking, and the defense and promotion of human dignity and prosperity. If confirmed, my primary goal will be to deepen this partnership.
▶ 0:45:54Mr. Burch: The moral witness of the holy see, together with its global influence, making a key partner for an array of U.S. interests. I am confident we can contribute to a more just and peaceful world, reflecting the best of american values and the the holy see's mission. Let me also sure this committee that I am fully -- that I fully understand the distinction between advocacy and diplomacy.
▶ 0:46:20Mr. Burch: As ambassador, my sole responsibility will be to represent the interests of the united states. I am committed to listening, learning, and engaging with all stakeholders to ensure our policies serve our nation and its partners effectively. In closing, I am profoundly dedicated to serving my country and enhancing the critical relationship between the united states and the holy see.
▶ 0:46:46Mr. Burch: If confirmed, I look forward to working with this committee, the administration, and our counterparts in the vatican to achieve our shared objectives. Thank you for considering my nomination, and I welcome any questions you may have.
▶ 0:46:59Chair Risch: Thank you, Mr. burch. Mr. judd, you found a trip here to do see is a long trip from idaho. I go home every weekend, and I've I'm going to europe is about two hours quicker. Chile is not very close either. We look forward to your service there. We would like to hear from you.
▶ 0:47:25Mr. Judd: Chairman risch, ranking member shaheen, distinguished committee members, it's an honor to be here today. I grateful to be nominated for the position of U.S. ambassador to the republic of chile by president trump and grateful to secretary rubio for his support and the department of state support throughout this process. With your concurrence and approval, I look forward to beginning my work in chile and continuing my service to the people of the united states of america.
▶ 0:47:55Mr. Judd: I appreciate the opportunities I have had to meet with many of you to discuss our bilateral relationship with chile. We are at a crucial juncture in that relationship so I approach the opportunity to serve as ambassador with the utmost seriousness, humility, and clear sense of purpose. If confirmed, I look forward to continuing our dialogue on our shared national priorities, promoting safety, strength, and prosperity. I want to thank my spouse here today, she is my sweetheart, love of my life, and best friend.
▶ 0:48:27Mr. Judd: I want to thank my children for their unwavering support. I also want to express my gratitude for the generations of my family who came before me and set the example. They truly loved and served their country. My maternal grandfather served in the united states army during world war ii and fought in europe. My father was drafted into the military in 1969 during the vietnam war.
▶ 0:48:51Mr. Judd: After completing his tour, he joined rotc at arizona state university, graduated, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. army, retiring as lt. Col. In 2004. My mother supported my father through numerous relocations every two or three years, though she couldn't establish a career or long-term home, she maintained her commitment to her family and country. These examples influenced who my four brothers and I became.
▶ 0:49:20Mr. Judd: Each of us have a belief and commitment to our country, family, faith, and community. Two of my brothers served in the united states military, one followed me into that border patrol, another served as a police officer in benson, arizona. The U.S. I eventually had tipple medic relationship spans more than 200 years. The foundation of our relationship is our commitment to democracy. We share a belief in the individual's right to life, liberty, and his.
▶ 0:49:52Mr. Judd: -- pursuit of happiness this creates a deep solidarity between americans and chileans. I saw this every day living in the 1990's serving as a missionary for the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. It informs the way that we see each other and inform the way that we see the world. It strengthens our diplomatic ties and drives us to work together to call out violations of democratic rights in the western hemisphere from maduro's illegitimate regime in venezuela to the ortega to dynastic dictatorship in nicaragua.
▶ 0:50:24Mr. Judd: As neighbors, the united states and chile also share a common commitment to keeping our hemisphere and our citizens safe from harm. Chile is experiencing an historic rise in violent crime as transnational criminal organizations exploit vulnerable populations and infiltrate porous borders across the western hemisphere. As an american, I recognize this challenge.
▶ 0:50:49Mr. Judd: As a career border patrol agent, I have dedicated my working life to safeguarding borders and protecting my fellow citizens. If I'm fortunate enough to be confirmed as U.S. ambassador to chile, that is the ethos and experience I would bring to the job.
▶ 0:51:05Mr. Judd: I would make it a cornerstone of my ambassadorship to work with chile to deepen our ability to work together in curbing illegal immigration, combating violent criminal organizations, and enhancing border security in support of this administration's priorities. Mr. chairman, ranking member, members of this committee, our relationship with chile has a direct impact on the safety, security, and prosperity of the american people.
▶ 0:51:33Mr. Judd: That is why I'm so excited at the prospect of serving as the U.S. ambassador to chile if you choose to give me the opportunity to do so. Thank you very much for your time today. I look forward to answering your questions.
▶ 0:51:45Chair Risch: Thank you. Ms. mcgraw.
▶ 0:51:48Ms. Mcgraw: Mr. chairman, ranking member shaheen, the stingless members of this committee, I'm honored to appear before you today as president trump's nominee to serve as the united states ambassador to croatia. I'm deeply grateful to president trump and secretary rubio for their trust and confidence in me and to the members and staff of this committee for your time and consideration. If confirmed, I look forward to working closely with you to strengthening the U.S.-croatia relationship.
▶ 0:52:18Ms. Mcgraw: I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to my husband mike and our children for their unwavering love and support. I also want to thank my parents for their guidance and encouragement. Founding canvas of charities ignited my passion for public service by demonstrating how cultural diplomacy and data-driven public art can transform cities, drive economic growth, promote tourism, foster cultural education and build vibrant communities.
▶ 0:52:46Ms. Mcgraw: This experience taught me the importance of collaboration, strategic vision, and international engagement. Skills directly applicable to both -- diplomacy. My work in bridging art, business, community development inspired me to expand my impact on a global scale pin using the same principles to strengthen U.S.-croatia relations throughout economic partnerships and advanced shared security interests as a U.S. ambassador. The role of a U.S.
▶ 0:53:13Ms. Mcgraw: Ambassador to croatia is to represent the united states, facilitate peace and economic opportunities, encounter malign influence. Responsibilities that align seamlessly with my career in leadership, business development, and cultural engagement. Founding canvas are charities required me to navigate complex stakeholders, secure funding, and lead city one cultural initiatives through public-private partnerships that drove economic growth.
▶ 0:53:41Ms. Mcgraw: Similarly, I led a team to build new technology on the block chain for commerce which championed innovation in the art market. I applied my entrepreneurial mindset to advance emerging technology and identify investment opportunities. If confirmed, I would apply these skills to strengthen U.S.-croatia relations, insuring the U.S. embassy operates effectively and efficiently to advance our shared economic security and cultural interests. I believe the U.S.
▶ 0:54:07Ms. Mcgraw: Mission in croatia focusing on four priorities. Economic and cultural diplomacy, security cooperation, american excellence, and protecting american citizens abroad. My goal is to make america stronger by strop -- expanding our alliances, countering adversarial influence, and ensuring our values are reflected in strategic sectors like croatian ports, telecommunications, and energy.
▶ 0:54:35Ms. Mcgraw: I will advocate for transparent investment practices, promote american leadership in the region. To make america safer, I will deepen security collaborations with croatia, a proud nato ally be with croatia increasing its defense budget, modernizing infrastructure, and developing new capabilities from cyprus -- this is a timely opportunity for the U.S.
▶ 0:54:59Ms. Mcgraw: Defense companies to partner on joint ventures and technology transfers ensuring nato interoperability and regional stability. To make america prosperous, I will champion U.S. investment in croatia's critical sectors including energy, infrastructure, and technology. The lng terminal expansion offers a chance to reduce europe's dependence on russian gas while boosting american energy exports. I will also support U.S.
▶ 0:55:26Ms. Mcgraw: Tech firms entering croatia's growing digital market, fostering innovation, creating high skill jobs, and cementing croatia's status as a european tech hub. Finally, I will make america excellent by highlighting our cultural leadership, fostering person-to-person relationships through education, the arts, and sports. From showcasing american creativity to spotlighting our competitive spirit, cultural and commercial exchange will be key tools in diplomacy.
▶ 0:55:56Ms. Mcgraw: Through these efforts, we will reinforce america's reputation for innovation, freedom, and opportunity. If confirmed by the members of this committee and the full senate, I will take the responsibility of being an ambassador at this critical moment in history with integrity , honor, friendship, and strength. I'm committed to advancing U.S. interests in supporting our allies and deepening of the enduring bond between the united states and croatia.
▶ 0:56:24Ms. Mcgraw: I look forward to your questions and I hope to earn your support today.
▶ 0:56:27Chair Risch: Thank you Ms. mcgraw. We are now going to proceed to a round of five-minute questions. I would like to start with you, Mr. burch. Get your ideas on something that we see on this committee. Even more so on the intelligence committee. That is the tremendous amount of animosity toward christians around the world.
▶ 0:56:57Chair Risch: Most americans don't understand what a minority we are as christians in other parts of the world. There is a lot of pushback against christians, discrimination, outright violence, some of which we have seen recently in syria. Your thoughts on that, how we can engage the catholic church more in the pushback these prejudices against christians?
▶ 0:57:26Mr. Burch: Thank, Mr. chairman, thank you for the question. It's an honor to be here with you this morning. I understand you are a practicing catholic, so grateful to be here with you. The question you ask is very important. The holy see and the united states actually share a deep concern for the persecution over minorities, particularly christians around the world. This is occurring, as you point out, not just an isolated places but in many regions.
▶ 0:57:58Mr. Burch: Most especially and acutely in the middle east, where, since the 1970's, the christian population has decreased by 75%. Primarily through immigration but also through religious persecution. The holy father pope francis has referred to this as a form of genocide. This of course is not just limited to the middle east. There are parts of africa, certainly latin america, places like nicaragua where the church is jailing and persecuting priests and bishops.
▶ 0:58:29Mr. Burch: The the holy see is an extremely important partner in addressing this. It is one of the chief area that I believe we have real commonality. The holy see, of course, has relationships with over 180 countries around the world and has relationships that the united states relies on to address this very question. Should I be confirmed, I look forward to working with the the holy see on this, addressing the issue that you just raised.
▶ 0:58:57Chair Risch: I appreciate that. Most americans don't have a good feel for how difficult it is for christians and a lot of parts of the world. Thank you for acknowledging my catholic faith. The gentleman on your right acknowledged his lds faith and about 26% of idaho, until the last election, the only non-lds member of our delegation.
▶ 0:59:27Chair Risch: The relationship between the lds church and catholic church is really demonstrative of the relationship that all religions have. There is no place in the world where there are more religious practice than here in the united states of america, done so nonviolently and side-by-side with great respect for each side. Indeed, whenever we judge a country -- particularly we have this experience with syria right now. What we are looking for is religious tolerance.
▶ 0:59:57Chair Risch: That will tell you a lot about that country and how successful it is going to be in human rights, democracy, everything else. Thank you for that. I hope you will work at it. Mr. judd, right now, again, most people are not fully aware of the fact of how aggressive the chinese are as far as their infiltration of our southern neighbors. You are going to be dealing with one of the places where they are making great efforts in chile.
▶ 1:00:29Chair Risch: I wonder if you could give us your thoughts on that, how you are going to deal with that.
▶ 1:00:33Mr. Judd: Thank you, Mr. chairman, I appreciate the question. I look forward to taking the time to answer the question fully. I've never had the opportunity to meet you, but as an idahoan, it's a beautiful state, the people there are some of the nicest I've encountered. Senator, one of my biggest concerns is what we are currently seeing from china as it pertains to south america.
▶ 1:01:05Mr. Judd: China sees south america as a soft landing spot. They recognize and understand that the united states doesn't have the same type of infrastructure in south america as we do in europe or the indo pacific. They recognize that they can, because of this, try to exert their influence in south america. One thing that I love about chile, they are one of the strongest democracies in the region.
▶ 1:01:35Mr. Judd: They recognize and understand that it is important to strengthen their citizen's civil rights. The president should be commended for calling out his partners in the region for their civil rights abuses in venezuela and nicaragua. We can work with the chili and people, we can strengthen those ties with the chili and government because we have an awful lot more to offer chile then what china does.
▶ 1:02:04Mr. Judd: We have better economic ties than china does. We have more foreign direct investment in chile then what china does. We partner with chile in astronomy, astrophysics, we partner in developing investment opportunities for U.S. businesses. As we continue to strengthen those ties, we will see the partnership with chile and the united states continue to grow.
▶ 1:02:33Mr. Judd: If confirmed, as president trump's nominee to working with chile, to strengthen those relationships with united states and the chile and government.
▶ 1:02:44Chair Risch: Well said, and those observations are good. What I find in dealing with these other countries is as aggressive as china is, they still want to recognize us. Democratic, strong legal and human rights. Countries appreciate that and know that our rule of law is part of the glue that holds us together. Ms.
▶ 1:03:10Chair Risch: Mcgraw, I'm going to turn you over to senator shaheen, who will have some questions for you. Thank you.
▶ 1:03:17Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Yes, actually, I do have some questions for Ms. mcgraw. Because croatia does play an important role in stabilizing the western balkans, particularly bosnia-herzegina, where croats represent one of the three constituent peoples in the country.
▶ 1:03:43Sen. Shaheen: Previous administrations has provided support for the energy sector to complete the gas interconnect or that would connect bosnia's gas infrastructure with croatia, which if completed would break bosnia's dependence on russian gas and make croatia a regional leader and would provide an easy note -- easy pathway for U.S. liquefied natural gas to reach the western balkans.
▶ 1:04:10Sen. Shaheen: The hold up, reason I'm focusing on bosnia here, the reason is the bosnia-correct leader who is actively blocking this effort at every move attempted to leverage the project to increase his own personal power. If confirmed, will you engage with the croatian government to prioritize the completion of this pipeline and to put pressure on him to agree to the project?
▶ 1:04:39Ms. Mcgraw: [inaudible] I will make sure that I engage with the embassy in sarajevo and ambassador murphy there, as well as my croatian counterparts. It's extremely important that we continue to work on trying to get that southern interconnection built. Not only will it advance more energy from U.S.
▶ 1:05:03Ms. Mcgraw: Exporters to the region, but since the kirk lng terminal will double its capacity, it will position croatia as a leader in the balkans to be able to then become an energy exporter and deter the russians from continuing to be the only one that supplies gas in the region.
▶ 1:05:21Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. I appreciate your knowledge of the project. We also commit calling on U.S. sanctions should he continue to block the completion of this project.
▶ 1:05:34Ms. Mcgraw: Thank you, senator. I have not been updated on the sanctions yet since I'm a private citizen but if confirmed I will look into finding out more about that and getting back to you, to work with congress and work with you specifically on that.
▶ 1:05:48Sen. Shaheen: Great. Thanks very much. Mr. burch, when the trump administration began to shut down foreign assistance programs globally, the charitable arm of the catholic church stated "stopping usaid abruptly will kill millions of people and condemn hundreds of millions of more to lives of dehumanizing poverty.
▶ 1:06:13Sen. Shaheen: This is an inhumane affront to people's god-given human dignity that will cause immense suffering." if confirmed, Mr. burch, how will you reassure the holy see that the united states really is committed to saving the lives of those in need and preventing suffering from around the world.
▶ 1:06:36Mr. Burch: Thank you, senator appearing not surprise this question came up. I know this will be a challenging issue for myself in the role because of the the holy see's pattern and record of leadership when it comes to humanitarian causes and humanitarian assistance.
▶ 1:06:53Sen. Shaheen: Do you agree with that leadership?
▶ 1:06:56Mr. Burch: Absolutely. I think the the holy see in fact have been an exceptional partner for the united states. Some of the ngos that perform work are some of the best, lowest cost overhead, some of the most effective and most impactful programs.
▶ 1:07:11Sen. Shaheen: How do you explain -- how will you explain that the U.S. position? It seems to me to be totally opposed to what the the holy see has advocated for.
▶ 1:07:26Mr. Burch: This is going to be the challenge. The president -- and I fully support the president and secretary -- have addressed a long problem within some of our foreign aid which is millions if not billions of our dollars have been going to places around the world that are not aligned with united states interests. The secretary has made clear when he took office that he was recharging and refocusing our foreign aid on places that would make america safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
▶ 1:07:58Mr. Burch: I think those criteria have to be met by these places. Of course, the partnership with the the holy see can be a very good one, but I think those partners have to understand that our foreign aid is not endless, that we cannot fund every last --
▶ 1:08:14Sen. Shaheen: Are you aware of how much we spend on foreign aid a year, foreign assistance, or how much we did until elon musk came and cut the program?
▶ 1:08:23Mr. Burch: I'm not aware.
▶ 1:08:25Sen. Shaheen: About 1% of the entire federal budget. So if you were going to name three places where you think that foreign assistance has not been in keeping with our foreign policy, where would you name?
▶ 1:08:38Mr. Burch: I have read some of the stories about some of the places where our money has been spent particularly on some transgender mice experiments --
▶ 1:08:48Sen. Shaheen: Let me just correct you. That is not the case. That has been interesting, has been used time and again as the reason that Mr. mosk has cut foreign assistance, but those are just not accurate.
▶ 1:09:03Mr. Burch: I understand there will be disagreements over whether or not certain places deserve or don't deserve some of our dollars.
▶ 1:09:10Sen. Shaheen: But we should be able to agree on the facts.
▶ 1:09:14Mr. Burch: Absolutely. I don't doubt that most americans agree that some of our money has been mis-been places, that we have not spent our foreign aid person -- perfectly and that every single grant we make is properly aligned with united states interest. This is why a couple met the president and secretary for having the courage to take seriously the dollars that taxpayers invest in our country and that we spend around the world, to make sure they are aligned with U.S. interests. This is going to be a process.
▶ 1:09:44Mr. Burch: I understand the secretary is continuing to review a lot of these grants. I have spoken with some of the catholic relief service groups that are working, recipients of the grants. I understand some of them have been reauthorized. Others of course are still pending. I think this is a process that is still under review within the state department. I look forward to working on this issue.
▶ 1:10:07Sen. Shaheen: I'm out of time. I have more questions for the next round.
▶ 1:10:11Chair Risch: Senator ricketts.
▶ 1:10:16Sen. Ricketts: , thank you Mr. chairman. Right now, our adversaries are hard at work to explain -- expand their influence in every region. The the holy see is no exception. 2015, the vatican signed a provisional agreement to assign bishops appointed by communist china, not the vatican. Pope francis has categorized the vatican-china deal as diplomacy. I categorize this as being very dangerous.
▶ 1:10:44Sen. Ricketts: It sets a precedent for future relations with an adversarial nation. Xi jinping has given the green light to construct state approved, state-controlled catholic churches. This has a severe implication for catholic globally. I fear this encourages communist china and the persecution of minorities and provides more legitimacy for a repressive regime.
▶ 1:11:09Sen. Ricketts: In october, the vatican extended that agreement for the third time for four more years to find request from the first of administration to end the agreement. Mr. burch, do you agree that the agreement represents a dangerous level of cooperation between the catholic church and communist china?
▶ 1:11:27Mr. Burch: Thank you, senator. Thank you for the kind introduction at the beginning. I agree that the relationship between the holy see and china is of immense importance to the united states. As you point out, they did sign a provisional agreement in 2018 that they then renewed in 2024 that is primarily concerned with the appointment of bishops. This agreement is secret, so we do not know the contents of this agreement.
▶ 1:12:01Mr. Burch: Because it is restricted to only the appointment of bishops, I think it's important to maintain, for the holy see to maintain a posture of pressure, of applying pressure to the chinese government around their human rights abuses, particularly their persecution of religious minorities including catholics.
▶ 1:12:22Mr. Burch: When it come to the question of the appointment of bishops, I would encourage the holy see, as the ambassador if confirmed, to resist the idea that a foreign government has any role whatsoever in choosing the leadership of a private religious institution. I do not believe the church sued cede to any church or government the selection of their bishops. I would hope and work with the the holy see to prevent that and make that case, and assist in the case with the chinese.
▶ 1:12:51Mr. Burch: The other piece that is important with the specter china. The the holy see maintain diplomatic relations with taiwan. One of only 12 states to do so, the only european state to maintain diplomatic relations with taiwan. I understand this to be extremely important because, of course, china's ambitions with taiwan, what will likely be tempered by the posture of the rest of the world.
▶ 1:13:20Mr. Burch: The the holy see in maintaining this relationship with taiwan will serve as a point of hesitation, resistance given the the holy see's moral authority and moral respect and global influence around the world. I will insist at the united states ambassador if confirmed, that the holy see maintain that relationship with taiwan.
▶ 1:13:39Sen. Ricketts: Thank you come Mr. burch. One thing I want to get back to, you mentioned the catholic church is responsible for aid being distributed around the world, one of the partners that works with the united states government, with catholic relief services, caritas.
▶ 1:13:57Mr. Burch: That is right.
▶ 1:13:59Sen. Ricketts: Having been a prior donor, you mention how effective they are. Overhead costs are less than 5% typically, is that your understanding?
▶ 1:14:08Mr. Burch: That is my understanding.
▶ 1:14:11Sen. Ricketts: When the state department's review in ways that we are providing foreign aid -- maybe this is where the ranking member and I need to sit down and go over the facts. Some of the stuff that has been referenced, transgender operatives in peru, voter turnout in india, dei programs, other programs. Your -- you are more familiar, which is why masking.
▶ 1:14:38Sen. Ricketts: When it comes to the catholic church, they are focusing primarily on the type of aid that is life-saving. It is not involved with transgender promotion, it is not involved in voter turnout, it is not involved in dei. Is that your understanding of the a the catholic church does?
▶ 1:14:55Mr. Burch: That is my understanding. It is primarily focused on humanitarian aid. Like disaster relief in myanmar, for example. And there is human services, which involves a lot of different things that at times can or cannot be in the united states' interest. To the ranking member squash and, I think this is where it becomes difficult, because you have to make choices as the united states.
▶ 1:15:24Mr. Burch: Can we continue to fund any and all of these programs, or do we have to be selective? If we are going to be selective, what other criteria we are going to use? I support the president making sure the dollars we spend, the money the taxpayers pay into the federal government are aligned with the united states' interests and will make us safer and more prosperous.
▶ 1:15:43Sen. Ricketts: Getting to the point of the aid, it would seem that the catholic church is -- catholic church's interest aligns more with the types of aid of this administration with regard to lifesaving services.
▶ 1:15:57Mr. Burch: I would agree. The catholic church can be one of the best partners of the united states.
▶ 1:16:02Sen. Ricketts: Thank you very much, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:16:05Chair Risch: Thank you. Senator scott.
▶ 1:16:08Sen. Scott: Congratulations to each of you. Being ambassador is a fabulous job. You can do a lot of good things. First, thank you for each of you for being fully committed to president trump's agenda. Mr. burch, the holy see has long been outspoken on a variety of global human rights issues. I have appreciated the church help.
▶ 1:16:34Sen. Scott: They have been very helpful, especially with some dissidents in cuba, and I'm very appreciative of that. Unfortunately I don't see the same urgency from the vatican leadership regarding civilians, including americans being held hostage by hamas in gaza. What do you think you can do as ambassador to encourage more engagement on the hostages by the vatican leadership?
▶ 1:17:03Mr. Burch: Thank you for the question, senator. This issue is of immense importance to the holy father, pope francis. Even in his recent illness in the hospital he reportedly was making daily calls to a parish in gaza that was holding christian and muslim minorities. The vatican has been very clear, they have called for a piece, for an end to the violence. To a two-state solution. This, as I understand it, is one of the top priorities of the her -- of the holy see at this time. The united states is very interested in the same thing.
▶ 1:17:33Mr. Burch: To the president's credit, he is working diligently to craft a solution. The holy see can play, in my opinion, a significant role in assisting by a material point, the moral witness of the church in places around the world and including in the middle east, to be a partner in that conversation and deliver the necessary moral urgency of ending this conflict and, hopefully, securing a durable peace. Thank you.
▶ 1:18:04Sen. Scott: Julie has increased its engagement with china. While competing with growing chinese influence in the region?
▶ 1:18:19Mr. Judd: Senator, thank you very much. It is a very important issue for the trump administration when we look at xavier becerra trying to expand trade across the globe. We have to look at where we can strategically place investments such as in salt flats. Chile just opened up to bidding salt flats in the area.
▶ 1:18:43Mr. Judd: We have a great company out of north carolina who currently minds in chile my concern is that 71% of lithium that was mined in chile went to china last year. So, we need to look for ways that we can further our investments, open up business opportunities for companies here in the united states to go into chile. It goes beyond just that.
▶ 1:19:12Mr. Judd: We recognize that the ties we have with chile are so much stronger then what china does, and if we can show chile how we are the better partner, prove to them that just because something costs less right now it becomes exponentially more expensive than what it does by doing partnership with the united states. We are the better trade partner.
▶ 1:19:35Mr. Judd: We are the better partner in everything, whether it is antarctica, fisheries, marine conservation. In all of the areas it is very important to chile, also our foreign direct investment. China is a blip on the map when it comes to foreign direct investment, whereas we are the second-largest source of foreign direct investment.
▶ 1:19:58Mr. Judd: Need to continue to build on what we already have, and as we build on that we will continue to strengthen our ties with chile and limit china's access to all of the resources that chile might have available. Thank you.
▶ 1:20:11Sen. Scott: Given coy shows efforts to -- to diversify energy sources how can the U.S. support to russia's energy independence and reduce reliance on russian gas throughout the region? [no audio]
▶ 1:20:33Ms. Mcgraw: The lng terminal is doubling its capacity, which is going to give the united states energy suppliers an opportunity to export even more liquefied natural gas, which will really help cement kreischer's status as the regional energy hub. At that point not only will they be able to supply the entire country with energy, they will also be able to be an exporter, which will deter the russians and stop the russian dependence on gas in the region.
▶ 1:21:04Sen. Scott: Thank you.
▶ 1:21:10Chair Risch: Thank you very much. Senator shaheen has a few more questions, but before we do I think Mr. burch, the questions, senator shaheen raised, is one I find interesting. That is, she asked you how you're going to explain this with what we are doing with our foreign aid right now. And it has amazed me since I've been in this job how other countries treat the united states like the rich uncle.
▶ 1:21:40Chair Risch: It is -- there is 8 billion people on the planet, and we are less than 5% of that. And yet, every time there is a problem they turned to us and -- not always -- certainly not always, but occasionally believe that somehow we have an obligation to resolve everyone of these issues. Out of the 8 billion people we deal every day with countries where the people need food. They need shelter. They need medicine. They need education.
▶ 1:22:09Chair Risch: They need either one or all of these things. What we do really cannot come close to meeting the needs. One of the things we never hear about which is amazing to me, one of the most difficult places on the planet right now is the horn of africa. We are hearing very little about the horn of africa, and when you see what is going on there and compared to what is going on in gaza, the horn of acid -- horn of africa is significantly worse.
▶ 1:22:40Chair Risch: It is your obligation to explain how we allocate what is really a very limited resource for all of the difficulties that are out there in the world, and so, appreciate -- I heard what you said about that, and I appreciate your understanding of the matter, and I agree. I agree with senator shaheen. I agree with you. This is a difficult needle to thread, so thank you very much senator shaheen?
▶ 1:23:17Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. I would like to point out, give the opposing view will little bit. While I agree with my chairman that resources are limited, our investments in foreign assistance have been in the interest of U.S. national security. When we saved more than any 6 million people because of the pet farm program, that is a benefit to the united states.
▶ 1:23:41Sen. Shaheen: And now that that program has been shut down, pretty much, despite what has been reported -- it has really ground to a halt -- china is coming in and trying to pick that up. If we are going to win this competition with china and we have to recognize that we need to use all of the tools in our toolbox. It is not just the military. We need to use foreign assistance in developing programs. We need to use our diplomacy.
▶ 1:24:09Sen. Shaheen: It doesn't help us when we don't have diplomats on the ground and china is increasing its investment in diplomacy. It is increasing its investment in development assistance and humanitarian assistance at a time when the united states is pulling back. That does not help us in this global competition with china. And, Mr. judd, one of the reasons I put up this poster is because I serve -- I don't know if you can see it, but I serve on the armed services committee as well.
▶ 1:24:39Sen. Shaheen: And this is a little out of date. It is a couple of years old. But it makes the point, pretty much. Everything you see in red -- and we are happy to make a copy of this and share it with you -- those countries are all members of the belt and road initiative. Along with chile. Paraguay, the few that you -- suriname, the few that you see that are sort of in the tan color, bills are not members of the belt and road initiative that china is doing.
▶ 1:25:10Sen. Shaheen: And I have to say, is a little out of date, because thanks to secretary rubio, helped persuade panama to no longer be part of the belt and road initiative, which was a positive step. But that shows the challenge we have got in latin america. -- it has not gotten better since this map was done. It has gotten worse, with the exception of panama.
▶ 1:25:32Sen. Shaheen: And you cannot see it, but there are a number of -- there is an installation which I'm sure you are aware of in chile that is designed to -- we believe, address space surveillance. Just like there is one in argentina. So, china is increasing its influence throughout latin america, throughout africa, throughout the world at a time when the united states is pulling back.
▶ 1:26:00Sen. Shaheen: And that is not in our security interest. But, Mr. judd, you pointed out that chile has a strong record of democracy. And standing for human rights. Including against venezuela. If confirmed you will likely serve during an important presidential election in chile. What do you view as the appropriate role of a U.S.
▶ 1:26:27Sen. Shaheen: Ambassador during an election year and will you commit to avoiding any perception of what may be construed as election interference in the form of voicing support for one candidate or party over another?
▶ 1:26:40Mr. Judd: I really appreciate that question and I appreciate that chart you are showing there. You are clearly illustrating the challenges that, if confirmed, I will have. But I'm up to that challenge. I am up to meeting that challenge if you give me that opportunity. As it pertains to foreign elections, we don't want countries coming into the united states to influence our elections.
▶ 1:27:08Mr. Judd: And we have no part in influencing another country's election. It is for the chilean people to decide. And I will be there to support the chilean people in trying to make better their democracy and trying to help their people get better jobs, make better lives for themselves. That is what my role as the ambassador is. Not to influence foreign elections.
▶ 1:27:35Mr. Judd: So, yes, I do commit to you that I will not in any way try to influence an election in chile.
▶ 1:27:44Sen. Shaheen: Thanks very much. I appreciate that and I would like to correct Mr. burch. Your comment about myanmar, because while the president has pledged $2 million to address the tragedy there because of the earthquake, that money has not been disbursed yet.
▶ 1:28:02Sen. Shaheen: Because we don't have the foreign assistance past city to do that, because that has been shut down, and in fact, the three-person assessment team that went from state to assess the damage there was fired while they were on the ground. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:28:17Chair Risch: Thank you, senator shaheen, and thank you to all three of you for your willingness to serve and thank you for appearing here and giving us the benefit of your thoughts. Before closing I will state that any letters of support the committee has received for any of the nominees will be added to the record. I will also note for the members of the committee the record will remain open until the close of business tomorrow, april 9, including for members to submit questions for the record.
▶ 1:28:46Chair Risch: If you are fortunate enough to get one of those, please get it in as quickly as possible, because your process, your movement through the process will be slowed if we don't get those answers. So, if you will do that we will appreciate it. Thank you to the ranking member, and with that, the committee is adjourned.