Costa Rica ambassador nominee has easy hearing
Fort Lauderdale woman was top GOP official
Sharon Day of Fort Lauderdale moved a step closer Wednesday to becoming the new U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica, breezing through a brief, friendly hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Day told senators shewas humbled by the nomination, mindful of her responsibilities and grateful to her family and friends.
“I have been blessed to witness firsthand Costa Rica’s natural beauty and her biodiversity, its culture and the kindness of its people,” she said. “TheUnited States and Costa Rica share a long and close relationship that centers on both our countries’ commitments to democratic principles, strong commercial ties, and the relationship between our people. The strong, bilateral relationshipbetween our two countries is strengthened by our longstanding and meaningful ties.”
Day was among three of President Donald Trump’s ambassadorial nominees who appeared before the committee, which vets nominees before they go to the full Senate. The others were Luis E. Arreaga, nominated as ambassador to Guatemala, and Krishna R. Urs, the nominee as ambassador to Peru. Arreaga and Urs are career foreign service officers. Day is a political appointee.
All had an easy go before the senators, only two of whomwere present.
U.S. Sen. MarcoRubio, RFla., a member of the committee, chaired the hearing and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was also present. Rubio said the sparse attendance from committee members means there isn’t controversy connected to the nominees. “The fact that it’s not full of senators is actually a good sign, not a bad one,” he said.
Rubio, who praised Day in his book “An American Son” for blocking Florida Republican insiders from torpedoing his 2010 campaign for U.S. Senate, was effusive in his introduction. He said he’d have been sitting next toDay introducing her to the committee if he weren’t chairing the hearing.
“Ms. Day is someone I know personally and have known for a significant period of time. She’s a dedicated person. She’s a hard worker. She’s a friend,” Rubio said. “I’m happy you’re here today. I’m encouraged that the president nominated youandIknowif confirmed you’ll represent our countrywell in Costa Rica.”
The entire hearing on the three nominees lasted about 20 minutes. There were no difficult questions and no voteswere taken.
One of Rubio’s questions asserted that U.S. missions need adequate resources. “Our embassies aren’t just nice buildings that host cocktail parties, and they’re not there just to interact with governments,” he said, adding that they provide services to Americans living in other countries and American tourists. The Trump administration has proposed deep cuts in the State Department budget.
Day responded that she was aware of what Rubio was saying — some 1.2 million Americans visited Costa Rica last year and 160,000 U.S. citizens live there, she said— and promised to make sure the embassy has the resources it needs.
“I willmake itmy highest priority tomake sure that all Americans whether in the embassystaffor team, or are Americans that are visiting or have actually decided to live there part time are protected, and make sure that we have the funds and the mechanism in place, the security controls in place to protect those individuals while we continue to grow the embassy mission,” Day said.
In response to other questions, Day said U.S. efforts to work with Costa Rica on issues such as drug trafficking and human trafficking are important. “To continue the bilateral relationship with Costa Rica is vitally important,” she said. “When you have a strong and secure country, it does stop a lot of the issues.”
The Day nomination continues a longstanding tradition by presidents of both parties, who nominate political supporters or campaign donors to ambassadorial positions.
The American Foreign Service Association, which represents career foreign service officers, reports that about 30 percent of ambassadors have traditionally been political.
Day, 66, speaks some Spanish and is taking lessons and has visited Costa Rica in the past. Her nominationwas announced on June14.
Until January, Day spent four years as the No. 2 official at the Republican National Committee, traveling across the country in her role as party co-chairwoman. During the 2016 presidential campaign, shewas a tireless and prominent public advocate from Trump, often serving as one of the warm-up speakers at campaign rallies.
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