mr. gidwitz? mr. gidwitz: thank you, senator. given the difficulties of the last couple of years with attacks that have occurred in belgium, my top priority is to ensure the safety of the 23,000 americans that are plus the manyium, tourists that come through the country on an annual basis. secondly, to work with the belgian government and belgian agencies to strengthen the relationship and the multilateral organizations we share together. given the fact that there are 900 plus american corporations they are, to find ways we can build on that strong relationship to bring jobs both to our country as well as to the country of belgium. sen. johnson: i will go vote. i will turn it over to senator murphy, and i will walk as fast as i can. sen. murphy: thank you very much, mr. chairman. thank you to all of you for joining us here today. let me get my bearings, running back into the room. i am not sure what senator johnson asked, so i will hopefully not cover the same territory that he did. but let me start with you, mr. gidwitz. i do no

mr. gidwitz, you may have mr. view, and there have been many others that have gone and served in europe sitting exactly where you're sitting that have had different views than that. but you're going to find out the only views that really matter is the president's. and the president has carried out a pretty intentional and consistent policy of trying to undermine our alliance with europe. each country try to leave europe. he uses social media to publish really terrible, awful nation nationalist anti-europe propaganda. he wants russia to be back into the g7 without having done their part with respect to the agreement. and so i appreciate everyone that goes into this administration, especially those parts that serve the u.s.-europe alliance thinking they can change the president's mind. no one has been successful yet. and so let me ask you, mrmr. mr. sondland, a little bit about this issue over russia. you're even preparing for this job, a ndoubt have been briefed over what the policy is. i assume the president is fo

mr. gidwitz. senator tillis, if you would like to begin. >> thank you, mr. chairman. and members, i should say members of the committee. it is my great privilege introduce mr. gordon sondland who is been nominated to serve as united states ambassador to the european union. mr. assange was born in seattle washington and as a first-generation american his family history is both fascinating and obstructive as to why he has the experience and understanding to serve as u.s. ambassador to the eu. his parents were born in berlin, germany, and were married in 1937. they were forced to escape the nazi regime in germany. his mother was able to escape because her father was russian and those with russian passports could leave. she ended up or mr. sondland sister was born. his father was not so fortunate, and he had to be smuggled out of germany. he wound up in france where he joined the french foreign legion and thought in north africa picky was put in a concentration camp in africa where he was rescued by t

mr. ronald gidwitz. following the introductions i don't think we need any further introduction. >> thank you, mr. chairman. it's a tremendous honor to appear before you today as president trump's nominee to be the united states ambassador to the kingdom of belgium. for me, it's humbling that the president and secretary pompeo have the confidencen hopefully with your approve to engaging an important ally in the key center of europe. i would like to thank senator durbin and senator gardner for speaking on behalf. i want to thank several members of my family. first and foremost is christina to whom i've been married for almost 43 years. we have two sons alexander who lives in australia and scott who joins us here today. alex is married to a lovely young lady marlene and she recently gave birth to our third grandson christopher. scott is accompanied by his newly minted fiancee. my family's love and support has been a constant. during my career i've had multiple experiences in government service, private secto

mr. ronald gidwitz to be u.s. ambassador to belgium and ms. cherith chalet to be the u.s. representative to the united nations are you in management and reform with the rank of ambassador and alternative u.s. representative to the sessions of united nations general assembly. that's a mouthful.

gidwitz of ill you know -- illinois to to be the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. brian nichols to be the ambassador extraordinary to the republic of zimbabwe. assistant secretary of state, african affairs. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent that the senate vote on the nominations background en bloc,o further motions be in order, any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. the question is on the nominations en bloc. all in favor say aye. all opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nominations are confirmed en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination, executive calendar 902. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will report the nominations. the clerk: department of interior, terry sweeney of alaska to be assistant secretary. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate, if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, no further motions be in order, and that any stateme