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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
Washington, D.C.—Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) lauded the long-awaited confirmation of Mari Carmen Aponte as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador. In a strong show of bipartisan support, the U.S. Senate voted 62–37 this afternoon to allow the nomination to go forward.
“This is a great day for the Latino community and for our nation,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “Today justice was done. An eminently qualified leader who served her country as ambassador for more than a year despite Senate inaction has at long last been confirmed. We want to express our deep appreciation to the Obama administration, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–Nev.) for persevering on this nomination because it was the smart and right thing to do.”
“Having a permanent representative strengthens one of the most important alliances we have in this very important region. I also want to thank Senator Marco Rubio (R–Fla.) and the eight other Republican senators who voted to confirm Ms. Aponte, recognizing the importance of this nomination to the Hispanic community and to our country’s national security,” continued Murguía.
In addition to Rubio, eight Republican Senators voted to break the impasse, paving the way for Aponte’s confirmation: Kelly Ayotte (R–N.H.); Scott Brown (R–Mass.); Susan Collins (R–ME); Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.); Richard Lugar (R–Ind.); John McCain (R–Ariz.); Lisa Murkowski (R-–AK); and Olympia Snowe (R–ME).
“We are very proud of our long relationship with Ms. Aponte, a former NCLR Board member, and we have no doubt she will continue to serve our nation with honor and distinction,” concluded Murguía.
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