Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett highlights Wisconsin-Luxembourg connections in Senate committee hearing on ambassadorship
Alison DirrMilwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett highlighted Wisconsin's connections to Luxembourg Tuesday in remarks to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee as a nominee to serve as ambassador to the European country.
"I'm especially proud that my home state of Wisconsin is also the home of many people of Luxembourg descent," Barrett told the committee in brief opening remarks. "In fact, it is the home of the Luxembourg American Cultural Center just a short drive from Milwaukee. The United States-Luxembourg relationship is strong, based on our shared history, our values and mutual interests, our strategic alliance and our economic ties."
The White House announced in August that President Joe Biden would nominate Barrett to serve as ambassador to Luxembourg.
Nominations have been moving slowly, though, and dozens of nominees are awaiting confirmation. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has led Republicans in requiring most of Biden’s State Department nominees to go through a time-consuming process.
Neither Cruz nor Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who is also a committee member, appeared at Tuesday's hearing. The session was conducted remotely via video.
Barrett on Tuesday committed to working closely with the committee and Congress to advance U.S. interests, collaborating with Luxembourg to combat climate change and prioritizing the safety and security of the approximately 3,100 American citizens who live in Luxembourg and the 30,000 citizens who visit the country each year.
He also pledged to continue expanding the countries' civil, commercial and defense cooperation in space.
"Luxembourg is in the heart of Europe, both psychologically and geographically, and I should note the size of its population is very close to that of Milwaukee," he said.
Barrett and three other nominees fielded detailed questions from senators on issues related to each of the countries in which they've been nominated to serve. Quite a few inquiries were related to those countries' relations with U.S. rivals China and Russia.
The questions to Barrett included one from Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, about concerns that Luxembourg signed on to China's Belt and Road Initiative that seeks to expand the country's influence by linking Europe and Asia. Romney asked for Barrett's thoughts on how the U.S. could broach the topic with Luxembourg and possibly encourage the country "to take a course which is less favorable to China."
Barrett said he thought Luxembourg signed on to the agreement based on its efforts to have good investment relations with countries around the world.
"I think we're also fortunate that because of our strong historic ties, our economic ties, our community of interest in terms of democracy that that provides a checkpoint," Barrett said, adding he would work with Luxembourg to ensure the nation understands the "challenges" that come with China's initiative.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, asked how responsive Luxembourg has been to U.S. and international concerns about money laundering and tax evasion.
Barrett said progress had been made in the last eight years but also that a task force that acts as an international watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing would be in Luxembourg this month.
"I intend, if I am confirmed, to look very carefully at what the Financial Action Task Force recommendations are and then work with the Luxembourg government to make sure those become a reality," Barrett said.
Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduced Barrett, recounting his career that includes terms in the state Assembly and Senate and U.S. House of Representatives before he was elected mayor of Milwaukee.
"Serving as mayor of Milwaukee since 2004, he has worked hard on economic development efforts, bringing billions of dollars in private investment across the city and working to create jobs and grow our economy," Baldwin said.
If Barrett were confirmed, Common Council President Cavalier Johnson would become acting mayor until an election was held to finish out Barrett's term.
Johnson is one of seven people who have filed papers to run for the permanent position, including Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas and former Ald. Bob Donovan.
Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.