| TLJ News from June 26-30, 2013 |
House and Senate Pass Taiwan Observer Status Bill
6/27. The House passed HR 1151 [LOC | WW] on June 18, 2013 by a vote of 424-0. See, Roll Call No. 250. The Senate passed this bill on June 27 by unanimous consent.
This bill provides that the Secretary of State "shall" "develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial ICAO Assembly -- next held in September 2013 in Montreal, Canada -- and other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms thereafter".
This bill also provides that the Secretary of State "shall" "instruct the United States Mission to the ICAO to officially request observer status for Taiwan at the triennial ICAO Assembly and other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms thereafter and to actively urge ICAO member states to support such observer status and participation for Taiwan".
This bill is ready for signature by President Obama. However, he has not yet signed it.
Judicial Appointments
6/27. President Obama nominated Pedro Hernández to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. See, White House news office release and release.
6/27. President Obama nominated Bruce Hendricks to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court for for the District of South Carolina. See, White House news office release and release.
6/27. President Obama nominated Alison Renee Lee to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court for for the District of South Carolina. See, White House news office release and release.
More People and Appointments
6/27. The Senate confirmed Brian Deese to be Deputy Director of the Executive Office of the President's Office of Management and Budget (OMB). See, Congressional Record, June 27, 2013, at Page S5511.
6/27. The Senate confirmed Anthony Foxx to be Secretary of Transportation by a vote of 100-0. See, Roll Call No. 165. See also, Congressional Record, June 27, 2013, at Page S5511.
6/27. President Obama nominated Ellen Herbst to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Commerce (DOC). See, White House news office release.
6/27. President Obama nominated Steve Linick to be Inspector General at the Department of State (DOS). See, White House news office release.
6/27. President Obama nominated Alejandro Mayorkas to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. See, White House news office release. He is currently Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Before that, he worked for the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers. Before that, he worked in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, the last few years as President Clinton's U.S. Attorney.
People and Appointments
6/26. President Obama announced his intent to re-nominate General Marty Dempsey to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. See, White House news office release.
6/26. President Obama announced his intent to re-nominate Admiral Sandy Winnefeld to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. See, White House news office release.