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Marco Rubio pushes amendments in bid to modify State Department operations

Jun 11, 2015 | News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, the Republican from Florida running for president, pushed through several amendments to a State Department authorizing bill that just moved through a key committee.
 
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday unanimously passed a fiscal 2016 authorizing bill that dictates operations for the State Department and U.S. embassies. The legislation now moves to the Senate floor, where it was expected to be offered as an amendment to a defense bill under consideration.
 
The focus of the legislation is reforming operations of the State Department, as well as improving security at U.S. diplomatic posts around the world. Rubio used the vehicle to address several other concerns; according to his Senate office, seven out of nine amendments he offered were either added to the bill by committee leaders or passed by voice vote of members.
 

 
Said Rubio, in a statement on his amendments: “The U.S. faces a growing list of global challenges, and this authorization bill will help the State Department better advance America’s interests by implementing key security and operational reforms and ensuring resources are used more effectively. I’m pleased that it also includes key priorities that I have worked on and advocated for to promote democracy and human rights, especially in the Western Hemisphere, and advance U.S. interests around the world.”
 

 
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