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Dear Senator Reid/Senator McConnell, We write, as individuals with significant service and experience in Americas foreign policy and

national security, to urge you to act swiftly on the nomination of Tom Malinowski to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Mr. Malinowskis confirmation is particularly urgent given the number of challenges the United States faces in the world that are closely linked to issues of governance and human rights: the crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, the consolidation of authoritarian rule in Russia, and the continuing turmoil in Syria and elsewhere in the Arab World. Filling the U.S. governments senior position dedicated to democracy and human rights is also vital if we are to seize the opportunities presented by the democratic opening in Burma, influence the evolution of a rising China, guide global debates on freedom of expression and privacy on the Internet, and respond to crimes being committed against ordinary citizens in countries from the Central African Republic to North Korea. We recognize that the confirmation process has been particularly contentious and cumbersome. But as Secretary of State Kerry has noted, there is no known opposition to Mr. Malinowski's confirmation. He has been endorsed by senior Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate. And his nomination has been pending for over 250 days -- longer than several other nominees for Under and Assistant Secretary of State whom the Senate recently confirmed, despite the recent difficulties. Leaving this position vacant handicaps our diplomacy in crucial areas and sends a deeply unfortunate message about our priorities in the world. We urge you to act as soon as the Senate returns on March 24th to fill this important position. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
Elliott Abrams Former Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Madeleine Albright Former Secretary of State Sandy Berger Former National Security Advisor Megan Bradley Fellow, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution *Titles are provided for identification purposes only Nicholas Burns Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Carothers Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Scott Carpenter Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

Isobel Coleman Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky Former Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Eric Edelman Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Reuel Marc Gerecht Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Morton H. Halperin Senior Advisor, Open Society Foundations Jane Harman President and CEO, The Wilson Center Amy Hawthorne Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Atlantic Council Heather Hurlburt Senior Fellow, Human Rights First Robert Kagan Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution Brian Katulis Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Rachel Kleinfeld Founder, Truman National Security Project Mark P. Lagon Former U.S. Ambassador At Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons Joseph Lieberman Former U.S. Senator, Connecticut Peter Mandaville George Mason University Matteo Mecacci President, International Campaign for Tibet David Petraeus General (Ret.), U.S. Army Ted Piccone Acting Vice President, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution Mark Schnieder Former Director, Peace Corps Anne-Marie Slaughter President and CEO, New America Foundation James B. Steinberg Dean, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University Tamara Wittes Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

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