Senate

Senate panel approves Craft’s UN ambassador nomination

The Foreign Relations Committee voted on Thursday to send Kelly Craft’s nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to the full Senate. 
 
The committee voted 15-7 on Craft, paving the way for nomination to get a vote before the full Senate.{mosads} 
 
As of Thursday, a Senate vote hasn’t been scheduled, but she has the backing of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) who reportedly encouraged Trump to pick her for the post. 
 
Craft has come under fire from Democrats because of her views on climate change as well as questions about her experience. 
 
According to findings from Democrats circulated among Foreign Relations Committee staff, Craft spent more than half of time as the U.S. ambassador to Canada outside of the country. 
 
But Republicans have lined up behind Craft’s nomination making it all but guaranteed she will be confirmed. 
 
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, meaning she would have to lose four Republicans if she didn’t pick up any Democratic support for her confirmation to fail.