U.S. Senate Confirms Kansas Governor Samuel Brownback to Serve as Ambassador-at-Large

On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the United States Senate confirmed Kansas Governor Samuel Brownback to serve as the Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, a commission aimed at reviewing and making policy recommendations regarding violations of religious freedom around the world.

The vote in the Senate was split 49-49, with Arizona Senator John McCain and Tennessee Senator Bob Corker absent, forcing Vice President Mike Pence to break the tie.

“The thing I’m really pleased about is the Trump administration willing to aggressively engage this important topic because a lot of places will talk about it but they won’t aggressively address it,” Brownback said of his new post.

The Kansas governor was re-nominated for the federal post earlier this month after his previous nomination expired at the end of 2017.

In Kansas, Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer has been preparing to serve as the 47th Governor of the state, having taken on some of the Governor’s work over the last couple of months. “I am excited to get to work listening, serving, and leading on behalf of the people of Kansas”, Colyer said in a statement released last night.