Confirmation Hearing

Nominated to serve as Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, Keith Krach testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 27, 2019.

The Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, known in State Department circles as “the E,” functions as head of economic diplomacy, in charge of economic statecraft for the State Department. Additionally, the E is charged with advancing the State Department’s economic development agenda; elevating and intensifying the Department’s efforts related to energy security, clean energy, and environmental sustainability; and fostering innovation through robust science, entrepreneurship, and technology policies.

Read Life & News’ article on Mr. Krach’s nomination – http://www.lifeandnews.com/articles/white-house-nominates-keith-krach-to-under-secretary-of-state-and-other-key-posts/

Mr. Krach was Life & News’ 2018 Transformational Leader of the Year – http://www.lifeandnews.com/articles/life-and-news-names-keith-krach-2018-transformational-leader-of-the-year/

FULL STATEMENT OF HON. ROB PORTMAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM OHIO
SENATOR PORTMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The great State of Ohio happens to have two nominees before you today. Mr. Destro is also a native of Ohio, but I am here to take the opportunity to introduce Keith Krach to be the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.
Keith is a native Ohioan, as I said, born in Lakewood, Ohio, raised in Rocky River. That is near Cleveland. His parents, Elda and John Krach, he says were the most important mentors in his life. He says his dad is the best leader that he ever knew. And for those who know Keith — and I have had the opportunity to meet him prior to his stepping up to this post — he takes after his parents, and I think that is the ultimate compliment.
You will see from his biography he is highly qualified for this position. He is a natural leader. He has got a long list of business accomplishments and successes. I think he will be the first to tell you that he would not have been able to do any of it without support of his wife Metta, who is with him today. But he has also got a few kids: Stephen; Carter; 7-year-old twins, JD, Emma. And I see the 7-year-old twins are with you today. Is that correct? Go JD and Emma. I know you are all very proud of your dad, and again, we are proud of him for stepping up to take on this public service responsibility.
The job he has been nominated for is really vital, not just to the State Department but to our country right now. As Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment, he is going to have a really important responsibility, senior economic official at the State Department. He will be Secretary Pompeo’s principal advisor on a lot of issues: international economic development, energy, agriculture, science, technology. Chairman Risch talked about some of the responsibilities of that post earlier.
And he could not be taking the post at a more important time for our country. We are strong in our economy right now. We are blessed by that, but frankly, it is a dangerous and volatile world out there, and specifically we face a lot of challenges. China continues to use unfair trade practices to undermine our economy particularly in the area of intellectual property, but beyond that, and I know you will be involved in some of those issues, Russia is trying to leverage the transit of natural gas through Europe with Nord Stream 2, which has enormous potential foreign policy implications. Europe is wrestling with Brexit and the possibilities there. We saw some news this morning about another change and the parliament taking over that issue. This has got ripple effects all over the EU and beyond.
And also, how do we capitalize on the opportunities of emerging markets throughout the world that want and need U.S. leadership? I think that is something we sometimes forget is there are so many developing countries that are looking to us to provide that leadership and perhaps a model of how free markets can work.
So there is no doubt in my mind that Keith is up to this task. He has the academic background with degrees from both Purdue and Harvard to go along with an impressive business resume, starting out 10 years with General Motors. His current job is CEO and Chairman of the Board of DocuSign.
I am proud to introduce my fellow Ohioan today and I know he will serve the Secretary and his nation with distinction.
I urge my fellow Senators to vote in favor of his nomination here in the committee and on the floor.