Tom Confirmed As Ambassador And U.S. Rep. To United Nations
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) issued a statement today, Friday, April 12, congratulating Kip Tom of Leesburg on being confirmed to serve as ambassador and U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, Italy. Tom was confirmed by the full Senate Thursday evening.
“As a leader in the agriculture community with significant experience in humanitarian relief, Kip Tom is well suited to represent the United States as we work to address food insecurity and malnutrition around the world,” said Young. “Kip will do an outstanding job representing our Hoosier interests and values globally, and I wish him the best in this new role.”
“I’m honored that the president nominated me to serve our nation, administration, working with the United Nations, working on global food security … complex situation feed 90 million people in 80 different countries, same time facilitate capacity and resilience,” stated Tom Friday afternoon.
“The global food security is complex,” Tom added, noting he will be working with such countries as Southern Sudan, Venezuela, Yemen … . “I had a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the president about the importance of food security and importance on our security,” Tom noted when people lack food there is migration and people migrate to areas where “they are subject to extremist groups and human trafficking. Neither bode well with security. It has a major implication to our own national security and our alliances around the world.”
As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee that oversees the United Nations and its agencies, Young recommended Tom for the appointment in 2017. When his nomination was announced by the White House in July 2018, Tom received bipartisan support from both Indiana Senators.
Young also introduced Tom during his first confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last summer. He was unanimously voted out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee twice before his final confirmation by the full Senate Thursday night.