Yesterday the U.S. Senate confirmed Kansas Governor Sam Brownback as Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom. A 49-49 tie vote on the confirmation was broken by Vice President Pence who voted in favor of the nomination. (
Senate Vote Summary). As reported by the
Washington Post:
The vote highlighted how polarizing a figure Brownback has become during what has been a divisive tenure as governor of Kansas.... Brownback had faced opposition from LGBT groups over a decision he made as Kansas governor to scuttle an executive order that barred discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity....
Under Trump, the State Department folded its Office of Religion and Global Affairs into the Office of International Religious Freedom that Brownback will now lead. The restructuring gives him a larger profile.
USCIRF issued a
press release welcoming the confirmation.
