Washington » The Senate Foreign Relations Committee could hold its first hearing on the nomination of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to be the U.S. ambassador to China in early June.
Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the committee, said Tuesday that the committee could bring up Huntsman's appointment when Congress returns from its Memorial Day break.
That depends on the White House formally submitting Huntsman's name to the committee, a move that should come within days.
"Most likely, the hearing will occur sometime in the week following the recess," Lugar told The Salt Lake Tribune just off the Senate floor on Tuesday.
Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the committee, wasn't as solid on the timing. But he promised it would be soon.
"We're going to move everybody as fast as we can," Kerry said, noting that his committee is approving nominations more quickly than others.
Of the 15 senior appointees the panel has dealt with so far this year, the span from nomination to full Senate confirmation has averaged 29 days.
The Senate confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a day; Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, got through in two days.
Some, however, like Susan Burk, nominated to a senior State Department post, are still waiting for confirmation. Burk's name was formally submitted on March 18, and the Senate has yet to vote on her nomination.
Lugar, however, doesn't anticipate Huntsman will have any difficulties. Several members of the committee have already praised his appointment, and Lugar says he's heard no rumblings of any trouble brewing.
"He is an outstanding choice," Lugar said. "He has remarkable qualifications based on his life experience as well as maturity that he's gained in so many ways in business as well as public service. I'm very excited about this nomination."
Huntsman has twice been confirmed unanimously by the Senate, once as deputy U.S. trade ambassador and also as U.S. ambassador to Singapore.
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