Democrats who contend that Cruz was putting U.S. national security at risk have rebuked him for his blockade, which began shortly after Biden took office.
Chris Coons said in a brief interview that it was reasonable for senators to try and get votes on policy issues that mattered to them. There are holds on dozens of ambassadors and senior nominees by Republican senators. We need a path to confirm qualified nominees.
Cruz has used one of the few tools available to him to force action on a particular issue. The U.S. and its Western allies have said the project will endanger Europe's energy security and enrich Russian President Putin, and Cruz has used the issue to argue that Biden was kowtowing to Moscow.
The State Department decided against imposing mandatory sanctions on Germany earlier this year because the previous German government was in favor of the project.
The Senate voted to confirm Emanuel as the U.S. ambassador to Japan.
The Senate was on a slow pace with foreign policy nominations. Democrats and Republicans were frustrated by the blockade from Cruz and other GOP senators.
At least for now, Cruz's strategy paid off. The Senate will vote on his legislation before the end of the year. If the bill passes in the Senate and the House, Cruz will lift the additional holds.
