Carney, Coons praise Markell’s appointment as Afghan coordinator

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WILMINGTON — Former Gov. Jack Markell has been appointed to serve as the White House’s Operation Allies Welcome Coordinator by President Joe Biden. 

In the role, Mr. Markell will oversee the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the United States. Gov. John Carney and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., both praised Pres. Biden’s pick with Gov. Carney calling Mr. Markell a “great selection” in a statement. 

“Delaware is a welcoming state — a ‘state of neighbors,’ as Governor Markell used to say,” Gov. Carney said in the statement. “My friend and our former Governor is a great selection by Pres. Biden to lead this incredibly important mission to resettle Afghan refugees in the U.S. These are Afghans who supported American service members over the last 20 years and are coming to America seeking better lives for their families. Delaware stands ready to support this effort in any way possible.”

Sen. Coons, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also praised Mr. Markell for the dedication he will bring to the role. 

"(Mr.) Markell is a dedicated and capable public servant with the experience, intelligence and character to skillfully coordinate what will be a challenging nationwide effort to ensure our Afghan partners from America's longest war are safely resettled in the United States,” Sen. Coons said in the statement. "I look forward to supporting him in this work and to helping rebuild our nation's capacity to welcome evacuees."

Mr. Markell will coordinate President Biden administration's resettlement policy development and engage with state and local governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to support the resettlement of Afghan evacuees in the United States, the statement from Sen. Coons' office reads.

 

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