SENATE PANEL TO CONSIDER NOMINATION OF PETER CIANCHETTE TO BE AMBASSADOR OF
COSTA RICA

Senator Susan Collins to Introduce Cianchette to Senate Foreign Relations
Committee

WASHINGTON, DC-- Later today, Senator Susan Collins is scheduled to
attend a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to consider the
nomination of Peter Cianchette of Portland to be U.S. Ambassador to the
Republic of Costa Rica. Senator Collins will be introducing Cianchette and
supports his nomination.

Following are Senator Collins’ introductory remarks as prepared for
delivery:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my privilege today to join Senator Snowe
in introducing Peter Cianchette, the President’s nominee to be the next United
States Ambassador to Costa Rica. The people of my State are proud of what
this Mainer has accomplished in his distinguished career of service.

The United States and Costa Rica have a long history of friendship and
cooperation. Mr. Cianchette is an outstanding choice to strengthen this
relationship. With more than 20 years of business experience and public
service, he has a proven ability to work cooperatively with others to achieve
progress. As a dedicated community leader and civic activist, he has a long
and distinguished record of using his talents to benefit others.

Mr. Cianchette served two terms in the Maine Legislature, in 1996 and
1998, ably representing the people of South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. He
is a partner in the Maine private investment firm, CHK Capital Partners, and
is the president of one of its portfolio companies. He also is owner and
president of The Cianchette Group, a public affairs management and business
consulting firm based in South Portland.

Prior to this, Mr. Cianchette served as Chief Operating Officer and
Executive Vice- President of Pierce Atwood Consulting. He had previously
founded Cianchette Enterprises, which owned and operated a successful employee
staffing, recruiting and placement company.

Mr. Cianchette has also served as a senior executive in one of Maine's
top manufacturing concerns, the Dragon Products Company, a leading
manufacturer of cement and concrete, and a subsidiary of the largest cement
producer in Spain. In this position, Mr. Cianchette participated in meetings
conducted in Spanish, and he is continuing to perfect his command of the
language. This skill will be an invaluable asset in the position to which he
is nominated.

Mr. Cianchette’s impressive business résumé is exceeded only by his
commitment to community service. He currently serves as a director on the
boards of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, Maine Education Services, and
MaineHealth. He has served as Director of the Greater Portland Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boy Scouts of America Pine Tree Council, the
Portland Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Maine Community College Foundation,
and YES! to Youth, and as President of the Maine Better Transportation
Association. He is a graduate of the University of Maine and, with his wife,
Carolyn, a proud parent of two children.

There is one particular aspect of Mr. Cianchette’s public service that I
believe bears special mention. His service in the Maine Legislature and his
campaigns have been marked by civility, decency, and integrity. He is one of
those rare elected officials who has opponents but who does not create
enemies. These character traits are evident in his business endeavors and his
community service, and they will serve our nation well in this diplomatic
position.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly endorse Peter Cianchette’s nomination to be the
next U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica and enthusiastically recommend him to this
Committee.

#####