WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Edward J. Markey (DMass.), who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today cheered President Obama's nomination of Caroline Kennedy to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Japan, releasing the following statement:

"Caroline's intelligence, perspective, and grace make her the ideal candidate to represent the United States of America in Japan. I enthusiastically support her nomination and anticipate the goodwill she will establish between America and one of our most important allies."