WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth issued the following press release:

Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm former U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Steel as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea:

"The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community is the fastest growing minority community in America. As the three United States Senators of AANHPI descent, we have a deep understanding of the way our communities are perceived at home and abroad. When leaders in our community weaponize division and hate, it is not representative of who we are as Americans.

"Congresswoman Steel has a disturbing history of ...