Joseph Cella


Joseph James Cella is an American diplomat and adviser, serving as the United States Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu. He was confirmed on September 25, 2019 and sworn in to office on November 25, 2019.
A graduate of Hillsdale College, Cella has worked in the Capital Hill office of U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter. Before becoming a senior adviser to the House Republican Steering Committee and Republican Policy Committee. In 2004, he founded the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast along with, Rick Santorum, and Leonard Leo. During the 2016 United States presidential election he served as lead Catholic advisory council, for then Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Cella was also apart of the President-Elect Trump Transition Team.

Education and personal life

Joseph James Cella was born on November 14, 1969, to his father, Robert Cella, and his mother, Janice Jean Cox. He was raised in Richmond, Michigan and graduated from Hillsdale College in 1991. He lives in Augusta Charter Township, Michigan outside of Ann Arbor with his wife Kristen Renee Hemker, and their seven children.

Religious work

Cella is a Roman Catholic. In 2004, he founded the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast along with, Rick Santorum, and Leonard Leo. Which was created in response to Pope John Paul II's call for a new evangelization. It has featured many notable guest speakers like, President George W. Bush, Chief Justice John Roberts, Paul Ryan, Raymond Leo Burke, Samuel Alito, and Antonin Scalia.
He has also co-founded the Catholic advocacy organization Catholic Vote. Its main purpose, according to its website is:
" is a lay-led movement of committed Catholics who are passionate about living out the truths proclaimed by Christ and His Church in the modern world. We are joined in this mission by many individuals of other faith traditions because the common good we seek is universal to all men and women of good will.".
It has grown to over 700,000 members, as of 2019.

Political career

Cella was a staff member in the Capital Hill office of Michigan Representative Thaddeus McCotter before becoming a senior adviser to the House Republican Steering Committee and Republican Policy Committee.
During the 2016 United States presidential election he served as lead Catholic advisory council, for then Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Cella was also apart of the President-Elect Trump Transition Team.
But, even though Cella led the Trump Campaign's Catholic advisory council during the 2016 election, Cella has not always supported Trump. He was one of several Catholic leaders to sign onto an open letter in March 2016 opposing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president. They “called Trump ‘manifestly unfit to be president of the United States,’ citing his “vulgarity,’ his appeals to racial and ethnic fears, and questioning his commitment to ending abortion.” He later went on record saying he had “a sincere change of heart and mind” when Trump said he would appoint anti-abortion judges in the mold of Antonin Scalia.
In 2019, U.S. Senators voted 56-38 to approve Cella as ambassador to Fiji, an archipelago of more than 300 islands northeast of New Zealand, as well as the republics of Kiribati and Nauru, the kingdom of Tonga and Tuvalu. Cella's home state of Michigan, and it's Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters voted no, along with most other Democrats in the chamber. Cella's nomination was approved 14-7 by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April, with seven Democrats voting no.

Political positions

Social issues

Cella is pro-life, is against partial-birth abortion, and supports anti-abortion legislation.
Cella calls for more school choice, and wants to end Common Core.

Climate change

When asked by Senator Shaheen on the Senate Floor, if he believes in global warming and that human activity is contributing to it, Cella said:
"Yes, Senator, it is happening, I think it is human and I think there's some natural involvement as well. But in my capacity I would work with you and in the administration to mitigate whatever we might — how we might do it."
Cella also said climate change would be one of his immediate priorities to relinquish, along with human trafficking, as Ambassador to Fiji.

Economy

Cella is a free-market capitalist, and said when he becomes Ambassador to Fiji his key goals will be, "the further cultivation and showcasing of democratic, free market principles rooted in each country’s right to choose its own sovereign course", and "fostering vibrant economies through free, fair, and reciprocal trade and expansion of tourism.".
He also said, regarding his ambassadorial countries that, "The island nations are an increasingly important component for the strength of our commitment, presence and relations in the Indo-Pacific; for its free and open nature, sustaining democratic principles, the rule of law, and market-based economies.".

Foreign policy

Cella has attempted to make talks with Attorney General and Minister of the Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the State Department, and the state of Texas, for having more bilateral trade opportunities, and for stimulating business and investment with the country of Fiji.

Diplomatic career

Early actions

Joseph Cella was presented his credentials to be the United States Ambassador to Fiji on December 23, 2019, by President Jioji Konrote.
He said, his main priorities within his first 30 days was to be a "very active, aggressive bridge builder, and public engager". One month later, Cella's Embassy put into effect a year long campaign that highlights the, "...commitment to the Indo-Pacific region through joint efforts to promote good governance, advance sustained economic prosperity, improve human development, develop resilience programs, and strengthen regional maritime security partnerships.". Also, to commemorate "...75 years of peace in the Pacific and Europe, following the end of World War II, as well as 50 years of building bridges between the United States and the Republic of Fiji since gaining independence in 1970."
On January 30, Cella met with General Joseph Lengyel, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, to "emphasize the importance of Fiji’s State Partnership Program with the Nevada National Guard". This also brought to light, a state partnership program between Fiji and Nevada that was signed in February 2019, and includes regular training exchanges between the RFMF and American National Guard forces.
Cella was also able to help the Fiji Red Cross Society set up a blood drive. He was their first ever blood donor.

COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cella was able to get an additional US$9.9 million for his ambassadorial countries, through the United States Agency for International Development. Its original USAID funding was US$2.3 million, bringing it now to US$12.2 million. A 430% increase in funding. Cella was also able to obtain 1,400 liters of hand sanitizer, 1,000 boxes of sanitizing wipes, 9,000 face masks, 500 surgical gowns, and 50,000 pairs of latex gloves, and power generators from relief supplies. He also got Fiji’s leading alcohol beverages manufacturer, Paradise Beverages Limited, to donate another 1,400 litres of manufactured hand sanitizers towards the Health Ministry’s fight against COVID-19. General Manager of Paradise Beverages, Mike Spencer, said that "they were fortunate that the US Embassy has come on board and contribute to this because if they did this themselves, they could not do it for long.".
As of July 18, 2020, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji has only has had 26 cases, with 0 confirmed deaths.
Cella has also been involved in on the ground charity work, helping the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, during the pandemic. Cella's embassy has made donations to food banks that help people, and families impacted by COVID-19.
On Ramadan amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, he made this statement:
In July, Cella joined Government of Fiji officials and donor partners to launch “Health Care on Air,” a radio program that boosted the capacity of health workers to protect themselves and deliver quality health services to communities during COVID-19 pandemic. The “Health Care on Air” Program is targeted towards health workers living in remote areas, who may not have access to a television or online training.

Economic policies

Cella had also made talks with Attorney General and Minister of the Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the State Department, and the state of Texas, for having more bilateral trade opportunities, and for stimulating business and investment with the country of Fiji.Then, in May of 2020, Cella's Embassy requested grant proposals of US$25,000-$40,000 to support economic resilience in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu at the grassroots level during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative was also part of a host of activities by the U.S. Embassy in Suva and the Department of State in Washington, D.C. to promote economic growth and build a robust trade relationship between the United States and its allies in the region. If accepted, the money comes on a date between July 1, and September 30.
In June, he hosted a series of discussions with representatives from Fiji’s dynamic export sector, to speak with potential buyers in the United States to learn what Americans want in Fijian goods and how to effectively market to them. They also heard from officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates imported food items, on how to meet U.S. standards. The FDA requirements initially intimidated some of the attendees, but after the session learned where to find the information they need to expand their business to the U.S. market.
The second series of discussions focused on importing from the United States. Attendees heard from representatives from a private security company in Fiji, to learn how to bring in U.S. food products, in addition to lessons on how to buy directly from U.S. sellers by officials with the state of Texas and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Executives with Fiji’s largest supermarkets were in attendance and expressed enthusiasm for bringing in more U.S. food products to Fiji.

Social programs

In June of 2020, Cella signed a grant with the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council to run the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs for 60 to 90 Fijian women business owners. The grant will allow for trained facilitators from WEBC and the Makoi Women’s Vocational Center to guide women business owners through a training program. The facilitators, who are also local business experts, will lead sessions in vital areas of entrepreneurship and business management while addressing Fiji-specific topics useful to entrepreneurs.
In July, Cella officially launched the English Access Microscholarship Program. VisionFiji, a local NGO focused on children’s welfare, received a grant to manage the two-year program for teenagers residing in the settlement of Wakanisila, on the outskirts of Suva. This is the first Access program ever to be held in the Pacific. Since its inception in 2004, approximately 150,000 students in more than 80 countries have participated in the Access Program.