Senate confirms Lloyd Austin, making him the nation's first Black defense secretary

[NYC Liberal]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON – The Senate on Friday confirmed Lloyd Austin as the nation's first Black defense secretary, the second Biden nominee to be confirmed by the chamber.

Austin's confirmation process wasn't without bumps. Controversy flared over a law barring recently retired military officers from serving as the defense secretary, but top Democrats lined up behind Austin's nomination, citing the need for Biden to have his national security team in place after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The law requires that troops be retired for seven years before taking the post.

The House passed a waiver from the law for Austin on Thursday afternoon, and the Senate followed suit shortly after.

Some lawmakers had expressed concern about granting another waiver for Austin after they had done so for Trump’s first defense secretary Jim Mattis, but they ultimately supported Austin. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., said on the House floor he had “no concern whatsoever about Lloyd Austin upholding civilian control of the military.”

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/22/lloyd-austin-becomes-nations-first-black-defense-secretary/6661471002/

[SheltieLover]

1. Awesome!

[George II]

2. Disappointed in the number of Democratic "Nays". Tammy Duckworth's nay was a surprise.

[onetexan]

3. That was a known. Tammy has spoken out in previous weeks she preferred a civilian, not ex-military.

[Tanuki]

4. She has said that she thinks he is an excellent, experienced leader and

that she will vote for his confirmation. It is the waiver that she is voting against, on principle. She voted against the waiver in the previous administration and says the principle involved is bigger than any one individual. She obviously likes and respects Gen. Austin.

[ananda]

5. I really like Duckworth also!

It will all work out fine.

[Tanuki]

7. Duckworth also thinks it will work out fine!

https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-meets-with-secretary-designate-lloyd-austin

"Secretary-Designate Austin is a crisis-tested leader who served honorably and faithfully for more than 50 years, breaking barriers and commanding troops with integrity and compassion the entire way. I’m glad Secretary-Designate Austin and I had the opportunity to discuss his views on some of the most important issues facing DOD, such as the importance of investing in the emerging Indo-Pacific region, modernizing our logistics infrastructure and improving diversity and inclusion throughout the Department. I look forward to hearing his testimony at his upcoming Committee Hearing.”

[in2herbs]

10. It was Duckworth and Warren who said they opposed him based on the waiver issue only. nt

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

6. Yay!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. He appears highly qualified

[SunSeeker]

11. Now go fire all the Trump appointees at DoD, and rehire the Vindmans! nt

[dalton99a]

12. +1. Root them out ASAP

[KewlKat]

13. Great news.

[oldsoftie]

14. Almost unanimous. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Here is the Roll Call

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00005

("nay"s and "not voting"s highlighted)

Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 1st Session
XML Vote Summary

Question: On the Nomination (Confirmation: Lloyd James Austin, of Georgia, to be Secretary of Defense )
Vote Number: 5
Vote Date: January 22, 2021, 10:31 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2
Vote Result: Nomination Confirmed
Nomination Number: PN78-1
Nomination Description: Lloyd James Austin, of Georgia, to be Secretary of Defense
Vote Counts:
YEAs93
NAYs
2
Not Voting
5

*Information compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate bill clerk under the direction of the secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
By Senator Name
By Vote Position
By Home State

Alphabetical by Senator Name

Baldwin (D-WI), Yea
Barrasso (R-WY), Yea
Bennet (D-CO), Yea
Blackburn (R-TN), Yea
Blumenthal (D-CT), Yea
Blunt (R-MO), Yea
Booker (D-NJ), Yea
Boozman (R-AR), Yea
Braun (R-IN), Yea
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Not Voting
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Capito (R-WV), Not Voting
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Cassidy (R-LA), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Coons (D-DE), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Cortez Masto (D-NV), Yea
Cotton (R-AR), Yea
Cramer (R-ND), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Cruz (R-TX), Yea
Daines (R-MT), Yea
Duckworth (D-IL), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ernst (R-IA), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Fischer (R-NE), Yea
Gillibrand (D-NY), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Hagerty (R-TN), Yea
Hassan (D-NH), Yea
Hawley (R-MO), Nay
Heinrich (D-NM), Yea
Hickenlooper (D-CO), Yea
Hirono (D-HI), Yea
Hoeven (R-ND), Yea
Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Not Voting
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Johnson (R-WI), Yea
Kaine (D-VA), Yea
Kelly (D-AZ), Yea
Kennedy (R-LA), Yea
King (I-ME), Yea
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Lankford (R-OK), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Lee (R-UT), Nay
Lujan (D-NM), Yea
Lummis (R-WY), Yea
Manchin (D-WV), Yea
Markey (D-MA), Yea
Marshall (R-KS), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Merkley (D-OR), Yea
Moran (R-KS), Not Voting
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murphy (D-CT), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Ossoff (D-GA), Yea
Padilla (D-CA), Yea
Paul (R-KY), Yea
Peters (D-MI), Yea
Portman (R-OH), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Risch (R-ID), Yea
Romney (R-UT), Yea
Rosen (D-NV), Yea
Rounds (R-SD), Yea
Rubio (R-FL), Yea
Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Sasse (R-NE), Yea
Schatz (D-HI), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Scott (R-FL), Yea
Scott (R-SC), Yea
Shaheen (D-NH), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Sinema (D-AZ), Yea
Smith (D-MN), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Sullivan (R-AK), Yea
Tester (D-MT), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Tillis (R-NC), Not Voting
Toomey (R-PA), Yea
Tuberville (R-AL), Yea
Van Hollen (D-MD), Yea
Warner (D-VA), Yea
Warnock (D-GA), Yea
Warren (D-MA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
Wicker (R-MS), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Young (R-IN), Yea

[GulfCoast66]

16. Might be the contrarian here. But don't really like a ex-general in the position.

Don’t get me wrong, he seems like a good guy and I trust Joe. But I just don’t like a career military person in the role.

I totally think we need someone who has served, but not a career guy.