WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its Subcommittee on Defense, today committed to working with Dr. Ash Carter, the newly-confirmed Secretary of Defense, to meet the nation’s security needs.

 

The Senate voted 93-5 on Thursday to confirm Carter as Defense Secretary.  Cochran supported Carter’s confirmation.   

 

“I’ve met with Dr. Carter and believe he has the intellect and judgment to be a capable Defense Secretary.  I look forward to working with him and our military leaders to ensure that our nation retains the resources and capabilities necessary to protect our security interests.  The budgetary pressures on the Department of Defense remain a cause for concern and a challenge that will take cooperation to address.”

 

Carter, whose nomination was approved unanimously by the Senate Armed Service Committee this earlier week, served previously as Deputy Secretary of Defense, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy during the Clinton Administration.

 

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