Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after voting to confirm Leon Panetta as the next Secretary of Defense:
“I am proud to have voted for the confirmation of Leon Panetta who will be an outstanding Secretary of Defense. For over four decades, Leon Panetta has been an extraordinary public servant spanning several administrations. His sound judgment has made him a well respected member of the President’s national security team where he played an instrumental role in the successful mission to bring Osama bin Laden to justice. His experience at the Central Intelligence Agency and his distinguished service in Congress, at the Office of Management and Budget, and at the White House make him well-qualified to lead the Pentagon and meet the unique challenges of our time.”