January 19, 2021

Duckworth Discusses Extremism, Logistics Infrastructure and Clean Energy with Austin During His Confirmation Hearing

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), discussed several pressing challenges facing the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) with Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to be Secretary of Defense, at Austin’s confirmation hearing today. Video of Duckworth’s remarks during Austin’s confirmation hearing is available here.

“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 throughout his military career,” said Duckworth. “I appreciated today’s opportunity to hear his plans to modernize our logistics infrastructure, the DOD’s emissions and reliance on fossil fuels and restore good order and discipline while addressing the rise of extremism within the ranks.”

Duckworth met with Austin last week to discuss his views on some of the most important issues facing the Department of Defense. Duckworth also issued a statement after last week’s SASC Hearing on civilian control of the Armed Forces.

“My opposition to yet another waiver of federal law to allow Secretary-designate Austin to serve as Secretary of Defense has everything to do with restoring the bedrock principle of civilian control of the military and nothing to do with his qualifications or character,” Duckworth said regarding federal statute that prevents any person from serving as Secretary of Defense if it has been less than seven years since their regular military service. “If my colleagues pass an exception to this statute, I remain committed to considering his nomination fairly and on its merits.”

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