Kaine votes to advance Hagel nomination to Defense post

During a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine announced his strong support of Sen. Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defense and voted to advance his nomination to the full Senate for consideration.

“After meeting Sen. Hagel in my office, listening to his testimony during his confirmation hearing, taking into account the opening statements from Sens. Nunn and Warner, and examining Sen. Hagel’s past record, I intend to vote today in favor of Sen. Chuck Hagel as our next Secretary of Defense,” Kaine said.

“Sen. Hagel has a deep understanding of our national security policy challenges; he is well-versed in the importance of properly funding our military and the Department of Defense; he has an intimate knowledge of how to work in partnership with Congress to address these challenges and impending budget disasters – such as the sequester; and finally, he has personal knowledge of what it means to be a soldier, what it means to protect this nation, and what it means to come back home and transition into society as a veteran – which is deeply important to me.”