[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6627-S6628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK ESPER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday, the President informed us 
that Secretary Mark Esper's tenure leading the Department of Defense 
has concluded.
  When the Senate considered Secretary Esper's nomination, I said you 
could hardly invent better qualifications to run the Pentagon than his 
resume. From West Point and the 101st Airborne to his time as Secretary 
of the Army, this leader had stepped up when his country needed him. 
The Secretary brought integrity, expertise, and steady leadership to 
the Pentagon's top job.
  I am grateful for his work to keep our country safe, modernize our 
military, and implement the Trump administration's new national defense 
strategy to address the challenges of our time. A decorated combat 
veteran himself, he won the respect of the men and women of our Armed 
Forces.
  The country is grateful for his career of service.
  During this time of transition, I am confident in the professionalism 
of the men and women of the Department of Defense, not to mention our 
uniformed services. We are lucky to have such capable and duty-focused 
men and women on the watch, defending the Constitution, deterring our 
adversaries, and protecting the peace.
  I expect to speak with Acting Secretary Miller soon to discuss the 
serious threats facing our country, whether from foreign terrorists or 
great powers like China and Russia that may

[[Page S6628]]

seek to exploit the period of uncertainty. All of this highlights the 
need for continued sober and steady leadership at the Department.

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