[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 12 (Thursday, January 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S84-S85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF LLOYD JAMES AUSTIN

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I also want to talk about another 
important issue, and that is President Biden's nomination for the very 
important job of Secretary of Defense, Mr. Lloyd Austin. We are going 
to be voting on his nomination here on the Senate floor in a couple of 
hours.
  I had the honor of introducing Mr. Austin just 2 days ago at his 
confirmation hearing, and I thought the confirmation hearing went well. 
So I want to talk a little bit about Mr. Austin before we take what 
will essentially be two important votes for his confirmation.
  Now, the last time I was actually on the floor of the U.S. Senate, 
our Capitol was under siege, and from a foreign policy and national 
security perspective, America's authoritarian rivals have been gloating 
over what happened on that day. They have been reveling in our 
disunity. Democracy brings chaos, they tell their people. It is better 
to have a strong hand that keeps order. Well, as you know, we do live 
in an imperfect democracy, no doubt, and the American I was honored to 
introduce at the Armed Services hearing the other day, Mr. Lloyd 
Austin, understands our imperfections more than many.
  Yet, on closer inspection, the world's dictators have little to 
celebrate. Congress went back to work on January 6, right here on the 
Senate floor, to count electoral votes, and yesterday there was a 
peaceful transfer of power at the top of our government, as there has 
been since our Republic's founding.
  At some point--maybe sooner than we think--Chinese and Russian 
citizens are going to ask: Hey, why can't we do that? Why don't we have 
strong, resilient institutions that ensure the regular elections of new 
leaders and that invest in self-government and the people?
  When these citizens ask these questions of authoritarians like Putin 
or Xi Jinping, they are not going to be gloating anymore because they 
won't have answers to these questions.
  So what does this all have to do with Mr. Lloyd Austin? A lot. Mr. 
Austin has been nominated to lead one of America's most trusted 
institutions--the Department of Defense. Many of us have worked hard 
over the last few years to rebuild our military's strength and 
readiness, but I think we can all agree that there has been too much 
turmoil at the top at the Pentagon. As its civilian leader, I am 
confident that Mr. Austin will bring steadiness, leadership, and 
respect to this indispensable American institution.
  I got to know Mr. Austin in 2005 and 2006 while serving together in 
an Army-heavy combatant command as we conducted combat operations 
throughout the Middle East. We had what might be referred to today as 
an unequal power relationship. He was a two-star general. I was a 
major. He had spent years on Active Duty. I was a reservist. He was a 
soldier. I was a marine. I was just one of hundreds of field-grade 
infantry officers who had been recalled to Active Duty and deployed in 
the region during a challenging time for our Nation. Yet, when I asked 
for his time, Mr. Austin gave it. When I had a problem, he listened. 
When I asked for help on an important mission, he provided it.
  A critical hallmark of exceptional leadership, especially for 
organizations like the Pentagon, is not just how one treats superiors 
but how one treats subordinates, those down the chain of command. What 
I saw was respect and integrity and someone who knew how to get things 
done in a difficult environment.
  It is clear to me the core principles of Mr. Austin's life have been 
duty, honor, country. West Point has done its job. Now, that may sound 
quaint to some, but I think having individuals of impeccable character 
at the top of our government is more important than ever. Other than 
integrity, there is no singular requirement for the difficult job of 
Secretary of Defense, and as the former Director of the Joint Staff and 
as the former CENTCOM Commander, Mr. Austin certainly has insight on 
critical issues, such as interagency budget battles, working with 
allies, and congressional oversight.
  Mr. Austin is also fully committed to the constitutional principle of 
civilian control of our military--something that those who serve in 
uniform typically understand and revere more than those who don't. In 
that regard, you may recall that, about 10 days ago, we had a hearing 
in the Committee on Armed Services on this very important topic, but I 
actually thought some of the witnesses had rather simplistic views of 
this important issue.
  They had brought up topics and discussions of so-called ``military 
logic'' by those who wear the uniform versus ``political logic'' for 
those who don't wear the uniform.
  So let me play devil's advocate for those who participated and 
watched that hearing.
  The very nature of the confirmation hearing that we had with Mr. 
Austin just 2 days ago and, indeed, the very nature of the transfer of 
power that we saw yesterday here at the Capitol are evidence, in my 
view, that the civilian control of the military is not at risk in

[[Page S85]]

America. I actually believe the related but opposite problem should be 
of more concern today, at this moment, and that problem is no military 
experience in the top ranks of our government. With the exception of 
Mr. Austin, no nominee on the incoming Biden administration's national 
security team has ever served in uniform. With regard to the entire 
Biden Cabinet, only one other nominee has any military experience at 
all. This is not wise.
  If confirmed, I am sure I won't agree with all of Mr. Austin's 
decisions, but when the inevitable budget battles occur, it will be 
critical for our Nation's security and, very importantly, the military 
members and their families who serve to have a Secretary of Defense who 
understands firsthand the very real morale and readiness problems that 
result from drastic cuts to our military--something, unfortunately, I 
think many of my colleagues here in the Senate will be pushing for and 
even members of the Biden administration will be pushing for.
  So let me conclude with this. Right now, a number of us are 
interviewing Cabinet members for confirmation for the incoming Biden 
administration. I anticipate opposing some, supporting others. 
Certainly, I anticipate opposing some if I believe they will hurt the 
working families of my State. But with regard to Mr. Austin, I am fully 
supporting his nomination.
  We are living through difficult times--a pandemic, racial tensions, 
riots, turmoil at the top of the Pentagon, and rising dangers from 
China, Russia, and Iran. Mr. Austin's confirmation won't solve all of 
these problems, but it will help.
  He represents the best of America--a man of integrity, humility, and 
character, with a wealth of relevant experience. Our allies will take 
comfort in his confirmation, and our adversaries will take pause. And 
as America's first African-American Secretary of Defense, he will be an 
inspiration to millions both in and out of uniform.
  For all of these reasons, I strongly urge my colleagues to support 
Mr. Austin's confirmation and the waiver in Federal law that it 
requires.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.

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