[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5688-5689]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______
                                 

NOMINATION OF BENJAMIN A. POWELL TO BE GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE OFFICE OF 
                 THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

                                 ______
                                 

     NOMINATION OF GORDON ENGLAND TO BE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the cloture motions with respect to executive calendar 
Nos. 239 and 310 be vitiated; provided further that the Senate 
immediately proceed to their consideration en bloc.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en 
bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President 
be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate return 
to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations considered and confirmed en bloc are as follows:


                   executive office of the president

       Benjamin A. Powell, of Florida, to be General Counsel of 
     the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
       Gordon England, of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of 
     Defense.


                      nomination of gordon england

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I support the nomination of Gordon England 
to the position of Deputy Secretary of Defense.
  Secretary England has been the Department's problem-solver for the 
last

[[Page 5689]]

5 years. In this brief period of time, he has served as Secretary of 
the Navy, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, 
Secretary of the Navy again, and--after being under consideration to 
serve as Secretary of the Air Force--as Deputy Secretary of Defense. At 
the request of the Secretary of Defense, he has also taken on such 
critical jobs as designing the new National Security Personnel System 
and overseeing the review of the status of DOD detainees at Guantanamo.
  Secretary England has always made himself available for hearings, 
meetings with Members, and discussions with the wide array of others 
who have interests and concerns about the operations and activities of 
the Department of Defense. He is a good listener, open to compromise, 
willing to take on tough problems--characteristics which are always in 
great demand and short supply at DOD.
  The Deputy Secretary of Defense serves in a position of awesome 
responsibility. He is the alter ego of the Secretary. In this capacity, 
the Deputy Secretary plays a key role in determining how our country 
will face critical national security challenges.
  At the same time, the Deputy Secretary of Defense has traditionally 
served as the chief manager of the Defense Department. A wide array of 
management challenges, including financial management, acquisition 
management, and human capital issues, cut across functional areas in 
the Department to such an extent that no official other than the 
Secretary or the Deputy Secretary has the authority needed to address 
them.
  Fortunately, Secretary England brings the kind of strong management 
background and commitment to addressing these issues that are needed in 
the Deputy Secretary position.
  For the last several months, Secretary England has served as Deputy 
Secretary of Defense under a recess appointment by the President. I 
believe that his service to the Department and the Nation over the last 
5 years merit a favorable vote on his nomination by the full Senate.

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