[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12805-12806]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING THE ARMED SERVICES

  Mr. McCAIN. The Senate Armed Services Committee just met and approved 
the nominations of the Chairman and Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of 
Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and other important 
nominations. I congratulate all of these nominees and appreciate their 
service to the Nation. I know that shortly the Senate will approve 
these positions of great responsibility.
  I want to take one moment to mention one of the new Chiefs of Staff 
of the United States Army, GEN Ray Odierno, one of the finest military 
officers I have had the opportunity to know. He was responsible, along 
with David Petraeus, for implementing the surge in Iraq. All of us who 
have had the opportunity of knowing General Odierno are proud of his 
new position and know he will carry out his responsibilities with the 
same outstanding leadership and efficiency he has displayed in the 
past.
  I congratulate all of the nominees. These are going to be very 
challenging

[[Page 12806]]

times. General Dempsey will now be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff. I believe he is highly qualified, as are the nominees for the 
Vice Chairman as well as the Chief of Naval Operations. I congratulate 
them all. A special congratulations and word of praise for General 
Odierno, who is a great and outstanding leader.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Warner). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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