December 19th 2023.
The Senate unanimously voted to confirm 11 top-ranking military officers on Tuesday, breaking a months-long blockade orchestrated by one Republican senator, Tommy Tuberville from Alabama. The confirmation came as a relief to the families of the officers and to the nation, as it threatened national security to leave these key positions unfilled.
The confirmations of the four-star generals and other nominees came swiftly without any debate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer remarked after the vote that it was "good news". His sentiment was echoed by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who said the confirmations were a positive development when he left the Capitol.
Senator Tuberville had been blocking the nominations in response to the Defense Department's policy on abortion, which includes travel reimbursement for service members who must go out-of-state for reproductive care. The policy was put in place by the Biden administration after the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to an abortion and some states have limited or banned the procedure.
Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, the only Vietnam veteran in the Senate, spoke with Tuberville on Tuesday to encourage him to move on from the holds. Afterward, Carper addressed the Senate and apologized for what had happened, stating that this "sad chapter has come to an end".
The Senate's approval of the 11 high-ranking military officials is a sign that progress is being made and that national security is being taken seriously. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of working together and urging compromise in order to move forward.
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