The U.S. Senate today voted unanimously to confirm Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense. Senator Susan Collins met privately with Mr. Panetta for 40 minutes in her office last month during which they discussed a wide range of issues from Iraq and Afghanistan to the uprisings in the Middle East. In addition, they discussed the important contributions that Maine makes to our national security including the need for consistent shipbuilding funding in order to assist the Navy in achieving its plan for a stronger Navy—and the critical role that the skilled men and women at Bath Iron Works play in delivering high quality ships at low cost. They also discussed the work being done at Maine Military Authority and the Defense Finance and Accounting Services facility (DFAS) in Limestone, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, at the Pratt and Whitney facility in North Berwick, and the many contributions of our Air National Guard Wing in Bangor.
Following today’s vote in the Senate, Senator Collins released this statement:
“Leon Panetta will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this critical position. I want to thank him for, once again, answering the call to serve our country.
“His duty will not be easy. With the need to recapitalize aging fleets of ships, vehicles, and aircraft and provide the necessary care and benefits for our brave service members during an extremely tight fiscal environment—many tough choices lie ahead.
“I am confident in Mr. Panetta’s ability to lead the Defense Department during these demanding times, and I look forward to working with him on these and the many challenges ahead.”
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