Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding the Senate’s confirmation of John Kerry as Secretary of State:

"John Kerry will represent the United States with great distinction as Secretary of State. He brings enormous credibility, a lifetime of knowledge, and profound expertise to this critically important job. At a time when our nation is facing a wide array of increasingly complex challenges around the globe, Secretary Kerry will provide a steady hand at the State Department, and he is ready to hit the ground running. I commend the Senate for its speedy confirmation of Secretary Kerry, and I look forward to welcoming him to the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the near future.”

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