Hartford – In a prepared statement, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., (shown in a file photo) commented the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. as Secretary of Defense.

This is Blumenthal's unedited comment:

"I respect the President's right to select cabinet members, but I have a responsibility as a member of the Armed Services Committee to ask Senator Hagel's views on critical defense policy issues confronting our nation. I will reserve judgment until the hearing, when I will ask about such issues – the submarine and Joint Strike Fighter programs, the Afghanistan War, and others. I have tremendous respect for his extraordinary, distinguished public service, and his heroism in uniform.

 

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.

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