Politicsdeborah lee jamessenate votesPolitics

Deborah Lee James Confirmed As Secretary Of The Air Force

Senate Confirms Another Noncontroversial Nominee
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By HENRY C. JACKSON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama's pick to serve as Secretary of the Air Force, continuing a series of round-the-clock confirmation votes.

Deborah Lee James was confirmed by a 79-6 vote Friday morning, one of several votes scheduled throughout the day. She is the second woman to lead the Air Force.

James is president of the Technical and Engineering Sector at Science Applications International Corp., a major federal government contractor.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has kept the Senate in session throughout the week as Democrats push through 11, mostly noncontroversial nominations. The session could culminate in a possible vote on Jeh Johnson (jay JAHN'-suhn) to head the Department of Homeland Security.

If Republicans keep their allotted debate time, the Senate could be in session continuously into Saturday.

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Before You Go

Senate Majority Leaders Through The Years
Harry Reid (D-Nev.)(01 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 110th-112th Congress (2007-present) (credit:(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images))
Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) (02 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 108th & 109th Congress (2003-07) (credit:(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images))
Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) (03 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 107th Congress (2001-03) (credit:(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) )
Trent Lott (R-Miss.) (04 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 105th & 106th Congress (1997-2001) (credit:(LUKE FRAZZA/AFP/Getty Images) )
Bob Dole (R-Kan.) (05 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 99th & 104th Congress (1985-87, 1995-96). Dole resigned from the Senate in June 1996 to focus on his presidential campaign. (credit:(RICHARD ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) )
George Mitchell (D-Maine) (06 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 101st-103rd Congress (1989-95) (credit:(PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) )
Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) (07 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 95th, 96th & 99th Congress (1977-81, 1985-87) (credit:(AP Photo/Dennis Cook) )
Howard Baker (R-Tenn.)(08 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 97th & 98th Congress (1981-85) (credit:(AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi) )
Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) (09 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 87th-94th Congress (1961-77) (credit:(AP Photo/Eddie Adams) )
Lyndon Johnson (D-Texas)(10 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 84th-86th Congress (1955-61). Johnson resigned from the Senate in Jan. 1961 to take on his new role as vice president. (credit:(AFP/AFP/Getty Images))
William Knowland (R-Calif.)(11 of19)
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(Pictured right) Senate Majority Leader, 83rd Congress (1953-55) (credit:(AP Photo) )
Robert Taft (R-Ohio) (12 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 83rd Congress (1953). Taft died on July 31, 1953 and William Knowland was elected to take over on August 4. (credit:(AP Photo) )
Ernest McFarland (D-Ariz.) (13 of19)
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(Pictured standing, far right) Senate Majority Leader, 82nd Congress (1951-53) (credit:(AP Photo/Henry Griffin) )
Scott Lucas (D-Ill.) (14 of19)
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(Pictured front row, left) Senate Majority Leader, 81st Congress (1949-51) (credit:(AP Photo) )
Wallace White Jr. (R-Maine)(15 of19)
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(Pictured far left) Senate Majority Leader, 80th Congress (1947-49) (credit:(AP Photo) )
Alben Barkley (D-Ky.) (16 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 75th-79th Congress (1937-47). (credit:(AP Photo) )
Joseph Robinson (D-Ark.) (17 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 73rd-75th Congress (1933-37). Robinson died on July 14, 1937, and Alben Barkley was elected a week later to take over. (credit:(AP Photo))
James Watson (R-Ind.) (18 of19)
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(Pictured second from right) Senate Majority Leader, 71st & 72nd Congress (1929-33) (credit:(AP Photo))
Charles Curtis (R-Kan.) (19 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 68th-70th Congress (1923-29). Curtis resigned from the Senate in March 1929 after being elected vice president. (credit:(AP Photo) )
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