The Senate confirmed former electric utility executive John E. Bryson as commerce secretary late Thursday, filling a key jobs post that had been vacant since Gary Locke left the Commerce Department to become ambassador to China in July.
President Obama nominated Bryson in May, but Republicans held up the confirmation until Congress approved free-trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia. With the trade deals approved last week, the Senate confirmed Bryson on a vote of 74 to 26.
Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=17ae8c24d670cc38316e5860075be19f
Mary Landrieu Richard Burr Rob Portman Jon Tester Jeff Merkley