Government

Cornyn: U.S. Senate confirms proven leader Pete Geren as army secretary

Texan unanimously confirmed July 13 by the Senate to serve as Secretary of Army

From the Office of Senator John Cornyn

July 19, 2007

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the following statement July 13 regarding unanimous Senate confirmation of Preston M. “Pete” Geren, of Fort Worth , to be Secretary of the Army:

“Pete Geren is uniquely qualified to serve as Secretary of the Army. He brings proven leadership to the position. Pete has played a critical role in working to improve the quality of support to our wounded service members and their families after the recent events at Walter Reed. His strong leadership at a difficult time for the Army and the nation was critical to ensuring that our military and their families receive only the best care and support for their service and sacrifice for the country. I’m confident as Secretary he will continue playing a key role in the efforts to improve the care and support members of the U.S. military need and deserve. With his experience and commitment, Pete Geren is the right leader to take charge of an organization whose men and women continue to make such tremendous sacrifices for our nation.”

Sen. Cornyn, along with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, introduced Geren at his committee confirmation hearing on June 19.

Geren, a former U.S. Representative, was nominated by President Bush to serve as Army Secretary on May 24. Geren began work at the Pentagon in 2001 and served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, then Acting Secretary of the Army. He was in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 1997, representing the 12th Congressional district. Geren is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Texas Law School.

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.