Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, lent his support Tuesday to President Obama's nomination of a longtime congressional colleague, Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., to be secretary of the Army.

"I think President Obama made an excellent pick,'' Senate Armed Service Committee member Reed said in a printed statement. ``John McHugh has a distinguished record of service in Congress and will be a strong leader for our men and women in the Army and their families.''

McHugh, who is in his ninth term in the House of Representatives, is the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee. Reed served three terms in the House before his election to the Senate in 1996.

McHugh's nomination extends a run of bipartisan civilian leadership of the Army; former Rep. Pete Gearan, D-Tex., was President George W. Bush's last Army secretary. ``

"This nomination shows that President Obama is committed to having an experienced and bipartisan administration,'' Reed said in his statement.

Reed, a former Army officer trained at West Point, alluded to the fact that he and McHugh have both served on the military academy's board of visitors.

"John and I have known each other for some time through our work in support of the Army, and I look forward to working with him to ensure our soldiers are supported in battle and properly cared for when they return home."

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