Heinrich Questions Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee In Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) participated in a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee to consider the nomination of Kathleen Hicks to be Deputy Secretary of Defense.

VIDEO: Heinrich Questions Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee In Confirmation Hearing [HD DOWNLOAD LINK HERE]

In the hearing, Senator Heinrich expressed the importance of Hicks’ involvement in advancing the Biden administration’s agenda to increase Department of Defense (DoD) investments in key research and development priorities like directed energy, hypersonics, and Artificial Intelligence. Senator Heinrich has long fought to support the department’s role in tech transfer and the job-creating initiatives it creates in New Mexico.

Senator Heinrich also reinforced the need for DoD and the U.S. Air Force to take full responsibility for PFAS contamination in communities across the country – including one of the hardest hit communities in and around Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. Senator Heinrich will continue pressing DoD and the Air Force to implement PFAS cleanup strategies and maintain open lines of communication with impacted communities.

Click here for a copy of Kathleen Hicks’ testimony. Watch the full confirmation hearing by clicking here.