Senate Approves Bryson as Commerce Secretary

October 21, 2011

On October 20, 2011, the Senate approved John Bryson to be the next Commerce Department Secretary by a vote of 74 to 26. Based on an agreement between Senate leaders, 60 affirmative votes were required to override a hold Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) placed on the nomination in July. Bryson previously held the posts of Chairman and C.E.O. of Edison International as well as director of Boeing Co. and Walt Disney Co. He also co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council. Bryson replaces former Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who is now President Obama’s ambassador to China.