{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=DA6A3E7E-01A1-4FD9-B19A-DF74742AEAFE", "Majority Leader McConnells Statement on General James Mattis", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Mitch McConnell", "M000355", "www.mcconnell.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Trump\u2019s intended nominee for Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis:\r\n\u201cThe next Commander in Chief will assume office at a time when significant threats to our national security are evident: the efforts and intentions of dissatisfied nations to expand respective regional spheres of influence, such as China, Russia and Iran, and North Korea\u2019s willful efforts to pursue a long range ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. And fifteen years after September 11, 2001 America remains at war will al Qaeda, its affiliates and ISIL.\r\n\u201cLess evident is the daunting imperative for the next administration to craft a national security strategy which marries objectives to capabilities in pursuit of protecting our vital interests. This necessary task has been further complicated by the Obama administration\u2019s current policies of drawing down America\u2019s conventional forces to irresponsibly low levels.\r\n\u201cThe nation is fortunate that President-elect Trump will nominate retired General James Mattis to meet these tasks, as his preparation for this mission is comprehensive. General Mattis has committed a lifetime to the study of strategy and operations, has led U.S. Central Command, and has commanded forces in Iraq, and Afghanistan. General Mattis is almost uniquely suited to advising the next President in how best to protect our country\u2014at a time when expertise in strategy is a paramount requirement of our next Secretary of Defense.\r\n\u201cEarly next year, the Senate shall consider the requirement in law that the Secretary of Defense not be appointed within seven years of relief from active duty. Civilian control of the military remains a central aspect of our federal republic, and over the course of our nation\u2019s history much has occurred to bring scrutiny to the conduct of military affairs, not least of which is expansion of congressional oversight and the evolution of the all-volunteer force. General Mattis has lived a life of fidelity to our nation and its constitution. I have every confidence that he will continue to do so if confirmed by the Senate.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=DA6A3E7E-01A1-4FD9-B19A-DF74742AEAFE"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2606671079993248, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}