DOT Welcomes New Secretary
The U.S. Department of Transportation welcomed Ray H. LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Illinois, as the sixteenth U.S. secretary of Transportation on. Friday, Jan. 23. The U.S. Senate had confirmed him by voice vote the previous evening along with five other Obama nominees.
LaHood was joined for an official swearing-in ceremony in his new office by his wife Kathy, son Sam, and Sen. Richard J. Durbin, a fellow Illinoisan and assistant majority leader. The oath of office was administered by Linda Washington, assistant secretary for administration, and took place before an audience of his new staff and members of the DOT transition team.
Senate confirmation followed his being approved byf the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Jan. 21. A ceremonial swearing-in will be scheduled at a later date.