WASHINGTON — Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairing the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on Tuesday ferried through President Donald Trump's nominees to head the Energy and Interior departments.
The nominees will now move to the Senate floor for consideration by the full upper chamber.
Montana Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke received 16 votes in favor and six against to become secretary of interior. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry passed by a vote of 16-7 to head the Department of Energy.
[Senate Democratic boycott delays committee votes on Trump nominees]
Murkowski supported both nominations.
"I look forward to partnering with Congressman Zinke and Gov. Perry, who will lead departments that contribute significantly to our nation's economic prosperity and national security," Murkowski said. "I am eager to work with Congressman Zinke to restore balance and trust to the management of our public lands, and with Gov. Perry to address high energy costs in rural Alaska, among other challenges."
[Alaskans crowd Murkowski's Anchorage office to protest DeVos education nomination]
Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines noted at the hearing that Zinke will be the first presidential Cabinet member from Montana.
After passing out of the committee, the nominees head to a vote on the Senate floor. The timing is at the discretion of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
"There has been no conversation about kind of who is in the queue next," Murkowski said Monday evening.
[Trump's interior secretary nominee might just grant Murkowski's every wish]
The Senate is working through the nomination of former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson to head the State Department; a final vote is expected Wednesday.
After that, "I would think that (McConnell) would want to get some of the easy ones done," Murkowski said. "I think the (nominations) coming out of energy are in the easier category" for passage she said.
While the nominees faced some complaints from Democrats, Perry and Zinke are not facing widespread opposition.