Kaine grabs Middle East panel chairmanship

Freshman Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is taking over the chairmanship of the high-profile Senate Foreign Relations panel on the Middle East in a committee shake-up.

Former panel chairman Robert Casey (D-Pa.) left the committee two weeks ago after the Senate's newest member, Edward Markey (D-Mass.), was awarded one of the 10 Democratic spots on the full committee. Markey is expected to replace Kaine atop the subpanel on foreign aid and economic affairs.

“I am honored to assume the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs,” Kaine said. “The important region from Morocco to Pakistan includes many of America's strongest allies as well as some of the world's toughest challenges.

“My recent trip to the Middle East and Afghanistan deepened my understanding of issues in the region, and I look forward to working with Chairman [Robert] Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member [Bob] Corker (R-Tenn.) and my committee colleagues to promote the American values of democracy and tolerance.”

The committee will vote to approve the membership changes on Tuesday. The panel will also be taking up President Obama's picks for ambassador to Australia, Ethiopia, the African Union, Laos, South Africa, the Republic of Congo, Malaysia, Nigeria, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Spain, as well as his choice for assistant secretary of State for African Affairs.

Markey was sworn in two weeks ago following a special election to replace Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who became secretary of State six months ago.

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