WASHINGTON — Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Rex Tillerson to serve as secretary of state.

“I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed Mr. Tillerson as our secretary of state,” said Thune. “Mr. Tillerson has broad experience and an understanding of geopolitics that will serve him well as our nation’s lead diplomat. I hope this is the beginning of the end of Senate Democrats’ ill-advised campaign to slow down the confirmation process for President Trump’s Cabinet nominees. At this point during the Obama administration, nearly all members of the president’s Cabinet had been confirmed. Senate Democrats should allow the Senate to continue voting on the president’s Cabinet, just as Republicans did for former President Obama’s Cabinet nominees.”