Hagan gets committee assignments

Sen. Kay Hagan will oversee the military and education.

The Greensboro Democrat was named to the Senate Armed Services and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees Tuesday.

The Armed Services Committee has oversight of military research and development and veterans benefits, a natural fit for a senator from a state with several military bases. The HELP committee has jurisdiction over a hodgepodge of domestic policy issues.

Hagan said the military post would be important, noting that her father and brother served in the Navy and her husband, Chip, is a Vietnam veteran.

"I'm looking forward to working with our military leaders and our soldiers to ensure we have a 21st century military," she said. "We need to find ways to support the next generation of professional soldiers, with programs such as the 21st Century G.I. Bill, and ensure that they have the equipment and training they need and deserve to help keep our country safe."

She also cited her experience in the North Carolina legislature funding programs such as Learn and Earn to help high-school students get college credit.

Hagan got half of what she wanted. She had requested the same committee assignments as predecessor Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who served on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

During the campaign, she had strongly criticized Dole's tenure on the banking committee.