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Sen. Marco Rubio sworn in; says State Department work must 'make us stronger, make us safer, make us more prosperous'
Summary
Sen. Marco Rubio took the oath of office in a brief ceremony and outlined an "America first" test for the U.S. Department of State, saying all actions must make the country stronger, safer or more prosperous.
The presiding official, identified in the transcript as the vice president (not named in the transcript), administered the oath to Sen. Marco Rubio in a brief swearing-in ceremony and said the Senate confirmation vote had been "99 to 0." The newly sworn official said he will prioritize U.S. national interests in leading the Department of State.
"Does it make us stronger? Does it make us safer? And does it make us more prosperous? If it doesn't do one of those three things, we will not do it," Sen. Marco Rubio said in prepared remarks after taking the oath. He added the president's foreign-policy priority will be "the United States" and said he would help implement that direction.
The presiding official opened the ceremony by praising Rubio's background and character, calling him "one of my favorite people in Washington" and "a bipartisan solutions seeker," and then administered the oath of office. Afterward, Rubio thanked his wife, Jeanette, and his four children by name — Amanda, Daniella, Anthony and Dominic — and acknowledged Sen. Jim Risch for his role in the confirmation process.
Rubio described the incoming administration's foreign-policy aim as advancing peace "of course, peace through strength," and said the emphasis on national interest represents a "new era" he expects will make the world safer. He said the Department of State's work must be justified by the three practical tests he described and pledged to help the president implement his agenda.
Rubio closed with personal remarks about faith and family, calling "the most important job I'll ever have" that of father and husband. He also made a lighthearted aside, saying in Spanish that he had "saved a much of money by switching to GEICO."
