confirmed. they re committed to extending our nations values and interests and i m certain that you and our nation will benefit greatly from a partnership between your office and the department you have been nominated to lead. mr. chairman, i look forward to hearing from our witness and i look forward to questioning. mr. tillerson, thank you for being here. i think you ve been adequately introduced and i think the world knows more about you than they ever thought today. without using any more time we thank you for being here today. i know you may have some family members to introduce which is always helpful. and if you wish to do so, begin with that and then with your comments. thank you, mr. chairman. yes, i do have members of my family with me today. my wife of more than 30 years who has kept a welcoming home when i would come back from my many travels and also for our sons and our five grandchildren. my sister, jo peters, life long
educator, high school math teacher and coach. my sister, dr. hamilton, family practice position in abilene texas for more than 30 years and my brother-in-law judge lee hamilton is just begun to serve his fifth term on the bench at the 104th district in abilene, texas. i appreciate so much the love and support they ve given me in my past endeavors but that they would come all the way from texas to be with me today. good morning, i m honored to have the backing of senator cornyn and cruz from texas. i want to thank senator nunn for his commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and secretary gates for his service to eight u.s. presidents and his own