The United States Senate has been very busy this week with hearings, from secretary confirmations to gun control. This all comes as domestic tension increases over gun control and international tension heightens over North Korean nuclear tests and the Iranian rocket launch. The latter two of these are fields for the Secretary and State and Department of Defense, both of which will have new secretaries in the coming days.

John Kerry went before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday and a full Senate vote came quickly after. He was confirmed as Secretary of State by a vote of 94 to three the same day. Kerry was the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee before being confirmed. On Wednesday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick chose his former Chief of Staff William Cowan to replace Kerry until a special election takes place.

President Obama's appointment to be Secretary of Defense, former Sen. Chuck Hagel, went before a Senate sub-committee on Thursday. Hagel, who has been under scrutiny since his nomination was announced, is facing tough questions from Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

SEE ALSO: Senate Hears Chuck Hagel's New Position On Tough Issues

On Wednesday, the Senate began hearing testimony on gun control where former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords testified about the need for it. On the same day, the Senate heard from National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. He went before the Senate to testify on behalf of the opposite side of the gun control debate.

This comes on the same day as a town hall meeting about gun control in Newtown, Conn., where parents of the victims and residents in attendance said gun control is needed.

 

Find more Neon Tommy coverage on the U.S. Senate here.

Reach Executive Producer Max Schwartz here; follow him on Twitter here.