Senate committee endorses Clinton

WASHINGTON - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted overwhelmingly yesterday for Hillary Clinton to become the next secretary of state, with lawmakers saying they were hopeful her leadership would mark a turn from warfare toward diplomacy.

The 16-1 approval by the committee paves the way for a full Senate vote after President-elect Barack Obama takes office Tuesday. Clinton is not expected to hit any major roadblocks, with Republicans and Democrats alike praising her acumen on the issues.

Soon after the vote, Clinton gave her farewell speech on the Senate floor, thanking her staff, fellow senators, and New York voters, and saying she "loved being in the Senate."