"The U.S. Senate late Thursday confirmed John Bryson to be U.S. Commerce Secretary after Republicans opposed to his environmental record lifted a hold on the vote.

On May 31, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Bryson as Secretary of Commerce to succeed Gary Locke, who has been appointed U.S. Ambassador to China.

Bryson is a former chairman and chief executive of Edison International, a California-based energy company.

But U.S. Senator James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, put a hold on his nomination in July, citing Bryson's environmental views."

Environment News Service had the story October 21, 2011. [2]