Congratulations are in order…

I suppose, but between caucus leadership, the DSCC and now this, my own personal senior US Senator has a full enough plate to evoke a bit of sympathy to temper the celebration. Still, this is very good news for America's military veterans. Via VetVoice...

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, an 86-year-old veteran of World War II, appears to have lost his seat as chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Senate Democrats are expected to vote this week to give the veterans committee post to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Akaka will become chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, according Senate and outside sources.

Senator Akaka has been a good friend to vets during his four years as chair, but there's really nobody better than Patty on our issues. Her support of veterans across the board was one of the reasons veterans rallied to her campaign across ideological and generational lines.

Akaka, a champion of achieving full federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, gains a new platform for that cause and brings a deep understanding and genuine passion for the issues he'll be managing as chair of the Indian Affairs Committee, so this looks like a win-win to me.