WASHINGTON (January 29, 2013)--The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday approved President Barack Obama's nomination of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to be the next secretary of state and the full Senate followed suit later in the day.

With no opposition to the choice, the panel approved Kerry by voice vote Tuesday and Kerry, 69, was later confirmed by a vote of 94-3.

Mr. Obama chose the five-term Massachusetts Democrat and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is stepping down after four years.

Kerry has served on the Foreign Relations panel for 28 years and headed the committee for the past four.