The Senate on Tuesday faced a slew of confirmation hearings for five of President elect Joe Biden's Cabinet nominees the day before the president elect took office.

Biden's nominee to run the Treasury Department, Janet Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chair during the Obama administration, pledged to act big with the next coronavirus relief package.

Neither the president elect nor I proposed this release relief package without an appreciation for the country's debt, Britain.

But right now, with interest rates to historic lows, the smartest thing we can do is act big in the long run.

I believe the benefits will far outweigh the costs, especially if we care about helping people who have been struggling for a very long time.

Biden's nominee to be secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said he'd worked to revitalize America's damage diplomacy and built a united front to counter the challenges posed by Russia, China and Iran.

American leadership still matters Retired General Lloyd Austin, Biden's defense secretary pick, is seeking a special waiver from Congress to be considered even though he was an active duty officer within the last seven years.

He left the Army in 2016.

Some Democrats have expressed concern, as it would be the second such waiver in four years, the last being for President Trump's first defense secretary, retired general Jim Mattis.

If he's confirmed, Austin would be the first black defense secretary.

Unlike his recent predecessors, Biden will be taking office without his secretary of defense and members of his national security team confirmed because of delays caused by partisan gridlock, the Georgia Senate run offs and a president that has refused to concede for weeks.

Overall, the exchanges between Democrats and Republicans during Tuesday's confirmation hearings appeared to be cordial, with the desire for quick confirmation seen from both sides of the aisle.

With the exception of Republican Senator Josh Holly.

Holly, who has been criticized for spearheading the objections to Biden's Electoral College win, said on Tuesday he would block quick consideration off Alejandro Mayorkas toe lead the U.