John Kerry's Confirmation Hearing Set for Jan. 24 -- The Day After Hillary Testifies on Benghazi

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Sen. John Kerry's confirmation hearing on his nomination to be the next secretary of state will be held Jan. 24, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced.

Because the Massachusetts Democrat is the current chair of the Foreign Relations panel, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) will preside over the hearing instead.

It will be the day after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies about the deadly terror assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

President Barack Obama nominated Kerry to replace Clinton as secretary of state last month.

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, Obama's other major cabinet nomination, will have his confirmation hearing for secretary of defense one week later on Jan. 31.