The results of election night mean the United States Senate will have a Republican majority. That shift brings Arizona Senator John McCain a new role as the Senate Armed Services committee chairman.

The new position comes with significant power. As chairman, Senator McCain will lead the committee in shaping defense policy and military spending.

McCain said he already has plans to use some of that power. In January, he’ll be addressing some lingering concerns over the reform efforts within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"I’m very concerned," McCain said. "And we’ve written to the secretary of veterans affairs and we will be holding hearings as soon as we move into the majority in January. I’m just sorry we have to wait so long."  

McCain will assume the new role in January.