Washington ( CNN ) -- Obama administration handling of the terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi , Libya , that killed four Americans , including Ambassador Christopher Stevens , sparked outrage from certain Republicans , but none of that was evdident at the confirmation hearing of his successor . Only three members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee attended the hearing on Tuesday for Ambassador Deborah Jones , President Barack Obama 's nominee to take over in Tripoli . She mentioned the armed assault last September 11 in her opening statement and in answering questions . Jones , a career diplomat , said stopping the flow of weapons through Libya 's porous border will `` enable the defeat of volatile and deadly rogue militias , and prevent a repeat of the tragedy in Benghazi . '' She said that she `` will work closely with the Libyan government to see that justice realized '' in the Benghazi attacks . In an interview with CNN 's Dana Bash afterward , Jones said she was pleased with the substance of the meeting and that her focus was on looking forward in Libya , not looking back . `` I was pleased that there was focus on the substance of Libya we got a lot of work to do there , '' Jones said . `` There are a lot of serious issues there that require having an ambassador on the ground . And I think that this town ... the politics is something completely different . I 'm really focused not on the forensics but on the future . '' Tuesday 's muted atmosphere was a prelude to Wednesday 's House Oversight Committee hearing on the Benghazi attack . Panel Chairman Darrell Issa has released testimony from three whistle blowers who plan to discuss what they feel were security failures at the compound during the attack . The testimony of Greg Hicks , a former top U.S. diplomat in Libya , has been the focus of Issa 's hearing . Hicks is expected to discuss how the American military could have done more to protect those in Benghazi . Democrats on the House committee charge the hearing is a charade . The committee 's senior Democrat , Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings , said members of Congress have an obligation to actually investigate claims before coming to conclusions and making public accusations . `` Unfortunately , House Republicans have taken the opposite approach , '' he said . Despite being nine months removed from the terrorist attack , the tragedy has maintained a steady drumbeat on Capitol Hill , particularly with Republicans , who claim to not yet know the full story of what transpired . But only three of the 18 members of the Foreign Relations Committee attended Tuesday 's hearing for Jones -- Sens Bob Corker and fellow Republican John McCain and Democrat Bob Menendez . Senators paid tribute to those lost in Benghazi . `` We can never forget Ambassador Chris Stevens and the three other American public servants , Tyrone Woods , Sean Smith , and Glen Doherty , who tragically lost their lives on the attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi last September , '' Menendez said . Jones said she would take responsibility for personnel security if confirmed as ambassador . `` On security -- and again this is something that is , well , as we know it is deadly serious for us , '' she said . `` It is the role of the ambassador -- the ambassador is the principal security officer at post . And it is the ambassador who has to decide whether to allow people to travel here or there , whether to ask for additional assets , whether to insist on additional assets . '' She added that if you do n't get the answers you need then `` pick up the phone and you speak to the people '' responsible for that information . `` That is what I intend to do . That is what I have always done , '' she said . Jones is a respected career diplomat who has held consulate and embassy posts in Turkey , the United Arab Emirates , Ethiopia , Iraq , Syria and Argentina . Most recently , she served as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait from 2008 to 2011 . There has been a great deal of tension between Democrats and Republicans on Benghazi , partly stemming from televised comments after the attack by U.N . Ambassador Susan Rice , who said it was a spontaneous act that grew out of a demonstration over an anti-Islam film made in the United States . Later , the administration called the Benghazi matter a terror attack . Rice and other officials said that her comments explaining the incident publicly relied on official talking points . Still , the initial statements and the resulting controversy cost her a likely nomination to succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state . Certain GOP members also sharply questioned Clinton over the administration 's explanation of events and the state of security at the compound prior to the attack . Clinton said she took responsibility for the deaths , stating that as secretary of state , she was `` in charge of the State Department 's 60,000-plus people all over the world . '' In January 2013 , Clinton testified for more than five hours before the House and Senate Foreign Relations committees . In her testimony , she acknowledged a `` systematic breakdown '' on Benghazi and said her department was taking additional steps to increase U.S. security at diplomatic posts . Critics have questioned the validity of continued congressional scrutiny , especially Democrats who say Republicans are only interested in discrediting the administration and hurting Clinton 's chances of running for president in 2016 .
Few members of a Senate committee question Libya ambassador nominee . Deborah Jones is a respected career diplomat who has served in Iraq and Syria . Proceeding for Jones a prelude to a House hearing on the attack on Wednesday .