U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, was among the "no" votes on the waiver that would allow retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to become defense secretary.

The House on Friday approved the waiver, required because Mattis retired from the military in 2013 and law stipulates a seven-year waiting period before former military personnel can serve in the role, by a vote of 268 to 151.

The Senate passed the waiver Thursday by a vote of 81 to 17, and next will vote on whether to confirm him for the position, a likelihood.

While Courtney doesn't doubt Mattis' qualifications for the job, he said the issue is really one of civilian control over the military, an argument also made by U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., in voting to oppose the waiver on Thursday.

"The control of decisions of war making and military force really has to rest within the civilian leadership of this country," Courtney said Thursday during a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee.

Mattis was due to appear before the committee Thursday after testifying for several hours before the Senate Armed Services Committee, but President-elect Donald Trump's transition team reportedly blocked him from doing so.

Courtney and other committee members, both Democrats and Republicans, were critical of that decision, saying it took them out of the process.

For many, Courtney said, it was an "awkward and difficult situation" given their high regard for Mattis, who he said would be an "incredibly effective secretary of defense."

House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry, a Republican from Texas, told Politico that if Mattis had testified before the committee, it would have only increased lawmakers' confidence in him.

Mattis spent several hours before the Senate committee Thursday fielding questions on a wide range of issues from cyberattacks to submarines. On the latter, he expressed his support for two programs relevant to southeastern Connecticut: the Virginia-class attack submarine program and the Columbia-class ballistic missile program. Electric Boat is involved in both.

j.bergman@theday.com