The U.S. Senate foreign relations committee has voted 16-1 to endorse Hillary Clinton as the next secretary of state.

Clinton still needs to be confirmed through a full Senate vote, expected to take place after president-elect Barack Obama takes office on Jan. 20.

The endorsement comes two days after the New York senator appeared before the committee to express her views on foreign policy and take questions.

A Republican senator from Louisiana was the only vote against her nomination.

Some questions have been raised about her husband's charitable foundation and whether it might pose a conflict of interest for her as secretary of state.

Clinton was Obama's chief rival during the Democratic presidential primary.

With files from the Associated Press