WASHINGTON—Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., Friday expressed their appreciation after the full Senate confirmed the nomination of Jacob Lew to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The Senate approved Lew’s nomination by voice vote late Thursday.
“Jack has extensive experience managing budgets, finances, technology, and operations in the government, private, and academic sectors,” Lieberman said. “In fact, he served as budget director under President Clinton, working with the President to achieve a record budget surplus of $237 billion. Of course, the budget challenges we face in 2010 are far different from those we faced in 2000. But if anyone knows that the country must get its deficit spending under control, Jack Lew does. I welcome him to the position and look forward to working with him to secure economic security for our nation.”
Collins said: “As the next OMB Director, Mr. Lew faces a stark economic and fiscal environment. OMB will continue to be the lead player as the Administration formulates policies to deal with grim economic realities. I am hopeful Mr. Lew will work to develop a realistic plan that will help lead to growth in both jobs and personal income in the years to come.”
Lew has been serving the Obama Administration as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources since 2009. He worked at OMB from 1994-2001, as Assistant Director, Executive Associate Director, Deputy Director, and Director.
HSGAC held a hearing on Lew’s nomination September 16, 2010, and reported the nomination favorably five days later on September 21, 2010.
Lew will succeed Peter Orszag, who resigned in July as the Obama Administration’s first OMB Director.
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