The Senate confirmed on Tuesday Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegThis week: Biden and Democrats face decision on coronavirus relief On The Money: Reddit brokers wreak havoc on Wall Street | Powell: Fears of inflation should not prevent further aid to the coronavirus | NJ lawmakers push for the SALT ceiling to be lifted in the next aid package. to lead the Department of Transportation.
The Senate voted 86-13 to approve Buttigieg’s nomination. He is the 19th Secretary of Transport and the fifth member of President Biden’s Cabinet to be confirmed by the Senate. He is also the first openly homosexual member of the Cabinet confirmed by the Senate in the history of the United States.
He is the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a veteran of the Navy. He ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries before dropping out of the race and supporting the now president.
The senators who voted against Buttigieg’s nomination were Republicans Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant CottonBiden faces deadline pressure for Iran deal Growing scrutiny about National Guard presence at Capitol Cotton calls for removal of National Guard from DC MORE (Ark.), Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzOcasio-Cortez says she is a survivor of sexual assault while recounting the Capitol riot. Impeachment won’t cure us – we need a commission on democracy and electoral integrity The Seventeenth Amendment and Donald Trump’s censorship MORE (Texas), Bill Cassidy
12:30 Bill CassidyThe Hill Report: Biden tests the Republican Party’s negotiating skills at today’s COVID relief meeting. Republican Party senators unveil 8 billion coronavirus proposal ahead of Biden’s meeting This week: Biden, Democrats face decision point on coronavirus relief MORE (There.), Roger Marshall
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Richard Craig ShelbyDemocrats will expand their Senate majority in 2022 Peters to lead Senate McConnell’s Democratic campaign arm about to teach Trump about political power for the last time (Allah.), Josh Hawley
Joshua (Josh) David HawleyOcasio-Cortez says she is a survivor of sexual assault while recounting the Capitol riot. Missouri Church leaders call for Hawley’s resignation because of electoral claims Thank you, Trump – Republicans’ victim mentality intensifies despite reality MORE (Mo.), Marsha Blackburn
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Marco Antonio RubioBiden reignites immigration struggle in the Peters Congress to lead the Democrats’ campaign arm in the Senate The Hill’s Morning Report – Democratic issues trial; January becomes the most lethal month of the pandemic MORE (Florida), Tim Scott
Timothy (Tim) Eugene ScottFallen Capitol Police Officer will lie in honor at the Capitol Police Roundabout bill that allows officers to lie in honor Legislators seek approval for the Capitol Police officer to lie in honor MORE (SC), Bill Hagerty (Tenn.), AND James Lankford
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The Senate has already confirmed the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines
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The Senate Trade Committee moved forward with the nomination of Buttigieg last week through a broad bipartisan vote, with only three Republican senators voting against.
He must take over an agency that oversees an industry devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. Biden also emphasized the need for a bold infrastructure package, which Buttigieg highlighted.
The former mayor defended Biden’s executive order to revoke a license for the Keystone XL pipeline when questioned earlier this month. He also avoided comments that left the door open for the gasoline tax hike to finance the Highway Trust Fund; a spokesman said after the hearing that raising the gas tax is not an option.
Transportation industry commercial groups, such as the Airport Council and the Airline Pilots Association, applauded his confirmation on Tuesday and unions, including the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and AFSCME, also welcomed him into his new role. .
Buttigieg joked that he would be Amtrak’s second biggest enthusiast in the government. Biden is a outspoken advocate for Amtrak and used to travel regularly between Delaware in Washington, DC, by train when he was a senator.
When Biden formally introduced Buttigieg as his nominee for transport secretary in December, he called him “one of the smartest people you’ve ever met”.
Buttigieg is set to be the only millennial to serve in the Biden Office.
The Human Rights Campaign applauded Buttigieg’s historic appointment as the first openly LGBTQ cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate.
“Let this important moment for our movement serve as a reminder for every young LGBTQ: you can also serve your country in any position that obtains the necessary qualifications,” said President Alphonso David in a statement.
The LGBTQ Victory Institute also noted in a statement that Buttigieg broke a political barrier on Tuesday.
“Pete has broken a century-old political barrier with overwhelming bipartisan support and it paves the way for more LGBTQ Americans to seek high-profile nominations,” said CEO Annise Parker.
“Pete testifying at his confirmation hearing, with her husband watching, will be among the powerful images that define this unprecedented political moment and will be remembered as a milestone in America’s movement towards social justice,” she said.
Buttigieg spoke in December about the historic movement as the first openly homosexual member of the Cabinet confirmed by the Senate. Rick Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence from February to May under President Trump
Donald TrumpGraham rejects Merrick Garland’s request for confirmation at Trump’s attorney’s hearing on February 8 to make the First Amendment case at the impeachment trial Biden faces a crossroads in the virus relief bill MORE, was the first openly LGBTQ cabinet secretary, but was not confirmed by the Senate.
Buttigieg remembers watching the confirmation hearing by James Hormel, the first openly homosexual to represent the United States as an ambassador, under the Clinton administration. Senate Republicans at the time worked to block Hormel’s nomination, but he was appointed US ambassador to Luxembourg through a recess nomination.
Updated at 13h32