Janet Yellen confirmed as Treasury secretary with bipartisan backing

The Senate voted Monday night to confirm Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury with bipartisan support. The final distribution of the vote was 84 yes to 15 no. Yellen is the first woman to lead the department in over 230 years of history.

“I look forward to working with her to get our economy back on track and get Americans back to work,” said Senate Finance Committee member Ron Wyden tweeted immediately after the vote.

“As we face an economic crisis brought on by COVID-19, we will need stable and proven leadership in the Treasury Department,” Republican Senator Susan Collins said in a statement after voting for Yellen. “A highly respected economist, Dr Yellen was first Vice President and then Chairman of the Federal Reserve. She served under the Democratic and Republican Presidents and during times of economic crisis and economic growth.”

The 15 votes against Yellen’s confirmation came from Republican lawmakers. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, one of those who voted against Yellen, said in a statement that Yellen “supports the policies proposed by President Biden which I cannot support.”

“She seems too eager to raise taxes on the American people, her energy policies are killing jobs, and her willingness to unilaterally double the federal minimum wage without considering its impact on jobs is frightening,” Cramer continued.

Her nomination was put forward by the Senate Finance Committee on Friday with unanimous support, 26-0, and Democrats and Republicans praised her after the committee’s vote. “I think it’s a great way to start the New Year, with a unanimous vote on behalf of someone who I believe may in fact be the most knowledgeable and qualified Secretary of the Treasury we have ever had. eu, “said Committee member Senator Debbie Stabenow. .

Ranking member Senator Ron Wyden called Yellen an “NBA All-Star” when it comes to clearing the Senate nomination process, noting that Yellen has already been confirmed four times for economic posts by the Senate. .

Yellen’s first agenda will help pull the United States out of an ongoing economic crisis stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, which has left more than 10 million people unemployed and millions more struggling to join the two ends.

She is the first person to have served as Secretary of the Treasury, Chairman of the Federal Reserve and Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Republicans also recognized Yellen’s vast experience in the economy and President Biden’s right to choose his own cabinet members.

“There is no doubt about the qualifications of Dr Yellen,” President Chuck Grassley said before voting for Yellen. “That doesn’t mean though that I don’t have concerns, but they are policy concerns. I don’t support some of what I believe are part of Dr Yellen’s political agenda.”

Other Republican members of the committee took a similar approach, both laudatory but also raising possible concerns ahead.

“I think Janet Yellen is highly qualified. As was said earlier, perhaps one of the most qualified to serve,” said Ohio Senator Rob Portman. “I am encouraged by my conversation with her on fiscal mental health, where she said she would be a voice for mental health within administration at a time when we have unprecedented levels of deficit and most great debt. “

“I disagree with Dr Yellen on a number of her positions, particularly in the tax policy arena, but she is committed to us to work with us on these issues and the concerns we have.” said Senator Mike of Idaho. Crapo, a Republican. “And I think a strong vote from our side to support it today is an indication that we want to get involved.”

Before becoming the first woman to head the Treasury Department, Yellen was also the first woman to chair the Federal Reserve. She is the third member of President Biden’s cabinet to be confirmed by the Senate after Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Secretary of Defense Retired General Lloyd Austin.