U.S. Senate confirms Biden's pick Cecilia Rouse to lead White House Economic Council

Washington (US), March 3: U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Cecilia Rouse, a Princeton University economist, to lead the White House Council of Economic Advisers, making her the first African American to hold the position.
The upper chamber of Congress confirmed Rouse's nomination in a 95-4 vote. Four Republican senators, including Tom Cotton and Rand Paul, voted against her.
Rouse, who currently serves as dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, was a member of former President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.
Earlier in the day, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, a 49-year-old former venture capitalist, was confirmed by the Senate as the next U.S. commerce secretary, in an 84-15 vote.
Also on Tuesday, Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden's pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), dropped out of nomination process amid opposition from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
The nomination of Tanden, who currently serves as president & CEO of the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress, prompted opposition from both sides of the aisle due to her past criticisms of lawmakers on social media.
Source: Xinhua