December 02, 2021

Senate Banking and Housing Committee Votes on Key Biden Administration Nominees

Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, led the Committee in voting on four key Biden Administration nominees:

  • Ms. Alanna McCargo, to be President, Government National Mortgage Association, Department of Housing and Urban Development; 
  • Ms. Elizabeth de Leon Bhargava, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
  • Mr. Arun Venkataraman, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service.
  • Mr. Arthur Jemison II, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Alanna McCargo, Elizabeth de Leon Bhargava, and Arun Venkataraman were advanced for full Senate consideration by voice vote. The vote on Arthur Jemison was tied.

Sen. Brown’s remarks at today’s markup, as prepared for entrance into the record, follow: 

The nominees we vote on today will play crucial roles in addressing some of our nation’s most challenging housing issues and supporting American workers and businesses abroad. 

Alanna McCargo currently serves as Senior Advisor for housing finance at HUD. Prior to joining the Biden Administration, Ms. McCargo served as Vice President for the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Ms. McCargo also has 10 years of experience at Fannie Mae, including during the last financial crisis.

From 2015 to 2020, Elizabeth de Leon Bhargava served as Deputy Secretary for Labor and Workforce for New York State. Previously, she served as First Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the New York City Council where she helped manage a staff of over 300 people. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Department of Small Business, and in the New York State Office of the Attorney General. 

For over two decades, Arun Venkataraman has worked on matters of international trade both in the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Counselor to the Secretary of Commerce, advising the Department on trade and other international economic matters. In the Obama-Biden administration, he served in the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration. 

Finally, Arthur Jemison currently serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Community Planning and Development at HUD. Prior to joining the Biden Administration, Mr. Jemison held numerous positions for the City of Detroit—most recently leading the city’s development agenda. He has also served the public in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.

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