May 11, 2023

Brown Advances CEA, HUD, and Treasury Nominees

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held an executive session to vote on the nominations of: Dr. Jared Bernstein, of Virginia, to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, Executive Office of the President; Dr. Ron Borzekowski, of Maryland, to be Director of Financial Research, Department of the Treasury; Mr. Solomon Jeffrey Greene, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Mr. David Uejio, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Dr. Bernstein was advanced by a vote of 12-11. Mr. Green was advanced by a vote of 12-11. Mr. Uejio was advanced by a vote of 13-10. Dr. Borzekowski was advanced by a vote of 12-11.

Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:

The Committee meets in Executive Session today to consider the nominations of four qualified Presidential nominees: 

Dr. Jared Bernstein to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Mr. Solomon Greene to be Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

Mr. David Uejio to be Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD. 

And, Dr. Ron Borzekowski to be Director of the Office of Financial Research, Department of Treasury.

I will keep my remarks brief today.

The Banking and Housing Committee has a tradition of members voting for the President’s pick to be Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, regardless of political party. In 2017, I voted for Kevin Hassett, President Trump’s nominee to serve as CEA Chair.

In 2021, Ranking Member Toomey voted for Cecilia Rouse, President Biden’s C-E-A nominee. The Senate confirmed both of them with strong bipartisan support—Dr. Hassett’s nomination by a vote of 81 to 16 and Dr. Rouse’s nomination 95 to 4.  

Prior Chairs and Ranking Members similarly voted for the other party’s CEA Chair. The President should have his pick for CEA Chair.

There’s that we should not continue that bipartisan tradition today.

I’m pleased to support the nomination of Jared Bernstein to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Dr. Bernstein is an exceptionally qualified economist with decades of experience.

Last month, seven former Republican CEA Chairs wrote to the Committee in support of his nomination. Three of these seven served under President Trump.

If his peers – who often disagree with him – support him, there is no good reason why this Committee shouldn’t, in bipartisan fashion, vote to advance his nomination.  There are reasons, but there are no good ones.

Finally, the Committee will vote on the nominations of Solomon Greene and David Uejio to serve in important positions at HUD. Both Mr. Greene and Mr. Uejio are well-qualified.

Since 2022, Mr. Greene has served as principal deputy assistant secretary for Policy Development and Research at HUD. He previously served as a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, Senior Advisor at HUD, and in private law practice. 

Since 2012, Mr. Uejio has served in various roles at CFPB. Prior to his service at CFPB, Mr. Uejio served in different roles at NIH, OPM, and DOD. Coupled with his management skills, Mr. Uejio is well positioned to lead HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. 

The President has nominated Ron Borzekowski to serve as the Director of the Office of Financial Research at the Department of Treasury.

From 2011 to 2019, under both Democratic and Republican Directors, Dr. Borzekowski served in various roles in the Office of Research at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Dr. Borzekowski’s experience has prepared him to lead OFR as it aims to deliver high-quality financial data and analysis. 

I urge my colleagues to support all four nominations today.

 

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