U.S. Senate confirms Raimondo as next Secretary of Commerce

The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Gov. Gina Raimondo as the next commerce secretary, who won 84-15 for her confirmation

The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Gov. Gina Raimondo as the next commerce secretary.

Raimondo won 84-15 for her confirmation.

She officially submitted her letter of resignation in the evening.

Lt. Gov. Dan McKee was sworn in as the 76th governor on Tuesday.

McKee sent out a statement on Tuesday thanking her for service to Rhode Island.

The statement read: Rhode Islanders should be proud of Governor Raimondo’s confirmation as Commerce Secretary. It is an honour to have one of our own serving the country as a member of the Presidential Cabinet. Our country will benefit from her leadership on important issues like a fair and accurate Census, promoting American businesses large and small, and making sure American companies are able to compete fairly overseas. I wish Governor Raimondo the best of luck in her new position and thank her for her years of service to Rhode Island.

Raimondo is expected to be sworn in and then assume her new role.

Sen. Jack Reed congratulated both Raimondo and McKee on their new roles after the vote.

Congrats & best wishes to both, he wrote on social media.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse wrote on Twitter: Boom! Done. Haven’t had a Rhode Islander in a President’s Cabinet since J. Howard McGrath was AG for Truman.

Congressman Jim Langevin praised Raimondo’s track record of job creation and helping working families.

As Governor of Rhode Island, Gina Raimondo fought to create pathways to success for working families through her focus on job creation and economic growth. I am certain that she will continue her good work to revitalize our nation as Commerce Secretary. President Joe Biden and the American people are fortunate to have such a committed and capable leader at the helm of the Department of Commerce, Langevin said in a statement.

Congressman David Cicilline sent out congratulations via social media.

Sen. Ted Cruz placed a hold on Raimondo’s confirmation over her answers regarding the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei.

The Senate voted 84-15 Monday night on a cloture motion to end debate on her nomination. Cruz and 14 others voted no on the cloture.

Raimondo would oversee several government agencies, including the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Census Bureau, and the Patent and Trademark Office.

I think she demonstrated a grasp of the issues and she demonstrated also her ability to work and respond to both sides of the aisle and that is key to success as a cabinet secretary, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said.