Duckworth drops threat to oppose Biden picks over diversity concerns
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said Tuesday that she was standing down on her pledge to oppose the Biden administration’s nominations in the Senate after assurances from the White House that it would do more to increase Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in the government.
In a statement obtained by NBC News, Duckworth’s spokesman said that the senator “appreciates the Biden administration’s assurances that it will do much more to elevate AAPI voices,” while adding that she would not oppose the administration’s “qualified” nominees.
News tonight: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) stands down on her threat to block Biden nominees over lack of AAPI representation among cabinet secretaries — after assurances from the administration.
A statement from her spokesman Ben Garmisa to me and @frankthorp pic.twitter.com/3dac2Y7lWd
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 24, 2021
The Hill has reached out to Duckworth’s office for comment.
New: @PressSec responds to warnings from @SenDuckworth and @maziehirono that they would block the President’s non-diverse nominees if they didn’t get a commitment to more AAPI representation in high level administration positions.
She said WH would add a new liason: pic.twitter.com/PvVZzLUEuQ
— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 24, 2021
Duckworth and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said earlier Tuesday that they would vote against any “non-diversity” nominees until the White House provided a plan to expand representation for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in government following the White House’s withdrawal of Neera Tanden to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
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