Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) released the following statement in response to the confirmation hearing testimony of Neera Tanden, Director-designate for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who appeared this morning before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. If confirmed, Tanden, who is Indian American, would become the first woman of color and first South Asian American to lead OMB.

Today’s hearing was the first of two for Tanden. She testifies before the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday.

“Neera has spent her career putting the Affordable Care Act and other big, bold policies into practice for working families. She has the experience and expertise to lead the Office of Management and Budget in a way that moves our country and economy forward.

“She understands that the federal budget can be a force for good that lifts people out of poverty and helps them achieve their dreams. She understands this because she has lived it. She also understands that the federal budget must address the many crises before us—the coronavirus and the related recession as well as climate change, racial equity, immigration and health care.

“During the worst pandemic in more than 100 years, it is important to have one of the chief architects of the Affordable Care Act leading the federal agency responsible for making sure that government delivers programs and services as efficiently and effectively as possible, which includes testing, vaccinations and insuring the uninsured.

“I commend Neera on a job well done at the first of two confirmation hearings and look forward to the next. It was easy to see why we would be so lucky to have her brilliance and barrier breaking leadership at OMB.”