Preston Rutledge's nomination to serve as assistant secretary of labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration was approved Wednesday by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
The nomination was referred to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote. A date for the vote has not been set.
Mr. Rutledge has served as tax and benefits counsel for the Senate Finance Committee since 2011. Before joining the Republican staff, he worked with the Internal Revenue Service's tax-exempt and government entities division in Washington. He has also worked in private practice as an employee benefits counselor and litigator.
The EBSA position has been vacant since the departure of Phyllis Borzi in January at the end of the Obama administration.