The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Thursday advanced Lisa M. Gomez's nomination as assistant secretary of labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration in a 12-10 vote.
President Joe Biden in July nominated Ms. Gomez, a partner at law firm Cohen, Weiss and Simon and the chairwoman of its management committee, to lead EBSA.
At her confirmation hearing before the HELP Committee in October, Ms. Gomez wasn't asked many pointed questions and face no criticism. Though 10 Republicans on the committee voted against her nomination Thursday, none spoke out in opposition. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the committee's ranking member who opposed Ms. Gomez's nomination, used his allotted time before the vote to criticize child-care and preschool provisions Democrats are considering in their social spending bill — the Build Back Better Act.
Ms. Gomez's nomination will now head to the full Senate where a vote has yet to be scheduled.
Ali Khawar has been leading EBSA as acting assistant secretary. If Ms. Gomez is confirmed, Mr. Khawar would retain his other position as principal deputy assistant secretary.
