Senator Murray: “I can’t think of anything more appropriate than putting a working mom in charge of America’s budget… We need a steady hand to help guide our economic recovery— the best person for that job is Shalanda Young.”
***WATCH VIDEO OF SENATOR MURRAY’S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, during a Senate Budget Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), introduced Shalanda Young, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and reiterated her strong support for President Biden’s nomination of Ms. Young to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). At the hearing, Senator Murray highlighted Ms. Young’s proven track record as acting OMB director where she has served over the past year working to build an economy that works for everyone as well as her extensive experience serving as Staff Director of the House Appropriations Committee. In addition, Senator Murray emphasized Ms. Young’s perspective as a working mom and the historic significance of Ms. Young’s nomination, noting that if confirmed, she would become the first Black woman to lead OMB.
“Any Senator who has worked on any major spending deal during Ms. Young’s tenure on the House Appropriations Committee has seen she knows the budget process inside-and-out,” Senator Murray said during her introduction. “Ms. Young would make history as the first Black woman to lead the Office of Management and Budget, bringing an important perspective as we work to build an economy that really works for everyone in this country.”
“Working moms have felt some of the worst of this pandemic—and at a time when a full-blown child care crisis and the lack of a strong national, paid leave policy has been especially hard for working moms, forcing so many to turn down extra hours, promotions—or quit entirely. I can’t think of anything more appropriate than putting a working mom in charge of America’s budget,” said Senator Murray continued. “We are facing more challenges than almost any time that I can remember. COVID-19 is an ongoing threat to public health and our economy, the pandemic has shone a light on and worsened so many longstanding challenges like child care and the cost of housing, and we are seeing the effects—and costs—of the climate crisis in every part of this country. We need a steady hand to help guide our economic recovery—the best person for that job is Shalanda Young.”
During the hearing, Senator Murray asked Ms. Young about the economic case for the strong and decisive proposals included in Build Back Better to put money back in peoples’ pockets and ensure that the economy actually works for working families. In addition, Senator Murray asked Ms. Young to speak to the importance of reaching a spending agreement for Fiscal Year 2022 and what the consequences would be if Congress fails to do so. Murray also stressed to Ms. Young the need to ensure the federal government fulfills its responsibility in addressing critical issues pertaining to Washington state—including restoring the Pacific Northwest’s iconic salmon runs, and its moral and legal obligation to clean up the Hanford nuclear site. Senator Murray also expressed her strong support for the confirmation of Nani Coloretti to serve as Deputy Director of OMB.
Ms. Young has been serving as Acting OMB Director since her confirmation to the Deputy Director position in March 2021. In less than a year on the job, she’s overseen OMB’s rollout of President Biden’s first budget request, implementation of the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ongoing Build Back Better negotiations, and is involved in FY22 negotiations. Prior to her confirmation, Young served as the Staff Director and Clerk for the House Appropriations Committee. She began working for the committee in 2007, gradually rising through the ranks to the lead staff role in 2017 –becoming the first Black woman to serve in that role.
Senator Murray’s introduction of Ms. Young and questioning during the hearing, as prepared for delivery, are below:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
“I’m so glad to be here today to provide a brief introduction of Shalanda Young and to express my strong support for her swift confirmation as OMB Director, a role she has filled already on an acting basis for the past year.
“I have known Ms. Young for many years—as many of us have.
“And we know Ms. Young for her expertise, an unmatched work ethic, and—maybe most importantly a willingness, and proven track record of bringing both sides—Republican and Democrat—together to get things done for the American people.
“When we talk about appointing good people in government—people who will do the work—we’re talking about Shalanda Young.
“Any Senator who has worked on any major spending deal during Ms. Young’s tenure on the House Appropriations Committee has seen she knows the budget process inside-and-out.
“Ms. Young would also make history as the first Black woman to lead the Office of Management and Budget bringing an important perspective as we work to build an economy that really works for everyone in this country.
“And on that note—I think it’s important to mention that Ms. Young is a brand new mom.
“Working moms have felt some of the worst of this pandemic—and at a time when a full-blown child care crisis and the lack of a strong national, paid leave policy has been especially hard for working moms, forcing so many to turn down extra hours, promotions—or quit entirely. I can’t think of anything more appropriate than putting a working mom in charge of America’s budget.
“Mr. Chairman, we are facing more challenges than almost any time that I can remember: COVID-19 is an ongoing threat to public health and our economy, the pandemic has shone a light on and worsened so many longstanding challenges like child care and the cost of housing and we are seeing the effects—and costs—of the climate crisis in every part of this country.
“We need a steady hand to help guide our economic recovery—that person is Shalanda Young.
“Few people understand the federal budget or appropriations process like Ms. Young and even fewer have the benefit of her years of experience negotiating tough deals with both Republicans and Democrats.
“Let’s waste no time in confirming Ms. Young so that she can keep working for the American people…
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“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
“I am pleased that we have the opportunity to speak today with Shalanda Young and Nani Coloretti.
“Both of these women bring a wealth of experience to these roles, and the right skillsets that we need in this moment.
“I have already spoken this afternoon about my strong support for Ms. Young’s nomination to be OMB Director, and I want to also add my support for Ms. Coloretti’s nomination. She brings important budget know-how from her time at HUD, Treasury, and serving the city of San Francisco.
“I think this will be a great team leading OMB at a critical time for our country’s working families.
“Now, on the COVID-19 response and economic recovery.
“Some people thought we went too big when we wrote the American Rescue Plan—I think it’s plain to see that’s not the case.
“We’ve seen a stronger, and much faster economic recovery because of the bill Democrats wrote and passed—6.4 million jobs back into the economy since just one year ago.
“But there’s more work to do. We simply cannot recover from this crisis fairer and more resilient if we don’t—at long last—take bold steps to dramatically lower costs for families.
“That mean ensuring parents can actually find and afford quality child care where they live, giving parents the opportunity to enroll their kids into preschool at no cost, making a landmark investment in climate action and clean energy—because we can see that the climate crisis is here and now, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, housing, and much more.
“We have proposals to address these needs that are long-term and fully paid for—proposals that will actually cut the deficit over time.
“So I ask both of you, and Acting Director Young, if you can respond first: what is the economic case for the strong and decisive proposals included in Build Back Better to put money back in peoples’ pockets and ensure that our economy actually works for working families?
“On government spending, I was pleased to see President Biden’s first budget lay out critical investments to support working families.
“So I am very concerned that we have not yet reached a deal to get this year’s appropriations bills to the President’s desk—the clock is ticking.
“Can you both speak to the importance of reaching a spending agreement for Fiscal Year 2022 and some of the consequences if we fail to do so?
“Before I close, let me briefly raise two issues of critical importance to Washington state—Acting Director Young, we’ve discussed both of these previously.
“This first is salmon recovery. I am firmly committed to ensuring that the federal government is doing its part to restore the Pacific Northwest’s iconic salmon runs—I hope that we can continue to work closely on this.
“The second is the federal government’s moral and legal obligation to clean up the Hanford nuclear site. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you both to ensure that Hanford is on a cost-effective trajectory without compromising the cleanup mission.
“Finally, Acting Director Young and Ms. Coloretti—I want to thank you both for your willingness to serve in these positions at such an important time for our country.
“I look forward to supporting both of your nominations. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
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