Senate Committee Advances Samuels, Nanda Nominations; Deadlocked on Abruzzo

On May 12, 2021, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held votes on three of President Biden's nominees to critical positions in agencies regulating the workforce. The Committee voted in favor of EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samules' nomination to serve a second term by a vote of 14-8. By the same margin, the Committee also voted to approve the nomination of Seema Nanda to serve as Solicitor of Labor.

However, the vote on Jennifer Abruzzo was split 11 to 11. Under Senate rules, the full Senate may consider Abruzzo's nomination even though the Committee did not vote in favor of approving the nomination. However, the vote indicates that securing the support of the full Senate will be difficult and perhaps require the presence of Vice President Harris to cast a tie-breaking vote.