Nomination of Lisa Gomez for assistant Secretary of Labor for EBSA sent to Senate for vote
Gomez is a partner in the law firm of Cohen, Weiss and Simon, where she has chaired the firm’s management committee. She has specialized in employee benefits law.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday again approved the nomination of Lisa Gomez as assistant secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
With Republican opposition, the committee voted, 12-9 in favor of sending the nomination to the full Senate. The Gomez nomination was one of several that were reapproved during the short session.
It now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
Gomez was initially nominated to head EBSA in July 2021 and in December, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved her nomination, 12-10. However, her nomination never went to the Senate floor.
Under the rules of the Senate, nominations that were not voted on during a session of Congress must be re-submitted by the president and again considered by the committee with jurisdiction over the nomination before going to the full Senate. The First Session of the 117th Congress has ended, so President Biden was required to re-submit Gomez’s nomination.
During Thursday’s meeting, Senate committee Chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she supported Gomez’s nomination, as well as the others nominated. Although Republicans opposed the nomination, no senator spoke in opposition.
However, Republicans have been outspoken in their opposition to a proposed Labor Department rule that would allow fiduciaries to take into account climate change and other environmental, social and governance factors when they select and exercise shareholder rights.
Senate Labor, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ranking Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina was among the Republicans who last month signed a letter to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh asking him to withdraw the controversial proposal.
Gomez is a partner in the law firm of Cohen, Weiss and Simon, where she has chaired the firm’s management committee. She has specialized in employee benefits law.
During her October confirmation hearing Gomez told the committee that her work has focused on protecting the benefits of workers and their families and helping them to understand their benefits.
“It has also centered on counseling plan sponsors so that they comprehend and appreciate their responsibilities to participants and their families,” she said, in her opening statement. “My extensive experience with plans covering employees and employers in a broad and diverse range of industries, with different concerns and needs, has given me a fuller understanding of how to serve them best.
EBSA has been headed by Ali Khawar, who has been serving as assistant secretary. If Gomez is confirmed, Khawar would remain as principal deputy assistant secretary.