CWA: Senate Confirms Mel Watt to head FHFA

Washington, D.C. -- Statement by the Communications Workers of America on the Senate confirmation of Rep. Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency: 

Today’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate of Rep. Mel Watt as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is long overdue.  Watt will be a strong advocate for individual homeowners and communities and will take on predatory lending and other financial practices that harm consumers.

Watt was the first sitting member of Congress since 1843 to be denied a major executive branch position because the Senate minority was determined to pursue a partisan agenda and block Watt’s nomination from proceeding to a confirmation vote.

Watt’s confirmation, and that of Patricia Millett to the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, happened only because the Senate Majority Leader and a majority of Democrats voted to end obstruction and gridlock on nominations by restoring majority vote confirmation for judicial and executive nominations as called for by the U.S. Constitution. The Senate minority has been blocking action by requiring a 60-vote supermajority for all Senate business, even on the motion to adjourn.  

We commend Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and the other reform champions. CWA, as part of the Fix the Senate Now coalition and the Democracy Initiative, will continue to work for changes in the Senate rules to restore real debate and deliberation on legislation, as the U.S. Constitution charges the Senate to do.

Contact: Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org

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