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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 14, 2021 | The Indian Eye 26

Back in business: Neera Tanden joins

White House as senior adviser

Indian American to launch a review of the US Digital Service, and plan contingencies if

Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act

NEERAJ DHAR sought Senate confirmation for
his cabinet nominees.
North America - Bureau Chief “I have accepted Neera Tan-

eera Tanden has joined den’s request to withdraw her
the White House as a name from nomination for di-
NSenior Adviser to Pres- rector of the Office of Manage-
ident Joe Biden. She joined her ment and Budget,” Biden had
new assignment on Monday. said in a statement. “I have the
She has been entrusted with utmost respect for her record
two tasks – launch a review of of accomplishment, her experi-
the US Digital Service, and plan ence and her counsel, and I look
contingencies that could result forward to having her serve in a
from the Supreme Court’s con- role in my administration. She
sideration of Republican law- will bring valuable perspective
suits seeking to strike down the and insight to our work.”
Affordable Care Act. Tanden’s confirmation had
Tanden is currently the pres- faced increasingly steep odds.
ident and CEO of a progressive Barack Obama’s signature leg- Care Act. “Neera’s intellect, te- Republican senators who op-
think-tank, Center for Ameri- islative achievement, the Af- nacity, and political savvy will posed her nomination cited
can Progress (CAP). “Neera’s fordable Care Act. be an asset to the Biden admin- tweets attacking members of
intellect, tenacity, and political Before that, Tanden was the istration,” CAP founder and di- both parties prior to her nom-
savvy will be an asset to the director of domestic policy for rector John Podesta said. ination. And last week, Joe
Biden administration,” CAP the Obama-Biden presidential He said the White House Manchin, a conservative Dem-
founder and director John Po- campaign, where she managed has made remarkable prog- ocratic senator, announced he
desta said. all domestic policy proposals. ress combating numerous would oppose her nomination,
He said the White House Tanden also served as policy di- once-in-a-generation challeng- also citing her tweets. That left
has made remarkable prog- rector for Hillary Clinton’s first es from vaccinating millions of Tanden short of the majority
ress combating numerous presidential campaign. Americans to delivering real of votes needed on the Senate
once-in-a-generation challeng- Before the 2008 presidential economic relief from the coro- floor and in the committees in-
es — from vaccinating millions campaign, Tanden served as navirus pandemic, and from volved.
of Americans to delivering real legislative director in Clinton’s strengthening the Affordable Manchin, a key moderate
economic relief from the coro- office, and deputy campaign Care Act to tackling climate swing vote in the Senate, said
navirus pandemic, and from manager and issues director change. last month: “Her overtly parti-
strengthening the Affordable for Clinton’s 2000 Senate cam- “Many of these bold policy san statements will have a tox-
Care Act to tackling climate paign. solutions, which have bipartisan ic and detrimental impact on
change. She began her career as an support from voters across the the important working rela-
“Many of these bold policy associate director for domestic country, were developed and tionship between members of
solutions, which have bipartisan policy in former President Bill led by Neera at CAP over many Congress and the next director
support from voters across the Clinton’s White House, and se- years. The administration’s of the Office of Management
country, were developed and nior policy adviser to the First efforts will be magnified with and Budget.”
led by Neera at CAP over many Lady. Tanden holds a Bache- Neera Tanden on the team,” Tanden was an unexpected
years. The administration’s lor of Science degree from the Podesta added. choice to run Biden’s budget
efforts will be magnified with University of California, Los In March, Joe Biden’s pick team. She is a longtime ally of
Neera Tanden on the team,” Angeles, and a law degree from to head the Office of Man- Hillary Clinton and has often
Podesta added. the Yale Law School. agement and Budget, Neera vocally criticized both Republi-
Tanden previously served as Tanden has been assigned to Tanden, had withdrawn her cans and Democrats, especially
a senior adviser for health re- launch a review of the US Digi- nomination after she faced op- supporters of Bernie Sanders.
forms at the US Department tal Service, and plan contingen- position from key Democratic Tanden has said in her confir-
of Health and Human Services. cies that could result from the and Republican senators over mation hearings that she re-
She worked with Congress Supreme Court’s consideration her past controversial tweets. gretted the past statements, but
and stakeholders on particular of Republican lawsuits seeking Her withdrawal marked the that wasn’t enough to sway the
provisions of former President to strike down the Affordable president’s first failure as he required number of senators.

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