Biden renominates several Indian Americans to key posts

Eric M. Garcetti renominated as US ambassador to India, with whom US relationship is “crucial and consequential”

With the new Congress coming in on Tuesday, President Joe Biden has begun renominating candidates, including several Indian Americans, who were not confirmed in the last Congress, for key posts in his administration.

Indian Americans, whose renominations were sent to Senate Tuesday included Richard R. Verma, former US ambassador to India, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. Verma, 54, is currently the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at Mastercard.

Read: Biden nominates Los Angeles Mayor Eric M. Garcetti as US ambassador to India (July 9, 2021)

Vivek Hallegere Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States, was also renominated to be concurrently Representative of the United States on the Executive

Board of the World Health Organization. Murthy, 45, who was confirmed by the US Senate in March 2021 to serve as America’s Doctor, held the same job under President Barack Obama too.

Biden on Tuesday also renominated Eric Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, as his envoy to India, with the White House exuding confidence that he would be confirmed by the US Senate this time.

Other Indian Americans renominated Tuesday included Radha Iyengar Plumb, of New York, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.

Anjali Chaturvedi, of Maryland, was renominated to be General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Ravi Chaudhary, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.

Kalpana Kotagal, of Ohio, was renominated to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2027.

Later at the White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that White House will continue to seek the confirmation of Garcetti as the US “relationship with India is crucial and it’s consequential.”

As Secretary of State Antony “Blinken said very recently, our relationship with India is crucial and it’s consequential, so we see this as a very important nomination,” she said.

“We’ll continue to seek the confirmation of Mayor Garcetti, who was, as you all know, voted out of committee unanimously and with strong bipartisan support to serve as ambassador to India,” Jean-Pierre said.

“And that’s important, as we’re talking about bipartisanship, as we’re talking how we’re going to move forward. And this is what you saw with his particular nomination,” she added.

Read: US President Joe Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as envoy to India (January 4, 2022)

“So, we see this as he is well qualified — Mayor Garcetti — to serve in this vital role. And we’re hopeful that the full Senate will confirm him promptly,” Jean-Pierre said.

Nominations resent Tuesday included nominees to serve as agency heads, as US Ambassadors, in key national security positions, and on bipartisan boards and commissions.

The White House said it will continue transmitting renominations to the Senate in the coming weeks hoping the Senate will take action expeditiously.