Finance committee backs Carolyn Colvin as Social Security Commissioner

September 24, 2014 at 09:58 AM

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The Senate Finance Committee has approved the nomination of Carolyn Watts Colvin to be the commissioner of the Social Security Administration by a 22-2 vote.

The committee held a hearing to consider Ms. Colvin's nomination on July 31.

Ms. Colvin has served as the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration ("SSA") since February 2013. She was confirmed as deputy commissioner of the SSA in December 2010. From January 2011 to February 2013, she served as the secretary of the board of trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund.

Previously, Ms. Colvin was the director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the director of the District of Columbia Department of Health and Human Services.

She received a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Morgan State University.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore), stated, "Social Security needs a confirmed leader in place to serve the more than 62 million Americans who rely the program as an economic lifeline. As acting commissioner since February 2013, Carolyn Colvin has demonstrated that she is the leader for the job. I am pleased the Finance Committee has reported her nomination with such a strong show of support, and hope to see her nomination move quickly through the full Senate."

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