President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley as the next commissioner for the Social Security Administration.
The news was first reported on Reuters.
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, applauded O'Malley's nomination Wednesday, stating that O'Malley is "a longtime Social Security champion."
Like Biden, "O'Malley supports expanding Social Security's modest benefits, not cutting them," Altman said. "At a time when Social Security is under attack from Republicans in Congress, O'Malley is the fighter that the American people need at SSA's helm."
The Senate "should swiftly confirm O'Malley so he can work to provide the American people with that first-class service and fight for increasing, not cutting, their benefits."
Senate Democrats pressed Biden last October to protect and expand Social Security by filling the vacant commissioner and deputy commissioner seats at the Social Security Administration — which have been open for more than a year.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., tweeted Wednesday that "Martin O'Malley never backs down from a challenge. I'm excited by the news that @POTUS has nominated my friend, and one of Maryland's most successful governors, to be the next Commissioner of the Social Security Administration."