Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced Shalanda Young, nominee to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), at the Senate Budget Committee yesterday, highlighting her work as Deputy Director, as well as her wit and their friendship. Ms. Young is currently the Deputy Director of OMB and serving as the Acting Director of OMB. Excerpts and the full introduction are below.
“[Ms. Young] is from Louisiana and I’m from little old North Dakota. But I think it speaks volumes to what relationship means. It’s not geographic; It’s relationship.
“Mr. Chairman. you did a wonderful job with Ms. Young’s credentials. You didn’t mention that she’s a new mom, which is the greatest credential of all time.
“I just want to add a couple of insights having worked with [Acting] Director Young in this last year. As you pointed out, she’s been confirmed to be the Deputy, but has served as the Acting Director. That in and of itself is challenging enough. On top of that we have [the ongoing COVID-19] pandemic, and all of these other issues with the workforce scattered about [and] working remotely. All big challenges and she’s met them all.
“I have found Shalanda to be smart, extremely witty – in fact I would suspect in a wit-off [she would] beat Ranking Member [Lindsey Graham], but hopefully he’ll still vote for you. She’s classy. Mr. Chairman, you talked about her role as staff lead at the House Appropriations Committee and that’s of course where I first learned about her good work.
“What has impressed me so much and what I have seen in practice, as well in words, is that she has not just an understanding of the legislative process, but a real respect for the institution. That means a lot. That makes all of us better at our jobs, including the folks at OMB.
“I can tell you from firsthand experience that in my now ten years – roughly – in Congress, I’ve never worked with a Budget Director that was as attentive, that was as understanding, that could drill down as deeply on specific issues, and actually took the time to do it as Director Young has.
“We have a couple of major water infrastructure projects in North Dakota that have been authorized many times, but never really dealt with appropriately by OMB, and they have now. I thank you for that.
“She immediately responded to our concerns about Metropolitan Statistic Area definitions, something when you come from a small state with small cities really matters. Even on manufacturing regulations when we [raised] a question or concern, her and her staff got right on it. I don’t know that you could ask for any more or anything better from someone who directs an agency as large and as important as OMB.
“For those reasons and a whole bunch of others… there’s nothing she could do today to get me to vote against her.”
In Deputy Director Young’s opening statement, she acknowledged Senator Cramer’s kind words and spoke to their working relationship.
“I’d like to thank Senator Cramer for those wonderful words of introduction. I won’t promise you lunch other than the Senate dining room. But the two who introduced me today are testaments to relationships that can be built in this institution. Senator Cramer and I have gotten to know each other very well over the last year while working together. Thank you very much!” said Deputy Director Young.