The U.S. Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved Elaine
Chao as the Trump administration's secretary of transportation, by a vote of
93-6.
Chao, the wife of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell,
served as secretary of labor under George W. Bush and as deputy secretary of
transportation under George H.W. Bush.
U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow applauded the
confirmation, saying Chao's experience as the DOT's deputy secretary and her
tenure as director of the Peace Corps "cement a deep base of knowledge
about what keeps a country connected and thriving."
"Chao's comments during her confirmation hearings
indicate her strong understanding that sustained, focused investment in
infrastructure modernization is crucial to keeping America competitive and
spurring economic growth," Dow said. "She is exactly the kind of
principled but pragmatic leader that can bring President Trump's stated
infrastructure aims to fruition."
The senators who voted no were Jeff Merkley, Kirsten Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and Bernie Sanders.