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U.S. Senate approves Obama's pick for SBA

28 March 2014 00:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved President Barack Obama's pick of Maria Contreras-Sweet as the head of the Small Business Administration (SBA), APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The Senate voted by voice to confirm Contreras-Sweet, the founder of a Latino-owned bank in Los Angeles, to succeed Karen Mills, who left the SBA last August.

"The American people will have a fierce champion who understands what it means to start a small business, and who has a proven track record of helping other small businesses succeed," Obama hailed the confirmation of Contreras-Sweet in a statement.

Born in Mexico, Contreras-Sweet immigrated to the United States when she was a child. During her career, she has a mix of corporate and government experience to support small businesses.

At present, Contreras-Sweet is the founder and Chairwoman of ProAmerica Bank, a Latino-owned community bank in Los Angeles that primarily serves small and medium-sized businesses in Latino neighborhoods. She previously served as Secretary of California's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, becoming the first Latina cabinet secretary in California history.

Obama nominated Contreras-Sweet to head SBA in January to fill the final slot of his second-term cabinet. "I'm confident that as the newest member of my cabinet, Maria will do an outstanding job as she working with me, with America's small business owners, and with my entire Administration to increase economic growth and expand opportunity for all," said Obama.