Gina Raimondo Sworn In as Commerce Secretary by Kamala Harris

Gina Raimondo, the Rhode Island governor picked by President Joe Biden to lead the Commerce Department, was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday.

Raimondo will help guide the economy's recovery during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

The Senate confirmed her on Tuesday by a vote of 84-15.

Raimondo, 49, was the first woman elected governor of Rhode Island and is serving her second term.

She is a Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of Yale Law School who went on to become a venture capitalist before turning to politics.

Raimondo will be responsible for promoting the nation's economic growth domestically and overseas.

Republican opposition to Raimondo's confirmation focused on concerns that she would not be forceful enough in confronting the Chinese government's efforts to gain an economic and technological edge through espionage.

Much of Raimondo's work will be focused on regional economic issues.

The Commerce Department comprises a dozen bureaus and agencies, including the National Weather Service, the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Raimondo would oversee the work of more than 40,000 employees.

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

[evenightingale]

What does Kamala think about Andrew Cuomo's nursing home deaths scandal?

[jeffstrong]

She had shady background in past jobs. She left as governor with record unemployment and Rhode Island being ranked 50th for business before the pandemic hit because she doesn't fully understand how to build trust in business environment. Under Raimondo, the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families had come under fire for the rate of deaths and near-deaths of children in its care. In October 2018, the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families ordered the Raimondo Administration DCYF to improve in 33 of 36 areas assessed pretty much all she did or didn't do was crap work. The federal report noted that DCYF services were "inadequate, not developed when needed, or lacked consistent monitoring". Harvard Kennedy School professor and former Obama Administration official Jeffrey Liebman agreed with the recommendations and analysis of the report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and claimed that the DCYF is "the most messed-up agency ever".