The U.S. Senate confirmed Pamela Hughes Patenaude to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development yesterday in a vote of 80-17. Patenaude was originally on the shortlist to serve as Secretary of HUD, but that position ultimately went to Dr. Ben Carson.
Patenaude gained bipartisan support during her Senate confirmation hearing before the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs where she stressed the need for effectively serving the country’s neediest populations. Sen. Sheehan (D-NH) praised Patenaude’s ability to “bring together disparate groups for bipartisan solutions” and cited Patenaude’s extensive experience in the housing industry. While most Democrats voted in favor of her nomination, seventeen voted in opposition. Many Democrats expressed concern regarding various cuts to HUD’s budget under the Trump Administration’s proposed FY 2018 budget. Patenaude maintained her support of the President’s overall budget and emphasized the importance of creating agency efficiency and engaging in public-private partnerships.
Patenaude most recently served as the President for the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for Housing America’s Families and she previously served as the Director of the Bipartisan Policy Center Housing Commission, an advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, and served as HUD assistant secretary for community, planning and development. This experience will be a valuable asset to HUD as the deputy secretary runs the day-to-day operations of the department.
