Before leaving for a three-day trip to Latin America on Thursday, President Barack Obama nominated two of his long-time friends to fill out his second-term economic team.
Obama announced his choice of billionaire businesswoman Penny Pritzker as Secretary of Commerce and deputy national security adviser Mike Froman as U.S. Trade Representative.
If confirmed, Pritzker would replace Rebecca Blank, who has served as acting Commerce Secretary since John Bryson resigned in June of 2012.
Pritzker, who Forbes ranks as the 277th richest person in America, was finance chairwoman of Obama's 2008 campaign and co-chair of his 2012 re-election campaign.
In remarks in the White House Rose Garden, Obama described Pritzker as one of the country's most distinguished business leaders, saying she has more than 25 years of management experience in industries including real estate, finance, and hospitality.
"She's built companies from the ground up," Obama said of Pritzker. "She knows from experience that no government program alone can take the place of a great entrepreneur."
He added, "She knows that what we can do is to give every business and every worker the best possible chance to succeed by making America a magnet for good jobs."
While Pritzker's history as an Obama campaign donor is likely to face scrutiny from Republicans, her nomination may also face opposition from union groups that allege worker-safety violations by her family's Hyatt hotel chain.
Obama also announced his nomination of former law school classmate Froman to succeed Ron Kirk as U.S. Trade Representative.
The president said Froman was a key negotiator alongside Kirk on trade agreements for South Korea, Colombia, and Panama, which he claimed support tens of thousands of American jobs.
"Mike believes, just as I believe and just as Penny believes, that our workers are the most competitive in the world, so they deserve a level playing field," Obama said.
He added, "And Mike's going to continue to fight for that level playing field in his new role, as he helps to move forward trade negotiations with both the Asia-Pacific region and Europe, and will also continue to advise me on a broad range of economic issues."
In his closing remarks, Obama noted that he has gotten to know Pritzker and Froman not just as leaders and professionals but also as friends.
"One of the reasons I'm proud to nominate them is they don't forget what matters. They know this is not about just growing balance sheets," Obama said. "It's about growing opportunity for people. It's about growing a sense of security for the middle class."
He added, "And, most of all, they operate with integrity and they understand that public service is a privilege, and you've got to do it right when you get involved on behalf of the American people."
The president called on the Senate to confirm Pritzker and Froman without delay, joking that he intends to work them to the bone as soon as they're official.
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