Senate OKs New HUD Chief, Acts Swiftly on Other Nominees

WASHINGTON —  The Senate, with little dissent, continued Wednesday to act swiftly on President Clinton’s second-term Cabinet, confirming Andrew Cuomo as secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Cuomo, the son of former New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, has been an undersecretary at HUD. He will succeed Henry G. Cisneros.

His 99-0 confirmation vote was identical to the votes last week that approved Madeleine Albright as secretary of State and William S. Cohen as Defense secretary.

Also Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee recommended approval of attorney Bill Daley’s nomination to be Commerce secretary and held a congenial session with Transportation Secretary-designate Rodney Slater.

Daley is the brother of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Slater is now federal highway administrator.

The Finance Committee gave Charlene Barshefsky a warm reception in considering her nomination as U.S. trade representative. Barshefsky was praised for her negotiating skills as acting trade representative.

At the hearing for U.N. ambassador nominee Bill Richardson, however, Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he is concerned the administration may soon seek an emergency appropriation to start paying the United Nations $912 million in back dues, thus ignoring his recommendation that repayment be tied to U.N. changes.

The statement disrupted what had been a congenial exchange between Richardson and the committee.

Later, an administration official denied that Clinton is seeking such an appropriation.