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Biden appoints first Native woman as U.S. Treasurer, with signature on money

Published 06/21/2022, 05:03 AM
Updated 06/21/2022, 09:01 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Treasury building is seen in Washington, September 29, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Treasury building is seen in Washington, September 29, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo

By David Lawder

ROSEBUD, South Dakota (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced his intention to appoint Mohegan Indian Tribe Lifetime Chief Marilynn Malerba as U.S. Treasurer, marking the first time a Native woman's signature will appear on U.S. currency.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is visiting the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota on Tuesday, also announced the creation of a new Treasury Office of Tribal and Native Affairs, which will report to the treasurer and administer tribal relations.

Malerba's appointment by Biden also will allow Yellen's signature to be added to the U.S. currency, as this was prohibited without a U.S. treasurer in place. Dollar notes have been printed since Yellen took office last year with former Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin's signature on them.

The appointment helps reduce a long list of unfilled and unconfirmed senior positions at the Treasury.

The treasurer position has been vacant since January 2020, when Jovita Carranza left to become Small Business Administrator in the Trump administration. The U.S. Treasurer directly oversees the U.S. Mint, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, storage of about $270 billion worth of gold at Fort Knox and is a key liaison with the Federal Reserve.

Malerba's appointment to the position no longer needs confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

"With this announcement, we are making an even deeper commitment to Indian Country," Yellen said in prepared remarks to be delivered at the Rosebud Sioux reservation. "Chief Malerba will expand our unique relationship with Tribal nations, continuing our joint efforts to support the development of Tribal economies and economic opportunities for Tribal citizens."

Malerba, who had a lengthy career as a registered nurse, has been chief of the Connecticut-based Mohegan tribe since 2010 and previously chaired its tribal council and served as its executive director of Health and Human Services, according to the Mohegan website https://www.mohegan.nsn.us/explore/heritage/our-ceremonial-leaders/chief.

The Treasury said Malerba joined Yellen at the Rosebud Sioux reservation on Tuesday, where Yellen discussed the impact of some $30 billion in federal COVID-19 aid to tribal governments.

Yellen's visit to the Rosebud Sioux reservation marks the first time that a Treasury secretary has visited a tribal nation - department officials said they could find no record of a prior visit.

Yellen toured programs at Rosebud that are using nearly $200 million in funds from last year's American Rescue Plan, including a manufactured home factory aimed at easing a severe housing shortage among the 35,000-member tribe.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Treasury building is seen in Washington, September 29, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo

Yellen and Malerba said the new tribal affairs office at the Treasury aimed to reduce chronic tax and financing inequities that tribes face that keep them from attracting investment.

The Treasury on Tuesday also announced that it has approved the tribe's plan to use more than $160,000 to upgrade its broadband internet infrastructure under a $10 billion broadband fund for state, local and tribal governments.

Latest comments

good. about time and more should follow. it's rightfully their country. if you don't like it, leave
If the position hasn't been filled yet one has to wonder why it's needed.  One more opportunity to address government overspending, and the inflation it brings with it, wasted.
Every printed dollar from the USA and UK/Canada/Australia treasuries should go to natives americans/ australians and then trickle out. The queens family and friends should have all assets taken away and dispursed to the poorest natives. The punishment should last 400 years. Or else all risk eternity in extreme heat :)
Thank you everyone I will sign the money with my tribal name….Sitting Bull *******
Another brick in the wall.
You know it’s bad in Biden’s administration when the only thing mentioned about his appointments is the racial/religious/se.xual orientation of a persons background.
for god's sake let the crude oil price go down everything is so expensive people are suffering. FED please do something fast !!!!
It's supply and demand, get used to the high oil price forever. Other economies are growing like India, which means they will use more oil. Means higher prices. The US reserves are very low, they need to fill them up. Don't get surprised if it will go up higher
How is a registered nurse qualified to perform the duties of a US Treasurer? Unbelieveable. Biden has to stop the diversity “bs” and start putting people in key positions that have the proper credentials!!
You haven't lived until you have Yellen's signature on a fresh Tubman.
Literally, NO ONE CARES
I care. Seems like you care a big deal since youre shouting. Triggered maybe?
let's keep the woke train going and keep jobs to more who check specific demographic boxes.
Think he’s just stating facts
no hes implying a lack of qualification, if hes stating that as fact then we know it is racism. Pretty weak minded either way
Taylor might be a racist. it's possible yes. but let's rather discuss your own not noticing the deck chairs being rearranged on the good ship titanic. an RN? well, the USD is going to need a shot in the arm. many many shots actually. sigh.
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