Benefits Regulator Nominee Aronowitz Clears Key Senate Committee

A congressional panel approved President Donald Trump‘s choice to oversee private-sector workplace benefit plans, clearing the path for a full Senate confirmation vote.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 14-9 Thursday to advance former fiduciary insurance executive Daniel Aronowitz’s nomination to lead the Employee Benefits Security Administration. Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine (Va.) and John Hickenlooper (Colo.) joined Republicans in voting to move the Republican nominee forward.

The small US Labor Department agency regulates health, retirement, and welfare benefits 153 million Americans receive from their employers. Aronowitz, who has spent most of his career protecting plan sponsors ...