The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved the nomination of Larry EchoHawk to be assistant secretary of Indian affairs at the Department of the Interior.

The committee approved EchoHawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, by a near unanimous vote. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), who was not present at the business meeting yesterday, voted no for reasons that weren't explained.

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) voiced concerns about EchoHawk's lack of specifics on Indian gaming. Although he was not present at the meeting, he sent a statement and didn't vote against the nomination.

If confirmed by the full Senate, EchoHawk will be the 11th assistant secretary to Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Get the Story:
EchoHawk a vote away from heading Indian Affairs (The Salt Lake Tribune 5/15)
BIA nominee approved by key Senate committee (The Tulsa World 5/15)
Senate panel endorses Larry EchoHawk nomination (The Salt Lake City Deseret News 5/15)

Related Stories:
Senate Indian Affairs committee business meeting (5/11)
Senate committee plans vote on EchoHawk nomination (5/8)
Senate confirmation hearing for EchoHawk at BIA (5/7)
Witness list for Larry EchoHawk confirmation hearing (5/5)
Confirmation hearing for Larry EchoHawk to lead BIA (5/4)
Editorial: EchoHawk a good choice to lead BIA (4/28)
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes welcome EchoHawk nod (4/21)
Obama nominates Larry EchoHawk for BIA post (4/10)
Salazar building Interior team with Native hires (3/5)
More Native picks expected at Obama's Interior (2/13)
Larry EchoHawk quietly apologizing to tribes (2/6)
Larry EchoHawk won't comment on BIA nod (1/30)
Salazar pledges Indian focus at Interior Department (1/29)
Inouye praises Larry EchoHawk as BIA nominee (1/27)
Battle brews over Obama's potential BIA nominee (1/27)
Blog: The case against Larry EchoHawk for BIA (1/26)
Larry EchoHawk up for assistant secretary job (1/23)