Washington, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced Rajiv Shah as his nominee for Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

After the announcement, David Lane, President and CEO of ONE made the following statement:

“I’ve been fortunate to know Raj as both a colleague and a friend for many years. His sharp intellect, creativity and experience designing and managing innovative development programs make him an outstanding candidate for this position. I know Raj believes strongly in the critical role of USAID and I’m certain he will carry forward the agency’s mission with strong leadership and integrity.

“This agency is a lifeline for many people living in extreme poverty and critical to the implementation of smart American investments. USAID’s dedicated staff have been without an Administrator for too long.  I hope the Senate–who unanimously confirmed Dr. Shah for his current position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-will again move quickly to confirm him for his new role as USAID Administrator so he and his colleagues can get to work.

“Today’s nomination is a major step in the right direction. It is imperative that USAID has the resources and authority to deliver American investments abroad as efficiently and as effectively as possible. It’s also important they play a central role in the global development policy efforts currently underway at the White House, with the State Department and in Congress.”

The nomination of Raj Shah, a medical doctor and current Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), comes on the heels of a Senate resolution introduced by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) to empower and strengthen USAID. The resolution passed just last night by unanimous consent.

Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lugar (R-IN), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had also sent a letter to President Obama in September underscoring the need to appoint a USAID administrator expeditiously. Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter to the entire House of Representatives calling for the naming of an United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator immediately.