President Joe Biden publicly announced his intent to nominate Ben Harris as assistant secretary for economic policy at the Treasury Department on March 11, 2021. Harris, an Associate Professor at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, holds a long list of credentials that make him more than suited for this incredible position.
Harris has previously worked with Biden during both his Vice Presidency and his 2021 campaign as an economic adviser. Before Harris’ time working with Biden, he held research positions at several think tanks, including the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute. He also holds various advanced degrees from institutions such as George Washington, Cornell, and Columbia.
Not only does Harris have an outstanding resume, he is an individual who takes action. When COVID-19 began, Harris joined the Chicago’s COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce and advised the city government on economic recovery planning efforts.
Harris’ economic vision is marked by an emphasis on how policy should concretely improve lives. He has helped put together an economic agenda which includes: income and investment tax increases for top earners, higher taxes for corporations, and a variety of spending increases in areas like clean energy, infrastructure, and higher education.
When Harris received the news, he said it would be an “honor of lifetime.” The last step to finalize his position is for him to be approved by the U.S. Senate.
If confirmed by the Senate, Harris, Associate Professor at Kellogg School of Management, will support the Secretary of the Treasury and play an instrumental role in preparing the Biden administration’s budget.
Read the full announcement here.
