Native American woman set to be first US treasurer

US President Joe Biden has announced his intention to appoint Mohegan Indian Tribe Lifetime Chief Marilynn Malerba as US Treasurer, marking the first time a Native American's signature will appear on US currency.

US 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 US currency, as this was prohibited without a US 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 Treasury.

The treasurer position has been vacant since January 2020, when Jovita Carranza left to become Small Business Administrator in the Trump administration. Malerba's appointment needs no confirmation by the US Senate.

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'Deeper commitment'

"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.

The Treasury said Malerba will join Yellen at the Rosebud Sioux reservation on Tuesday, where Yellen will discuss the impact of some $20 billion in state and local fiscal recovery funds on tribal governments.

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