WASHINGTON — President Obama on July 9 announced his intent to nominate Margaret Louise Cummisky as assistant secretary for legislative and intergovernmental affairs at the Department of Commerce.
“I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles,” Obama said of Cummisky and five other nominees announced that day. “I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
Cummisky is the general counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, a position she assumed earlier this year. From 2009 to 2013, she served as deputy staff director. From 2005 to 2009, she served as the Democratic staff director and chief counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In 2004, Cummisky represented the District of Columbia as a member of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation to Japan, organized by the U.S.-Japan Council.
She served as legislative director in the personal office of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) from 1992 to 2005 and as legislative assistant in the same office from 1991 to 1992, as well as from 1987 to 1990.
From 1990 to 1991, she was a litigation attorney with Reinwald, O’Connor, Marrack & Hoskins, where she previously worked from 1982 to 1986. Cummisky received a B.S. from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the University of Southern California.
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) applauded the nomination, saying, “President Obama has made an excellent choice in nominating Margaret Cummisky, a well-experienced and knowledgeable leader with deep Hawaii ties, to this important position at the Commerce Department. Margaret served both the state and Sen. Inouye in a number of capacities … Margaret is a highly regarded professional both in Hawaii and Washington. I hope my Senate colleagues will work quickly to confirm her.”