President Barack Obama's nominee for US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, has won Senate Finance Committee backing.
By a vote of 18-5 on Thursday, the panel largely overlooked an underpayment of $US34,000 in taxes, clearing the way for a confirmation vote in the full Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he hoped it would be on Monday.
Mr Geithner currently heads the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
He told the committee on Wednesday that the Obama administration in coming weeks will announce a multi-pronged effort to stabilise the housing market, strengthen core banks and support consumer credit to help foster economic recovery.
He also said the Treasury had no current plans to request more bailout money beyond the existing $US700 billion already authorised.
