Former North Carolina Rep. Mel Watt now officially heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency. On Monday he was sworn in by fellow North Carolinian Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. Later in the Day, Vice President Joe Biden presided over a ceremonial swearing-in at the White House's Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Watt represented North Carolina in Congress for 21 years. He was confirmed by the Senate in December after a months-long wait and a change in the chamber's rules to push his and other nominations forward over the objections of stonewalling Republican lawmakers.

“Director Watt’s deep expertise in housing policy will help all homeowners, including neighborhoods hardest hit by the recession and communities of color," Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings told BET.com. "As a former representative, he is perfectly suited to implement the housing reforms passed by Congress – maximizing assistance to homeowners, minimizing foreclosures, ensuring access to affordable housing for all qualified borrowers, and supporting strong consumer protection measures to ensure a resilient national housing finance market.”

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(Photo: Susan Walsh/AP Photo)