The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Dilawar Syed as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration, making him the highest-ranking Muslim official in the US government.

President Joe Biden had first nominated the Pakistani-born businessman to the position in March 2021, and he re-nominated him this year in the new Congress, AP reported.

“Honored by the bipartisan support for my confirmation in the U.S. Senate,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Energized to serve millions of small businesses at @SBAgov and lift communities in partnership with @SBAIsabel. It’s been the greatest privilege to represent America on the global stage at @StateDept.”

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Syed’s nomination stalled in committee last Congress after Republicans repeatedly failed to appear for votes. Thursday’s vote ended more than two years of blockade by Republicans in the last Congress.

Syed was confirmed 54-42.

Last year, Biden picked eight judicial nominees, including Nusrat Choudhury who would be the first Muslim woman to serve as a federal judge.

He also nominated Rashad Hussain to be the first Muslim US ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.