Lew gets Senate committee approval for US Treasury chief

President Barack Obama's nominee Jack Lew today received approved of the US Senate Finance Committee to become the Treasury Secretary, as the ex-White House chief of staff cleared the first hurdle on his way to a full Senate confirmation vote.

His nomination was approved by the committee by 19 to 5 votes.

If confirmed by the Senate, 57-year-old Lew would replace Timothy Geithner, who resigned last month.

Lew till recently was the Chief of Staff of Obama and headed Office of Management of Budget of the White House previously.