WASHINGTON, D.C. — Anthony Foxx moved closer to becoming the new U.S. secretary of transportation on Monday as a Senate committee approved his nomination.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation voted unanimously to approve Foxx, the current mayor of Charlotte, N.C. His nomination next goes for a vote in the full Senate, which reports have said may happen in the next few weeks.

President Obama nominated Foxx to be transportation secretary in April. If confirmed, he will replace Ray LaHood, who announced in January that he would not serve a second term in the position.

On Monday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation also approved the nomination of Penny Pritzker to be secretary of commerce.

“Mayor Foxx and Ms. Pritzker are two excellent nominees for key administration posts,” Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the committee, said on Monday. “There has been strong bipartisan support for these nominees, and it was evident again today when they were both voted unanimously out of the commerce committee. I urge my colleagues to act quickly now to schedule votes on their nominations.”

Last week, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the committee, expressed his support for Foxx.

“I appreciate Mayor Foxx’s willingness to serve as our next transportation secretary and look forward to supporting his nomination,” Thune said. “While I have had a number of concerns regarding the lack of sequester planning by the Department of Transportation, I look forward to moving ahead and working directly with Mayor Foxx if he is confirmed. … Mayor Foxx has assured me that he will improve communication with the commerce committee and other members of Congress, and I look forward to working with him to address the transportation challenges facing our country.”