Concerns were raised about Julie L. Myers in the wake of former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown's resignation. Brown, who left amid widespread criticism over his handling of Hurricane Katrina, was faulted for having little previous emergency management experience.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Myers' nomination by 7-2. Sens. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, were the only "no" votes.

Should Myers win Senate approval, she would run the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau. Lieberman said he was not convinced that Myers was qualified to run ICE, the federal government's second-largest investigative force.

Myers, 36, has worked as a Treasury official and assistant U.S. attorney but has recently faced questions about her connections.

She is the niece of Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, who just retired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As chief of ICE, she would report to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, for whom she worked when he led the Justice Department's criminal division. Last month, she married Chertoff's chief of staff, John F. Wood.

Republicans said their previous concerns about her lack of experience were relieved after talking to her and Chertoff.

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who had questioned her qualifications, said today, "I think she's got the gear to get the job done."

Myers' nomination is also expected to be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.