The Senate voted 71-29 on Tuesday to move forward with a finalvote regarding the nomination of Director Richard Cordray to head of the Consumer Financial ProtectionBureau.

The upper chamber invoked cloture, which limits remaining debateto no more than eight hours, so the final vote is expectedsoon.

In a release, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson(D-S.D.) called the vote a win for the American people andcommended Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for the move.

“Rich has proven to be effective leader and I have no doubt hewill now be confirmed,” Johnson said.

Johnson continued, thanking Cordray for running the bureau forthe past two years despite the uncertainty surrounding hisconfirmation.

Cordray's nomination has been challenged by Republican leaders and in court because President Barack Obamamade the appointment during a period in which the Senate was inrecess.

In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District ofColumbia invalidated threeappointments Obama made to the National Labor Relations Boardduring that same period, unanimously ruling that the president hadexceeded his constitutional authority in bypassing Senateconfirmation.