The Senate committee approved Geithner's nomination, however he must wait another week for final confirmation while Republicans continue to dig into his tax affairs.

Some groups have been advocating the Internet for the prize for months, but the nomination was officially accepted only this week, during the first meeting of the Norwegian Nobel Committee on March 9.

The committee voted 18-5 yesterday to approve the nomination of Geithner, 47, who is the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.