Executive Session

Floor Speech

EXECUTIVE SESSION -- (Senate - April 28, 2009)

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Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to support the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

I am pleased that the Senate today will finally confirm Governor Kathleen
Sebelius as the new Health and Human Services Secretary. Governor Sebelius brings much needed policy and management expertise to the job as our Nation Faces serious public health challenges. Our immediate concern is the effective coordination of our Nation's public health resources to combat the emerging swine flu pandemic. Sebelius and her team must immediately respond to contain this very serious threat.

I look forward to working with her as she helps fulfill President Obama's promise to enact comprehensive health reform. Governor Sebelius will add urgency, substance, and know-how to pass complicated health legislation that will benefit American families and businesses.

Govenor Sebelius will serve as the effective CEO of HHS and ensure its agencies are well run and consumer focused. She has the difficult task of not only restoring the public's confidence in our Nation's health agencies, but also building the trust of HHS' committed workforce. Special effort must be made to listen and learn from the scientists at FDA who lacked effective leadership during the previous administration. Governor Sebelius' immediate leadership also will help guide the implementation of the economic recovery act that included several important health initiatives--particularly the development and adoption of interoperable health information technology standards. I am confident she will meet the intent and deadlines enacted by Congress.

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