Health | Politics

Senate committee holds confirmation hearing for HHS nominee

Friday, May 9, 2014

President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, announces Sylvia Mathews Burwell as his nominee to succeed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in the Rose Garden of the White House, April 11, 2014. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing on Thursday for Sylvia Mathews Burwell to serve as the new leader of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Burwell currently serves as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. She won praise from Democrats and Republicans who said she was the right choice to lead a department that has faced problems in implementing the Affordable Care Act.

The Senate Finance Committee is due to hold a confirmation hearing for Burwell next week. If that goes well, the Senate could confirm her by the end of the month.

If confirmed, Burwell would succeed Kathleen Sebelius, who announced her resignation in April.

Meanwhile, the Senate has yet to act on the confirmation of Yvette Roubideaux, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, to serve another term as director of the Indian Health Service. She has been working in an acting capacity since May 2013.

Get the Story:
Fixing HealthCare.gov would be top priority, HHS nominee Sylvia Mathews Burwell says (The Washington Post 5/9)
Pick to Replace Sebelius Draws Senators’ Praise at Confirmation Hearing (The New York Times 5/9)

Committee Notice:
Full Committee Hearing - Hearing on the nomination of the Secretary of Health and Human Services-Designate, Sylvia Mathews Burwell (May 8, 2014)