WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) issued the following response to President Barack Obama’s nomination of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the appointment of Nancy-Ann DeParle to direct the White House Office of Health Reform:
“President Obama has chosen strong leaders to help move our nation’s health care policies into the 21st century. Governor Sebelius is an excellent pick with a proven track record of standing up for working families and building coalitions to get the job done. She understands the vital role that health care plays both in our economy and in family budgets, and she knows that we cannot fix the economy without tackling the widespread lack of health insurance and rising costs.
“Nancy-Ann DeParle is a natural fit to lead the new White House Office for Health Reform. Through her MedPAC tenure and previous leadership roles at HHS and OMB, she has earned the respect of members on both sides of the aisle. Her voice will be instrumental in shaping policies to build consensus for this overdue effort. I congratulate Governor Sebelius and Ms. DeParle, and look forward to working with them on this critical issue."
