x x x
Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s former top health official, earned confirmation Wednesday in the Senate to become the new assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The vote was 52-48. It marked the first time in U.S. history the Senate confirmed an openly transgender federal official.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the confirmation vote another significant “milestone” after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg became the first openly gay Cabinet member to be confirmed by the Senate in February.
“The Biden administration has brought many historic firsts into its ranks,” Schumer said Wednesday prior to the vote. “… The confirmation of Rachel Levine represents another important milestone for the American LGBTQ community. She will be the first openly transgender official ever confirmed by the United States Senate. The arc of history is long, but it keeps bending in the direction of justice.”
Levine will serve under newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting! Keep reading the fishwrappers!