Political Quotes

“first let me comment on Sylvia Burwell, the nominee who is before us. She has done an excellent job as the Director of OMB. Her credentials are incredible. She is acknowledged by both Democrats and Republicans as being an outstanding manager, a person who is fully capable to manage HHS, an extremely important agency that has over 70,000 workers who work for Health and Human Services, has a budget of over $1 trillion, and 11 Federal agencies. Sylvia Burwell is the right person to manage that agency and to move it forward in carrying out the very important work of our country. For Maryland, I take pride because some of the agencies are headquartered in my State. The National Institutes of Health--world class. The best research in the world is done right here as a result of U.S. leadership, and that comes under HHS. The FDA, which insures us safe products in food and drugs, is headquartered in Maryland. But, again, that is world class--the best in the world. It is important that we get the very best person as our Secretary, and Sylvia Burwell is that person. CMS is headquartered in Baltimore, with Medicare and Medicaid--over 100 million people. Again, it is the best in the world. So I am very pleased that Sylvia Burwell is willing to step forward at this time to head that agency. I encourage my colleagues to confirm her nomination. We will have that vote a little later today. I wanted to take a moment to thank Secretary Sebelius for her service to our country.…”