NOW Hails Confirmation of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as HHS Secretary: She's Good for Women and Families

Women and families will have another advocate in President Barack Obama's cabinet with the confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services Secretary on Tuesday. The confirmation of Sebelius brings the number of women heading Cabinet departments to four out of 15. An additional three out of seven cabinet or cabinet-rank positions are filled by women.

"Governor Sebelius is an excellent choice to head HHS," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "We are pleased to see her take on this key role at the time when health care and human needs programs are so critical to the women of this nation."

With health care reform a top priority on President Obama's agenda, Secretary Sebelius will have the opportunity to help shape major policy and impact the lives of millions. She comes with impressive health care credentials, having been the state insurance commissioner for eight years before being elected governor, during which time she stood up to the industry on behalf of the people of her state. And as governor, she succeeded in adding tens of thousands of children from low-income families to state health coverage programs, among other accomplishments.

Adds Gandy: "Secretary Sebelius is a strong supporter of women's reproductive rights, which will be a welcome change at a department that, for the last eight years, has favored ideology over science and worked to block women's access to reproductive health care services at every turn."

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal w. 202-628-8669, ext. 116, c. 301-660-3447

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