Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed As Assistant Health Secretary

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr. Rachel Levine, former Pennsylvania health secretary, to serve as federal assistant secretary of health.

Levine was confirmed in a 52-48 vote that was almost exclusively along partisan lines. Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine were the only GOP senators who voted to approve Levine. Her confirmation was opposed by Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey.

Toomey voted to reject the former state health secretary for the post at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, criticizing the way she responded to the coronavirus outbreak.

Hours before the vote, Toomey was highly critical of Levine.

“In Pennsylvania, the pandemic struck seniors in nursing homes disproportionately hard compared to other states. This was due in part to poor decisions and oversight by Dr. Levine and the Wolf administration," Toomey said in a news release.

"Moreover, the commonwealth’s extended economic lockdown that Dr. Levine advocated for was excessive, arbitrary in nature, and has led to a slower recovery. While I appreciate Dr. Levine’s service and responsiveness to my office over the past year, she has not earned a promotion to help lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and I cannot support her confirmation.”

Levine was nominated by President Joe Biden in January, paving the way for her to become the first openly transgender official to be confirmed by the Senate.

"Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond," Biden said at the time. "She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help
lead our administration's health efforts."