Kathleen Sebelius Sworn In as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

April 28, 2009 - Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by President Obama on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.  The Secretary will govern one of the largest civilian departments in the federal government with more than 67,000 employees.  HHS is the principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans by providing effective health and human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

Secretary Sebelius has over 20 years of experience in state government, and has been a leader on health care issues for over a decade.  She was first elected governor of Kansas in 2003 and was reelected in 2006.  Throughout her tenure, Secretary Sebelius was lauded for her record of bipartisan accomplishment.  She worked tirelessly to grow the state’s economy and to create jobs, to ensure that every Kansas child received a quality education, and to improve access to quality and affordable health care.  As Governor, Sebelius expanded Kansas’ newborn screenings, put a renewed emphasis on childhood immunization and increased eligibility for children’s health coverage.  More than 59,000 additional children were enrolled in health coverage during her time in office.  Sebelius also worked closely with Kansas first responders and law enforcement to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies.  In 2005, Time magazine named her one of the nation’s top five governors.  For Secretary Sebelius’ full biography go to http://www.hhs.gov/secretarysebelius.html.

Immediately following the swearing in ceremony, Secretary Sebelius received a briefing on the 2009 flu situation from White House counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan.  She stated, "It is an honor to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at such a pivotal moment in our history.  I come to the Department as our nation confronts a serious public health challenge, the 2009 flu outbreak.  My heart goes out to the families across the country and around the world who are feeling the impact of this health crisis.  In the coming days, I will work closely with President Obama and officials from across the Government as we address this threat.  I also want to recognize the dedicated staff at HHS for the work they are doing to protect public health and inform the American people about this crisis."

For more information and recent press conferences go to http://www.hhs.gov/

Last revised: April 29, 2009