WASHINGTON, DC - Change to Win chair and SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger released the following statement on today's bipartisan vote by the U.S. Senate to confirm Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The 6 million hardworking Change to Win affiliate members hoped the current economic crisis and overwhelming burden healthcare costs place on working families would be enough for a speedy confirmation. We are encouraged that obstructionists in the Senate have finally realized that dragging their feet on reforming our healthcare system only harms working families, small businesses and our economy. A potential pandemic with severe economic consequences only reaffirmed the immediate and critical need for leadership at HHS.

"Secretary Sebelius has been a leading voice for healthcare reform in Kansas for more than two decades as a legislator, an insurance commissioner, and as governor. She shares President Obama's passion and commitment to transforming our health care system and improving the lives of all Americans.

"With first-hand knowledge of how the how the economic downturn is straining state budgets and fraying the healthcare safety net, and a proven ability to bridge the partisan divide to get things done, we are confident that Secretary Sebelius will fix our broken healthcare system so it supports the men and women who wake up every day and go to work to rebuild America's economy."

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