Earlier today, Alex Azar was sworn in as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was confirmed by the Senate last week.
Category: Administration
Pres. Trump to Deliver SOTU Tomorrow
In an address before Congress tomorrow, President Trump is scheduled to deliver his first official State of the Union speech. In his remarks, he expected to raise, among other issues, immigration, infrastructure, and the economy.
The Administration released its framework on immigration last week. A document that is purported to be a leaked copy of the Administration’s thinking on infrastructure has also made the rounds.
White House Unveils Immigration Framework
The White House shared with Congress yesterday its “framework” for immigration reform, which includes, in general terms, the Administration’s plan for “Dreamers.” The text of the framework is available here.
Key parts of the plan include:
- a 10- to 12-year pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million DACA-eligible individuals;
- $25-billion trust fund for a border wall; and,
- elimination of “chain” migration and the visa lottery system
The Administration has stated that it plans to release a more detailed plan next Monday.
Read more about yesterday’s framework here and here.
Azar Confirmed
Alex Azar was confirmed by the Senate earlier this afternoon as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services by a vote of 55 – 43.
Senate to Take Up HHS Nomination
The full Senate is scheduled to take up today the nomination of Alex Azar to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Azar is not a new-comer to the HHS as he served as Deputy Secretary during the George W. Bush Administration. He has recently been an executive at the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co.
HHS funds and oversees a host of health-related and biomedical agencies and research programs. The National Institutes of Health is part of HHS.
Azar was nominated to replace former Secretary Tom Price, who resigned last year.