Secretary of Health and Human Services
| Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States of America | |
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Seal of the Department of Health and Human Services
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Flag of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
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| United States Department of Health and Human Services | |
| Style | Madam Secretary |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Reports to | The President |
| Seat | Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Constituting instrument | Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1953 67 Stat. 631 42 U.S.C. § 3501 |
| Formation | August 3, 1979 |
| First holder | Patricia Roberts Harris |
| Succession | Eleventh in the United States Presidential Line of Succession |
| Deputy | Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| Salary | Executive Schedule, level 1 |
| Website | www |
The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The office was formerly Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
In 1979, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services, and its education functions transferred to the new Department of Education. Patricia Roberts Harris headed the department before and after it was renamed.
Nominations to the office of Secretary of HHS are referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, before confirmation is considered by the full United States Senate.
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act the role of the Secretary has been greatly expanded.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell was nominated by President Obama on April 11, 2014, to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services after the resignation of Kathleen Sebelius. She was confirmed on June 5, 2014 and sworn in on June 9, 2014.
The duties of the secretary revolve around human conditions and concerns in the United States. This includes advising the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. It strives to administer the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out approved programs and make the public aware of the objectives of the department.
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Wikipedia