Biden picks Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, as assistant health secretary in historic first By Caitlin O Kane Biden nominates Dr. Rachel Levine
President-elect Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he has nominated Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If confirmed by the Senate, Levine would be the first openly transgender federal official in a Senate-confirmed role, according to the Biden-Harris transition team.
Levine, who is the secretary of health for Pennsylvania, is currently leading the state s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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, Mr. Biden said in a statement. She is a hist
Biden health appointee Rachel Levine would be first transgender federal official confirmed by Senate Candy Woodall, USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capitol Bureau
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HARRISBURG, Pa. – Dr. Rachel Levine, who has helped to lead Pennsylvania through an opioid crisis and now the COVID-19 pandemic, was picked Tuesday by President-elect Joe Biden to be his assistant secretary of health, putting her on track to be the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. 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 in a statement.