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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today offered the following statement on President-elect Obama’s selection of former Senator Majority Leader Tom Daschle as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services:

“I applaud the selection of Tom Daschle as our nation’s top health care official. A leading voice in health care in this country, Tom has a strong record of fighting for affordable health care for all Americans.  During his tenure as the Senate Majority Leader, he worked tirelessly advocating for equality in our healthcare system and since leaving office has continued to promote a new approach to healthcare focusing on prevention and affordable services for Americans nationwide. With 47 million Americans living without health care – including 9 million children – Tom will face the enormous task of fixing our broken health care system.

“The Obama Administration’s commitment to health care reform will be guided by a true leader with Tom Daschle at the helm.  I look forward to working with him as the 111th Congress and Administration move forward with universal health care reform.”

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