Nominations and Appointments

• Xavier Becerra for HHS. Was nominated Dec. 7^th and nomination is being evaluated by the Finance Committee and the HELP Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 23^rd at 10:00 am. The Senate Finance Committee will hold a confirmation hearing the following day, on Feb. 24^th
• Chiquita Brooks-LaSure for CMS Administrator – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Merrick Garland for DOJ. Was nominated on Jan. 7^th and nomination is being evaluated by the Judiciary Committee
• Neera Tanden for the OMB. Was nominated Nov. 30^th and nomination is being evaluated by the Budget Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
• Marcia Fudge for HUD. Was approved by the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Feb. 4^th and her nomination has been sent to the full Senate
• Miguel Cardona for Secretary of Education. Was approved by the HELP committee on Feb. 11^th and his nomination has been sent to the full Senate
• Marty Walsh for Secretary of Labor. Was approved by the HELP Committee on Feb. 11^th and his nomination has been sent to the full Senate

Newly Created Health Equity Taskforce

HHS will hold its first COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Meeting on Feb. 26^th at 3:00 pm. Register online with name, affiliation, and email to covid19hetf.hhs.gov.

• The task force is tasked with making recommendations about how to equitably disburse relief funds, ensure outreach to most affected communities is culturally informed, collected data on hardest-hit communities, and address data gaps and future pandemic response challenges.
• The White House has named 12 non-federal members to the Task Force and the Chairwoman, Dr. Marcella Nunez Smith will also select an additional six members representing federal agencies.