HELP Committee Votes to Advance Health, Education, and Labor Nominees

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced six nominations for the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) with bipartisan votes. Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the HELP Committee, reiterated her strong support for the nominees, highlighting their experience and their commitment to fighting for students, workers, and patients across the country.

“Families are counting on us to make sure the Biden Administration has a fully-staffed, well-qualified team to tackle challenges. Combating public health threats like this pandemic, ensuring people have safe, healthy workplaces, protecting the rights of people with disabilities, and supporting individuals struggling with mental health and substance use disorders all require experienced leaders who know how to propel us forward. I am so glad we were able to move these qualified nominees forward for such crucial roles and I’ll be pushing to get them confirmed,” said Senator Murray.

The HELP Committee advanced three DOL nominees—Raj Nayak to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy by a bipartisan a vote of 14-8, Taryn Mackenzie Williams to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy by a bipartisan vote of 18-4, Doug Parker to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health by a bipartisan vote of 13-9.

In addition to every Democrat on the Committee, Senators Collins (R-ME), Murkowski (R-AK), and Romney (R-UT) voted to advance Nayak; Senators Burr (R-NC), Collins, Cassidy (R-LA), Murkowski, Braun (R-IN), Marshall (R-KS) and Romney voted to advance Williams; and Senators Collins and Murkowski voted to advance Parker. Senator Murray held a hearing to consider the DOL nominees on May 27.

The HELP Committee also advanced two HHS nominees—Dawn O’Connell to be Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response by a vote of 20-2, and Miriam Delphin-Rittmon to be Assistant Secretary of Health for Mental Health and Substance Use by a vote of 20-2.

In addition to every Democrat on the Committee, Senators Burr, Collins, Cassidy, Murkowski, Braun, Marshall, Scott (R-SC), Romney, and Moran (R-KS) voted to advance O’Connell; and Senators Burr, Collins, Cassidy, Murkowski, Braun, Marshall, Scott, Romney, and Moran voted to advance Delphin-Rittmon.  Senator Murray held a hearing to consider the HHS nominees on June 8.

Lastly, the HELP Committee advanced the nomination of Gwen Graham to be Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional Affairs by a voice vote.

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