[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NOMINATION OF RACHEL LELAND LEVINE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now on the Levine nomination, today, the 
Senate will confirm the nomination of Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania's top 
health official, to be the next Assistant Secretary of Health and Human 
Services.
  The Biden administration has brought many historic firsts into its 
ranks, including the first openly gay Cabinet Secretary of any Agency. 
The confirmation of Rachel Levine represents another important 
milestone for the American LGBTQ community. She will be the first 
openly transgender official ever confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The arc 
of history is long, but it keeps bending in the direction of justice.
  As transgender Americans suffer higher rates of abuse, homelessness, 
and depression than almost every other group, it is important to have 
national figures like Dr. Levine, who, by virtue of being in the public 
spotlight, will help break down barriers of ignorance and fear.
  Pennsylvania's political leaders say Dr. Levine has forced people in 
their State to better understand the transgender community. One State 
legislator said:

       She has robbed people of the false premise that they don't 
     know any trans people and therefore don't need to be 
     respectful of trans people.

  The historic nature of her nomination should not be lost on anyone, 
but Dr. Levine thoroughly deserves to be confirmed on the strength of 
her qualifications.
  Despite several attacks on her gender identity over the past year, 
Dr. Levine has stayed laser-focused on helping the State of 
Pennsylvania manage and respond to COVID. The quality of her public 
service is reflected in the fact that she was confirmed not once, not 
twice, but three times by the Republican-led State senate to serve 
first as physician general and then as health secretary.
  The U.S. Senate should follow suit today and make Dr. Levine the 
Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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