[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26304]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

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                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 477, the 
nomination of Regina Benjamin to be Surgeon General of the United 
States; that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order; that any 
statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record, the 
President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the 
Senate then resume legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nomination considered and confirmed is as follows:


                      IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

       Regina M. Benjamin, of Alabama, to be Medical Director in 
     the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to 
     qualifications therefor as provided by law and regulations, 
     and to be Surgeon General of the Public Health Service for a 
     term of four years.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am happy we are going to have a Surgeon 
General. We have waited far too long. This is a good woman. She 
deserved this a long time ago. I appreciate whoever was holding her up 
allowing us to go forward. It is important for the country. We have a 
flu pandemic that has been declared. It is an emergency. We have so 
many other problems. We need this doctor who has devoted her life to 
taking care of the ill to take care of the entire country.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination of 
Dr. Regina Benjamin to be Surgeon General. The vetting process for 
executive nominees is thorough, and Dr. Benjamin has successfully 
completed that process. Her nomination was approved unanimously by the 
HELP Committee on October 7 by a voice vote.
  The mission of the Surgeon General is to be America's ``top doctor,'' 
and to act as the chief medical educator and communicator on public 
health and safety issues. Dr. Benjamin has a distinguished career in 
providing health care to low-income individuals. We also share an 
understanding of the unique challenges facing people in rural and 
underserved areas. I am confident that Dr. Benjamin will be able to 
articulately inform Americans on matters of health safety.
  Dr. Benjamin will become Surgeon General at a key time during the 
H1N1 pandemic influenza epidemic and subsequent supply shortage of the 
H1N1 vaccine. I am pleased she will soon be able to assist with these 
efforts and play a role in updating the American people on the status 
of the epidemic.
  I was pleased to vote for Dr. Benjamin's nomination in the HELP 
Committee and look forward to her swift confirmation today.

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