[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 51 (Monday, December 20, 2004)]
[Pages 2943-2944]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Nomination of Michael O. Leavitt To Be Secretary of 
Health and Human Services

December 13, 2004

    The President. Thank you. Good morning. I am pleased to announce the 
nomination of Michael O. Leavitt as the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services. Last year I welcomed Mike to my Cabinet as the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency. In that office, he has enforced 
high standards and a spirit of cooperation and with good common sense. 
He has upheld this administration's commitment to sustain improvements 
in the quality of the natural environment. He has managed the EPA with 
skill and with a focus on results. I've come to know Mike as a fine 
executive, as a man of great compassion. He is an ideal choice to lead 
one of the largest departments of the United States Government.
    The Department of Health and Human Services touches the life of 
every person in this country. From the safety of our food and medicine 
to the Medicare program to preparing for any kind of health emergency, 
HHS has comprehensive responsibilities for the health of Americans. To 
meet those responsibilities, the Department needs many thousands of 
skilled professionals and a leader who is able to act on many fronts all 
at once.
    For the last 4 years, HHS has served the American people extremely 
well under the energetic leadership of Tommy Thompson. Early in his 
tenure, our Nation went on a wartime footing and had to prepare for 
emergencies of a kind never seen before. Secretary Thompson led the 
effort to prepare the medical infrastructure for any terrorist 
challenge.
    At the same time, he has presided over dramatic increases in medical 
research, adding to the promise of hopeful new cures. He's helped set in 
motion major improvements in Medicare, which will benefit seniors all 
across America. He has worked closely with State and local officials to 
ensure that public health programs function as effectively as possible. 
And throughout his career as Governor and as Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, Tommy Thompson has led efforts to reform welfare laws 
and to help more people transition from welfare to work. Tommy Thompson 
is a good friend who has given every day of the last 38 years to public 
service. As he and Sue Ann move on to new challenges, Tommy has my deep 
gratitude for a job well done.
    My new nominee for HHS Secretary, like Tommy Thompson, served many 
years as a Governor. The people of Utah elected Mike Leavitt to three 
terms, and during his administration, Utah was named one of the best 
managed State governments in the country. Governor Leavitt was a leader 
in welfare reform, resource management, and environmental stewardship. 
He improved child welfare services in the State and made strides toward 
expanding access to health care for children. He made government 
services more accessible through the Internet, and he always insisted 
that the government remain accountable to the people it serves.
    When confirmed by the Senate, Mike Leavitt will be charged with a 
broad agenda for the health and safety of the American people. In this 
new term, we will implement the first-ever prescription drug benefit for 
seniors under Medicare. We will expand Federal cooperation with faith-
based groups that provide essential services, such as counseling and 
treatment for addictions. We will continue pursuing the great promise of 
medical research, always ensuring that the work is carried out with 
vigor and moral integrity. We will not relent in our efforts to protect 
the American people from disease and the use of disease as a weapon 
against us.
    Mike Leavitt is the right leader to lead HHS in meeting all these 
vital commitments. I thank him for accepting this new responsibility. I 
also thank his wife, Jackie, and their son Westin for being with us 
today. I urge the Senate to confirm Governor Leavitt's nomination as 
soon as possible.
    Congratulations.

[At this point, Secretary-Designate Leavitt made brief remarks.]

    The President. Good job.

Note: The President spoke at 10:38 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary-Designate

[[Page 2944]]

Leavitt. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of these remarks.