[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 21 (Monday, May 28, 2007)]
[Page 681]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Nomination of James W. Holsinger, Jr., To Be Surgeon 
General

May 24, 2007

    Today I have announced my intention to nominate James W. Holsinger, 
Jr., to serve as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. 
Holsinger is an accomplished physician who has led one of our Nation's 
largest health care systems, the State of Kentucky's health care system, 
and the University of Kentucky's Medical Center. He also has taught at 
several American medical schools, and he served more than three decades 
in the United States Army Reserve, retiring in 1993 as a Major General.
    As America's chief health educator, he will be charged with 
providing the best scientific information available on how Americans can 
make smart choices that improve their health and reduce their risk of 
illness and injury. Dr. Holsinger will particularly focus his efforts on 
educating parents and children about childhood obesity, a serious 
epidemic that decreases quality of life and burdens our health care 
system. I am confident that Dr. Holsinger will help our Nation confront 
this challenge and many others to ensure that Americans live longer, 
better, and healthier lives.