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President Bush announced his nominees for two high-profile political appointments at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday, including the person who would oversee the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Aiming to fill a six-month vacancy, the president will nominate Kerry Weems, an HHS employee for 24 years, to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Weems, who currently serves as deputy chief of staff, would oversee the two large entitlement programs, including the controversial Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. The president also plans to nominate Tevi Troy to be deputy secretary of HHS. Troy, who currently is a member of the White House domestic policy staff, would replace Alex Azar, who left the department in February. Troy formerly held positions in the Labor Department, including deputy assistant secretary and director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and was an aide to then-Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.) and then-Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.). “I am pleased that the president has announced two strong nominees for the HHS senior leadership team,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said in a written statement. Since Mark McClellan resigned as CMS administrator in October, Leslie Norwalk has held the senior-most position at the agency. Norwalk had been the deputy administrator and was elevated to acting administrator when McClellan departed. In a memo sent to CMS employees Thursday, Norwalk wrote that she would remain in office while the Senate considers Weems’s nomination. Norwalk also said that she took herself out of the running to be permanent administrator. “I believe the next Administrator must be committed to stay for the remainder of the Administration. It was not easy, but I decided early in the search process that I could not commit to staying for another two years,” she wrote. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) indicated that the Weems nomination would be taken up soon. “I’m pleased that the Administration has presented a nominee for this vital position,” Baucus said in a written statement issued Thursday. “I plan to act quickly and work with my colleagues on the Finance Committee to carefully review this nomination,” he said. Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) remarked, “Through the nomination process, I look forward to learning more about Mr. Weems’ qualifications for the position and ideas for improving the agency. |
