The Senate voted along party lines early Friday morning to approve the confirmation of Rep. Tom Price, MD, R-Ga., for secretary of HHS.
After nearly 30 hours of debate led by Democrats, the senators voted 52-47 to approve his nomination, according to a Politico report. Concerns surrounding his nomination focused on potential conflicts of interest in his healthcare stock investments as well as his views on policy.
"I feel passionately about the fact that this is the wrong person to serve in that job," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said during floor speech ahead of the vote, according to Politico. "He seems to have no higher priority than to terminate health coverage for millions of people across this country."
President Donald Trump previously promised to unveil his healthcare plan as soon as Secretary Price's nomination was confirmed. The former orthopedic surgeon and seven-term congressman is expected to begin shaping regulations in favor of more conservative healthcare policy right away, according to Politico.
Secretary Price faced an unorthodox nomination process due to a boycotted vote by Senate Democrats in the finance committee, leading the committee to suspend traditional rules and push through the vote to the full Senate floor. He expressed gratitude on his delayed confirmation, tweeting early Friday, "The opportunity to serve in the U.S. House has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life."
President Trump's nominee to lead CMS, Seema Verma, is up for a vote next week.
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