W.Va. Native Sylvia Mathews Burwell May Replace Sebelius as HHS Secretary

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is resigning and President Obama is expected to replace her with West Virginia native Sylvia Mathews Burwell.

Senator Jay Rockefeller, (D-W.Va.) released the following statement about Sebelius’ resignation:

“For the past five years, I have marveled at Secretary Sebelius’s grace under pressure. She never backed down from the tremendous responsibilities of her position, which were of a magnitude no other cabinet secretary has ever had to face with regard to domestic policy.”

Sebelius has been under attack for problems with implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

“Not once did she let attacks from both the left and the right deter her from the goal of bringing health care to millions of uninsured Americans, and working to improve the health of people across the nation,” Rockefeller said.

A year ago Mathews Burwell went through Senate hearing and was confirmed as head of the Office of Management and Budget. Before taking the position at OMB she served as President of the Walmart Foundation and was President of the Global Development Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

During President Clinton’s administration Mathews Burwell was Deputy White House Chief of Staff, and worked at OMB.

Mathews Burwell was featured on the series Inspiring West Virginians. Listen to Sylvia’s story – produced when she was President of the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.