The Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Rachel Levine as assistant secretary for health, making her the first openly transgender federal official to be approved by the chamber.
March 24 (UPI) — Lawmakers on Wednesday voted to confirm Rachel Levine as President Joe Biden ‘s assistant secretary for health, making her the first openly transgender federal official to be approved by the Senate. Senators voted 52-48 with all Democrats in favor, joined by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., urged her colleagues to vote for Levine on the Senate floor, noting her history as a « trusted voice » as Pennsylvania’s secretary of health, while noting the historic nature of her confirmation. « I’ve always said the people in our government should reflect the people it serves and today we will take a new historic step towards making that a reality.
