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United States Secretary of Health and Human Services

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United States Secretary
of Health and Human Services
Official Seal
Incumbent
Mike Leavitt
since January 26, 2005
FormationAugust 3, 1979
First holderPatricia Roberts Harris
SuccessionTwelfth
Websitehttp://www.hhs.gov/

The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet.

In 1979, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education. The final Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare was Patricia Roberts Harris, who was also the first Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The duties of the secretary revolve around human conditions and concerns in the United States. This includes advising the President on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. It strives to administer the department of Health and Human Services to carry out approved programs and make the public aware of the objectives of the department. [1]

After the attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent anthrax attacks, the position has held a unique significance in the War on Terrorism. Upon his departure, then-Secretary Tommy Thompson remarked "I, for the life of me, cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply, because it is so easy to do..." Scholars concur, arguing that an attack on food (particularly milk) could affect approximately 100,000 people. [2]

List of secretaries

No. Name Portrait Took Office Left Office President served under Notable for
1 Patricia Roberts Harris August 3 1979 January 20 1981 Jimmy Carter The first Secretary of Health and Human Services and first African-American woman to hold a cabinet position
2 Richard Schultz Schweiker January 22 1981 February 3 1983 Ronald Reagan
3 Margaret Mary O'Shaughnessy Heckler March 9 1983 December 13 1985 Ronald Reagan
4 Otis Ray Bowen December 13 1985 January 20 1989 Ronald Reagan The first physician to become Secretary of Health and Human Services
5 Louis Wade Sullivan March 1 1989 January 20 1993 George H. W. Bush
6 Donna Edna Shalala January 22 1993 January 20 2001 Bill Clinton The first Arab-American Secretary of Health and Human Services
7 Tommy George Thompson February 2 2001 January 26 2005 George W. Bush
8 Michael Okerlund Leavitt January 26 2005 Present George W. Bush

Secretary of Health and Human Services Designate

On December 11, 2008 President-elect Barack Obama nominated Tom Daschle as the 9th Secretary of Health and Human Services. His nomination will require confirmation by the United States Senate.

# Picture Name State of Residence Taking office President-elect
9 Tom Daschle (designate) South Dakota January 20, 2009 - Barack Obama

Living Former Secretaries of Health, Education, and Welfare

Living Former Secretaries of Health and Human Services

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ "The President's Cabinet". Ben's Guide. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  2. ^ Cox, Simon (2006-08-22). "US food supply 'vulnerable to attack'". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
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