The House voted on Tuesday (March 23) to affirm Indian-American Dr. Vivek Murthy as US President Biden’s surgeon general, giving the administration one of its top public health officials in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Senators confirmed the Indian American as Biden’s surgeon general by a margin of 57-43. Former President Trump terminated Dr. Vivek Murthy from his health security team, Dr. Murthy served as surgeon general under the Obama administration.
“I am deeply grateful to be confirmed by the Senate to serve once again as your Surgeon General. We have endured great hardship as a nation over the past year, and I look forward to working with you to help our nation heal and create a better future for our children,” Vivek Murthy tweeted.
What is Vivek Murthy’s background?
Vivek’s parents immigrated to the United Kingdom and then to the United States, where his father works as a doctor in Miami, Florida.
Murthy’s family is from a village in the Mandya district of Karnataka India.
Vivek was the highest-ranking Indian-origin official in Obama’s second term, with the rank of vice admiral. He was instrumental in the formulation and implementation of Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act.
Murthy, who was 37 years old at the time, was also the youngest person to ever hold the position.
Republicans senate, Bill Cassidy (La. ), Susan Collins (Maine), Roger Marshall (Kan. ), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rob Portman (Ohio), Mitt Romney (Utah), and Dan Sullivan (Alaska) joined Democrats in supporting Murthy’s nomination. Dr. Murthy is a respected surgeon and a past Vice Admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service.
Murthy told lawmakers at his confirmation hearing that he wants to help people and families defend themselves by providing the public with “simple, science-based advice.”
