Theodore Roosevelt said: “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Congratulations to all three of our nominees, for you have won the best prize.
You have all been nominated by the President to work very hard, doing incredibly worthwhile things.
You will be serving and leading not only the agencies to which you have been nominated, but the United States of America. The President thinks that you are all up to the challenge. I agree.
Mr. Corr, you have dedicated 35 years to health care policy. You have spent a lifetime preparing for the job.
You started in the Tennessee Department of public health in 1972. You put in many years of work on several subcommittees in both the House and Senate. You worked as chief of staff for HHS Secretary Shalala. You worked as chief counsel and policy director for Leader Daschle. And you headed the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Mr. Corr, your prize for this hard work is more hard work. As Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, you will help lead the administration in the monumental task of health care reform.
We need a health care system that meets all of our needs. We need a high-performing health care system that guarantees all Americans affordable, quality coverage, no matter their age, health status, or medical history.
Health care reform will help to stabilize our economy. And it will help to make sure that we are prepared to handle our long-term fiscal challenges.
In the coming weeks, the Finance Committee will continue to hold health care reform roundtables and walk-throughs to discuss policy options.
By June, we’ll be ready for a Finance Committee markup. We’re working in good faith. And we are making good progress. But Congress cannot do this work alone.
Earlier this week, we confirmed Secretary Sebilius to head HHS. She will need a strong team at HHS to help pass comprehensive health reform.
And then there’s the work of maintaining the operations of this vital Department. We’ll need proven managers at HHS. We need an assessment of the adequacy of the resources at HHS, top to bottom. And we will also need to reauthorize the TANF program next year.
The challenges before you will be great. You, and we, will have to work very hard to accomplish these tasks. But I can think of little that would be more worthwhile than to accomplish them.
Mr. Marantis, you have a wealth of experience in international trade.
As a lawyer at USTR, you gained hands-on experience enforcing our international trade agreements.
And as my chief international trade counsel, you advised me — and many Members of this Committee and Congress — on U.S. trade policy for the past several years.
You know well that Montana’s and America’s workers are my top priority. And you’ve worked hard to look out for America’s workers as we compete in an international marketplace.
You have dedicated yourself to public service. You’ve worked extremely hard to ensure that Congress finds the right balance on international trade.
Your prize for all this hard work is more hard work. As Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, you will be responsible for helping this administration to find the right balance on trade policy. And in doing so, you will help America retain its economic strength in a global economy.
This is a vital task. And I can think of no better person for this job. Demetrios, I could go on and on about how good you are at your work. But I don’t want this to turn into a filibuster. Suffice it to say, I will look forward to continuing to work with you in your new role.
Professor Krueger, you dedicated your career to the study of economics.
More importantly, you have focused your work and study on the economics of labor markets — the workers who are the very backbone of America’s economy. No matter what economic policy this administration makes, America’s workers will feel it.
You know that. I know that. And we must never forget it.
Your prize for all this hard work is more hard work. Professor Krueger, in your papers, research, and writings, you have shown that you are not afraid to shake things up. You used your research to question other people’s findings. Sometimes you questioned your own. You’ve shown you’re not afraid of new ideas. Take that ingenuity and creativity with you to this position.
Our country is in difficult times. And the President has called upon you all to help lead. With your guidance, I am sure that America will emerge stronger than before.
So I encourage you all to seize this opportunity. I encourage you to work hard at the worthwhile tasks that you have been given. And I hope that you can thereby help to ensure that we all receive the prize of a better tomorrow.
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