WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) today released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Alex Azar to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

“I’m pleased the Senate confirmed Alex Azar to serve as the new Secretary. By repealing the harmful effects of Obamacare’s individual mandate, Congress and President Trump took an important step to restore Americans’ freedom to purchase the health care that’s right for them – if they choose to do so. Now, with Secretary Azar at the helm of HHS, we can continue moving toward a truly patient-centered health care system based on what Americans want, not what Washington says is best. I look forward to working with Secretary Azar to lower health care costs, increase competition and choice, and improve HHS – in particular reducing red tape in the Medicare program – so it works better for all types of health care providers and the patients they serve.”