From change.gov:
Tom Daschle is "known for speaking softly but acting boldly," President-elect Barack Obama said today in announcing the former Senate Majority Leader as his choice for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and Director of the new White House Office on Health Reform.
"Tom brings more than just great expertise to this task. He brings the respect he earned during his years of leadership in Congress," President-elect Obama said in a press conference announcing the nomination. "He knows how to build consensus across the aisle. And he has the trust of folks from every angle of this issue: doctors, nurses and patients; workers and businesses; hospitals and consumer groups -- all of whom will have a seat at the table as we work on this vital issue."
In his remarks, Secretary-designate Daschle appealed to Americans to play an active role in health reform by signing up to lead a health care discussion -- a series of meetings everyday people are hosting, in which they'll gather ideas and report back to the Transition's Health Policy Team. The team will then incorporate the results into its recommendations for the Obama-Biden administration.
