Democratic Senator Patty Murray, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, rebuked Republican Senator Rand Paul, saying she had made “harmful false statements” after appearing to equate gender-confirmation surgery with “genital mutilation”.
Paul began his questioning by saying, “Genital mutilation was almost universally condemned” and then said, “Dr. Levine, do you believe that minors are capable of making a life-changing decision, how to change sex?”
Levine responded by saying, “Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field, with robust research and treatment standards that have been developed. If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as an assistant health secretary, I will be happy to work with you and in your office and go to your office to discuss the details of treatment standards for trans medicine. ”
Murray later criticized the line of questioning, saying to Levine: “I appreciated your careful and medically informed response to Senator Paul’s questions at the beginning of the hearing. It is very important to me that our nominees are treated with respect and that our questions will focus on your qualifications and the work ahead of us, instead of ideological and damaging misrepresentations like the ones we heard from Senator Paul earlier, and I’ll focus on that as chairman of this committee. “
Levine previously served as Pennsylvania health secretary during the administration of Democratic Governor Tom Wolf.
“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the stable leadership and essential knowledge we need to help people overcome this pandemic – no matter their postal code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability – and meet the needs of public health in our country at this critical time and beyond, “said Biden in a statement about the appointment at the time it was announced. “It is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our government’s health efforts.”
The hearing to consider Levine’s appointment takes place on the same day that the House is expected to vote on the Equality Act, which will amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect people from being discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment , housing and other services as well as access to public accommodation, such as restaurants.
As surgeon general to President Barack Obama, Murthy helped lead the national response to the Ebola and Zika viruses and the opioid crisis, among other health challenges. If confirmed, Murthy would be ready to play a key role in the Biden government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Several Obama administration nominees faced Senate confirmation hearings this week, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Levine is not the only historic choice of the Biden government.
Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed Alejandro Mayorkas as secretary of homeland security, the first Latin and immigrant to serve in charge of the department, and Pete Buttigieg as secretary of transport, making him the first secretary of the LGBTQ Cabinet confirmed by the Senate.
CNN’s Daniella Diaz, Chandelis Duster and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.