Sylvia Mathews Burwell testified at a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on April 9, 2013. Photo from Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia)

The Senate voted 78-17 on Thursday to confirm Sylvia Mathews Burwell as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Burwell is the former director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. She will be working closely with tribal leaders who sit on the Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee.

"Myself and the other members of the HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee look forward to working with Ms. Burwell and continuing the government-to-government relationship and implementation of meaningful tribal consultation policies established by outgoing Secretary Kathleen Sebelius," Navajo Nation Vice President Rex Lee Jim said in a statement.

"Ms. Burwell has large shoes to fill following the great strides made by Secretary Sebelius," Jim added. "However, I have it on good authority that Ms. Burwell has some familiarity with the Navajo Nation. It is my intent to build upon that and, hopefully, introduce Ms. Burwell to the Navajo Nation and our citizens too.”

Jim was elected chair of the STAC on Wednesday. The group held its last meeting with former Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that same day.

"One of the first things I did as the incoming secretary was to meet with tribal leaders on budget consultations and one of the last things I am doing is meeting with you today, coming full circle," Sebelius told the committee, according to a Navajo Nation Washington Office press release.

Sebelius told tribal leaders that she will meet with Burwell to stress the importance of the STAC, according to the press release. Among other duties, the new Secretary will oversee the Indian Health Service

The Senate has yet to act on the confirmation of Yvette Roubideaux, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, to serve another term as director of the IHS. She has been working in an acting capacity since May 2013.

Get the Story:
Senate confirms Sylvia Mathews Burwell as new secretary of HHS (The Washington Post 6/6)
Burwell Wins Confirmation as Secretary of Health (The New York Times 6/6)
Newest Cabinet Member Is Never Far From Her Roots (The New York Times 6/6)

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Senate committee holds confirmation hearing for HHS nominee (05/09)
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigns (04/11)
Audio from SCIA confirmation hearing for Yvette Roubideaux (06/12)
Yvette Roubideaux set for IHS director confirmation hearing (06/10)