Andrea Palm has gotten something in Washington, D.C., that she never got in Wisconsin: a confirmation.
Palm, who led Wisconsin's response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the two years she spent as secretary-designee of the state Department of Health Services, was never confirmed by the Republican-controlled Legislature.
But she was confirmed last week for the No. 2 position at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on a bipartisan 61-37 vote after being introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat.
During an interview this week with the Journal Sentinel — her first since being sworn in as HHS deputy secretary on May 12 — Palm stressed the importance of getting vaccinated, reflected on her time in Wisconsin and talked about her priorities in her new role. She also discussed President Joe Biden's focus on rebuilding and recovery, including addressing issues like mental health, preventing lead poisoning and access to care.