HHS Statement Regarding Senate Committee Approving Elias Zerhouni to Be Director of National Institutes of Health

5/2/2002

From: HHS Press Office, 202-690-6343

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The following is a statement by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson regarding U.S. Senate Committee approving Elias A. Zerhouni to be Director of The National Institutes of Health:

I would like to commend Chairman Kennedy and members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for their quick and unanimous approval of Elias Zerhouni to be the next director of the National Institutes of Health. I urge the full Senate to act as quickly as Chairman Kennedy's committee to confirm Dr. Zerhouni's nomination. The NIH is the leading scientific research institution in the world, and Dr. Zerhouni will be a visionary and innovative leader as we work to cure and develop treatments for the world's most deadly diseases and chronic conditions.