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Burwell Confirmed

With a 78 to 17 vote, the US Senate confirmed Sylvia Mathews Burwell as the new head of the Department of Health and Human Services, the New York Times reports. The Times adds that Burwell "sailed" through the confirmation process with a promise of being candid and cooperating with Congress.

Previously, Burwell ran the White House Office of Management and Budget where Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) says she brought a "businesslike approach."

"She goes very, very deep on the details, but she has a very broad policy lens," Leslie Dach, former executive vice president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Stores, tells the Wall Street Journal. Dach brought Burwell in as president of the Wal-Mart Foundation, where Burwell worked for a year.

As the HHS secretary, she will oversee Medicare, Medicaid, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and other agencies, the Times notes.

Burwell replaces Kathleen Sebelius who stepped down in April, following the glitchy rollout of the Affordable Care Act.

The Journal adds that Burwell is to be sworn in on Monday.