Blumenthal Statement On Confirmation Of Dr. Vivek Murthy

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Dr. Vivek Murthy to be the Surgeon General of the United States. There has been no full-time, Senate-confirmed Surgeon General since July 2013 when Dr. Regina Benjamin resigned. 

“Doctor Vivek Murthy is a supremely qualified doctor, and he will be a strong and effective Surgeon General. There were no serious questions about his experience or expertise on public health issues. Unfortunately, the NRA has spun a specious smokescreen – even in the face of an Ebola public health crisis – working shamefully and tirelessly to block him simply because he stated the obvious fact that gun violence is a public health issue. Despite the NRA’s negative onslaught, today the United States gets a great surgeon general and a superbly qualified public health leader.”