Senate Should Confirm Shah "Without Delay"

In a Roll Call opinion piece, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) outlines why he believes Rajiv Shah "should be confirmed" by the Senate "without delay."

"First, successful outcomes to our most pressing national security challenges ... depend just as much on our ability to provide health services and economic opportunity to struggling people as on our combat operations or diplomatic efforts," Frist writes. "Second, the global fights against HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases have reached a turning point," according to Frist. He also points to the debate about reforming U.S. development strategies to produce "greater returns for recipients and taxpayers alike."

Frist discusses recommendations for U.S. policy, the USAID administrator's role and how the U.S. should "direct our precious development resources to more effective, low-cost health interventions such as vaccines, breast-feeding and increased access to skilled family care in rural communities. And we must invest our development dollars in programs that are showing measurable results," according to Frist.

He concludes: "Dr. Shah has what is needed to carry on President Bush's global health legacy and fulfill President Obama's extraordinary development vision. The Senate should confirm him, and the Obama administration should give him the political support and resources he needs to succeed. Millions of lives will be affected by this choice" (12/17).

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