For Immediate Release
December 7, 2020
Contact: Brian Reardon

Statement by Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, President and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States

“The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) is encouraged that President-elect Joseph R. Biden is appointing a diverse team of highly qualified and dedicated professionals to head the federal agencies, offices and task forces charged with advancing our nation’s health care policies and protecting Americans during a global pandemic. Our members stand ready to work with the nominees appointed to serve as leaders for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the COVID-19 Equity Task Force and the national COVID-19 response team.

“I want to personally congratulate each of the nominees for their willingness to serve our country. HHS Secretary-designee Xavier Becerra has been a strong partner with CHA in defending the Affordable Care Act and for advocating for greater access to quality, affordable health care coverage for everyone, particularly the most vulnerable. California Attorney General Becerra has spent his career fighting for underserved communities, and I appreciate his efforts to protect the welfare of immigrants and migrants. I look forward to working with him to advance policies that address inequities of care in communities burdened by poverty and injustice.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is placing extraordinary pressure on families and communities across the country and our members are striving daily to meet their needs during these unprecedented times. As we continue to address the public health crisis before us, it will take a highly coordinated federal response to bring the virus under control and stabilize our nation’s health care delivery system. Our prayers for success go out to these nominees and their colleagues as they work to overcome the challenges before us.”

» Download a PDF of the statement

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The Catholic Health Association of the United States is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, representing the largest nonprofit provider of health care services in the nation.

• 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital each day.
• Catholic health care, which includes more than 2,200 hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, systems, sponsors, and related organizations, serves the full continuum of health care across our nation.