“We applaud the Senate for confirming Vivek Murthy to serve as the country’s top doc — the Surgeon General of the United States. The Senate acted in the public interest by standing up to the gun lobby and confirming this highly qualified candidate, who has won support from more than 100 of the nation’s most highly respected medical and public health organizations and several former surgeons general. Murthy has pledged to focus on reducing obesity and increasing access to mental health care — both issues of critical importance. The country will be better off for his service.

Special interest groups must not be allowed to choose the country’s top doctor. Murthy should have been confirmed quickly and without controversy. It was gratifying to see a majority of senators put the people’s interests first today by voting to confirm him.”