NEW YORK: The US Senate has confirmed Indian-American doctor Vivek Murthy as the surgeon general, the second time he will be holding the position. On March 23, Murthy became the first Indian American nominee of President Joe Biden to receive Senate approval.
The Senate confirmation of the strict gun control advocate came a day after a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado state, in which ten people were killed, and another a week ago in Atlanta that claimed eight lives.
Seven Republicans joined the Democrats in the evenly split Senate to confirm him, despite the opposition from the bulk of Republican senators because he has called gun violence a "public health crisis" and called for restrictions on gun ownership.
Murthy received six more votes this time than the minimal 51 he received in 2014 when former President Barack Obama appointed him to the post.
"I am deeply grateful to be confirmed by the Senate to serve once again as your Surgeon General. We have endured great hardship as a nation over the past year, and I look forward to working with you to help our nation heal and create a better future for our children," Vivek Murthy tweeted.
A Democrat Senator, Joe Manchin, who had voted against him 2014, backed him on Tuesday saying, "Murthy has confirmed his commitment to remaining non-partisan as surgeon general and reaffirmed his belief that the vast majority of gun-owning Americans are responsible and follow the law.a¿ Murthy worked with President Joe Biden's campaign as a health policy adviser and was the co-chair of his COVID-19 advisory board during the transition helping prepare his administration to deal with the pandemic.
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