The Senate voted Tuesday to advance Alex Azar's nomination for HHS secretary, according to The Hill.
The nomination was voted ahead 54 votes to 43, with all but seven Democrats voting against the nomination and three Republicans abstaining from the vote. Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., John McCain, R-Ariz., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., were the Republicans who declined to vote.
Many Democrats doubt Mr. Azar's ability to reform drug pricing policies given his experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
"He failed to persuade me that he can effectively lead any effort to lower drug prices given his tenure at Eli Lilly, where he worked to raise drug prices on patients," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., according to The Hill.