Kyle Bell

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will chair the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Prior to his passing, Senator Ted Kennedy was the chairman of this same committee in charge of overseeing the nation’s healthcare system. It was a lifelong goal of Kennedy to pass universal healthcare coverage. Harkin is a strong proponent of universal coverage, including the public health insurance option.

Harkin’s ascension to chairman should give a boost to public option proponents as Kennedy was too ill to be much of an influence on the legislation currently making its way through Congress. “I’m ready to carry on [Kennedy's] work, and I’m ready to get a health reform bill passed and to President Obama before Christmas comes this December,” Harkin said at his annual Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa.

In regards to the bill making its way through the Senate right now, “That bill — mark my word, I’m the chairman — is going to have a strong public option,” he said to thunderous applause. “We lost a great progressive, a great leader on so many issues…It now falls to me to pick up the torch,” Harkin said. “No one can take Ted Kennedy’s place, but I tell you this, I’m ready for this fight, I’m ready to lead this committee.”