Former Senate chief Tom Daschle became the first member of Barack Obama's cabinet to submit to a confirmation grilling Thursday over his appointment as secretary for health and human services.
Daschle has been tasked with leading president-elect Obama's quest to overhaul a healthcare system plagued by rising costs and stigmatized by the fact that 46 million Americans lack health insurance.
"The flaws in our health system are pervasive and corrosive," Daschle told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, saying the health and economic security of Americans was under threat.
"As we face a harsh and deep recession the number of uninsured is likely to grow," Daschle warned, and said that many Americans did not get "high value" preventative health care.
The committee was called to order by veteran Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, making a reappearance in Congress after months away last year as he battles brain cancer.
Healthcare reform has been a cause of Kennedy's life and he is determined to steer substantial reforms through Congress.
"Tom Daschle understands the urgency and the challenges of health reform," Kennedy said, in a slightly hoarse voice.
"He knows that Americans feel the heavy weight of rising costs.
"He knows that families are afraid that they will lose their health insurance, and he knows that 46 million Americans do not have health insurance at all."
Daschle is not expected to face substantial opposition in the committee which will vote on his nomination, which also faces a vote in the full Senate, likely to take place before Obama is inaugurated on January 20.
He will have substantial power in the Obama administration -- the president-elect has also tasked him with heading the White House Office of Health Reform.
The former Senate Majority leader was making his first formal appearance on Capitol Hill since he sensationally lost his South Dakota seat in 2004.
All of Obama's top cabinet picks face confirmation hearings in the next few weeks, in line with the Senate's constitutional duty to offer "advice and consent" on the future president's nomination.
In perhaps the most high profile hearing, Hillary Clinton, nominated by her former Democratic primary foe Obama to serve as secretary of state, will go before the Senate Foreign Relations committee on Tuesday.
