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The Senate on Tuesday advanced the nomination of Alex Azar to be secretary of Health and Human Services over a key hurdle by a 54-43 vote. Most Democrats voted against advancing Azar, but seven Democrats joined Republicans to move his nomination forward. A vote on final confirmation is expected to soon follow. Azar will replace Tom Price, who resigned in September after a firestorm surrounding his travel on private planes. (Sullivan, 1/23)

Alexander Azar, the Trump administration’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has told lawmakers his top priority would be addressing high prescription drug costs. But Azar, a former pharmaceutical company executive, is not offering any ideas beyond what the administration has already proposed, according to his answers to follow-up questions asked by senators after his confirmation hearings. With the Senate poised to take up Azar's nomination this week, several Democrats from the Finance and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees on Tuesday shared Azar’s replies to their questions. (Siddons and Clason, 1/23)