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December 20, 2008

US President-Elect Names Science and Technology Team
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=211E073:A6F02AD83191E16048B2DF77EFBBC7BC0531BB26A5003E7B&
 
John Holdren, Harold Varmus, Eric Lander appointed to chair President's
Council of Advisers on Science and Technology 
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to put science at the top of
his administration's agenda, as he announced key members of his science
and technology team. John Holdren (file photo) Mr. Obama said in his
weekly radio address Saturday that he was appointing John Holdren,
Harold Varmus, and Eric Lander to chair the President's Council of
Advisers on Science and Technology. He said he was appointing Jane
Lubchenco to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The president-elect pointed to key areas where science is important -
climate change, defense, and industry. He pledged to restore what he
called "America's place as the world leader in science and
technology."Earlier this week, Mr. Obama completed his Cabinet picks,
with the announcement of his nominees to head the departments of labor
and transportation. US Secretary of Labor-designate Hilda Solis speaks
at a news conference in Chicago, 19 Dec. 2008Mr. Obama said Friday he
had chosen California congresswoman Hilda Solis as labor secretary.
Solis, who is of Latin American descent, has been a strong supporter of
workers' rights during her time in the House of Representatives. The
president-elect also chose Republican Congressman Ray La Hood for
transportation secretary. The nomination would make La Hood the second
Republican in the Cabinet after Defense Secretary Robert Gates. In
addition, Mr. Obama introduced Ron Kirk as his choice to serve as U.S.
Trade Representative, who has the power to negotiate trade and
investment deals with other countries. Kirk was the first black mayor of
Dallas, Texas. Mr. Obama's nominees for Cabinet secretaries and other
top positions must be approved by the Senate.


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