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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release August 3, 2000
                PRESIDENT NAMES SUE BAILEY AS ADMINISTRATOR
           OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
                    AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

     The President today announced the recess appointment of Sue Bailey 

to serve as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at the Department of Transportation. Ms. Bailey was nominated on July 25, 2000, and her nomination is currently pending before the Senate.

Dr. Sue Bailey of Bethesda, Maryland has been serving at the Department of Defense as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) since 1998. Dr. Bailey is the first woman to lead the Military Health System, responsible for the health of 8.2 million military personnel and the $16 billion Defense Health Program. Since taking office, Dr. Bailey incorporated the President's Patient Bill of Rights into the practice of military medicine and has instituted the inclusion of continuity of care, preventative medicine, and health protection in the U.S. armed forces. Dr. Bailey has also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs from July 1994 to June 1995. Prior to that, she was Medical Director of Chevy Chase Associates, Inc. from 1988 to 1993, In-patient Program Director for the Washington Hospital Center from 1983-1985, and Vice President of Medlantic Healthcare Group from 1986 to 1988.

Dr. Bailey received her B.S. from the University of Maryland and graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine with her D.O. She completed an internship at George Washington University Hospital and her residency at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. She has served in the U.S. Navy Reserves, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), under the U.S. Department of Transportation carries out safety programs under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 and the Highway Safety Act of 1966. The NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. This is accomplished by setting and enforcing safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, and through grants to state and local governments to enable them to onduct effective local highway safety programs. Without an Administrator, the NHTSA is greatly hindered in fulfilling its mission.

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