WASHINGTON, April 28 (UPI) -- Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as U.S. health and human services secretary Tuesday evening with President Barack Obama at her side.

The 8 p.m. ceremony in the Oval Office came hours after the Senate voted 65 to 31 to confirm the former Kansas governor to the Cabinet post.


The president held a Bible as she took the oath from White House executive clerk Tim Saunders. Obama then gave her a kiss on the cheek and said he was "thrilled" to have her in his administration, adding "I expect her to hit the ground running."

"Thank you, sir. Honored to serve," she said.

Sebelius, who takes over the department as the nation faces a potentially serious outbreak of swine flu, immediately headed to the Situation Room to get a briefing on the situation from White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan.

"We wanted to swear her in right away because we've got a significant public health challenge that requires her immediate attention," Obama said. "It is something that we have to monitor very carefully."

Obama interrupted his closed Blue Room reception with his other Cabinet secretaries to swear in Sebelius, the final addition to his core advisers.

Sebelius had resigned as governor, flew to Andrews Air Force Base and came directly to the White House for the ceremony.

After being nominated, Sebelius came under a dark cloud when it was revealed she failed to pay about $7,000 in taxes on time. Sebelius said the violations were caused by "unintentional errors" related to mistakes resulting from the sale of a home and charitable contributions.

Sebelius was nominated after Obama's first choice, former Sen. Tom Daschle, withdrew from consideration after failing to pay more than $100,000 in income taxes on free limo rides provided by a friend and Democratic donor.