HHS Nominee On Track For Confirmation By Senate

"There may be variations about how best to reach the goal most effectively, most cost effectively, most efficiently, with the best health outcomes of insuring every American," Sebelius said.

"And I think he's open to all of those proposals," she said of Obama.

"I know the president is totally committed to that proposal, that every American should have health insurance."

Some 48 million Americans are uninsured. The concept of how, or whether, universal coverage should be mandated is one of the toughest issues Congress and the administration must tackle as they seek to reshape the nation's health care system.

Senators want to move health overhaul legislation forward by summer. But they decided Thursday to wait to vote on Sebelius' nomination until they return from a two-week recess that's about to start, so that lawmakers have more time to review her responses.

It's taken Obama longer than expected to fill the HHS job because his first pick, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, withdrew from consideration over $140,000 in back taxes and interest he owed on income from consulting and use of a car service.