Governor Gina Raimondo’s choice to lead the state Health and Human Services secretariat cleared her first hurdle to confirmation Tuesday. Governor Gina Raimondo has asked her, in part, to contain the cost of subsidized healthcare for the poor.

“I do not underestimate the challenge that I’m being asked to take on. I’ve already seen in my first three and a half weeks, when I’ve been privileged to serve before I was approved, how many varieties of challenge I’ve inherited,” said Roberts.

A former senator and lieutenant governor, Roberts got a friendly reception in the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee. She’s poised to control a secretariat responsible for about 40 percent of state spending.

Separate Senate committees also offered initial confirmation to Raimondo’s picks to lead economic development, Stefan Pryor, and the state Department of Administration, Michael DiBiase. The full Senate could approve Roberts and Pryor as soon as Thursday. DiBiase is expected to be confirmed next week.

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