Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Tuesday met with Secretary of Health and Human Services appointee Kathleen Sebelius in preparation for the Kansas governor’s upcoming confirmation hearing, a Kennedy spokesman said.

Sebelius’ installment has been lingering since she was appointed to the job by President Barack Obama earlier this month. She was Obama’s second choice after former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) withdrew his nomination.

Sebelius must appear before the HELP Committee as well as the Finance Committee, which ultimately votes on her nomination. The Finance Committee has received the paperwork necessary to vet Sebelius and could announce a hearing date soon.

Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer and has spent much of the past two months recovering in Florida, returned to the Capitol this week to vote on a national public service bill he co-wrote with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Kennedy is also expected to hold private meetings on health care reform during his two-week stint in Washington before Congress breaks for the Easter recess.