U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, addressed a hearing focused on transparency at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The session was held in response to President Trump’s call for increased openness in government operations.
Cassidy opened by thanking witnesses and acknowledged Secretary Robert Kennedy’s support for greater transparency during his testimony before the Senate Finance Committee.
He said, “Now I approach this hearing as both a Doctor and as a Senator. And as both, I should be, but frankly I think we all should be, first and foremost, friends and allies of the American people. They are looking to us to figure out how our government works best for them. And if we look at any other agenda, we are not doing our duty to the American people. Now that was the attitude I brought advocating for my patients. I think that is the attitude we should bring as Senators towards this issue as well. And if our loyalty lies elsewhere than we fail as Senators.”
Cassidy drew on his medical background: “As a Doctor, who treated children and families for over 25 years, I have the absolute obligation to do the best I can for the health of those I am entrusted to serve. In this case, I am, but we all are entrusted to serve the Moms and Dads, their children, their parents so that when I, or any doctor makes a recommendation to provide a lifesaving vaccine or treatment, they can reliably rely upon CDC guidance. If doctors do not have clear guidance or have reason to distrust what is coming out of the CDC, they cannot make informed decisions to protect their patients. Children’s and I would say adult’s health is at risk.”
The senator highlighted changes in CDC leadership structure: “Now as a Senator, and this speaks directly to all of us at this table, I am focused on the fact that Dr. Monarez was the first CDC Director requiring Senate confirmation. We Republicans supported making the CDC Director Senate Confirmed. It’s such an important position that we demanded a role in her or his choosing. And so part of our responsibility today is to ask ourselves, if someone is fired 29 days after every Republican votes for her, the Senate confirms her, the Secretary said at her swearing in that she has ‘unimpeachable scientific credentials’ and the President called her ‘an incredible mother and dedicated public servant’, like what happened? Did we fail? Was there something we should have done differently?”
He continued by quoting Secretary Kennedy's rationale for Dr. Monarez’s dismissal: “The Secretary in his Senate Finance testimony justified Dr. Monarez’s firing by stating, ‘it’s imperative that we remove officials with conflicts of interest and catastrophically bad judgement and political agendas. We need unbiased politics free transparent evidence-based science in the public interest.’ If what he said is true, we as Senators need to ask ourselves did we look past something? Did we do something wrong? It may be that we did nothing wrong in which case Dr Monarez and Dr Houry ,the onus is upon you to prove that criticisms leveled by Secretary are not true.”
Cassidy emphasized oversight responsibilities: “Now ultimately we all have an obligation to truth .It may be impossible learn who telling truth but this hearing initial step trying answer why top leadership nation’s top public health agency fired resigned before could fired.Turmoil top nation’s top public health agency not good health American people.”
He noted ongoing efforts within Congress: “Now long believed CDC needs reform regain trust American people.And earlier year launched working group Senate Republicans topic including Senators Paul Murkowski Marshall Scott from committee which met numerous times staff level.”
Cassidy expressed support for President Trump’s agenda: “And fortunately,we have President who called radical transparency government.President Trump clearly wants Make America Healthy Again.I thank him for that.American people need all facts–not version facts fits certain narrative agenda.And with mandate from President Trump HELP committee conducting oversight.”
Witnesses included former CDC leaders Drs. Monarez and Houry who raised concerns about recent actions affecting CDC credibility.
“I am also inviting HHS officials at later point including Secretary Kennedy speak Committee refute anything which said today.This how achieve President Trump goal radical transparency–giving Americans full picture so they judge themselves,” Cassidy stated.
He concluded by saying,“This not about politics;this about protecting children’s health rebuilding trust institutions.I want President Trump best CDC nation history.I want work with President fulfill campaign promise reform CDC Make America Healthy Again.The President says radical transparency way do that.This hearing one step closer delivering President Trump mission.And with that,I recognize Senator Sanders.”
For further information about activities from HELP Republicans visit their website or Twitter account @GOPHELP.
