Senate Advances Trump’s Health Nominees

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Nominations Progress: Trump’s Health Picks

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) voted on Thursday to send two of President Trump’s health nominees to the full Senate for consideration. Erica Schwartz’s nomination for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) passed with a vote of 12-10. Sean Kaufman, nominated to administer the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), moved forward with a 12-11 vote. The votes had been postponed due to attendance issues.

HELP Chair Bill Cassidy emphasized the urgent need for leadership at agencies addressing public health challenges. During Kaufman’s confirmation hearing, Cassidy addressed previous criticisms by Kaufman of the hepatitis B vaccine birth doses. Cassidy expressed confidence that Kaufman, if confirmed, would not be involved in vaccine policy or make critical decisions on issues like mRNA vaccines.

Sanders’ Stance

Bernie Sanders, the HELP Committee’s ranking member, expressed skepticism about Schwartz’s nomination. He questioned her ability to challenge conspiracy theories propagated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sanders highlighted the importance of nominees opposing dangerous health theories.

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Every week, Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi cover Washington’s impact on health. Here’s a look at how policies will affect the healthcare sector:

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