PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Opening Remarks at Historic, Bipartisan Vote to Hold Steward CEO in Civil and Criminal Contempt

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 – In a major bipartisan vote, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) today held Steward Health Care CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre in civil and criminal contempt for his failure to comply with the committee’s subpoena and absence from last week’s hearing. 

This is the first time in modern American history that the HELP Committee has issued a civil or criminal contempt resolution. Both resolutions passed 20-0 with bipartisan support. 

Chairman of the HELP Committee, Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) opening remarks ahead of the vote, as prepared for delivery, are below and can be watched here:

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will come to order.

Last week, we heard very compelling and very heartbreaking testimony from nurses in Massachusetts and public officials in Louisiana about how the financial mismanagement of Steward Health Care and the greed of its CEO, Ralph de la Torre, caused devastating harm to patients, health care workers and entire communities.

These brave witnesses, members of this committee and the American people deserve to know how Dr. de la Torre became extraordinarily wealthy, while the hospitals he managed went bankrupt and could not afford to pay their bills – threatening the lives of patients and the safety of health care workers throughout our country.

Unfortunately, the person who is in the best position to answer this question, Dr. de la Torre, has repeatedly refused to appear before this committee.

For months, this committee has invited Dr. de la Torre to testify about the financial mismanagement of Steward Health Care.

Time after time he has arrogantly refused.

On July 25th, the HELP Committee authorized the investigation into the financial mismanagement of Steward Health Care by a vote of 20-1 and authorized a subpoena for Dr. de la Torre’s testimony by a vote of 16-4.  He was ordered to come before this committee on September 12th.

And, as we all know, last week, on that date, Dr. de la Torre made the unfortunate and unacceptable decision to not show up – and to defy this Congressional subpoena.

Therefore, Dr. de la Torre has given us no choice but to move forward this morning on two resolutions to enforce this subpoena and to hold him accountable for his actions.

I’m very pleased that there appears to be strong bi-partisan support for these resolutions and I thank Ranking Member Cassidy and his staff for working with me and my staff on this important issue.

Today’s bipartisan mark-up will make clear that:

• Even though Dr. de la Torre may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars;
• Even though he may be able to buy fancy yachts, private jets, and luxurious accommodations throughout the world;
• Even though he may be able to afford some of the most expensive lawyers in America, no.  Dr. de la Torre is not above the law.

If you defy a Congressional subpoena, you will be held accountable no matter who you are or how well-connected you may be.

Why did we want Dr. de la Torre to testify before this Committee?

We wanted to know how it could happen that

at least 15 patients at hospitals owned by his company died as a result of a lack of medical equipment or staffing shortages and that at least 2,000 other patients were put in serious risk according to federal regulators. 

And, perhaps most importantly, we wanted to know how it could happen that while thousands of patients and health care workers suffered and communities around the country have been devastated, Dr. de la Torre and the companies he owned were able to receive at least $250 million in total compensation over the past 4 years.

Our goal has been to make sure not only that we understood the financial chicanery surrounding Steward Health Care, but to do our best to make sure that such a travesty never happens again.

Senator Cassidy, you are recognized for an opening statement.