Ranking Member Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Hearing on Nomination of Monica Bertagnolli for NIH Director
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks during today’s hearing on the nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to be Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Click here to watch the hearing live.
Cassidy’s speech as prepared for delivery can be found below:
Thank you, Chair Sanders.
Today, the Committee considers the nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to be the next Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Dr. Bertagnolli, thank you. Thank you for making yourself available throughout this process.
You have an impressive resumé and impressive support within the scientific community.
There are no questions regarding your scientific qualifications. But there are questions about your ability to lead NIH through this next phase.
The NIH’s role is vital in strengthening America’s biomedical research and supporting public health efforts, especially during a crisis.
Unfortunately, it has become a lightning rod for partisan debates during the COVID-19 pandemic, eroding trust between the public and the NIH.
First and foremost, the next NIH director needs to rebuild its relationship with Congress and the public. NIH needs a leader who represents the interests of all Americans, not just the scientific community.
This means making the agency more transparent and accountable to Congress, while also advancing cutting-edge science. It also means effectively communicating to the American people and rebuilding trust in public health officials and the biomedical research community.
The NIH director must also protect and strengthen the valuable public-private partnerships that make up our biomedical research enterprise.
Last month, I issued a request for information from stakeholders on modernizing the NIH. Improving the NIH will require complete buy-in from all.
I look forward to hearing more about your vision for the agency and the specific steps you will take to achieve it.
During our meeting, we also spoke about bioethical issues, including fetal tissue and embryonic stem cell research and the use of hormones and other gender transition interventions on children.
You at times frankly avoided getting into specifics about your views on these issues, citing lack of expertise. As you pursue this influential position, you will have to have answers.
As the NIH Director, you need to be prepared to weigh in on topics where you may not have direct clinical experience.
A major part of your job will be to make policy decisions that will shape the direction of biomedical research.
While you will consult experts and take input from your institute directors, you will ultimately be the person who decides.
I point out that this hearing is apparently happening today because of a publicly acknowledged deal the Biden administration cut with Chair Sanders to implement partisan drug pricing policies in exchange for advancing your nomination.
Biden administration officials told us in a hearing earlier this year that policies, similar to those in the deal that have been reported, could risk future partnerships between the government and the private sector.
These partnerships are the foundation of the U.S. biomedical research enterprise, which by the way leads the world in developing cures.
It is concerning that the administration would jeopardize the long-term success of this enterprise for the short-term goal of advancing your nomination.
Last week, I asked President Biden and Secretary Becerra for a full accounting of any deals cut with members of Congress related to your nomination.
At 5:43pm last night, I received a form letter that provided no information and intentionally ignored the request it was supposedly responding to. The administration was not forthcoming about any deals with members of Congress, even though some of the details have already been publicly acknowledged.
Senators expected to vote on your confirmation should be aware of details of any deals made to advance your nomination.
NIH must prioritize a commitment to transparency and accountability to Congress.
In June, Senator Tuberville and I also sent the acting NIH Director a letter about an NIH-funded project that resulted in the deaths of two adolescents.
We did not get a response to that letter until September 15th, a week after the Biden administration struck the deal to move your nomination.
You told me that you are committed to transparency and rebuilding NIH’s relationship with Congress.
I appreciate that commitment. However, I have concerns given this administration’s history of failing to respond to congressional oversight requests, especially from members of this Committee.
Rebuilding NIH’s relationship with Congress will require a strong director who can overcome partisan divisions and work with Republicans and Democrats to improve trust in our federal health institutions.
This means being open and responsive to this Committee, which will directly oversee your work as NIH Director if confirmed.
I look forward to hearing how you will fulfill these parts of the job and lead the NIH forward.
Thank you.
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