WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Tim Scott (R-SC) launched a Senate Republican working group to examine potential legislative reforms to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) so it can better respond to Americans’ health needs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC was not transparent in communicating health guidance to the American people and overstepped its statutory authorities. The weaknesses exposed during the pandemic have raised serious questions about CDC’s mission and focus. Due to these failures, Cassidy previously requested feedback from stakeholders on ways to modernize CDC, so it can restore trust with the American people.
“The public depends on CDC to deliver clear, unbiased health guidance, especially in times of crisis. If CDC fails, Americans’ health is threatened,” said Dr. Cassidy. “While I’m encouraged the Trump administration is committed to improving health transparency, we need lasting legislative reforms to ensure CDC is able to meet Americans’ public health needs. I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues to accomplish this mission.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic and our government’s heavy-handed response inflicted immeasurable harms on the American people, the economy, and our freedoms. The CDC was responsible for much of the harm. The pandemic opened millions of eyes to the corruption of science and the corporate capture of federal health agencies. Congress must dramatically reform the current system and restore integrity to science and Americans’ trust in CDC and public health agencies,” said Senator Johnson.
“The CDC’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic made clear the need for major reform to effectively respond to our nation’s health needs,” said Senator Marshall. “I look forward to working with Senator Cassidy and my colleagues to ensure the CDC can respond to public health challenges impartially and restore the trust of the American people.”
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC operated with no oversight while bureaucrats overstepped authority to expand their powers and the administrative state,” said Dr. Paul. “The American people have lost trust in public health and part of our efforts toward rebuilding that trust is to prevent future overreach like we saw far too often during the pandemic.”
“The CDC plays an important role in protecting public health. Five years ago, the CDC stumbled its way through the pandemic which cost us lives and time. In efforts to restore trust in public health, reforms need to take place so that the American people can trust this agency once again. I am glad to join Dr. Cassidy’s efforts to ensure the CDC stays true to its mission and focus of protecting the health and safety of the American people,” said Senator Scott.
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