Source: Congress.gov
Summary
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions holds a hearing to review nominations for key health and trade roles, including Rick Schweitzer for Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Gus Chiarello for Assistant Secretary at HHS. The hearing centers on the administration's healthcare agenda, with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifying about initiatives like the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' and its impact on rural hospitals, drug pricing, and vaccine policy. Witnesses and lawmakers debate the administration's approach to vaccine recommendations, public trust in health agencies, and efforts to reduce healthcare costs, including challenges to drug pricing and rural health access. The testimony raises concerns about scientific integrity, transparency, and the administration's actions on CDC panels and Medicaid funding, with senators pressing for accountability and evidence-based policy decisions.
Participants
Transcript
We meet today to favorably consider reporting the nominations of Rick Schweitzer to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative, Gus Chiarello to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Mike Stewart to be General Counsel of HHS. The meeting this morning will provide members with the opportunity to offer remarks on the nominees. And following any statements, we will recess briefly and then proceed to this morning's hearing with Secretary Kennedy. We will vote on these nominations off the Senate floor today, and I think we have agreed at 1130, as there are other votes starting on the floor at that time. At his hearing, Mr. Schweitzer discussed his commitment to trade policies and practices that place the American economy and the American worker first. I look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to ensure that our trade policy prioritizes U.S. competitiveness, spurs job creation, and promotes innovation. Mr. Chiarello and Mr. Stewart discussed the critical issues in our healthcare system. including soaring costs, a burdensome drug approval process, and the opioid crisis. If confirmed, both Mr. Chiarello and Mr. Stewart will have the opportunity to advise Secretary Kennedy on potential solutions. Given their respective backgrounds, I'm confident in their ability to provide thoughtful counsel to the Secretary. I will be voting in favor of each nomination, and I encourage all of my colleagues on the committee to do the same. Senator Wyden. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I'll start off with Michael Stewart.
The Health Department's top lawyer is responsible for calling balls and strikes and making sure the department follows the law. That is something that Robert Kennedy and Donald Trump have shown little interest in. During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Stewart provided the committee no assurances that he would follow laws like EMTALA that make sure emergency departments provide lifesaving medical care. Robert Kennedy, we'll hear from him later today, is speedrunning our country into the worst measles outbreak in decades. He's gutted vaccine panels, cancer research, and is overseeing the biggest blow to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in history. Mr. Stewart has given this committee no reason to believe he would be anything other than a rubber stamp for Robert Kennedy. Next up, Gustav Shirello, nominated to be the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources at HHS. If confirmed, he'll be responsible for the department's $1.7 trillion budget. He doesn't have a single day's worth of experience managing the finances of an organization, let alone one of this size. This is an important role, especially in light of the Trump administration's weaponizing of federal funding. Between February's disaster funding freeze and Trump's latest rescission of funds that Congress already appropriated, the administration is making a mockery of congressional authority. If confirmed, Mr. Chiarella would oversee unprecedented funding and staff cuts and budget shortfalls. He's shown no intention of pushing back against Donald Trump and taking a blowtorch to the programs and resources that millions of Americans rely on to stay healthy and safe. Finally, Brian Schweitzer, who is nominated to be deputy U.S. trade representative with jurisdiction... over Asia and a number of important areas, textiles, investment services, intellectual property. And from day one, the reason this is an important appointment is Donald Trump's trade agenda has been disastrous.
His tariffs and trade flopping has left American farmers, businesses, and workers on an economic roller coaster. Prices are up. Small businesses and farmers struggle. For the sixth straight month in a row, U.S. manufacturing has declined. That's the message that I've heard all over my state as I had town hall meetings in some of the most rural parts of Oregon and talked with business owners, farmers, and ranchers. Mr. Schweitzer is going to provide neither transparency or consistency, and I urge my colleagues to oppose him and to vote no on each of these nominees. Thank you, Senator Wyden. Unless Senator Daines wishes to make a statement, then we will now proceed, unless there is an objection, to go into recess briefly and proceed to this morning's hearing with Secretary Kennedy at 10 a.m. We will vote, as I said earlier, on these nominations off the Senate floor today at 1130 a.m. Without objection, it is so ordered. And the committee will stand in recess.
This hearing will come to order. Today we meet to hear from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about President Trump's 2026 health care agenda. Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here. While I expect a spirited debate today, I would remind my colleagues that each senator is limited to five minutes, and we're going to try to keep that as tight as we can today. There's 27 of us, and we all probably are going to want to have our opportunity. At the end of the five-minute time frame, I will gently tap the gavel if it appears that things are starting to lapse over. and encourage my colleagues and our witness to conclude their remarks at the conclusion of this time. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy have made a steadfast commitment to make America healthy again.
Sign up for free to see the full transcript
Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.