During a Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee executive session, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spoke in opposition to President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CDC, Dr. Susan Monarez, and tore into HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
00:00Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be voting against President Trump's nominee to be the next director of CDC, Dr. Benares.
00:09The mission of the CDC is, quote, to protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the United States, end quote.
00:20As the CDC states on its website, quote, whether diseases start at home or abroad are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same, end quote.
00:38So, unacceptably, President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are working overtime to undermine the vital mission of the CDC and are jeopardizing the health, safety, and well-being of millions of people, both at home and abroad, in the process.
00:55And unfortunately, Dr. Benares, who has served as Trump's acting CDC director, has done nothing to stand in the way.
01:03Under her watch, the Trump administration has illegally delayed or canceled $11 billion in public health funding to fight infectious disease and to prepare for the next pandemic,
01:15purged important public health data from its website that scientists need to respond to disease outbreaks,
01:21and fired scientists to focus on worker safety, the health of mothers and children, birth defects and disabilities, smoking cessation, and HIV prevention.
01:32Further, Dr. Benares stood by while Secretary Kennedy spread misinformation about vaccines.
01:40The chairman mentioned the serious problem that we have in vaccines.
01:44He is right.
01:46And that is exactly one of the reasons why we should reject this nominee.
01:50Today, the United States is reporting the highest number of measles cases in 33 years.
01:56In my view, we need a CDC director who will defend science, protect public health, and repudiate Secretary Kennedy's dangerous conspiracy theories
02:06about safe and effective vaccines that have saved, over the years, millions of lives.
02:13Unfortunately, after reviewing her record, I do not believe that Dr. Benares is that person.
02:17I would encourage my colleagues to oppose this nomination.
