Business meeting to consider the nomination of Erica Schwartz, of Florida, to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Title

Committee considers Erica Schwartz nomination for CDC Director

Purpose

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee met to consider the nomination of Erica Schwartz, of Florida, to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chair Cassidy opened the meeting noting some members were absent due to family emergencies and that a vote would occur off the floor, after which he and Sen. Sanders delivered opening statements on the nomination before the committee recessed. Begins at▶ 0:23:07

Who spoke

• Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA)▶ 0:21:55: Explained that some Republican members could not be present due to family emergencies and that a roll call vote would occur off the floor around 11:35▶ 0:21:55▶ 0:22:28; opened by citing measles cases at a 35-year high▶ 0:23:07 and said attempts to undermine public trust in vaccines come from those who "know nothing"▶ 0:23:30; said he is confident, after speaking with Dr. Schwartz and others who know her, that she will stand against anti-vaccine misinformation▶ 0:23:30, and noted HHS has modified its autism-and-vaccine web page as "a start"▶ 0:24:01.

• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)▶ 0:24:19: Said he was impressed by Dr. Schwartz's service and her combined law and medical background▶ 0:24:19, and agreed the country faces major public health crises including measles▶ 0:24:19; announced he will vote against her confirmation because he does not believe HHS Secretary Kennedy will tolerate anyone standing up to anti-science conspiracy theories▶ 0:25:09.

• Unidentified committee member▶ 0:22:28: Noted that the committee's most junior members were present "in solidarity" to support the chairman▶ 0:22:28.

Key moments

• Cassidy said measles cases are at a 35-year high with half the year still remaining▶ 0:23:07.

• Cassidy stated HHS has modified its autism-and-vaccine web page as a sign of good faith, while acknowledging more work remains to repair damage to the U.S. public health response▶ 0:24:01.

• Cassidy said he is confident, after speaking again with Dr. Schwartz and consulting those who know her, that she will stand against those pushing vaccine misinformation▶ 0:23:30.

• Sanders praised Schwartz's credentials but announced he will vote against her confirmation▶ 0:24:43▶ 0:25:09.

• Sanders said he does not believe HHS Secretary Kennedy will tolerate officials willing to stand up to anti-science conspiracy theories, framing this as his reason for opposing the nomination▶ 0:25:09.

• Cassidy announced the vote would be held off the floor around 11:35 and emphasized that members intending to vote yes needed to be present▶ 0:21:55▶ 0:22:28.

• The committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after opening statements, without proceeding to a recorded committee vote in the transcript shown▶ 0:25:32.