Sen. Chuck Grassley to Question HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Commitments and Shake-up in Public Health Centers

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, plans to follow up with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Thursday Senate Finance Committee hearing about his commitments to regulating pharmacy benefit managers, improving rural health care systems, and oversight of agriculture and dietary guidelines. Grassley had presented Kennedy with a list of expectations in January, which included calling for timely and complete information when responding to congressional oversight requests and working to lower drug prices through measures targeting business practices of PBMs. Kennedy agreed with the statements in January, and Grassley now wants to see if he is following through on his commitments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sen. Chuck Grassley plans to question HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his commitments to regulating pharmacy benefit managers, improving rural health care systems, and oversight of agriculture and dietary guidelines.
  • Grassley presented Kennedy with a list of expectations in January, which included calling for timely and complete information when responding to congressional oversight requests and working to lower drug prices through measures targeting business practices of PBMs.
  • Kennedy agreed with the statements in January, and Grassley now wants to see if he is following through on his commitments.
  • Grassley has expressed concerns about Kennedy's attitudes on agriculture and wants to hear more about his plans.
  • The Senate Finance Committee hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday, following major leadership changes in the federal government's public health centers.
  • HHS Secretary Kennedy is involved in overseeing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has undergone significant changes following the departure of CDC Director Susan Monarez in late August.

Statistics:

  • 5-6 months: the amount of time HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been in office
  • 100: the number of people in attendance at Grassley's speech in Denison on April 20, 2022
  • 1: the number of list of expectations presented by Grassley to Kennedy in January
  • 6: the number of months since Grassley spoke about concerns with Kennedy's attitudes on agriculture
  • 1 meeting: the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting that was postponed indefinitely by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, due to concerns about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific process being followed.

Sources:

  • Sen. Chuck Grassley's speech in Denison on April 20, 2022, as reported by the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
  • The C-SPAN recording of HHS Secretary-nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifying at his confirmation hearing on January 2022.
  • The Iowa Capital Dispatch article "Chuck Grassley will seek answers from RFK Jr. following CDC shake-up".
  • The News from the States article "Trump administration says CDC chief ousted, her lawyer says she hasn't resigned or been fired".
  • The News from the States article "US Senate health committee leaders question CDC tumult".
  • The Des Moines Register article "Chuck Grassley will seek answers from RFK Jr. following CDC shake-up".
  • The Iowa Capital Dispatch article "Iowa native Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed as HHS secretary".