“From measles to explosive cyclosporiasis” 314 Action says Today’s CDC Director Confirmation Hearing is Long Overdue
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — After nearly one year without a permanent CDC Director, the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Erica Schwartz to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement ahead of the hearing:
“After nearly a year and multiple outbreaks from measles, to rat-borne Hantavirius, flesh-eating screwworm, and explosive cyclosporiasis, this hearing is long overdue.
“With a history of supporting vaccines, Erica Schwartz’s nomination is a win for science and another blow to the MAHA movement. Trump recognizes that RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine agenda is bad politics—and he’s distancing the administration from his unpopular MAHA policies in the midterms.
“Over the past year, RFK Jr. has fired thousands of career scientists and replaced them with his dangerous co-conspirators—and Americans have paid the price. If confirmed, Schwartz could be one of our last lines of defense against RFK Jr.’s war on public health. Public health must be rooted in evidence, not ideology—and it will be up to Schwartz to hold RFK Jr. to the “gold standard” Americans deserve. With 13 of 27 NIH institutes led by acting directors—Schwartz alone won’t fix the leadership void, but it’s the first step towards taking back our health.
“Today, Senators must ask how Schwartz will rebuild trust and credibility in the CDC after RFK Jr. gutted the agency and what her plan is to reestablish the functionality of the CDC after career scientists were fired for following the science. If she’s unable to restore trust, put science first, and stand up to RFK Jr., 314 Action will hold her accountable.”
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314 Action is the only national organization working to recruit, train and elect Democratic scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists and health care professionals who will use science and facts to address the most urgent issues facing our generation.