Chairman Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Confirmation Hearing on Surgeon General Nomination

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks during today's confirmation hearing on the nomination of Dr. Casey Means to be Surgeon General of the United States.

Click here to watch the full hearing.

Cassidy's speech as prepared for delivery can be found below:

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will please come to order.

Thank you, Dr. Means, for appearing before the Committee and for your willingness to serve in the administration.

I first congratulate you on the birth of your child. I hope all is well with your family.

We've got some serious problems: high rates of mental health and substance use disorders, widespread chronic disease, the reemergence of deadly outbreaks; which are preventable with safe, effective vaccines, but unfortunately there's been vaccine skepticism promoted. At the same time, many Americans have lost faith in public health leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, families are often confused by the whiplash of conflicting medical guidance.

President Trump committed to rebuilding trust in our health institutions and restoring radical transparency. That is how we protect our children's health.

If confirmed, Dr. Means, you will have an important platform as the Nation's Doctor. Americans will look to you for clear medical guidance and direction to protect and promote their families' health.

Your books express concern regarding chronic disease, speaking to mothers and their families.

The Surgeon General needs to be an effective and truthful communicator; a calming voice of reason and a steady hand of experience at a time when so many sow distrust and confusion.

The Surgeon General must be someone who can execute on President Trump's commitment to restoring confidence in public health; and, to assure the American people that our institutions are making science-based decisions rooted in data that put families' health first.

This is especially important as HHS undergoes substantial personnel and policy changes. Dr. Means, it should be your mission and the mission of every HHS official to restore stability and assure Americans that protecting health is the top priority.

I look forward to learning more about your public health priorities and views.

With that, I recognize Senator Sanders.

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