Washington,
D.C.–U.S.
Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance
Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the
following nominations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Robert
Gordon, Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources; January Contreras,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families; and Rebecca Jones Gaston,
Commissioner for the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families.
The
text of Ranking Member Crapo’s remarks, as prepared, is below.
“Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
“Today’s
nominees will have significant responsibilities overseeing programs that affect
some of the most vulnerable populations in America.
“As
Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources, Mr. Gordon would have a critical
role in stewarding resources across the breadth of HHS’ programs. I look
forward to hearing his views on how HHS can improve its service delivery to
provide more effective care in programs that affect nearly every American.
“If
confirmed, Ms. Contreras and Ms. Jones Gaston would oversee programs that
protect and support children and youth. I am eager to hear how these
nominees propose improving service delivery toward these particularly at-risk
groups.
“I urge
all the nominees to be forthcoming in this discussion, in all questions for the
record, and, should they be confirmed, in the roles to which they have been
nominated.
“Congress
is a critical partner to the work of the Department of Health and Human
Services, and the programs you may oversee are of unique importance.
“Working
in a bipartisan way with the members of the Finance Committee, we have the
opportunity to evaluate and implement policies that better serve the American
people.
“Once
again, I congratulate the nominees here today and look forward to this
discussion.”