January 17,2017

Press Contact:

Taylor Harvey: 202-224-4515

Wyden Statement on Announced Partisan Hearing on Nomination of Tom Price to Lead HHS

WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released a statement after the Senate Finance Committee announced a hearing on Congressman Tom Price’s nomination to be the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) over Democratic objections:

“Instead of confronting the serious issues raised about Congressman Price, Republicans are rushing to sneak his nomination through before all outstanding questions have been answered,” Wyden said. “The Finance Committee has a long, bipartisan tradition of thoroughly reviewing every nominee that comes before the committee, and I’m disappointed that my colleagues have chosen to cut corners and rush this process due to political pressure.”

“The Secretary of HHS is responsible for the health care of over 100 million Americans. This job is a grave responsibility, and I’ll be holding Congressman Price accountable for the secret or nonexistent Republican plan for the Affordable Care Act, his efforts to privatize Medicare and end the promise of guaranteed health benefits for seniors and individuals with disabilities, as well as a host of other concerns that Americans deserve to hear clear answers on.”

The hearing has been scheduled for January 24, 2017 at 10 a.m. in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

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