Senator Schmitt, Senator Cruz Introduce Bill to Accelerate Senate Scrutiny and Approval of New CDC Director

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Eric Schmitt along with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced a bill to move up the date by which the position of Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) becomes a Senate-approved position:

“The Administrative State has gone unchecked for too long, and unelected bureaucrats have far too much power over the lives of Americans – the CDC is the epitome of that unchecked power. The Senate should absolutely be required to vote on any nominee for CDC director, and bringing that power back to the Article I branch, the peoples’ branch, is paramount. We need deep structural reform and this bill contributes to that reform. I’m pleased to partner with Senator Cruz on this bill,” said Senator Eric Schmitt.

“As we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic, public health officials have an incredible amount of power over the lives of Texans and Americans. Mandy Cohen was a driving force behind lockdowns and forced masking in North Carolina. Taking advantage of a pandemic to push government control over our daily lives shouldn’t be rewarded with a promotion. Texas deserves a say in who leads national healthcare conversations, and my bill would simply speed the process that Congress has already put in place, by giving the Senate a say in this important decision now instead of 2025,” said Senator Ted Cruz.

Background:

• President Biden plans to appoint former North Carolina healthcare secretary Mandy Cohen to serve as CDC director, who played a large role in shutting down North Carolina during the Covid-19 pandemic and forcing indoor masking of schoolchildren.
• The CDC Director is directly appointed by the president without Senate confirmation, but the position is scheduled to become a Senate-confirmed position starting in January 2025. 
• The CDC Accountability Act would make this position Senate confirmable immediately upon enactment of the bill, allowing Senators the opportunity to properly vet and examine the next CDC Director.

Read the bill here.

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