[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6183220,"mediaKeyId","5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65","parentId",5098458,"title","Senator Hawley Urges Nominee To Reassess Past ATSDR Findings on Westlake Landfill Contamination","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",4052000,"endMs",4229000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65&start=4052&end=4229","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65/thumbnail_4052000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183220/Senator-Hawley-Urges-Nominee-To-Reassess-Past-ATSDR-Findings-on-Westlake-Landfill-Contamination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183220-4143c42b459d31f76f77cac6baafccad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183471&Signature=jksuZlThGF3iXqJ6ZdbZeifZLWuIk924qtPRs7d5zcsPfgwZ8K4BveT9LwkVrfY1qbFMqTp-YqlLWcyI0S8LNRmbFqZ0THzL0BzK88cz7UXPDlHVzFsQquWxUamvkN4mx7OvLqPIiezDSC6obI1ZaJV~Mza7wWDMkl2DX6yYuua11GgYsy848xZLI28A0ZHWoMAk6V7KGTNTHRsY1EqsbrInB07tW3MgkOgijEA5ryfWYsABlJNzVghoQpJvbdsHxgsyVhy7QD6qhtagcAK-0CDcA2WO2snOcSpZDIi7WpP6e1ZdMKx2F8rdEmkDmgCozRDv7tr3Ukd8TiaicUgVlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions","date","2025-06-25T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Josh Hawley pressed the nominee on the government's response to alleged radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area at the Westlake Landfill Superfund site and asked whether the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) should reexamine its prior health study.

Hawley described the site's history — including uranium‑era waste and subsequent disposal in landfills — and said that later investigations, including Army Corps action to relocate residents near contaminated creeks, contradicted ATSDR's 2015 conclusion that there was \"no health risk\" to the surrounding community. He said subsequent reporting by Reuters and other federal agency studies showed more contamination and that families had been moved from homes.

\"Will you work to ensure that ATSDR, if you're confirmed, reviews its methodology and does another thorough study that corrects its faulty methodology from the past and gets the facts to the people of Missouri that we deserve on this issue?\" Hawley asked. Dr. Menares replied, \"If I'm confirmed as a CDC director, we will definitely look into this and I'm happy to follow‑up with you.\" She added she would \"look into it\" and follow up with the senator.

The exchange focused on scientific methods, interagency coordination and community health protections; Dr. Menares signaled willingness to review ATSDR methodology and engage with the senator's office if confirmed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nomination Hearing -June 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Josh Hawley pressed Dr. Menares to review the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's past health study of the Westlake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri, citing subsequent Army Corps findings and news reporting that, he said, revealed flaws in the earlier ATSDR work.","taxTitle","Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1995,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6183224,"Senators Warn That Changed Vaccine Guidance Could Reduce Coverage as Measles Cases Rise",677,6624000,7301000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65&start=6624&end=7301","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65/thumbnail_6624000.jpg","/articles/6183224/Senators-Warn-That-Changed-Vaccine-Guidance-Could-Reduce-Coverage-as-Measles-Cases-Rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183224-d399c9ca78dc1d96b02a9d680b39f165/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183471&Signature=NqKTR6bkrbi6UeJ91hoAUylTM9IDBBlEzXG3KoU6e7Lbv2pc0eslNTwIKoMigi28IrPRNJDejRVfrZpAOq8RjhruadyDRaDIpTZuwjnc97hGpfZdMu3bTX~e7HcV48WnZs-8g5aGVTUsb1zSIF7j~IPYfn7WJpU5aIFJFq11xiM8vXZi9WpO8TTErQkoH0YMigqiYLuyUkXOQIuNND-f~DIXkgd~zmGnl9CaYbnclpQlZBSs1ZO4X~Rj2dwNnjbTg1celTi7pWIDL-8Z-c9s7gyWqM-JRQdM~y8jbvycuvOP7~3XLT5gbVoiwji4zW4cq0dYktYvw1eLSrwp4B7ViQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several senators told the committee they are alarmed by a resurgence of measles and by what they described as political pressure on vaccine policy. They pressed Dr. Menares to signal whether she would publicly defend established science and routine immunization recommendations if confirmed.

Senator Kaine said measles had been eliminated in the United States for decades and cited 1,214 cases in the first half of the year as a return to levels not seen since elimination. Senators emphasized that measles can be lethal in rare cases and that vaccine‑recommendation changes could reduce insurance coverage and access.

When asked whether she had concerns about Secretary Kennedy's public comments about measles and alternative therapies, Dr. Menares said measles \"is an important public health threat\" and that vitamin A is a WHO‑endorsed supportive therapy in some contexts, but she said she was not familiar with the specific 87 percent effectiveness figure attributed to the secretary in questioning and offered to follow up on the evidence.

Multiple senators asked the nominee to be willing to publicly disagree with political leaders when scientific evidence required it. Dr. Menares told the committee she is a scientist and an independent thinker and said she would share evidence‑based opinions with the secretary.

Senators also connected ACIP deliberations and potential changes in recommendations to downstream effects: they warned that removing routine recommendations risks placing the cost of vaccines on families and could lower uptake, contributing to outbreaks.

Dr. Menares affirmed that vaccines \"absolutely save lives\" and committed to prioritizing vaccine availability and transparent communications on benefits and risks if confirmed.","Multiple senators cited rising measles cases and urged the nominee to defend established vaccine science; Dr. Menares said measles remains an important public‑health threat and acknowledged the need for robust prevention efforts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6183229,"Senators Say CDC Staffing Cuts Disrupted Lead‑Poisoning Response, Grants and Other Programs; Nominee Promises Review",3896,3569000,7465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65&start=3569&end=7465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65/thumbnail_3569000.jpg","/articles/6183229/Senators-Say-CDC-Staffing-Cuts-Disrupted-LeadPoisoning-Response-Grants-and-Other-Programs-Nominee-Promises-Review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183229-8841e27e3ac0b2ad6dac10c479899bc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183471&Signature=GQ~MjqGqhXN8yphych0dinZloSLAj47-CQjArIvi7OkMb9Yme0aWCKcaIGa~lgQ5KCSu~2n8cvvlDpUwO-yUxEcGFI7aWG-D776bMORE2Rr2Hf0ZZgoci~6TxUMbID3x8shjIx8Q~4L0-u~7yPkchsy68ZalsmBeRFJwDwIR9FefzezoVXMselqQdc8W9jIsGvG52yr0hxM0qKlvTQHaADdI2UnnrGNKc5FJzrpFsKoVBO287I7JfTEaqzjjE8owA~mMhu~we41gH0Vtn8ZzXUMHh~CjoHHAThlmd1jldnc~hLFplfGMqYb4P8D8Bew2LEQEPSHDmHFL~asa2MykdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several senators told the committee that recent staffing changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had immediate operational consequences and asked the nominee to review program continuity if she becomes director.

Senator Tammy Baldwin described the firing of the staff at the childhood lead poisoning prevention branch and said Milwaukee was left unable to obtain CDC assistance after schools required remediation and 1,800 children were displaced. Baldwin said she had been told employees were being rehired but asked whether the nominee would ensure adequate staffing and reevaluate Milwaukee's request for assistance. Dr. Menares replied, \"I will look at the staffing and I will ensure that these public health priorities have the capacity necessary to deliver the critical services to the American people.\" (exchange began at Senator Baldwin's questioning at the committee hearing.)

Other senators raised related examples. Senator Kim asked about the World Trade Center Health Program, noting staff cuts earlier in the year and asking whether the nominee had been aware that those programs would suffer; Dr. Menares said she \"was not involved in that decision making, and I am not aware of what has happened,\" and offered to follow up.

Senator Susan Collins and others raised concerns that staff reductions had delayed grant awards tied to the BOLD Act (Alzheimer's public‑health grants), asking the nominee to commit to getting out awards on time; Dr. Menares said she would look into workforce and staffing issues and follow up on impediments to awarding grants if confirmed.

Senator Kaine pressed the nominee on the reported elimination of the CDC Office on Smoking and Health and the firing of staff and contractors. Dr. Menares said she was not aware of those specific layoffs and reiterated she had not participated in personnel decisions after departing the acting role; she said the secretary had given guidance to refocus CDC’s activities on preventing, detecting and responding to infectious diseases and emerging threats.

Taken together, senators provided several numeric details in questioning: Senator Sanders referenced a committee report that cited responses from more than 750 health‑care providers; Baldwin cited \"1,800 young school children\" displaced in Milwaukee; and senators noted staffing numbers such as \"400 plus CDC employees\" referenced as being rehired. Dr. Menares offered to review staffing and program specifics and to follow up directly with members of the committee if confirmed.","Multiple senators pressed Dr. Menares about program disruptions following staff reductions at CDC, including the childhood lead poisoning prevention branch, the World Trade Center Health Program and grant awards for Alzheimer’s public‑health grants; the nominee said she would examine staffing and program continuity if confirmed.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6183234,"Senators Question Ethics, Expertise After ACIP Shakeup; Nominee Says Ethics Vetting Should Precede Meetings",2047,3199000,5246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65&start=3199&end=5246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65/thumbnail_3199000.jpg","/articles/6183234/Senators-Question-Ethics-Expertise-After-ACIP-Shakeup-Nominee-Says-Ethics-Vetting-Should-Precede-Meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183234-142621493577f10c85b276fe27d76248/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183471&Signature=FwR18RvihWDbaa3WFdjH3thD8oOF1U3duyAp3ZHkjJqKictzvqIyRQ6JW5CNUWPnTzuy613gTvQgMq67Glg6~oi9CUX4QBxv2uL50oL0qx5cswh307gHmqSMNI14Vnkdyz6HmT7sBIXfVW-BKFJF1xUuC8qbAZohLmlHN2iu1fgLTHbkGk4w4VizO2FV0RmmFhjRe3zJ7VFWEjlE0SS~xQVQ8ISMupbIJabZii9zkovi-bZnRgYQG~coFLfbtxmyhjhPehUligmtcszA32UVQ4sVykGQxXQcJefSLtQEbLkcmvNzoI~B~F0hWqtcvTKEOlW84NaX6t1SbSn7WREUbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators from both parties raised concerns at the hearing about changes to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the federal panel whose recommendations guide vaccine use, insurance coverage and state vaccination rules.

Multiple senators cited Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to remove the existing 17 ACIP members and appoint new members as grounds for concern about the committee's expertise and whether ethics vetting had been completed before members met.

Senator Tammy Baldwin asked whether, if confirmed, Dr. Menares would ensure adequate staffing and review the status of the ACIP process after the firings. Senator Murray pressed the nominee directly: \"Do you agree that any new ACIP members should have to go through a thorough ethics review process before meeting?\" Dr. Menares replied, \"The members of the ACIP do need to go through a thorough ethics review before they are allowed to participate in those critical meetings.\"

When asked whether recommendations made before ethics vetting should be accepted, Dr. Menares said she was not familiar with whether the participants in the current meeting had completed the required review and added, \"If they have not gone through an ethics approval process, they shouldn't be participating in the meetings.\" She also said she would be an \"active listener\" and evaluate how committee members assessed complex scientific evidence.

Senators expressed alarm about specific presenters and appointees. Senator Murray flagged that Lynn Redwood of Children's Health Defense, characterized in the hearing as a vaccine critic, was scheduled to present on thimerosal. Murray said Redwood had cited a study that does not exist and asked whether it was acceptable for a presenter with a record of \"made up sources\" to appear; Dr. Menares replied she was not familiar with that person and said that ACIP is a public meeting where members should evaluate the veracity of public testimony.

Committee members warned that ACIP recommendations translate into coverage and access: Senator Blunt Rochester noted that routine childhood vaccines can cost up to about $1,200 per child without insurance and that changes to ACIP guidance affect whether insurers are required to cover vaccines. Dr. Menares said vaccines \"absolutely save lives\" and committed to prioritizing vaccine availability if confirmed.

Senators repeatedly asked whether appointees had conflicts of interest and whether any recommendations issued by a committee whose members had not completed ethics vetting should stand. Dr. Menares emphasized she would review the ACIP process and evaluate members' ability to analyze risk‑benefit evidence if confirmed.

The exchange underscored the committee's role in both technical vaccine assessment and in shaping insurance coverage and public access to vaccines, and senators signaled they expect the CDC director to enforce ethics vetting and defend evidence‑based recommendations.","Senators pressed the nominee and the administration over the abrupt removal and replacement of members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and asked whether new appointees had completed required ethics vetting before voting on vaccine recommendations.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6183239,"Nominee to Lead CDC Pledges to 'Restore Trust,' Prioritize Data Modernization and Rapid Decision‑Making",356,1710000,2066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65&start=1710&end=2066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098458-90b11230c9d33102b1899db5a1f63a65/thumbnail_1710000.jpg","/articles/6183239/Nominee-to-Lead-CDC-Pledges-to-Restore-Trust-Prioritize-Data-Modernization-and-Rapid-DecisionMaking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183239-44192102368e73e45a7959eb94163724/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183471&Signature=cnmU6J1-dfMlfA9aybreX-n3iGBFc4O4gfrYu02pmu3cWDlLJSsfgaD2VUI02ccG3j9bK9dCM7Y9F4qnPzKodW9H737XbRCiup-xhvsE3~h6tMBzuJn0WF7njOFr8M9kZMKVC84W42KaRb9sYks4-CjGStsMAkLXFqLAa~zlJ1gNkrLfhIg0m8886OK6nVlTwyYmsF~W-3ZrxX77Nhr3I0SR6JOGeR76D0C8ACvKjurLVuoxmdH-SQiwPVhwpm2P1P9R~OHBW99vvh0d~7HuIvcRz2xmVUlnAqdvUhwGa0viaoW-Q1P6Pp9M3x36ZNgHfgK8RGgI6xP-Hjv19KmAAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Menares, President Trump's nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on June 25 that she would prioritize restoring public trust, modernizing CDC data systems and strengthening the agency's ability to detect and respond to infectious threats.

In an opening statement, Dr. Menares said, \"Good public health saves lives,\" and described three top priorities if confirmed: rebuilding credibility through public-facing leadership and transparency; strengthening public health infrastructure and laboratory capabilities; and implementing \"evidence‑based rapid decision making\" with predefined protocols to avoid confusion in crises.

The nominee recounted her scientific and public‑health background, including a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology, postdoctoral research and work at agencies that developed medical countermeasures and supported outbreak responses. She told senators she would make data transparency a priority while protecting patient privacy and stressed bringing state‑of‑the‑art technologies, including diagnostics and artificial intelligence, into CDC operations.

Senator Bill Cassidy, the committee chair, opened the hearing and thanked Dr. Menares for appearing. Senators across the aisle pressed her on how she would handle public messaging, program continuity and staffing while the agency changes direction.

Dr. Menares repeatedly framed her approach as operational and evidence driven: she described restoring CDC credibility by making leadership more \"public facing and accountable,\" improving near‑real‑time situational awareness and ensuring recommendations are “backed by publicly available gold standard science.” She said she would work with state and local public health officials to modernize infrastructure and support a precision preventive health model.

The nominee declined to second‑guess specific management decisions made prior to her arrival but said, if confirmed, she would examine workforce and programmatic issues raised by senators and follow up on items such as the status of grant awards and staffing for particular CDC programs.

Committee members signaled broad interest in the nominee's technology agenda; Dr. Menares described using AI both to support operations (workforce optimization, IT and fiscal tracking) and to enhance public‑health functions such as surveillance and diagnostics. She said any AI deployment would require problem definition, disciplined evaluation and ongoing monitoring to avoid unintended harms.

The hearing continued with senators asking detailed questions about programs, ethics vetting for advisory committees, staffing changes and the agency's role in vaccine guidance. Dr. Menares answered that she would be an \"active listener\" at advisory committee meetings and pledged to follow up with senators on specific programmatic concerns.

Dr. Menares concluded by reiterating that CDC must be prepared for known biological threats and those not yet seen, and that she would lead \"with integrity, transparency, and purpose\" if confirmed.","Dr. Menares, President Trump's nominee for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee she would focus the agency on restoring public trust, modernizing data systems and improving outbreak response if confirmed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senator Hawley Urges Nominee To Reassess Past ATSDR Findings on Westlake Landfill Contamination

Senators Warn That Changed Vaccine Guidance Could Reduce Coverage as Measles Cases Rise

Senators Say CDC Staffing Cuts Disrupted Lead‑Poisoning Response, Grants and Other Programs; Nominee Promises Review

Senators Question Ethics, Expertise After ACIP Shakeup; Nominee Says Ethics Vetting Should Precede Meetings

Nominee to Lead CDC Pledges to 'Restore Trust,' Prioritize Data Modernization and Rapid Decision‑Making