The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on an early procedural vote agreed to report the nomination of Dr. Menares favorably to the Senate. Chairman Bill Cassidy praised Dr. Menares’s decades of public health experience and said she is ‘‘ready to take on this challenge.’’

Ranking Member Bernie Sanders said he would vote against the nominee, accusing the administration and Health and Human Services leadership of undermining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sanders criticized what he described as delays and cuts in public health funding, the removal of public health data from federal websites, and the firing of scientists. He also criticized HHS leadership over public statements on vaccines and said the country needs ‘‘a CDC director who will defend science, protect public health, and repudiate’’ vaccine misinformation.

The clerks called the roll after opening remarks; several senators announced votes during the roll call. Senator Patty Murray recorded a no vote during the roll call. After the tally, the chair announced, “The ayes have it. The motion is agreed to. The nomination will be favorably reported to the Senate.”

Why it matters: the CDC director leads the federal public health agency responsible for outbreak response, disease surveillance and public guidance. Committee debate referenced the recent rise in measles cases and called attention to agency data practices and funding decisions.

Committee procedure and next steps: the committee's favorable report sends the nomination to the full Senate for consideration. No further committee action was recorded on the nomination during this meeting; the HELP committee then proceeded with a scheduled hearing on cybersecurity in health care.