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Unnamed speaker urges vote on resolution to restore public comment after HHS changes
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Summary
An unnamed speaker criticized recent HHS actions, alleging repeal of the Richardson waiver and cancellation of public health funding, and said a resolution was introduced to restore the public's right to comment; the transcript records no vote outcome.
An unnamed speaker told colleagues that protecting public participation in health policy is essential and urged support for a resolution intended to restore public comment rights after recent changes at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The speaker said "the American people aren't in the dark" should be a priority and accused HHS leadership of removing avenues for public input. The transcript quotes the speaker: "Since Kennedy's repeal of the Richardson waiver, HHS has abruptly and arbitrarily canceled hundreds of millions of dollars of previously approved public health funding." The speaker attributed the policy change to "Robert Kennedy" and described departmental reorganization and staff departures that the speaker said reduced the number of health experts at HHS.
The remarks framed the introduced measure as a nonpartisan effort. The speaker said the resolution being introduced would "make sure that the American people get their voice back," calling it a "thoroughly nonpartisan CRA" and urging colleagues to "vote for transparency, to vote for the right to weigh in on these health care issues." The transcript does not record a vote or final disposition of the resolution.
The speaker characterized the removal of the Richardson waiver as a rollback of longstanding safeguards and tied the issue to broader concerns about secrecy at HHS. The transcript includes additional claims that "thousands of scientists, health professionals, and staff" were fired; those statements are presented as the speaker's assertions and are not independently verified in the transcript.
The immediate next step recorded in the transcript is the speaker's call to colleagues to support the resolution; the record does not show a subsequent motion, second, roll-call, or result in this excerpt.
