Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted with the Democratic majority on Wednesday morning to advance President Joe Biden's nominee for director of the National Institutes of Health, Monica Bertagnolli, despite strong opposition from committee chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
"The NIH is in desperate need for leadership," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the top Republican on the panel, prior to the vote. "I think [Bertagnolli] will provide the leadership we need now."
WHO WARNS OF ENDEMIC DENGUE IN EUROPE AND US DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Of the committee, 15 senators voted in favor of Bertagnolli's confirmation, including Cassidy and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT). Republican Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Ted Budd (R-NC) voted against Bertagnolli's confirmation.
Biden nominated Bertagnolli, the current head of the National Cancer Institute at NIH, in May for the directorship position after the former director, Francis Collins, retired in December 2021.
Sanders, a top critic of drug companies in Congress, issued a statement on Tuesday night saying that he would not support Bertagnolli's nomination because she "has not convinced [him] that she is prepared to take on the greed and power of the drug companies and the healthcare industry and fight for the transformative changes the NIH needs at this critical moment."
In her hearing last week, Bertagnolli reaffirmed her promise that she would not take a position at a major pharmaceutical company within the first four years of her retirement from the public sector. She also promised to comply with congressional oversight efforts, especially regarding the ongoing investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cassidy said that he was confident that Bertagnolli would remain neutral in the debate over prescription drug pricing, instead bringing scientific clarity to policy discussions. Cassidy also promised to hold Bertagnolli accountable to "not bow to progressives" on drug policy and the continuation of fetal tissue research.
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Patty Murray (D-WA) voted in favor of Bertagnolli's confirmation, saying that she is the "right person to ensure the NIH stays on the cutting edge of innovation and research and fulfills its critical mission."
"Getting a permanent NIH director on board is of the utmost importance," said Murray, "and she will bring to the agency steady leadership, a wealth of professional knowledge, and strong personal experience that will no doubt inform her approach to this role."
The White House told the Washington Examiner in response to Sanders's objection to Bertagnolli that although they share his concerns regarding the need to reform the healthcare system, Bertagnolli is well-suited for the position.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
"Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people," the White House spokesperson said. "We look forward to continuing to work with the Senate to get Dr. Monica Bertagnolli confirmed quickly."
If confirmed, Bertagnolli would be the first permanent female director of the NIH.