Jim Clyburn

I applaud the Biden administration's efforts to restore scientific integrity and independence.

Today's hearing has revisited a dark chapter in the history of our Nation's public health agencies.

In closing, I want to thank the witnesses for testifying before the Select Subcommittee today.

Public health requires public trust and, unfortunately, the CDC and other public health agencies have seriously damaged their credibility with the public during this pandemic.

The Biden administration's mixed messages demonstrate that behind their, quote, 'follow the science' slogan their true guiding light is political.

We documented 204 attacks on science by the Trump administration, 29 of which were related to COVID-19 directly.

The Trump administration--so we at the Union of Concerned Scientists have been watchdogging administrations since 2005 on scientific integrity violations, and during the Trump administration, what we noticed was a spike in comparison to…

I am still waiting for a response from Director Walensky.

The GAO findings...felt that potential political interference they observed resulted in the alteration or suppression of scientific findings.

The previous administration engaged with and allowed the meatpacking industry to review their work.

I do not wish to let stand unchallenged any attempts to discredit the efforts of authorities to engage with those people who are going to be affected.

It wasn't unusual for the CDC, when they were developing guidance, to reach out for discussion purposes to groups that may be affected by the guidance.

I do consider this as an attempt to distract from what we are trying to get to here in terms of interfering with the work of our scientists.

Our ability to protect the health of Americans during future public health threats depends on it.

It is essential that safeguards be put in place to protect the scientific integrity of public health agencies.

The Trump administration engaged in a persistent pattern of political interference in the Nation's pandemic response.

I know the American public is looking for answers and wants the transparency they were promised that they still haven't gotten from the Biden administration.

If Congress fails to act, we increase the risk that the coronavirus will become a crisis once again.

As a result of this progress, we have emerged from the crisis phase of the pandemic.

I supported Judge Childs, that wasn`t a name that I had in mind from years ago, when I raised this issue.

Ketanji Brown Jackson has been imminently qualified person fit for the court.

We must continue to dedicate the necessary resources to ensure that childcare is affordable, caregivers are well paid, and that any parent who wants to rejoin the labor force is able to access the childcare necessary to do so.

The time is now to invest in childcare providers and families so that we can build a better, stronger, and more equitable economy.

I would also like to say that I think it is because of the science and vaccinations that have begun to work that we had a change in policy, but that will not fall on deaf ears.

Judge Jackson got three senators the last time. When she ran -- offered for the D.C. Circuit. I suspect, she will get that or more this time.