PALLONE BLASTS HOUSE REPUBLICANS' UNFOUNDED AND IRRESPONSIBLE "NIH INVESTIGATION" CLAIMS

Statement

"House Energy and Commerce Republicans have made serious allegations based on flawed legal analysis and an apparent failure to read or understand the very statute they claim to uphold.

The language in statute in 21st Century Cures is absolutely clear--twice--that the authority to appoint or reappoint these positions sits with the Director of the National Institutes of Health, who acts on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The statute explicitly states, "the Directors of the other national research institutes and national centers shall be appointed by the Secretary, acting through the Director of National Institutes of Health.' In case this was not clear enough, the very next section of the law states, "A Director of a national research institute or national center who is appointed by the Secretary, acting through the Director of National Institutes of Health, shall be appointed for 5 years.'

The shift in appointment power from the Secretary of HHS to the NIH Director in 21st Century Cures was actually a provision Committee Republicans insisted on including in the law during legislative negotiations in 2016.

This Republican political stunt is not based in the law or fact. It is nothing more than another unfounded attack on scientists and the public health officials working tirelessly to save lives and prevent the next pandemic. House Republicans should stop wasting taxpayer dollars on fabricated scandals and turn their attention to working with Democrats to address the actual public health needs of the American people."

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