Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after she voted against the confirmation of Alex Michael Azar II to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services:
“After the failed and corrupt leadership of former Secretary Price, the Department of Health and Human Services requires a leader committed to prioritizing the long-term health and wellbeing of Nevadan’s. Mr. Azar fails that test. Alex Azar has supported the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, ending Medicaid as we know it, and threatened the contraceptive coverage millions of American women rely on to effectively plan their families. His record as a Big Pharma executive shows that he is more interested in increasing corporate profits than making sure seniors can afford their prescription drugs. With this nominee, President Trump continues his long trail of broken promises on everything from fighting the opioid epidemic, to protecting Medicaid, to fixing the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. The American people deserve better.”