Manchin to Oppose HHS Secretary Nominee Tom Price
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today issued a statement on his opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services nominee, Rep. Tom Price.
“Although I have always believed that an executive should be able to put their team together, I cannot in good conscience vote for Rep. Tom Price to head the Department of Health and Human Services. As a Member of Congress, Rep. Price has led the Republican effort to privatize Medicare and turn it into a voucher program which would increase costs for seniors, harming most the oldest, sickest and most vulnerable seniors in our country. West Virginia seniors have paid into the Medicare system, and the rug should not be pulled out from under them.
“During his hearing, Rep. Price also refused to commit to ensuring that individuals, who have gained access to substance abuse treatment, including treatment for opioid addiction, would continue to have that access during his tenure. Given the epidemic of drug abuse in West Virginia, cutting opioid addiction treatment would be devastating and contrary to everything I, and the people of West Virginia, have been fighting for. West Virginians cannot afford to pay more for services that they need to survive and I do not believe that Rep. Tom Price is the right choice for this role and I believe his policies will hurt West Virginians.”
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