| Gallego continues push to lower cost of essential groceries |
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) raised concerns about the growing threat of avian flu in letters to President Trump’s nominees to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Senator Gallego emphasized the need for immediate actions to address the impact of the virus on public health, farm operations, and food prices.
In his letter to HHS Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senator Gallego emphasized the importance of mRNA vaccines in combatting the spread of avian flu and protecting public health. He urged Kennedy to commit to distributing previously announced avian flu vaccination funds without placing additional barriers on those funds and to support advancements in mRNA-based vaccine technology.
“As avian flu continues to spread at rapid rates and human transmission has been detected, including in my home state of Arizona, this funding is vital to keeping our communities safe and continuing safe food supply operations. Farmers and dairy workers deserve to work in a safe environment, and we need them healthy to keep chicken, egg, and other food prices down,” Senator Gallego wrote.
Senator Gallego requested Kennedy respond to the following questions before his nomination vote:
- If confirmed, will you commit to fully distributing the millions of previously awarded and announced avian flu vaccination dollars? If you do not plan to release the funds within the next 30 days, why not?
- Will you make any changes to the purposes of the funding or place any additional requirements on those funds? If yes, please explain.
- Do you agree that HHS should be supporting the development and production of mRNA-based vaccine technology? If not, why not? If so, do you anticipate making any notable changes to the previous administration’s approach to promoting the development of these technologies?
Click here to read the full letter to HHS Secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr.
In a separate letter to USDA Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins, Senator Gallego raised concerns about the financial strain on farmers caused by the avian flu and pressed her for on key programs and vaccine strategies.
“Avian flu has spread rapidly through chicken and dairy populations in recent years,”Senator Gallego began. “We cannot afford to stand by as the spread continues, farmers lose livestock and revenue, and egg prices continue to rise.”
He asked Rollins to answer the following questions before her nomination vote:
- USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) indemnity program was included in the list of programs that were threatened to be frozen by the Administration. Without this funding, farmers will not be compensated for birds that have to be destroyed due to avian flu infection. Why is the Administration considering leaving farmers to deal with the financial burden of avian flu on their own? How will your agency deal with the higher costs farmers are left with as a result?
- What is your position on vaccinating animals such as chickens, turkeys, and cows to protect them against bird flu? What is your plan to ensure that USDA has the necessary supplies to vaccinate widely, and will you commit to rebuilding a poultry vaccine stockpile?
Click here to read the full letter to USDA Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins.