{"id":2163,"date":"2026-05-11T12:31:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/?p=2163"},"modified":"2026-05-11T12:35:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:35:06","slug":"appropriators-urge-state-department-to-restore-gavi-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/appropriators-urge-state-department-to-restore-gavi-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Appropriators Urge State Department to Restore GAVI Funding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Appropriators Urge State Department to Restore GAVI Funding \u2013 <\/strong>A bipartisan group of Senate appropriators is urging<\/a> the Department of State to restore $600 million in funding for GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. GAVI is a global health partnership whose mission is to increase access to vaccines in developing countries. The lawmakers express concern about the Trump administration\u2019s withholding of congressionally appropriated money representing approximately 15% of GAVI\u2019s funding. The $600 million will expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30 if it is not released by the administration. \u201cGAVI plays a critical role in averting the spread of preventable diseases around the globe and helps protect public health in our country by stopping outbreaks before they reach our borders,\u201d the letter states. \u201cCongressional support for GAVI endures because of its proven success as a public-private partnership, immunizing more than 1.1 billion children \u2013 and in turn preventing 20.6 million deaths \u2013 since its inception in 2000,\u201d the lawmakers assert. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized GAVI for using immunizations with ingredients like thimerosol, which Kennedy believes is likely to cause autism. GAVI has responded that the preservative is safe and necessary in countries that lack the refrigeration resources necessary to prevent bacterial contamination of the vaccines. The letter was signed by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and committee members Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).<\/p>\n

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Republicans Ask Court to Reinstate Abortion Pill Restrictions \u2013 <\/strong>More than 100 Republican members of Congress are urging the Supreme Court to block mail order access to mifepristone. The Republican amicus brief<\/a> was submitted in support of Louisiana\u2019s case seeking reverse the Biden-era removal of in-person dispensing requirements for the abortion drug. \u201cBy expressly authorizing mail-order chemical abortion drugs, the Food and Drug Administration is endangering women\u2019s health and safety by eliminating a medically necessary in-person examination to screen for contraindications,\u201d the lawmakers argue in their filing. Louisiana sued the Trump administration late last year over the situation, asserting that it allows the drug to be mailed into the state, thus circumventing the state\u2019s abortion restrictions.<\/p>\n

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WSJ Reports on Possible Ousting of FDA Commissioner Makary \u2013 <\/strong>It was reported by the Wall Street Journal on Friday that President Donald Trump plans to fire Commissioner of Food and Drugs Marty Makary, MD. Makary\u2019s tenure at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been marked by high employee turnover, including the departure of many of the agency\u2019s division leaders. Conservatives on Capitol Hill have accused the commissioner of slow walking a review of mifepristone safety data, while he has also faced criticism from industry regarding the scientific drug review process perceived as being inconsistent and politicized. It remains unclear if or when Makary will officially depart the FDA. The White House is reportedly thinking of naming Deputy Commissioner for Food Kyle Diamantas to the position of acting FDA commissioner, while former FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn and former acting commissioner Brett Giroir are under consideration for the actual nomination.<\/p>\n

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USPSTF to Meet in July \u2013 <\/strong>The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) will meet in July, according to remarks by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) chief counselor Chris Klomp last week. USPSTF is responsible for determining which preventive medical services are recommended and therefore must be fully covered by insurers, as established by the Affordable Care Act.\u00a0HHS recently issued a request for nominations to serve on USPSTF, with a submission deadline of May 23. While USPSTF usually meets three times a year, HHS has cancelled three of its four scheduled meetings since the start of President Donald Trump\u2019s second term.<\/p>\n

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Democrats Push for Release of Complete PEPFAR Data \u2013 <\/strong>Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) have sent a letter<\/a> to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the withholding of 2025 data on the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Sen. Shaheen and Rep. Meeks are the ranking members of their respective chamber\u2019s Foreign Affairs committees. The State Department typically releases quarterly updates about PEPFAR\u2019s performance, but since the start of President Donald Trump\u2019s second term in office the administration has only released PEPFAR data covering the last quarter of 2025. \u201cThe failure to maintain accurate data was an entirely avoidable outcome of the administration\u2019s chaotic decision to disrupt essential work without a plan to sustain basic oversight and accountability mechanisms,\u201d the letter argues. \u201cThese failures are not an excuse to avoid releasing available data to the public in accordance with the standing expectations for transparency of the PEPFAR program and existing statute, and we ask that data from the first three quarters of fiscal year 2025 be released publicly,\u201d the lawmakers request. In a response to POLITICO, the State Department said that future data releases \u201cwill reflect globally recognized best practices by strengthening country-owned surveillance and reporting, advancing self-reliance, establishing high-quality data, and ensuring U.S. resources are deployed effectively so that each dollar of foreign assistance can have the greatest possible impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing \u201cWhistleblower Testimony on the COVID Coverup;\u201d 10:00 a.m.; May 13<\/p>\n

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Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies hearing \u201cA Review of the President\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the United States Food and Drug Administration;\u201d 10:30 a.m.; May 13<\/p>\n

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Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing \u201cCaught in the Middle: Supporting Families in the Sandwich Generation;\u201d 3:30 p.m.; May 13<\/p>\n

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Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting to consider legislation including S. 825, Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025; 10:15 a.m.; May 14<\/p>\n

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House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee markup including the Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery Act (H.R. 2283) and Veteran Opioid Emergency Treatment Act (H.R. 5999); 2:00 p.m.; May 14<\/p>\n

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House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies markup of FY27 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill; 8:00 a.m.; June 5<\/p>\n

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House Appropriations Committee markup of FY27 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill; 11:00 a.m.; June 9<\/p>\n

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Recently Introduced Health Legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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H.Res.1256 \u2014 Expressing support for the designation of May 6, 2026, as “National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day” and prioritizing the goals and ideals of raising awareness and understanding of maternal mental health conditions; Sponsor: Letlow, Julia [Rep.-R-LA-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1258 \u2014 Expressing support for the designation of May 2026 as “National Brain Tumor Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Quigley, Mike [Rep.-D-IL-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8650 \u2014 To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase payments to States with respect to outreach and enrollment under the Medicaid program; Sponsor: Carter, Troy A. [Rep.-D-LA-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8651 \u2014 Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2026; Sponsor: Castor, Kathy [Rep.-D-FL-14]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8657 \u2014 To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance programs for youth suicide prevention and intervention, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Houchin, Erin [Rep.-R-IN-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8658 \u2014 To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to modify the notification requirement for emergency contract health services for certain beneficiaries, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kennedy, Mike [Rep.-R-UT-3]; Committees: House – Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8659 \u2014 To amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965; Sponsor: Kiggans, Jennifer A. [Rep.-R-VA-2]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8662 \u2014 To provide assisted living assistance through Medicaid and low-income housing tax credit; Sponsor: Miller, Max L. [Rep.-R-OH-7]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1260 \u2014 Supporting the designation of May 10, 2026, as “National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day”; Sponsor: Chu, Judy [Rep.-D-CA-28]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1264 \u2014 Supporting the goals and ideals of “National Nurses Week”, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2026; Sponsor: Joyce, David P. [Rep.-R-OH-14]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1265 \u2014 Expressing support for the designation of the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as “Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week”; Sponsor: Peters, Scott H. [Rep.-D-CA-50]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1268 \u2014 Recognizing the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as “National Postpartum Awareness Week for Communities of Color”; Sponsor: Tlaib, Rashida [Rep.-D-MI-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1270 \u2014 Expressing support for the designation of July 15, 2026, as “Glioblastoma Awareness Day”; Sponsor: Williams, Roger [Rep.-R-TX-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8667 \u2014\u00a0To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to set the maximum cost-sharing amount paid by an eligible covered beneficiary under the TRICARE program and a veteran for such selected drug, as established under the Social Security Act, and the maximum price of a selected drug procured by Federal agencies, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Vindman, Eugene Simon [Rep.-D-VA-7]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs; Armed Services<\/p>\n

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H.R.8679 \u2014\u00a0To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transmit a veteran’s history of opioid prescriptions to a Community Care health care provider; Sponsor: Collins, Mike [Rep.-R-GA-10]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs<\/p>\n

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H.R.8684 \u2014\u00a0To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group health insurance coverage to only pay claims submitted by hospitals that have in place policies and procedures to ensure accurate billing practices, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Foxx, Virginia [Rep.-R-NC-5]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8687 \u2014 To amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide for escalating civil penalties for fraudulent or negligent importation of unauthorized electronic nicotine delivery systems; Sponsor: Hinson, Ashley [Rep.-R-IA-2]; Committees: House – Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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H.R.8690 \u2014\u00a0To address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [Rep.-D-CA-37]; Committees: House – Judiciary; Budget; Homeland Security<\/p>\n

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H.R.8691 \u2014 To amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965; Sponsor: Kiggans, Jennifer A. [Rep.-R-VA-2]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce<\/p>\n

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H.R.8716 \u2014 To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require coverage of self-measured blood pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum individuals; Sponsor: Williams, Nikema [Rep.-D-GA-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education and Workforce<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Appropriators Urge State Department to Restore GAVI Funding \u2013 A bipartisan group of Senate appropriators is urging the Department of State to restore $600 million in funding for GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. GAVI is a global health partnership whose mission is to increase access to vaccines in developing countries. The lawmakers express concern about the … <\/p>\n

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