Wyden Statement at Finance Committee Hearing on the Nominations of Christi Grimm to HHS and Neil MacBride to Treasury

As Prepared for Delivery

The Finance Committee meets this morning to discuss two nominations for key roles in the Biden administration – jobs that both deal with sound management and good government within major federal agencies.

Christi Grimm is the president’s nominee to serve as the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. And Neil MacBride is the president’s nominee to serve as General Counsel of the Treasury Department.

Christi Grimm brings to her nomination more than two decades of experience within the HHS Office of the Inspector General – an office she first joined in 1999. She’s held a variety of roles over the years, but she currently serves as Principal Deputy Inspector General, and she’s been performing the role of the IG for more than a year.

Ms. Grimm knows the office inside and out. She knows the importance of working with the Congress and this committee in particular. She’s got a proven commitment to maintaining and strengthening the integrity of America’s health care programs.

I appreciate that she is willing to take on the top job as Inspector General during such a challenging time. Setting every other issue aside, studying the nation’s response to the pandemic would keep the IG and its staff of more than 1,500 busy through the end of the decade. The pandemic response, however, is just one of many challenges ahead for the HHS Inspector General. This committee takes its oversight role very seriously, so we look forward to continuing to work closely with Ms. Grimm if and when she’s confirmed.

Neil MacBride also brings decades of experience to his nomination. Currently in private practice, Mr. MacBride previously served during the Obama administration as Associate Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Enforcement and as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He also served as Chief Counsel to then-Senator Biden on the Judiciary Committee, which means he knows his way around these parts of the Dirksen office building.

If and when he’s confirmed, Mr. MacBride will join a Treasury Department that’s working hard to build back better from the economic crash that wiped out tens of millions of jobs during the early stages of the pandemic.

Democrats in Congress are working hard with Secretary Yellen and her team on policies that will create high-wage, high-skill jobs, make it easier to support a family, build more affordable housing and ensure that mega-corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay a fair share. Members of this committee will count on Mr. MacBride to support those efforts.

As I mentioned, the Finance Committee is committed to oversight. I spoke with Mr. MacBride about those issues during a recent meeting, particularly certain abuses by the previous administration. I was pleased to have his commitment to work with the committee on oversight going forward.

Bottom line, these are two highly-qualified nominees. I want to thank them for their willingness to serve in challenging roles at a time when the HHS IG and the Treasury Department are working nights and weekends due to the pandemic. I’m looking forward to Q&A.

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