President-elect Trump announced his selection of former Congressman Dr. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“In addition to being a physician for 40 years and a military veteran, Dave is a respected conservative leader on fiscal and social issues, serving on the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee and serving on the HHS and CDC We have been committed to accountability on policy and budgeting,” President Trump said in an announcement Friday night.
“Dave also played a leading role in the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform hearings to address issues within HHS and the CDC.Dave worked with the CDC to enact the Human Embryo Patent Prohibition Act. “We succeeded,” Trump said.
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President-elect Trump announced his selection of former Congressman Dr. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) to head the CDC. (Scott J. Ferrell/Congress Quarterly/Getty Images)
Mr. Weldon, 71, represented Florida in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2009. He did not seek re-election in 2008.
CDC is responsible for providing information and scientific expertise for the prevention and control of various diseases and the management of disease outbreaks. The CDC Director reports directly to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
President Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic and critic of the CDC, to serve as HHS secretary. Trump said Weldon would play a key role in “making America healthy again” and would work to right “the wrongs of the past.”
Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) speaks as then-Rep. Brian Carnes (R-Ind.) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) look on. (Getty Images)
“The American people have lost confidence in the CDC and federal health officials who have engaged in censorship, data manipulation, and misinformation,” he said.
“Given the current chronic health crisis in our nation, CDC must further strengthen and correct past mistakes to focus on disease prevention. The health of Americans today is critical. “And CDC will play a major role in helping ensure Americans stay healthy.” We need resources,” Trump added.
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President-elect Trump announced his selection of former Congressman Dr. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) to head the CDC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Trump said Weldon “understands American family values.”
“As a father of two and a husband of 45 years, Dave understands American family values and considers health to be one of the most important things,” he said. “Dave prioritizes transparency, competence, and high standards at CDC. Dave will proudly return CDC to its true purpose, working to end chronic disease epidemics and make America healthy again. !”
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If approved, Mr. Weldon will succeed Dr. Mandy Cohen, an internist and former director of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
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