Video: Isakson Highlights Qualifications of Dr. Tom Price for Job of Top Health Official at Confirmation Hearing
Thursday, January 19th, 2017
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today praised U.S. Representative Dr. Tom Price, R-Ga.-06, as an exceptional nominee during Price’s first confirmation hearing to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“I have the unique honor and privilege to introduce a friend of mine for 30 years,” said Isakson at today’s Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions confirmation hearing. “[Tom is] someone I know to be a great politician, a great practicing legislator, a great family man, a great community servant and a great friend of mine. It is an honor to introduce him today.”
“I am going to vote for Tom Price with pride because I know he is the right man for the right job, at the right time, for America,” continued Isakson.
Isakson is also expected to introduce Price at his next hearing, which will be before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on Jan. 24, 2017.
During his remarks today, Isakson provided a number of reasons that he believes Price is an exceptional choice to serve in a key healthcare role in the incoming administration and is someone that Isakson would “entrust with $1 trillion of my money, the quality of my health care and the future of the American quality of health care.”
Isakson argued that Price understands the value of health care to every American family. “He’s a member of the Roswell United Methodist Church, active in his community, active in the state legislature and active in doing what is right for his community,” said Isakson. “Tom is a good man who understands the value of the family and the value of health care to every family.”
Isakson also stated that Price is fully capable to lead the federal agency that oversees the largest government budget of approximately $1.1 trillion, thanks in large part to Price’s experience as chairman of the House Budget Committee and as a former practicing physician who “ran one of the largest medical practices in the state of Georgia.”
“I’d want the nominee for Health and Human Services [secretary] to be someone who understood the healthcare business,” said Isakson as he continued his introduction of Dr. Tom Price. Isakson argued that Price’s experience as a physician and his contributions to “the betterment of healthcare in our state” uniquely qualifies Price for the position of secretary.
Isakson also pointed to Price’s decades of public service as a former state legislator, a member of Congress representing Georgia’s sixth district since 2005, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and chairman of the House Budget Committee.
In these various capacities, Isakson stated that “Tom Price believes in accountability, …always does his homework, …and believes in his responsibility” to serve others.
In response to criticisms from Senate Democrats regarding Price’s stock-trading practices, Isakson defended Price’s integrity and character, stating that “allegations that were made yesterday on the floor of the Senate are patently wrong by taking two correct things put together to make an incorrect thing.”
In addition to today’s defense of Price before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, of which he is a member, Isakson spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday regarding Price’s upstanding ethics and argued that Price’s credentials are unquestioned and that he is eminently qualified for the position to which he was nominated. Price is expected to play a large role in the replacement of President Obama’s terribly flawed health care law in the months ahead.
Price’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which he has held since 2005, was previously held by Isakson.
