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Reckless and Irresponsible: Chuck Grassley Cites Lies to Block HHS Nominee

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2016


“Grassley's actions are reckless, irresponsible and threaten the health and safety of millions."

Washington, D.C. -- Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley today declared he would block the nomination of Acting Deputy Undersecretary Mary Wakefield to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Grassley cited a video smear campaign against Planned Parenthood based on lies as his justification for blocking Wakefield’s nomination. A grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood of all wrongdoing and instead indicted the makers of the videos on felony charges.

Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also vowed not to hold hearings and preemptively obstruct any eventual nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, shirking his Constitutional duties.  

Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

"Chuck Grassley has sunk to a new low.  After leading the charge to obstruct a Supreme Court nominee, now Grassley is seeking to block the second most senior public health official in our country based on a lie. Planned Parenthood has done nothing wrong. This is a fact made clear by 12 state investigations and House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz declaring they have found no evidence of wrongdoing. To make matters worse, Grassley's latest round of obstruction comes as the the Zika virus is rapidly spreading toward the US and the global community faces a growing public health crisis. Grassley's actions are reckless, irresponsible and threaten the health and safety of millions."

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