Nicole Saphier will testify at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Sept. 16 as part of her nomination to be U.S. surgeon general.
The Senate HELP Committee lists a nomination hearing on its calendar for Sept. 16 that includes “Nicole Saphier to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Surgeon General of the Public Health Service,” confirming the date and panel that will question her.
Saphier’s nomination appears on Congress.gov as PN963, which shows the White House transmitted her nomination to the Senate on May 11 and that it was referred to the HELP Committee, establishing the formal nomination record.
Media reporting ahead of the hearing says senators are likely to press Saphier on her public comments about vaccines and her past commentary as a media contributor, an issue raised repeatedly since her selection as the administration’s pick for surgeon general.
Those outlets note the post lasted until the committee scheduled the public session, and preview pieces say Saphier will appear alongside other health nominees at the HELP hearing in Dirksen Senate Office Building on that date.
As the confirmation process proceeds, senators on the HELP panel will have the opportunity to question Saphier on qualifications and policy positions before the committee votes on whether to advance the nomination to the full Senate.
Sources
- Senate HELP Committee — hearing calendar listing the Sept. 16 nomination hearing that includes Nicole Saphier.
- Congress.gov — nomination record PN963 showing the White House sent Saphier’s nomination to the Senate on May 11 and referral to HELP.
- NPR — reporting that senators are likely to question Saphier about her views on vaccines and her past commentary.
- The New York Times — preview of the Sept. 16 confirmation hearing noting Saphier’s background as a radiologist and media commentator and the issues she may face in questioning.
