DeLauro Condemns $250 million HHS Secretary Azar Campaign to ‘Defeat Despair’ of Coronavirus

NEW HAVEN, CT —Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03),Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services $250 million ‘Defeat Despair' taxpayer-funded public relations campaign:

"If Secretary Azar wants to run a political campaign, he should join the president's failing reelection team. Azar has a longstanding history of acting more like a campaign surrogate than the head of a critical agency. He has no credibility and should not be running HHS if he is willfully participating in a campaign stunt. These political games are costing lives.

"Spending $250 million of taxpayer money on a misleading advertising campaign is in violation of the mission of the Department. Here is some free advice to increase the American People's confidence that costs a lot less: Work to create a plan for vaccine development, procurement, and distribution. I, and so many of my colleagues, have been calling for action and have yet to receive a response.

"The unrelenting deception of the American People as they continue to lose loved ones is repulsive. I will be demanding additional information on this spending from HHS. These games must stop."