**Despite a Congressional appropriation of $300 million in FY25 and FY26, Gavi has yet to receive funding used to prevent global health outbreaks**
(Washington, DC) – In today’s Senate hearing examining the President’s budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, grilled HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on why crucial global health vaccine funding has not been delivered despite being appropriated by Congress.
Specifically, highlighting that millions of children could die if the funding isn’t fulfilled, Shaheen pressed Secretary Kennedy about whether he was knowingly blocking funding that helps vaccinate millions of children and prevent global health outbreaks. Secretary Kennedy agreed to appoint someone to work with Gavi and Shaheen’s office to reach a solution.
Shaheen also underscored how Secretary Kennedy’s baseless cuts to diabetes prevention and research are not based on scientific research and risk harming access to care for Americans living with diabetes. Click HERE to watch Shaheen’s full remarks and questions.
Key quotes from Senator Shaheen:
On releasing funding for Gavi:
“Gavi supports American manufacturing jobs, it helps prevent outbreaks from reaching the United States’ shores and it strengthens global health security. I think it is one of the clear examples of a win-win investment for the American taxpayer. And yet, despite a Congressional appropriation of $300 million in FY25 and 26, Gavi has not received its funding. Funding for Gavi comes from the State Department, which I have a chance to oversee as the Ranking Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Yet, I’m asking you about Gavi because I understand from those people who have worked on this in the past that it is your department and you personally who is holding up funding for Gavi,” said Senator Shaheen. “I had a chance to meet with some of the representatives from Gavi last week. What I understood from that meeting is that if this funding is not released, millions of children will die. In fact, Gavi estimates loss of funding could result in 75 million children not receiving routine vaccinations over the next five years. That will lead to the deaths of more than 1.2 million children. So Secretary Kennedy, I ask you, are you willing to release this funding that helps vaccinate millions of children?”
On Secretary Kennedy-led cuts to Diabetes research:
“Mr. Secretary, you have called diabetes a national crisis, and I agree with you. I have a granddaughter who has Type 1. Right now, 42 million Americans are living with the disease, including hundreds of thousands of children. And yet, your proposed budget cuts diabetes prevention and research,” said Senator Shaheen. “You are eliminating CDC education programs. You are slashing the special diabetes program for Native Americans by 75%, despite the disproportionately high rates in those communities. You have terminated a major study on diabetes and dementia – not because of the science, but because of a dispute with Columbia University. You talk about diet and lifestyle, and I agree with you, that’s important. But that does nothing for the millions of Americans who are living with Type 1. That is not the result of diet and lifestyle.”
Senator Shaheen has long led action to lower health care costs for Granite Staters and Americans. As co-chair of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Shaheen has consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin. Her recently introduced bipartisan Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would comprehensively address the soaring cost of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans. The Senator has also pushed for passage of their bicameral, bipartisan Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes Act, to improve early detection and screening for Type 1 diabetes.
Shaheen has been vocal in her disapproval of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure as HHS Secretary, including delivering remarks in opposition to his nomination on the Senate floor. Shaheen also called on Secretary Kennedy to reverse drastic funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator program, which helps Americans access quality, affordable health insurance coverage, including for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
