NW Kentucky News

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Chairwoman Lisa McClain are pressing forward with their inquiry into the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) formulation of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The lawmakers have sent a letter to HHS Assistant Secretary for Legislation Melanie Egorin, requesting a transcribed interview after HHS did not fully comply with the Committee's subpoena for information.

"The Committee is investigating a Scientific Review Panel of Alcohol Intake and Health convened by HHS’ Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), which is intended to inform the 2025 Dietary Guidelines and is duplicative of a study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)," wrote the lawmakers. "HHS’ failure to comply with the subpoena is unacceptable."

Chairman Comer issued a subpoena on September 30, 2024, for documents originally requested by the Committee in April. HHS has only provided 18 pages of responsive documents, all publicly available. Despite several requests, HHS staff have not explained why they cannot comply with the subpoena or given an expected timeline for delivering more documents to the Oversight Committee.

"HHS’ lack of compliance with the Committee’s investigation amplifies our concerns about HHS’ subversion of congressional intent and oversight in its establishment of the ICCPUD Scientific Review Panel," continued the lawmakers. "We believe you have information that will assist us fully in understanding why HHS has been unable to comply with the Committee’s subpoena. We therefore request that you make yourself available for a transcribed interview on December 5, 2024."