During a House Oversight Committee hearing prior to the congressional recess, Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH) spoke of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump Administration’s decision to cut staff in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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00:00Chair now recognizes Ms. Brown from Ohio.
00:02Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
00:04The Food and Drug Administration exists to protect the public.
00:07It makes sure the foods we eat, the medicines we take, and the cosmetics we buy are safe and effective.
00:14Before any of these products reach store shelves, the FDA carefully reviews their development, testing, manufacturing, and labeling.
00:22And the agency keeps checking even after products are approved and available to make sure they remain safe and reliable.
00:30This work is vital.
00:32People need to trust that the FDA is making decisions based on science and facts.
00:38Unfortunately, from day one, the Trump administration has worked to undermine that trust.
00:44RFK pushes misinformation and lies.
00:48And just last week, President Trump recklessly fired thousands of workers across the FDA.
00:54These hardworking individuals, many of whom have been at the agency for decades and dedicated their lives to public service, were locked out of the building with no explanation.
01:06This isn't so-called government efficiency.
01:10It's playing petty politics with the health and well-being of the American people.
01:14These mass layoffs will delay reviews for new treatments and make it harder to ensure the safety of consumer products.
01:22Dr. Kessler, how will these staff cuts affect the agency's ability to oversee everyday consumer items like personal care products and cosmetics?
01:30And additionally, what is the typical review timeline for those products and how might that change with less staff?
01:36I think it endangers the safety of all Americans.
01:43I mean, I am told, for example, that no inspectors are cut.
01:50But what I hear is now the inspectors have to do all their administrative work themselves.
02:00Their travel cards are restricted.
02:04Laboratories can't purchase the supplies that they need.
02:11So they're not being used efficiently.
02:15They can't do their jobs.
02:18And this just makes no sense to me.
02:22I don't understand what the strategy is.
02:27Why would you take the entire infrastructure of the FDA and blow it up?
02:34There you go.
02:37The FDA plays a role in our everyday lives, right?
02:40Even if we don't see it.
02:41In 2023, after hearing troubling reports from around the country, Congresswoman Presley and I asked the FDA to investigate the link between chemical hair straighteners, often used by women of color, and uterine cancer.
02:53Shortly after, the FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde in those products.
02:58But when the agency missed the deadline to ask, we followed up late last August because our communities deserve answers and action.
03:07Black women have long faced discrimination and scrutiny for how we wear our hair, pressuring many of us to turn to certain hair products just to meet societal expectations.
03:16But here's the truth.
03:18Many of these products are poorly regulated and pose serious health risks.
03:23Studies have shown alarming results.
03:25Most recently, consumer reports revealed that several synthetic hair braiding products used predominantly by black women contain known carcinogens.
03:35This is not just about beauty.
03:36It's about public health.
03:37So, let me be absolutely clear.
03:39These hair products we rely on every day are putting our health at risk.
03:44Today, we sent another letter to the FDA urging them to move forward with the banning of formaldehyde and relaxers.
03:50With that being said, Dr. Kessler, given the historical under-regulation of personal care products marketed towards black women,
03:59what should the FDA be doing right now to ensure these products are thoroughly tested and safe?
04:05And during your time as FDA commissioner, did you encounter any barriers when it came to addressing equity and product safety?
04:12Congresswoman, I just want to applaud you and your colleagues' efforts.
04:18I think the issue you have raised is an enormously important one, and I applaud you for that.
04:29So, I'm assuming there were some challenges there, and by your response, I'm grateful for your accolades.
04:41But I want to say this.
04:44We can't let the new administration drop the ball on something this important.
04:48So, I plan to stay engaged and hold this administration accountable.
04:52Passing laws like the Crown Act to prohibit hair-based discrimination is critical,
04:58but we also need to crack down on products that impact women's health and well-being.
05:03By requiring safety testing and making sure that public health research reflects the diversity of the market,
05:11we can help build a safer, healthier, and more trusted America.
05:15So, with that, I want to say thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.