WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) recently questioned Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee Gustav Chiarello, and United States Trade Representative (USTR) nominee Bryan Switzer on the Rural Health Transformation Program, America’s nuclear fuel supply chain, and mitigating Chinese influence in critical energy production.
Mr. Chiarello and Mr. Switzer testified at this week’s Senate Committee on Finance hearing.
On the Rural Health Transformation Program:
“Mr. Chiarello, congratulations. I want to congratulate you on this nomination.
“It is so clear, your decades of public service, both in the House of Representatives and at the Federal Trade Commission, have prepared you well for the role which you’ve been nominated.
“As Assistant Secretary of Financial Resources, you’re going to advise Secretary Kennedy on the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget, financial management, grant programs, and you’re going to oversee their implementation.
“So, this One Big Beautiful Bill, that we just passed, included a dedicated effort to help support rural healthcare through the creation of, as you know, the Rural Health Transformation Program.
“This program is going to provide over $500 million to each state to support our hospitals, clinics, and health centers.
“It’s going to help ensure that health care facilities across rural and frontier Wyoming are going continue to provide high-quality care close to home.
“Congressional Republicans designed this program specifically to avoid the red tape and the bureaucratic delays, that often happen with government funding, so states can actually access these funds and quickly put them to work.
“So, last week I was in Wyoming, visiting with a number of healthcare providers, including the head of the Wyoming Hospital Association.
“And, the questions they ask is, as you oversee the distribution of these Rural Health Transformation Program funds:
“How are you going to ensure that states can access the funds efficiently?
Follow Up:
“Well, it sounds like then I can count on you to commit to working closely with the states, as this program is rolled out.”
On Protecting the Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain:
“Mr. Switzer, I want to talk about Chinese uranium.
“You have considerable experience with China, I think it gives you unique insight, into how they operate in global markets.
“I am particularly concerned with how their deceptive trade practices, which you’re very familiar, threaten our critical nuclear supply chain.
“In 2024, Congress banned Russian uranium imports to protect our national security.
“But, now it seems that China is helping Russia circumvent the ban and undermine American nuclear fuel producers.
“We ban Russia, Russia gives it to China, China to the United States.
“Just this year, China has already exported over 150,000 pounds of uranium to the United States.
“We have clear evidence that this is Russian-enriched uranium, going to China, which they then dump into the U.S. market.
“So, you know, we’ve just kind of swapped one adversary for another.
“Wyoming has the resources, the workforce, to rebuild the American nuclear supply chain.
“State-subsidized Russian and Chinese uranium undermines our domestic industry.
“Can you commit to working with Congress to end this Chinese circumvention of our Russian uranium ban? And do you have any thoughts on the matter?”
On Countering Chinese Critical Mineral Production:
“We recently had Secretary Wright – Secretary of Energy – in Wyoming, since you mentioned critical minerals, in addition to uranium, for the groundbreaking of the first critical minerals and elements mine in the country in 70 years.
“And, my concern of course is, we don’t want to be dependent upon anybody for that.
“So, how will you work with our Asian allies to counter China’s domination, in terms of global critical minerals?”
###