Chairman Henry Waxman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is holding an important hearing with three former Surgeons General about the importance of the position’s independence, it’s role relative to public health education and impediments ot carrying out that mission. Those testifying include:

The Bush nominee for Surgeon General, James Holsinger, has blatant biases against homosexuality, and he has been involved in making judicial decisions in the United Methodist Church as a member of its leadership that stripped a gay clergy member of her church and ordination. He also is embroiled in a charge that he used church funds to finance his own break-away not for profit agency. There are concerns that his stance toward reproductive health is not based on a basis of solid science. Furthermore, when he headed a VA hospital, it was cited for deep and broad substandard care problems.

Tomorrow’s informational hearing should be of interest in shedding light on how important the US Surgeon General’s role is in public health. Moreover, it will lay the groundwork for holding Holsinger’s dismal record up to the light and demonstrating whether or not the nominee is qualified to hold the position.

To get you started, this is the mission and purpose of the US Surgeon General:

Mission of the Surgeon General

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