> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Committee Recommends Azar to Senate for HHS Vote
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/committee-recommends-azar-to-senate-for-hhs-vote/
- Published: 2018-01-17T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T23:14:26.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5140524

The Senate Finance Committee voted 15-12 to recommend to the full Senate the nomination of **Alex Azar** as HHS secretary, succeeding **Tom Price**, who was forced to resign after reports that he routinely flew in chartered jets at taxpayer expense. Observers believe Azar will win the nomination in the Senate, with some Democrats voting to support him.

Azar pledged to take on issues important to both Republicans and Democrats, including the opioid crisis, the burden of healthcare costs on Americans, and the rising price of pharmaceuticals.

Critics say that when he was a senior executive at Eli Lilly, the company significantly raised prices on drugs and that he is not likely to work to hold the industry accountable for drug price increases. They also express concern that he will work with the administration to continue to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.