U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts introduced Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, nominated by President Trump to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Senator Ricketts praised Dr. Bhattacharya for his approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “He showed great intellectual honesty and courage because he offered alternative suggestions about how to handle the pandemic.” Ricketts highlighted that Dr. Bhattacharya considered not only the direct impact of the virus but also the broader implications of measures like lockdowns on people’s health.
Ricketts worked with Dr. Bhattacharya during his tenure as Governor to shape Nebraska’s response to COVID-19. Politico ranked Nebraska’s response as the best among states when evaluating health, economic, social, and educational factors.
