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Acting Health Secretary Dennis R. Schrader sailed through his confirmation hearing before the Senate Executive Nominations Committee on Monday, rattling off a list of accomplishments, describing how his agency has sought to navigate a once-in-a-century pandemic, and sketching out some of the priorities he will pursue over the next year, if 鈥� as appears virtually certain 鈥� he is approved by the full Senate.
At the end of a roughly 50-minute session, the committee voted 17-1, with one abstention, to send Schrader鈥檚 nomination to the full Senate.
Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) praised Schrader for his willingness to attend the occasionally contentious weekly meetings of the chamber鈥檚 Vaccine Work Group, and to incorporate suggestions presented by lawmakers.
If there was a hiccup in Schrader鈥檚 hour-long appearance before the nominations panel, it was his opening statement, which was cut short by chairman Ronald Young (D-Frederick) to give lawmakers the chance to ask questions.
Despite a series of challenges with the rollout of the state鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccination program, the session contained little of the venom or scorched-earth questioning that would be needed to imperil the nomination.
Schrader鈥檚 appearance before Executive Nominations came amid a mini-PR campaign from the Hogan administration on behalf of the nominee, including letters of support from Schrader鈥檚 popular predecessor, Robert R. Neall, and several of the state鈥檚 leading medical organizations.
鈥淭he governor welcomes the committee鈥檚 favorable vote, and its recognition that Acting Secretary Schrader is the right leader to continue steering the state鈥檚 public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic,鈥� said the governor鈥檚 spokesman, Michael Ricci. 鈥淲e look forward to confirmation by the full Senate.鈥�
The lone dissenting vote came from Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Howard), a physician and a persistent Schrader critic.
Lam suggested that top state health officials have been 鈥渁t war鈥� with local health officers and that the agency鈥檚 vaccination strategy has been haphazard and full of policy reversals.
Schrader thanked Lam for his 鈥渁dmonition鈥� and said he had 鈥渘othing but respect鈥� for local health officers.
Ferguson praised the secretary 鈥渇or taking constructive feedback.鈥�
鈥淭he plan was adjusted along the way, and I do appreciate that,鈥� he added.
Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George鈥檚), who has pressed Schrader repeatedly to boost the lagging vaccination effort in his county, praised the nominee for 鈥渉is enormous work ethic, enormous diligence, enormous cooperation in trying to work through the very difficult problem.鈥�
Sen. Delores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County) beseeched Schrader to get on top of a mental health-provider payment system that she maintained is 鈥渁n accounting nightmare鈥� and 鈥渋n crisis.鈥�
Asked to look at what he would accomplish if confirmed, Schrader said he is already starting to think about how the state will provide COVID-19 booster shots, should they be needed, as well as a vaccination program for children.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot to do here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 already thinking about next year, and the spring, and what are the options going to be.鈥�
With COVID-19 infections starting to increase in the wake of Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.鈥檚 decision to ease restrictions on business activity, Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George鈥檚) asked Schrader whether he would 鈥渄irect to governor to put public health above economic development鈥� should things get even worse.
Schrader recalled that he pressed Maryland hospitals to retain their 鈥渟urge鈥� capacity last year, 鈥渆ven when it appeared we were out of the woods.鈥�
鈥淚 had many difficult conversations with the hospital industry and others,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e are going to do the right thing.鈥�
Pinsky abstained on the vote to recommend Schrader to the full Senate.
In the hours leading up to the hearing, the Hogan administration boasted of an increase in vaccination doses to local health departments. Local agencies have said they are best-positioned to reach vulnerable populations.
In addition, the Maryland Hospital Association, MedChi 鈥� the Maryland State Medical Society, and University of Maryland Medical System CEO Mohan Suntha supplied letters of recommendation to the Executive Nominations committee,
In his letter of support, Neall praised his former deputy for his 鈥渟trong and steady leadership.鈥�
A popular former Senator who stepped down in November, Neall said it鈥檚 imperative that the state have Schrader at the helm to foster 鈥渢he continuation of the Maryland Model contract with the Federal Government, which is worth billions in benefits to the people of Maryland.
鈥淒ennis has a complete knowledge and understanding of this complex relationship and is in the best position to negotiate favorable terms and protect essential provisions,鈥� he added.
