Comer Issues Statement on Biden Administration’s Failed Effort to Shape Alcohol Consumption Guidelines

WASHINGTON-House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued the following statement after the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) - a specialized panel within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - released a draft report that promotes an unscientific, predetermined narrative about the effects of alcohol on health. Notably, the findings of ICCPUD are intended to inform the 2025 dietary guidelines regarding alcohol consumption.

"Rather than examine all available science, the Biden Administration's public health apparatus is once again cherry-picking data and operating in secrecy to drive its agenda before President Trump takes office next week. A draft report issued by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking skewed widely available information about the effects of alcohol consumption on Americans to favor the Biden Administration's predetermined narrative.

"Over the last two months, the federal government has released three separate studies and advisories on American alcohol consumption. These overlapping efforts are not only confusing for the public, but also a waste of federal tax dollars. The Oversight Committee is demanding immediate transparency from Biden's HHS about why it commissioned additional evaluations outside of the congressionally mandated, recently published National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study. Americans deserve honesty from the federal government about the processes used to determine public health guidelines."

Background: On April 4, 2024, Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) launched a probe into the development of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, specifically related to alcohol consumption. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 and the National Nutrition Monitoring Act require Dietary Guidelines to be based on scientific evidence and adhere to congressional intent. Despite a congressionally set, statutory mandate for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to complete a review of alcohol related to the Dietary Guidelines, HHS created ICCPUD to drive its desired narrative and improperly inform alcohol consumption guidelines.

On September 30, 2024, Chairman Comer issued a subpoena for outstanding documents and information originally requested by the Committee on April 4, 2024. In response, HHS has provided minimal responsive documents. Despite multiple requests, HHS staff have failed to explain why they are unable to comply with the subpoena or provide an anticipated timeline for producing additional documents to the Oversight Committee.

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