{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-from-fda-about-using-race-to-determine-covid-treatment-eligibility", "Cotton Demands Answers from FDA About Using Race to Determine Covid Treatment Eligibility", "2022-01-12", "2022", "2022-01", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJanuary 12, 2022\n\nCotton Demands Answers from FDA About Using Race to Determine Covid Treatment Eligibility\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding answers about reports that the FDA is suggesting race should be used to determine eligibility for the monoclonal antibody treatment Sotrovimab.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cUsing race as a factor will lead to unjust and racist outcomes, where young, healthy individuals who qualify for treatment are prioritized over at-risk individuals because of the color of their skin. This racist policy will lead to additional deaths.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe FDA\u2019s race-based rationing is also blatantly illegal. Race-based rationing of care violates the Constitution and our civil rights laws, just as it runs afoul of our values as a nation,\u201d Cotton continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Janet Woodcock, M.D.\n\nActing Commissioner\n\nU.S. Food and Drug Administration\n\n10903 New Hampshire Ave\n\nSilver Springs, MD 20993-0002\n\nDear Acting Commissioner Woodcock:\n\nI write today requesting information regarding the criteria used for determining an individual\u2019s eligibility for Covid-19 therapeutics.\n\nThe Washington Free Beacon reported that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a fact sheet suggesting race should be used to determine who qualifies for the monoclonal antibody treatment Sotrovimab. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued a fact sheet indicating that \u201csystemic health and social inequities\u201d have put minority populations at increased risk of contracting severe Covid-19.\n\nThese life-saving therapeutics are in short supply both in Arkansas and nationwide. While we are aware these fact sheets are non-binding, state health departments look to the FDA and other federal agencies for guidance when selecting which individuals receive Covid-19 therapeutics and treatments.\n\nData show that factors like age, pre-existing medical conditions, and comorbidities affect the toll this virus takes on an individual. These risk factors are already assessed when determining whether a person is eligible to receive Covid-19 treatment.\n\nUsing race as a factor will lead to unjust and racist outcomes, where young, healthy individuals who qualify for treatment are prioritized over at-risk individuals because of the color of their skin. This racist policy will lead to additional deaths.\n\nThe FDA\u2019s race-based rationing is also blatantly illegal. Race-based rationing of care violates the Constitution and our civil rights laws, just as it runs afoul of our values as a nation.\n\nPlease answer the following questions about the FDA\u2019s decision to use race as a factor in prioritizing care:\n\nWhy should a healthy 18-year-old non-white individual be prioritized over a 64-year white American with high blood pressure? What are the death rates for each person with those characteristics?\n\nWhat legal basis is the FDA relying on that justifies using race as an independent factor for receiving a Covid-19 therapeutic or treatment?\n\nI look forward to receiving your response and working to ensure that life-saving therapeutics are distributed to individuals who need them most.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:50:39Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-from-fda-about-using-race-to-determine-covid-treatment-eligibility"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.295809866860509, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}