Collins: Obama health agency might be leading groups to break the law

An HHS spokesman responded with a statement saying the department and its agencies “take the responsibility as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously.”

“HHS is committed to ensuring the proper use of appropriated funds, and to ensuring awardees’ compliance with all applicable regulations and statutes related to lobbying activities,” the statement added.

“HHS will be responding in a timely manner to Sen. Collins’s letter.” 

Collins joins other congressional Republicans in criticizing the CDC for encouraging grantees to work for certain local and state policy outcomes related to public health.

Reps. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) and Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) sent a similar letter to Sebelius on March 5.

“[W]e urge you to launch a full investigation and accounting to determine whether CDC grantees … have misappropriated federal tax dollars for lobbying activity,” the members wrote.