Senate health panel pushes CDC nominee vote to next week

The Senate health committee announced that the vote on Erica Schwartz's nomination to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been delayed until next week because too few senators were present.

The postponement also affected a separate vote on Sean Kaufman for a senior public-health preparedness position, which was put off while the chair assesses support.

Committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy said the GOP holds a one-vote advantage and that he expects to move Schwartz forward once attendance improves, noting that Sen. Lisa Murkowski is dealing with a family emergency and another lawmaker was absent.

The committee and the administration said they are looking at a path forward for Kaufman's nomination, but details remain to be determined.