July 11 (Bloomberg) -- Representative Henry Waxman and Senator Edward Kennedy asked the U.S. health department to produce documents related to claims the former surgeon general was blocked from speaking on sex education, stem cells and other politically sensitive issues.

Waxman, a California Democrat, sent a letter today to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt seeking paperwork related to health reports by the surgeon general. In a separate letter, Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, also asked for correspondence between certain political appointees concerning the surgeon general's activities.

Richard Carmona, the former surgeon general, told Waxman's House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform yesterday that he was muzzled by President George W. Bush's administration. Kennedy's Senate committee plans tomorrow to consider Bush's nominee for surgeon general, James Holsinger, whose past statements on homosexuality have drawn criticism from Democrats.

The documents are needed to investigate Carmona's statements that ``political appointees edited his public remarks, blocked him from developing or issuing several reports or calls to action, and denied travel requests on political grounds,'' Waxman said in an e-mailed copy of the letter.

Agency Plans to Respond

The health agency plans to respond in an ``appropriate and timely fashion,'' Bill Hall, a spokesman for the Health and Human Services department, said in an e-mail today. Carmona had ``ample opportunity to communicate his views'' as surgeon general, the department said in a statement yesterday.

Carmona, appointed by Bush and served as surgeon general from 2002 to 2006, told the House committee headed by Waxman yesterday that political appointees in the health department didn't allow him to stray from administration orthodoxy and instructed him to mention Bush three times on every page of speeches he gave.

The U.S. surgeon general reports on public health concerns and is best known for supplying the warning label on cigarette packages.

When Carmona sought to release a report on the science of stem-cell research, he said he was told ``the decision had already been made.'' Bush issued an executive order in August 2001 that limited U.S.-funded research on human embryonic stem cells to cell lines already developed.

Carmona also was blocked from discussing the effectiveness of sex education that includes birth control methods because the administration favors an abstinence-only approach, he told the House committee.

`Disturbing Account'

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Kennedy, will discuss Bush's new nominee for the post tomorrow.

``Dr. Carmona's strong testimony yesterday is yet another disturbing account of how the Bush administration has put ideology ahead of the health needs of the American people -- this time in the Office of the Surgeon General,'' Kennedy said in an e-mailed statement today.

Kennedy said the committee wanted to be sure the next surgeon general based ``his policies on sound science and best medical practices, and not the politics and ideology that have put our health care at risk.''

The nominee must provide the Senate committee with assurances that he will always give Americans the ``most complete, timely, and accurate health care information'' without regard for ``partisan political debates,'' said the Federation of American Scientists in an e-mailed statement today.

Holsinger on Homosexuality

Holsinger, a former Kentucky state health secretary, wrote a report more than a decade ago that portrayed homosexuality as unnatural and gay men as more susceptible to disease. The paper was a part of a United Methodist Church committee study on homosexuality in 1991.

Democratic presidential candidates and senators have questioned Holsinger's fitness for the post.

``Dr. Holsinger remains focused on addressing the health of all in need, including gay and lesbian populations, consistent with sound science and the best medical practices.'' Christina Pearson, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Department, said in June.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aliza Marcus in Washington at amarcus8@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 11, 2007 19:18 EDT