Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the Health and Human Services agency advanced in the Senate despite concerns about his views on vaccines. The vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans supporting his nomination and Democrats opposing it.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , a controversial environmental lawyer turned public health critic, cleared his first hurdle on Tuesday to become the nation’s top health official when the Senate finance committee voted to advance his nomination for a floor vote. The vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans advancing his nomination while Democrats opposed it.
Kennedy's nomination now faces a full Senate vote, despite concerns about his past work in sowing doubts around vaccine safety and his potential to profit off lawsuits against drugmakers. To gain control of the $1.7 trillion Health and Human Services agency, Kennedy will need support from all but three Republicans if Democrats uniformly oppose him. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who is also a physician and sits on the finance committee, voted to advance Kennedy’s confirmation. Last week, during Kennedy’s hearings, Cassidy repeatedly implored Kennedy to reject a disproven theory that vaccines cause autism, but Kennedy refused. Cassidy ended the hearing by saying he was 'struggling' with the vote. 'Your past, undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments, concerns me,' Cassidy told Kennedy. Kennedy, a longtime Democrat, ran for president but withdrew last year to throw his support to Trump in exchange for an influential job in his Republican administration. Together, they have forged a new and unusual coalition made up of conservatives who oppose vaccines and liberals who want to see the government promote healthier foods. Trump and Kennedy have branded the movement as 'Make America Healthy Again.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. HHS VACCINE SAFETY SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN
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