The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead Health and Human Services. Democrats have faced an unexpected shift as several Republican senators who were considered potential swing votes announced their intention to support Kennedy's nomination.
The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services ( HHS ) department. The confirmation vote comes after Democrats, who have been trying to delay the process, faced an unexpected shift as several Republican senators who were considered potential swing votes announced their intention to support Kennedy's nomination. Among those backing Kennedy are Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.
Notably, on Wednesday, Kennedy cleared a key procedural vote in the Senate with all 53 Republican senators voting to advance his nomination. The vote of former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, a staunch advocate for vaccines, was also crucial. Despite his reservations about Kennedy's stance on vaccines, McConnell ultimately voted to advance the nomination.Earlier this month, the Senate Finance Committee voted along party lines, 14-13, to advance Kennedy's nomination to the full Senate. All 13 committee Democrats opposed the nomination, while all 14 Republicans voted in favor. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor specializing in liver diseases before entering politics, had expressed reservations about Kennedy's nomination before ultimately voting in favor within the committee. During a Senate Health Committee hearing, Cassidy had told Kennedy, 'I have been struggling with your nomination,' citing differences in their approaches to vaccines. While Kennedy maintains he is not anti-vaccine, he has frequently questioned the safety and effectiveness of routine vaccinations. Kennedy assured the committee he would not reduce access to vaccines if confirmed, stating, 'I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. HHS SENATE NOMINATION HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REPUBLICAN SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION VACCINE SKEPTICISM ETHICS CONCERNS
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