The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial nomination to steer the Division of Well being and Human Companies below President Donald Trump.
The panel voted alongside get together strains, 14-13.
It was a high-stakes vote for Kennedy, as with the committee’s make-up it will have taken only one Republican to oppose him for his nomination to be doubtlessly sunk.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump’s nominee to function Secretary of Well being and Human Companies testifies throughout a Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions listening to for his pending affirmation, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
All eyes have been on Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and longtime doctor who, throughout final week’s hearings, expressed deep issues in regards to the affect of Kennedy’s previous feedback casting doubt on vaccines, together with saying on a 2023 podcast that “no vaccine is secure and efficient.
Cassidy advised Kennedy he was “struggling” along with his nomination as these proceedings got here to a detailed. The 2 spoke extra over the weekend and on Tuesday morning, Cassidy stated.
Cassidy voted on Tuesday to maneuver ahead with Kennedy’s nomination.
“I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White Home over the weekend and even this morning,” Cassidy stated in a press release posted to X earlier Tuesday, explaining his vote. “I wish to thank VP JD particularly for his trustworthy counsel. With the intense commitments I’ve obtained from the administration and the chance to make progress on the problems we agree on like wholesome meals and a pro-American agenda, I’ll vote sure.”
Later, in remarks on the Senate ground, Cassidy spoke about what Kennedy assured him throughout these conversations.
“Mr. Kennedy and the administration reached out in search of to reassure me concerning their dedication to defending the general public well being advantage of vaccination. To this finish, Mr. Kennedy and the administration dedicated that he and I’d have an unprecedentedly shut collaborative working relationship if he’s confirmed,” Cassidy stated.
Cassidy stated he’ll meet or converse with Kennedy a number of occasions a month, and can seek the advice of on hiring choices at HHS.
The senator added that Kennedy additionally pledged to maintain the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices suggestions “with out adjustments” and the CDC “is not going to take away statements on their web site declaring that vaccines don’t trigger autism.”
Sen. Invoice Cassidy questions Robert F. Kennedy, Jr throughout the second day of his Senate affirmation listening to in Washington, Jan. 30, 2025.
ABC Information
President Trump stated on Monday he is known as senators who’ve issues about Kennedy. Vice President JD Vance had additionally been quietly lobbying senators to line up behind Kennedy, ABC Information beforehand reported.
Kennedy’s nomination will subsequent head to the ground for consideration earlier than the complete Senate. A last vote might happen this week or early subsequent week.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that they count on “all Senate Republicans to face powerful and powerful” and vote to substantiate Kennedy to Trump’s Cupboard.
“Make America Wholesome Once more, that may be a very fashionable slogan and it is a very fashionable motion on this nation. And there is tens of thousands and thousands of People who’re hopeful that RFK Junior would be the subsequent HHS secretary and we count on all Senate Republicans to remain on powerful and powerful and vote for him,” Leavitt stated as she gaggled with reporters on Tuesday.
Questions have continued to swirl round Kennedy’s views on vaccines. He stated a number of occasions throughout the hearings final Wednesday and Thursday that he helps vaccines and isn’t “anti-vaccine” however “pro-safety.”
Nevertheless, Kennedy has brazenly questioned the widespread administration of each measles and polio vaccines, and has falsely linked the previous vaccine to autism, regardless of a number of high-quality research discovering no such hyperlink.
He additionally pointed to a flawed paper to recommend there may be proof to say that vaccines trigger autism. Cassidy, the highest Republican on the Senate HELP Committe, stated he noticed issues with the paper’s methodology upon first look.
Kennedy additionally forged doubt on the lifesaving advantages of the COVID-19 vaccines, saying he does not suppose that “anyone” can say the vaccines saved thousands and thousands of lives.
A 2022 study from the Yale Faculty of Public Well being and College of Maryland Medical Faculty estimated the vaccine saved 3 million lives and prevented 18 million hospitalizations.
Senators have been additionally befuddled by feedback Kennedy made up to now. Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado learn aloud alleged previous feedback made by Kennedy, together with unfounded claims about transgender kids.
Kennedy denied making such feedback regardless of repeated an unfounded conspiracy principle throughout an episode of his podcast in 2022, suggesting endocrine disruptors, together with phthalates — which make chemical compounds extra sturdy — and pesticides, can affect sexual orientation or gender id.
ABC Information’ Anne Flaherty and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.
