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In a closely contested decision, the Senate Finance Committee has advanced the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the full Senate. The committee’s 14-13 vote fell strictly along party lines, with all Republican members supporting the nomination and all Democrats opposing it.
Kennedy, 71, an environmental lawyer and advocate for public health transparency, has built a reputation for challenging government and corporate policies. During his confirmation hearings, he faced rigorous questioning from both sides of the aisle regarding his past statements and potential conflicts of interest. RFK Jr. defended his stance on medical freedom and vaccines, saying he is "pro-safety." He also pledged to step away from vaccine-related litigation if confirmed, emphasizing his commitment to leading HHS with integrity, AP News noted.
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a Republican and physician, was considered a pivotal vote due to his medical background and previous criticisms of Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance. Despite expressing reservations, Cassidy ultimately voted in favor of advancing the nomination after what he described as “very intense conversations” with Kennedy.
The nomination now proceeds to the full Senate, where Kennedy will need near-unanimous support from Republican senators to be confirmed, assuming unified Democratic opposition. Some Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, have expressed concerns about Kennedy’s views on vaccines, potentially complicating his path to confirmation.
If confirmed, Kennedy would oversee the Department of Health and Human Services, a $1.7 trillion agency responsible for critical public health functions, including vaccine promotion, disease research, and the administration of Medicare and Medicaid programs.
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