Name: RFK Jr. Faces 1st Confirmation Hearing
Uploaded: 2025-01-31T21:27:04.000Z
Description: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Kennedy’s first confirmation hearing starts at 10 a.m. ET before the Senate Finance Committee.

Here is the latest:
<h2>Tillis to Kennedy: ‘Are You a Conspiracy Theorist?’</h2>
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if he was a conspiracy theorist.

“That is a pejorative, senator, that’s applied to me mainly to keep me from asking difficult questions of powerful interests,” Kennedy replied.

He noted that he was called a conspiracy theorist for saying that the COVID-19 vaccines did not prevent infection or transmission of the disease. “And now everybody admits it,” he said.

Kennedy said he also was labeled a conspiracy theorist for saying that Red Dye 40 causes cancer. “And now FDA has acknowledged that and banned it,” he added.
<h2>RFK Jr.: ‘Our Ship Is Sinking’ Under Burden of Chronic Disease</h2>
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed back on Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D-Nev.) suggestion that he would be a “rubber stamp” for President Donald Trump’s agenda, saying that he was nominated because he is uniquely positioned to end the nation’s “chronic disease epidemic.”

“Senator, all of the other disputes we have about who’s paying and whether it’s insurance companies, whether it’s providers, whether it’s HMOs, whether it’s patients or families—all of those are moving deck chairs around on the Titanic. Our ship is sinking,” Kennedy said.

He noted that Medicaid spending has skyrocketed in recent years, “and no other nation in the world has what we have here. … We have the highest chronic disease burden of any country in the world.”

Kennedy also noted that Americans who died with COVID-19 had, on average, several chronic diseases.

“This is an existential threat economically, to our military, to our health, to our sense of well-being, and it is a priority for President Trump,” he said. “And that’s why he asked me to run the agency, and if I’m privileged to be confirmed, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
<h2>RFK Jr. Pledges to Implement Trump’s Abortion Policies</h2>
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) noted that the Biden administration had denied his state federal funds under Title X—a program that funds family planning services—over the state's refusal to publicize an abortion referral hotline.

Lankford, who is pro-life, acknowledged that he had a difference of opinion with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on when life begins. He asked the nominee how he would handle Title X funding as Health and Human Services secretary.

Kennedy said he agrees with President Donald Trump on several aspects of the abortion debate and would follow the president’s lead.

“I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. I agree with him that we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions a year. I agree with him that the states should control abortion,” Kennedy said.

“President Trump has told me that he wants to end late-term abortions, and he wants to protect conscience exemptions, and that he wants to end federal funding for abortions here or abroad. … I serve at the pleasure of the president. I’m going to implement his policies.”
<h2>RFK Jr. Vows ‘Radical Transparency’ at HHS</h2>
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) noted that he had difficulty extracting information from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the Biden administration.

“I expect you to produce to me the records and data I’ve requested and instruct HHS contractors to fully cooperate with my investigation,” Grassley told Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“I also expect HHS to not retaliate against any whistleblowers, including those who identify ORR’s failures in vetting sponsors of unaccompanied [minors].”

The ORR is responsible for taking care of unaccompanied minors who cross the border illegally and then placing them with a sponsor within the United States. During fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, more than 400,000 unaccompanied children crossed the U.S. border illegally, according to federal data.

Kennedy replied that his approach as HHS secretary would be “radical transparency.”

“If members of this committee or other members of Congress want information, the doors are open,” he said.
<h2>Wyden Accuses Kennedy of ‘Conflicting Stories’ on Vaccine Safety</h2>
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of “pushing conflicting stories about vaccines” and their safety.

Wyden said the nominee went on the Lex Fridman podcast in 2023 and quoted him as saying, “No vaccine is safe and effective.” In a different podcast three years prior, Wyden said Kennedy had mentioned that if he could go back in time, he wouldn't vaccinate his children.

On Wednesday, Kennedy emphasized that he had vaccinated all his children.

“Mr. Kennedy, all of these things cannot be true. So are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine? Or did you lie on all those podcasts? We have all of this on tape, by the way,” Wyden said.

Kennedy said his statements to Fridman were taken out of context and that he meant that no single vaccine can be safe and effective for every person who takes them.

“Every medicine has people who are sensitive to them, including vaccines, right?” Kennedy asked.

Wyden then mentioned Kennedy signing a petition in 2021 asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to block access to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

“Are you denying your name on this petition?” he asked.

Kennedy said the petition was challenging recommendations for vaccinating children as young as 6 “without any scientific basis.” He suggested that children that young have a “zero risk” of getting COVID-19, so that’s why he joined the effort.

“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 [vaccines],” Kennedy added.
<h2>Kennedy Says Vaccines Play ‘Critical Role’ in Health Care</h2>
During his opening statement, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disputed news reports that have called him “anti-vaccine.”

“I am neither; I am pro-safety,” he said.

“I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish, and nobody called me anti-fish,” Kennedy said. “I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care. All of my kids are vaccinated.”
<h2>RFK Jr.: ‘We Can Put Aside Our Divisions’ for America’s Health</h2>
After speaking with senators on both sides of the aisle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he is confident that the country can unite to improve America’s health.

“I promised President Trump that, if confirmed, I will do everything in my power to put the health of Americans back on track,” Kennedy said. “And I’ve been greatly heartened to discover a deep level of care among members of this committee, too—both Democrats and Republicans.

“I came away from our conversations confident that we can put aside our divisions for the sake of a healthier America.”
<h2>Wyden: Kennedy Will Make Vaccine Recommendations</h2>
In his opening statement, ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his personal views on vaccines and how he could influence parents’ decisions on whether or not to vaccinate their children.

Wyden said Kennedy has said his views are not intended to tell parents what to do with vaccinations but called this a “slippery slope” and an attempt to dodge the impact of his words.

“Coming from somebody who's trying to win confirmation for a job that is entirely about making recommendations, these recommendations are going to have life or death consequences for the American people,” Wyden said.

“Mr. Kennedy, if you are confirmed, your recommendations determine which vaccines senior citizens get for free through Medicare. Your recommendation will determine which vaccines are given to millions of kids.”

<em>The Epoch Times contributed to this report</em>

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