RFK Jr. affirmation hearings underway amid vaccine controversy

WASHINGTON – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is going through Senate committees this week for his affirmation listening to to be the following Heath and Human Providers secretary.

Kennedy appeared first on Wednesday earlier than the Finance Committee, one in all two committees with jurisdiction over HHS, and once more on Thursday earlier than the Well being Committee. Kennedy’s affirmation is way from sure within the Senate, the place he’s anticipated to face pointed questioning from each Republicans and Democrats on the chamber’s well being and finance committees.

Kennedy’s nomination alarmed people who find themselves involved about his report of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines. He has lengthy superior the debunked concept that vaccines trigger autism. 

Caroline Kennedy urged the U.S. Senate in a Tuesday letter to reject the nomination of her cousin to be President Donald Trump’s well being secretary, calling him a “predator.”

Ms. Kennedy stated within the letter that her cousin’s views on vaccines are disqualifying. She provided senators private particulars from their lives rising up collectively that she stated pose a fair better concern.

Kennedy ran for president as a Democrat, then as an unbiased, earlier than he dropped out and endorsed President Donald Trump. 

Who’s RFK Jr.?

The backstory:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of Democratic icon Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 throughout his personal presidential marketing campaign. 

The 71-year-old, whose well-known title and household tragedies have put him within the nationwide highlight since he was a baby, has spent years airing his populist — and typically excessive — views in podcasts, TV interviews and speeches, constructing his personal quixotic model.

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RFK’s stance on vaccinations 

Kennedy’s quite a few remarks, anti-vaccine nonprofit and lawsuits in opposition to immunizations are prone to hang-out him.

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He is rejected the anti-vaccine label, as an alternative casting himself as a crusader for “medical freedom” who needs extra analysis. He and Trump have vowed to not “take away” vaccines. To defuse criticism, he resigned from the Kids’s Well being Protection, his nonprofit that has filed dozens of lawsuits in opposition to vaccines, together with authorities authorizations of a few of them.

In his opening assertion Wednesday, Kennedy rejected the ‘anti-vaccine’ label, telling senators he’s not anti-vaccine however has requested “uncomfortable questions.”

Whereas Kennedy has referred to as vaccines unsafe, in his opening remarks he stated all of his kids are vaccinated.

“I consider that vaccines play a essential position in well being care,” Kennedy advised the committee.

RFK’s abortion stance 

Dig deeper:

Different conservatives have questioned Kennedy’s abortion views, after he stated final 12 months that it ought to be authorized for full-term pregnancies. His marketing campaign later clarified that he helps abortion rights till fetal viability, round 22 to 24 weeks.

In conferences with some senators, he promised to comply with Trump’s directive on the difficulty.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, for instance, stated he was satisfied after speaking to Kennedy that he can be a robust anti-abortion advocate.

However skepticism stays, with Pence’s advocacy group highlighting his abortion views in an advert marketing campaign.

“RFK Jr. has made sure overtures to pro-life leaders that he can be conscious of their considerations at HHS, there may be little purpose for confidence at the moment,” his group stated in a letter despatched to senators final week.

Farmers weigh in on RFK’s nomination

In Iowa, Kennedy’s nomination each excites and worries corn and soybean farmer Brian Fyre.

The sixth-generation farmer and Republican thinks Kennedy will supply a contemporary perspective, however he can also’t afford the ban on corn syrup or pesticides that Kennedy has promised. If confirmed, Kennedy would oversee the Meals and Drug Administration, which has the facility to enact restrictions.

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from a dairy farm state, sees it in another way, telling a crowd on the Heritage Basis final month that Kennedy’s agriculture concepts are a promising a part of a much bigger objective: “to Make America Wholesome Once more.”

What does the Heath and Human Providers secretary do?

Massive image view:

Well being and Human Providers has a broad attain throughout the lives of Individuals, together with inspecting the nation’s meals, regulating medicines and overseeing analysis of ailments and cures. It offers medical health insurance for practically half of the nation — poor, disabled and older Individuals, together with through Medicare. 

How do affirmation hearings work?

What’s subsequent:

After Trump nominates his picks for numerous positions, they’re then introduced to the suitable Senate committee. The committee then votes whether or not to advocate a candidate to the total Senate. The total Senate will debate. Trump’s picks will both be confirmed or rejected by a easy majority. If they’re authorised, they’re then sworn-in. 

Republicans at present maintain 53 seats within the Senate, which may recommend lots of Trump’s picks will probably be confirmed with out difficulty.