Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies, fielded questions from Congress on Wednesday referring to funds cuts, vaccines, Medicaid and different points.
He testified earlier than the Home Committee on Appropriations within the morning and the Senate Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee within the afternoon to debate the administration’s proposed funds. These appearances mark Kennedy’s first testimony earlier than Congress since his affirmation hearings in late January.
Listed here are some key takeaways:
1. Vaccines
Kennedy confronted quite a few questions on his controversial views on vaccines. This consists of from Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), who requested if he would vaccinate his children right this moment for measles. Kennedy mentioned he “most likely” would for measles, however then acknowledged that his “opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.”
“I don’t suppose folks needs to be taking medical recommendation from me,” he mentioned, including that he’ll lay out the professionals and cons of vaccines. He additionally wouldn’t touch upon if he would vaccinate his youngsters for rooster pox or polio right this moment.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) mentioned she is “horrified” that Kennedy is not going to encourage households to vaccinate their youngsters for measles, rooster pox and polio.
“Vaccines are one of many foundations of public well being,” she mentioned. “Vaccines, sure, save lives, and the truth that the Secretary of Well being and Human Companies refuses to encourage youngsters to be vaccinated is a tragedy.”
Within the Senate listening to, Sen. Chris Murphy, (D-Connecticut) additionally took pictures at Kennedy for his views on vaccines. Murphy argued that he didn’t observe via on guarantees he made throughout his affirmation listening to, together with that he wouldn’t scale back funding appropriated by Congress for vaccination applications. He mentioned Kennedy canceled $12 billion in grants to the states which are used to manage and observe vaccines, to which Kennedy requested, “When did I do this?”
Murphy additionally pushed Kennedy on if he would suggest households to get their youngsters vaccinated.
“I’m not going to only inform folks every little thing is secure and efficient. If I do know that there are points, I have to respect folks’s intelligence,” Kennedy responded.
2. HHS layoffs and cuts
Throughout her opening feedback, DeLauro, who’s rating member of the Home Appropriations Committee, got here out swinging on the administration’s cuts to HHS, NIH, CDC and FDA.
“With you on the helm, the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are destroying the crown jewels of our well being system: the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and the Meals and Drug Administration,” she mentioned. “On the NIH, the world’s largest funder of life-saving biomedical analysis, you and Elon Musk have fired or pushed out almost 5,000 personnel, together with a few of the world’s most preeminent scientists.”
She added that Kennedy is “eliminating scores” of CDC prevention applications, reminiscent of for HIV, tobacco, and gun violence.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) additionally questioned HHS cuts, significantly referring to Alzheimer’s. She is the writer of the BOLD Act, which educates suppliers on Alzheimer’s and promotes earlier analysis.
“I’ve labored very exhausting to guarantee that HHS has the assets to hold out this legislation, which was only recently prolonged,” Collins mentioned. “I’m involved that the reductions in drive of roughly 10,000 workers throughout the HHS will fully undermine this act.”
Kennedy mentioned that he’ll work with Collins, and that Alzheimer’s runs in his household.
3. Medicaid cuts
Rep. Josh Tougher (D-California) pressed Kennedy on the proposed Medicaid cuts, noting that it might go away 50,000 folks in his group with out medical health insurance.
“Why do you suppose {that a} group like mine doesn’t deserve entry to that very same fundamental well being care offered by Medicaid that you just benefited from?” Tougher questioned, referring to dependancy remedy that Kennedy acquired up to now.
“I don’t know in the event you perceive this, or whether or not you’re simply mouthing the Democratic speaking factors, the cuts to Medicaid are for fraud, waste and abuse,” Kennedy mentioned.
Kennedy additionally argued that Medicaid is for poor youngsters, moms and the disabled, and that adults who’re able-bodied and refuse to volunteer or get a job shouldn’t be eligible for Medicaid. Tougher shot again that the overwhelming majority of individuals on Medicaid are working, and that including purple tape will stop folks from accessing Medicaid.
Previous to the hearings, affected person advocacy organizations echoed these feedback on Medicaid work necessities.
Picture: MikeyLPT, Getty Pictures
