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RFK Jr. testifies he is not 'anti-vaccine' in Senate confirmation hearing

HHS nominee faces criticism from cousin Caroline Kennedy and indirect criticism from Ranking Member Ron Wyden for Medicaid portal outage.

Susan Morse, Executive Editor

RFK Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.

Photo: Senate Finance Committee

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he was not anti-vaccine in his opening statement before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday morning.

"I am pro-safety," Kennedy said to shouts in the Senate chamber. "I believe vaccines play a critical role."

Kennedy also said, "In my advocacy I often disturb the status quo."

Controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's pick to lead Health and Human Services has centered on Kennedy's stance on vaccines, including measles shots, and questions over whether his actions during a visit to Samoa helped spur a measles outbreak there that killed 83 people, many of them children.

Kennedy said previously he had nothing to do with people not getting vaccinated in Samoa, according to CBS News.

In his opening statement, Kennedy addressed chronic disease and what it's costing healthcare. Ninety percent of healthcare spending goes towards chronic disease, he said.

When his uncle John F. Kennedy was president, there was much less chronic disease among children, he said.

"We have massive health problems in the United States we must face honestly," Kennedy said.

In opening statements, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., directed criticism to RFK Jr. of President Donald Trump's federal financial assistance freeze that he indicated caused the Medicaid portal closure on Tuesday. Medicaid was exempt from the pause.

"Meanwhile, as the Trump budget office threw the Medicaid program into chaos yesterday, Republicans in Congress are proposing deep cuts to the program that will rip away health care from millions of Americans who count on this vital lifeline," Wyden said. 

Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said the information given by Wyden about the portal being closed due to the president's action was incorrect. The problem was clarified, and the Medicaid portal is operational, Crapo said.

The confirmation hearing was held the day after Caroline Kennedy, JFK's daughter, called RFK Jr. a "predator" who is addicted to power, according to AP.

In a letter to the Senate, Caroline Kennedy urged members to reject the nomination of her cousin.

Kennedy said growing up, her cousin's basement, garage and dorm were an epicenter for drug use and he would also put baby chickens and mice in blenders to feed to his hawks, according to the AP report.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has openly talked about his heroin use and he pleaded guilty for bringing it on an airplane in 1984, according to the report.

The son of Robert F. Kennedy who served as attorney general under President John F. Kennedy, RFK Jr. is an environmental lawyer who graduated from Harvard, founded two advocacy groups and was an independent candidate for president in 2024.

As president-elect, Trump nominated Kennedy to head HHS in November 2024.

"The question before the Finance Committee this morning is whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should be trusted with the health and well-being of the American people," Wyden said.

Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks and charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines, Wyden said.

"In a gobsmacking statement of irresponsibility, in November 2023 this nominee said he wanted to pause infectious disease research for eight years," Wyden said.

"After a careful review of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s statements, actions, associations and views, I have reached the conclusion that he should not be entrusted with the health and well-being of the American people," Wyden said. 

RFK Jr. is scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on January 30 at 10 a.m.

Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org