Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to testify Wednesday before the senators who hold perhaps the most power to advance or thwart his “Make America Healthy Again” plan.
During the hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the secretary will also face Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who made a number of promises on vaccine policy that Kennedy defeated in his confirmation vote last year.
For example, Kennedy has only visited HELP once since being confirmed (also to discuss the White House budget), even though Cassidy said the secretary would check in quarterly.
His visit comes as the committee stalls on promoting Casey Means, President Kennedy’s nominee for Surgeon General, citing a lack of medical experience and poor answers about the importance of vaccinations. HELP also requires President Trump to approve Erica Schwartz’s choice to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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On Tuesday, Republican lawmakers reversed the Trump administration’s plan to pass Kennedy administration budget cuts that included deep cuts to research funding for the National Institutes of Health. This is similar to last year, when lawmakers rejected President Trump’s budget deal cuts.
Mr. Kennedy faced lawmakers in the House of Representatives last week, trying to focus on politically advantageous issues such as health care affordability and improved nutrition. But he faces pointed questions from Democrats about the vaccine, and his administration worries it could become an issue in an election year.
In previous hearings, some Republican lawmakers have also expressed concern about Kennedy’s department, raising issues such as the current state of the Food and Drug Administration and the sustainability of rural health care.
