美女免费一级视频在线观看

In a 14-13 vote Tuesday morning, the Senate Finance Committee advanced Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Kennedy will now have to clear a vote on the Senate floor in order to be confirmed as HHS Secretary.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, (R-LA), was the committee’s key vote in what was otherwise split along party lines. 

The Republican lawmaker, who is a physician by training, had previously voiced concerns over Kennedy’s anti-vaccine track record during confirmation hearings last week.

However, in a post on X ahead of the vote on Tuesday morning, Cassidy said he would support Kennedy following several “intense conversations” with the nominee over the weekend.

“With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes,” Cassidy wrote.

During remarks at the committee vote, Sen. Ron Wyden, (D-OR), reiterated concerns among Democrats about Kennedy’s qualifications for the role. 

He claimed that Kennedy made 114 separate media and speaking appearances within the last four years in which he espoused anti-vaccine views or spread misinformation about the efficacy of vaccines — including repeated, unfounded claims that they’re linked to autism.

Just prior to the committee vote, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social hinting at a link between vaccines and autism, and re-emphasized his support for Kennedy.

Wyden noted that he wasn’t satisfied with Kennedy’s answers during his two hearings last week.

“Last week, Mr. Kennedy was given ample authority on a bipartisan basis to recant his decades-long career peddling anti-vaccine conspiracies,” Wyden said. “Instead, he spent his time with us dodging and weaving — and gave no indication that if confirmed as HHS Secretary, he would stand by the long-settled science surrounding routine vaccinations.”

On abortion, Wyden added, Kennedy refused to confirm whether he would follow Trump’s directive to end access to mifepristone, or medication abortion. 

Wyden also asserted that Kennedy failed to show a basic understanding of the Medicare and Medicaid programs he’d be tasked with overseeing as HHS Secretary. 

“That alone should be disqualifying,” Wyden argued.

Heading into the full floor vote, it’s still possible that Cassidy may reverse his opinion and vote against Kennedy. 

However, even if that were to occur, the nominee would have to lose several other Republican votes as well in order to not be confirmed. 

Other Republican senators that stakeholders have been watching intently throughout the confirmation process are Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who suffered from polio as a child. 

The full Senate vote on Kennedy’s confirmation is expected sometime later this week.

After Kennedy cleared this obstacle, stocks for vaccine manufacturers and packaged food stocks fell during the midday trading session.