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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s candidate for the Secretary of Health and Human less true.
Democrats from the Senate Health, Education, Work and Pensions Committee again faced Kennedy for promoting misinformation on vaccines and their refusal to go back to these positions seemed to even disturb some Republicans in the group.
Kennedy was also asked about his position on GLP-1 drugs and access to emergency abortion, while again transmitting a shaking understanding to the agencies he would monitor.
Here are 5 keys to take away:
Cassidy Men in Vaccines and Autism
The President of the Health Committee, Bill Cassidy (R-La.), A doctor, made it clear that he had “reserves” about Kennedy’s beliefs on vaccines that cause autism and his documented skepticism in his effectiveness.
Louisiana Senator was looking for some Kennedy’s peace of mind on this topic, but HHS candidate offered little for Cassidy’s concern.
Both in his opening and closing statements, Cassidy reminded an old patient, an 18 -year -old woman, who suffered from hepatitis B induced liver failure who could have been scheduled for a vaccine.
“Since then, I try to do everything I can to secure -I should never talk to another parent about his son dying because of an avoidable illness for the vaccine,” said Cassidy.
“As a doctor who has participated in immunization programs, I have seen the benefits of vaccinations. I know they saved lives,” he added. “I know they are a crucial part of keeping our nation healthy.”
Kennedy said he would change his beliefs if they were presented with data that would prove him wrong, saying he would go to “apologize for the statements that deceived people.” Towards the end of the sight, Cassidy presented Kennedy a MetaANYSITY 2014 which concluded the vaccines are not associated with autism.
Kennedy turned back, saying that he could point out studies that suggest that there was a link.
“I just want to follow science,” Kennedy said. “There are many times that I have been wrong about science.”
Cassidy said it would be “incredible” if Kennedy came out with unequivocal support for vaccines and clarified that there is no link to autism.
“I’ve been fighting with your nomination,” Cassidy told Kennedy at the end of the sight.
“There is a 70 -year -old man, a 71 -year -old man, who spent decades criticizing vaccines and had funding when it came to a blame for vaccines,” said Cassidy. “Can you change your attitudes and get closer now that you will have the most important position that influences vaccine policy in the United States?”
RFK Jr. entangled with Sanders
The most overwhelmed part of the sight occurred when a member of the Help Committee ranking, Bernie Sanders (i-Vt.) Pressed Kennedy to reduce the costs of recipe medicine, a problem that he defended as president of the president Committee.
“If we want America to be healthy, make sure that the north -Americans will fight to do what all other important countries on Earth do, guarantee health care in all North -Americans?” Sanders asked Kennedy.
Kennedy said that the corruption involved in high medication costs was in Congress, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry, accusing Sanders of being the greatest beneficiary of the pharmaceutical dollars campaign.
Sanders furiously shot this accusation saying, “I have millions and millions of contributions. They did not come from the executives, or a PAC money nickel for the pharmaceutical industry. They came from workers.”
According to Open secretsSanders received $ 115,690 from the pharmaceutical industry between 2019 and 2024. All of these dollars are recorded as coming from people.
Kennedy stated that Sanders received $ 1.5 million from the pharmaceutical industry, to which Vermont Senator set aside: “Yes, $ 200 million.”
Hassan was stifled by talking about the child
Senator Maggie Hassan (DN.H.) faced Kennedy’s support to link autism vaccines through his own personal experience.
Visitifiably emotional, Kennedy’s rhetoric exploded as a detrimental to a better understanding of autism.
“Some of you are new on this committee and new in the Senate, so you may not know that I am the proud mother of a 36 -year -old young man with serious cerebral palsy,” Hassan said. “And one day does not happen when I think about what I did when I was pregnant with him who could have caused the hydrocephaly that has affected his life?”
“Therefore, you do not suggest that no one in this body of either parties wants to know what the cause of autism is,” Hassan continued.
“The problem of the response of this testimony about the cause of autism and the relationship with vaccines is because science is relocated and upset. Therefore, we cannot move forward and find out what is the cause of autism and Treat these children and help these families. “
Kennedy says emergency care includes abortions
Despite speaking in favor of access to abortion in the past, Kennedy has since aligned his opinions with Trump, saying repeatedly that he believes that “every abortion is a tragedy.”
When asked about abortion policies, Kennedy said several times on Thursday that Trump’s policies would follow.
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del), however, sought answers on how Kennedy personally believed some abortion measures.
Blunt Rochester asked if Kennedy would support the Emergency Medical and Labor Treatment Act (EMA), a federal law that requires hospitals to offer abortion if it is considered necessary to stabilize a patient with a disease that threatens his life or health.
“Do you agree that a person who has serious complications of pregnancy should be able to receive emergency care to save his life, if this is a cure for an abortion?” The forceful Rochester asked Kennedy.
Kennedy initially sought to point out Trump’s policy on the subject, but Blunt Rochester pressed HHS candidate to whether he himself believes that pregnant women should have access to abortions if necessary to save their lives.
“If you have to save your life,” Kennedy said.
Apparent lack of knowledge about Medicare
A predominant observation of Democrats was that Kennedy had an apparent knowledge of how federal health policies work.
Cassidy asked on Wednesday how to oversee Medicare and Medicaid, Kennedy seemed to confuse the two. Kennedy described Medicaid as “totally paid by the federal government”, when in fact it is financed by a combination of state and federal funding.
“Yesterday during your financial audience and today you confused details about Medicare and Medicaid. You did not know what authorities you have below (Emtala), “said Blunt Rochester.
Hassan asked Kennedy about what coverage of part A, B and C de Medicare.
Kennedy said that Medicare Part is covering primary care when in fact it covers hospital care during hospital stays.
Described part B of Medicare as “doctors and doctors”. Part B covers medical services and supplies, as well as preventive services.
Kennedy described Medicare’s Part C as “a program where he gets the full menu of all services; A, B, C and D for Medicare.” Part C de Medicare is perhaps better known as Medicare Advantage, a program in What approved private insurance plans are offered as an alternative to Original Medicare.
“Mr. Kennedy, you want to confirm that you are in charge of Medicare, but it seems that you do not know the basic foundations of this program, “said Hassan.
