Washington — The Senate Finance Committee is considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination on Tuesday, with a key vote on whether to advance his confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services after a pair of fiery hearings last week.
Kennedy appeared Wednesday before the finance committee for a confirmation hearing, before testifying to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions the following day. During both appearances, Democrats on the committees — and even some Republicans — grilled the longtime environmental lawyer and activist on his stances on vaccines, abortion, and other issues.
President Trump’s pick for HHS secretary has faced scrutiny from both sides. Though Kennedy, 71, initially sought the Democratic presidential nomination and has close ties to the party as the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy, he dropped out of the presidential race to endorse Mr. Trump in August, and has long been the recipient of the Democratic establishment’s ire.
Though the bulk of Republicans on the committee are expected to support advancing Kennedy’s nomination, much attention has been paid to Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and medical doctor who has expressed concern over the president’s pick for HHS secretary.
Cassidy said last week that he’s been