US President Donald Trump has appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the US health agency as Secretary of Health. This has drawn many responses from experts and the public, one of which is related to concerns about Kennedy's views so far. He is known as an anti-vaccine and is closely associated with conspiracy theories.
Kennedy sought to defend his record before the Senate Finance Committee, promising lawmakers he would not oppose vaccines. He said he would address the rapid rise in chronic diseases.
"I believe that vaccines play an important role in health care. All of my children were vaccinated," said Kennedy (70), who attended the hearing with his wife Cheryl Hines and several of his children.
"We have the highest burden of chronic disease of any country in the world. This is a threat."
Kennedy will head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees more than $3 trillion in health care spending, including agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the agencies responsible for the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs that cover tens of millions of Americans.
The environmental advocate has been seen as a controversial choice on both sides of the aisle, particularly for raising doubts about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. During the questioning, Democratic senators brought up Kennedy’s past statements over the years, including his assertion that no vaccine is safe or effective.
They cited other statements by Kennedy, including that COVID-19 was intentionally designed to target and attack Caucasians and black people. Kennedy also previously believed Lyme disease was a military bioweapon.
"The receipts show that Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, charlatans (and) charlatans, particularly regarding the safety and efficacy of vaccines," Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said in his opening statement.
"He has made it his life's work to sow doubt and prevent parents from giving their children life-saving vaccines."
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet described Kennedy as someone who speaks with conviction but has a bad track record and false statements.
"It doesn't matter what it says here," Bennet said. "That doesn't reflect what you really believe."
Most of the nearly a dozen Republican senators who questioned Kennedy on Wednesday appeared to support the nominee, with several expressing appreciation for his goals to address obesity, diabetes and other diseases.
"Can't we come together as a nation and do this?" Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said.
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