Reed: Kennedy Leading HHS Would be Hazardous to Children’s Health
United States Senator Jack Reed, a longtime champion for children’s health and childhood immunization programs, today issued a statement opposing President Trump’s nomination of anti-vaccination advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Reed stated:
“The Department of Health and Human Services helps protect public health and the safety of our nation’s food and drug supply.
“After carefully reviewing Mr. Kennedy’s record and noting his history of stoking dangerous conspiracy theories and making false claims about vaccine safety, I strongly oppose his nomination.
“Putting him in charge of HHS would be hazardous to children’s health and could lead to a resurgence in measles and other childhood diseases that cause serious illness and endanger lives.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that routine childhood vaccinations in America have prevented over 1.1 million deaths, more than 500 million cases of illness, and over 32 million hospitalizations over the past 30 years.
Whitehouse to Vote No on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Nomination for HHS
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement shortly before voting in the Senate Finance Committee against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
“Mr. Kennedy has not come remotely close to providing adequate assurances that he will follow the well-established science on vaccines, nor remedy the ways CMS hurts Rhode Island, so I cannot support his nomination.”
Steve, I’m so glad to have found you on Substack. This is the first I’ve heard that there is an Indivisible chapter in Rhode Island. I would love to connect with them if you know how.
They are friends. "In 1998, The Providence Journal reported that Whitehouse and Kennedy hiked and hunted in the woods around Charlottesville, Virginia, while in law school."
I am not sure they are currently friends from what I have read. That said, I did email Sen Whitehouse and asked him as a constituent to vote no on approving RFK Jr., strongly outlining my concerns. I know many other people who have done the same.
I watched the hearings. I knew they had been classmates. There was no personal interaction between the two. Whitehouse was quite firm especially when he said that RFK Jr. frightened people.
I made an appeal on WPRI or Projo, that Mr. Whitehouse should give him a No.
I tried to find out when this would hit the Senate floor. Historically, it could be one to two weeks.
Whether he votes yes or no on other picks, remains to be seen. If he votes Yes on some, it may be because they are the lesser of two evils. That doesn't make him the bad guy. As in most workplaces, rumors float. He has probably heard a name or two as backups for some positions that won't pass muster. As I said, I believe he and Reed will vote on the lesser evil.
So far, the choices have been a huge fail. The plane crash (which is truly heartbreaking) has exposed the incompetence and lack of knowledge. Hegsweth blew it. As a veteran, he released the military names before he was supposed to. He should know better. Trump is fumbling his way through, as usual. He starts with sympathy and ends with outrage. Why is an air controller doing two jobs? Why is there no head of the FAA? Why are people who just happen to be standing nearby, suddenly appointed as a deputy?
I am worried about two nominees - Patel and Gabbard.
Reed: Kennedy Leading HHS Would be Hazardous to Children’s Health
United States Senator Jack Reed, a longtime champion for children’s health and childhood immunization programs, today issued a statement opposing President Trump’s nomination of anti-vaccination advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Reed stated:
“The Department of Health and Human Services helps protect public health and the safety of our nation’s food and drug supply.
“After carefully reviewing Mr. Kennedy’s record and noting his history of stoking dangerous conspiracy theories and making false claims about vaccine safety, I strongly oppose his nomination.
“Putting him in charge of HHS would be hazardous to children’s health and could lead to a resurgence in measles and other childhood diseases that cause serious illness and endanger lives.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that routine childhood vaccinations in America have prevented over 1.1 million deaths, more than 500 million cases of illness, and over 32 million hospitalizations over the past 30 years.
Whitehouse to Vote No on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Nomination for HHS
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement shortly before voting in the Senate Finance Committee against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
“Mr. Kennedy has not come remotely close to providing adequate assurances that he will follow the well-established science on vaccines, nor remedy the ways CMS hurts Rhode Island, so I cannot support his nomination.”
Steve, I’m so glad to have found you on Substack. This is the first I’ve heard that there is an Indivisible chapter in Rhode Island. I would love to connect with them if you know how.
I cannot imagine Whitehouse voting for RFK! Is there any reason he would?
They are friends. "In 1998, The Providence Journal reported that Whitehouse and Kennedy hiked and hunted in the woods around Charlottesville, Virginia, while in law school."
I am not sure they are currently friends from what I have read. That said, I did email Sen Whitehouse and asked him as a constituent to vote no on approving RFK Jr., strongly outlining my concerns. I know many other people who have done the same.
I watched the hearings. I knew they had been classmates. There was no personal interaction between the two. Whitehouse was quite firm especially when he said that RFK Jr. frightened people.
I made an appeal on WPRI or Projo, that Mr. Whitehouse should give him a No.
I tried to find out when this would hit the Senate floor. Historically, it could be one to two weeks.
Whether he votes yes or no on other picks, remains to be seen. If he votes Yes on some, it may be because they are the lesser of two evils. That doesn't make him the bad guy. As in most workplaces, rumors float. He has probably heard a name or two as backups for some positions that won't pass muster. As I said, I believe he and Reed will vote on the lesser evil.
So far, the choices have been a huge fail. The plane crash (which is truly heartbreaking) has exposed the incompetence and lack of knowledge. Hegsweth blew it. As a veteran, he released the military names before he was supposed to. He should know better. Trump is fumbling his way through, as usual. He starts with sympathy and ends with outrage. Why is an air controller doing two jobs? Why is there no head of the FAA? Why are people who just happen to be standing nearby, suddenly appointed as a deputy?
I am worried about two nominees - Patel and Gabbard.
And the beat goes on