Senate Finance Committee reports Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nomination favorably, 14-13, after debate on vaccines, ethics and qualifications

The Senate Committee on Finance on an unspecified date voted 14-13 to report the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of California to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), following a day of sharply divided statements about his views on vaccines, his ethics agreement and his qualifications to run large public health agencies.

The committee’s vote came after opening remarks in support from the presiding chair and extended criticism from several Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden (ranking member), who said he would oppose the nomination. Senators who supported the nomination described the choice as a potential agent of disruptive change in health policy.

Committee debate focused on three recurring themes: Kennedy’s public statements about vaccines and public health, the scope and durability of his amended ethics agreement, and whether he has the managerial competence to oversee agencies that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

The presiding chair said Kennedy had responded during the confirmation process and had…