Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., stated the affirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to guide the Division of Well being and Human Services and products is “now not a slam dunk,” as President Donald Trump’s nominee works to shore up improve.
In an look on “Fox Information Sunday,” Fetterman said he has met with Kennedy two times in his administrative center and that no matter his choice finally ends up being at the HHS nominee, it is going to be “an educated view.”
“I have invested numerous time to in point of fact perceive his background and to be told extra in regards to the guy,” Fetterman stated, including: “I approached with an open thoughts and I watched the listening to. And that’s the reason how the method works.”
TRUMP HEALTH SECRETARY NOMINEE RFK JR SURVIVES HEATED HEARINGS AHEAD OF CRUCIAL CONFIRMATION VOTES
Sen. John Fetterman right through the sixtieth presidential inauguration within the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Picture/Bloomberg by means of Getty Pictures)
Requested if he is reached a choice on whether or not he will vote “yay” or “nay” for Kennedy, Fetterman stated he has spoken to colleagues on all sides in regards to the topic.
“It is been difficult evidently. Completely. It is in no way a slam dunk for the nomination,” Fetterman instructed “Fox Information Sunday” host Shannon Bream.
“I have made an funding to in point of fact perceive and communicate to all the nominees, and I handled everybody with admire and I took the time to concentrate, and that is the reason been a part of my dedication,” he added.
Kennedy, a lifelong Democrat who switched his presidential marketing campaign in opposition to Biden to run as an Unbiased earlier than in the long run losing from the race to back Trump, made it via back-to-back grillings by means of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and the Well being Committee on Thursday. He nonetheless faces a very powerful committee and entire Senate affirmation votes in his undertaking to guide 18 robust federal businesses that oversee the country’s meals and well being.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., testifies right through a Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Hard work and Pensions listening to on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Picture/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
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Lots of the tricky questions and sparring over his stances on vaccines, abortion, Medicaid and different problems got here from Democrats at the two committees, however Thursday’s listening to ended with the highest Republican at the Well being panel announcing he was once “suffering” with Kennedy’s nomination.
“Your previous of undermining self belief in vaccines with unfounded or deceptive arguments issues me,” Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-Los angeles., instructed the nominee.
The doctor from Louisiana, who’s a a very powerful vote and who has voiced issues over Kennedy’s previous stance on vaccines, requested whether or not Kennedy can “be relied on to improve the most productive public well being.” The senator instructed Kennedy, who seeks to guide key well being businesses just like the Facilities for Illness Keep watch over and Prevention, the Meals and Drug Management, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Services and products, that “you’ll be listening to from me over the weekend.”
Well being and Human Services and products Secretary nominee Robert Kennedy Jr. walks to a gathering with Sen. John Fetterman on Capitol Hill on Jan. 9, 2025. (Jon Cherry/Getty Pictures)
Kennedy, whose outspoken perspectives at the pharmaceutical and meals industries have additionally sparked controversy, has stated he goals to shift the focal point of the businesses he would oversee towards promotion of a wholesome way of life, together with overhauling nutritional pointers, taking purpose at ultra-processed meals and attending to the basis reasons of continual sicknesses.
A robust pro-life suggest, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., instructed “Fox Information Sunday” that he’s supporting Kennedy in spite of the nominee’s previous feedback announcing he supported codifying Roe v. Wade and abortion “although it is complete time period.”
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“I’m now OK to supporting RFK Jr. as a result of I feel right through the process the listening to he is dedicated to a Republican pro-life agenda, President Trump’s pro-life schedule,” Graham stated when requested about the ones explicit previous remarks from Kennedy. “So I will be able to take him at his phrase. I am ok with what he stated at the pro-life factor. He has been radically pro-choice as an individual. However I do imagine that as secretary, he’ll enforce a pro-life schedule that will likely be driven by means of President Trump. I will be able to be a sure, however I will additionally watch each transfer he makes.”
Fox Information’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this file.
