Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Gains Support From Critical GOP Senator

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, gained support on Tuesday from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).

“I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning. I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel,” Cassidy said.

“With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes,” he added.

I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning. I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel. With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the…

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 4, 2025

With Cassidy’s support, RFK Jr. cleared a major hurdle in the Senate confirmation process.

RFK Jr.’s nomination made it through the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday in a 14-13 vote, with Cassidy’s yes vote opening the path.

Just in: RFK Jr. passed a major hurdle today when the Senate Finance Committee voted along party lines to send his bid to lead the DHHS to a full chamber vote later this week.

Full chamber vote should go along party lines, meaning his chances of becoming the next DHHS chief are… pic.twitter.com/4AL9fAvtUL

— Joe Quinn (@SeosQuinn) February 4, 2025

Per STAT News:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to win confirmation to head the Department of Health and Human Services after his nomination cleared the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday and a key Republican senator assented to his confirmation.

The committee voted for RFK Jr. 14-13 along party lines, sending his nomination to the Senate floor for a vote, probably next week. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) joined all other Republicans on the committee in voting yes, and said in a speech following that vote that he would support RFK Jr.’s confirmation.

It had not been clear how Cassidy, a physician who expressed misgivings about RFK Jr. last week, would vote. Republicans have only one more member on the committee than Democrats, so Cassidy had the power to decide the vote. No Republican senators have said they will vote against Kennedy.

“My expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make America healthy again is the basis of my support,” Cassidy said.

Cheers to Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy who did the right thing today. He’s a Republican who was and is unsure about RFK Jr. and reasonably expressed that in last week’s confirmation hearings, but he put that (and possibly his own political future) aside in order to advance… pic.twitter.com/bCeoAgzfSp

— Natalie Jean Beisner (@NJBeisner) February 4, 2025

Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy supports RFK Jr., despite concerns over vaccine stance https://t.co/A9GLyTOVic

— NOLA.com (@NOLAnews) February 4, 2025

From The Hill:

To that end, Cassidy said the White House and Kennedy pledged to maintain a key federal advisory board; to work within the established, existing vaccine safety systems; and to give Cassidy input on HHS hiring decisions.

“My expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make America healthy again is the basis of my support,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy said Kennedy committed to appearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on a quarterly basis if requested. He also pledged to allow the committee chair to choose a representative on any board or commission formed to review vaccine safety.

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If Kennedy is confirmed, Cassidy said HHS will provide a 30-day notice to the HELP Committee if the agency seeks to make changes to any federal vaccine safety monitoring programs.

Cassidy said the committee will have the option to call a hearing “to further review the commitments” if warranted.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.