The Congress examines RFK Jr. on budget cuts, vaccines and more

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the American Department of Health and Social Services, answered questions from Congress on Wednesday concerning budget cuts, vaccines, medicine and other questions.

He testified before the Committee of the House of Credit in the morning and the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in the afternoon to discuss the budget proposed by the Administration. These appearances mark Kennedy’s first testimony before the congress since his confirmation hearings at the end of January.

Here are some key dishes:

1. Vaccines

Kennedy has faced many questions about his controversial opinions about vaccines. This includes representative Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), who asked if he would vaccine his children today for measles. Kennedy said he would be “probably” for measles, but then declared that his “opinions on vaccines were not relevant”.

“I don’t think people should take medical advice from me,” he said, adding that he will expose the advantages and disadvantages of vaccines. Nor would he comment if he would vaccine his children for chickenpox or polio today.

Representative Rosa Delauro (D-Connecticut) said she was “horrified” that Kennedy did not encourage families to vaccinate their children for measles, chickenpox and polio.

“Vaccines are one of the foundations of public health,” she said. “Vaccines, yes, save lives, and the fact that the Secretary of Health and Social Services refuses to encourage children to be vaccinated is a tragedy.”

During the Senate hearing, Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) also took shots in Kennedy for his opinions on vaccines. Murphy argued that he had not followed the promises he made during his confirmation hearing, in particular that he would not reduce the appropriate funding by the congress for vaccination programs. He said Kennedy had canceled $ 12 billion in states grants used to administer and follow the vaccines, to which Kennedy asked: “When did I do this?”

Murphy also pushed Kennedy if he recommends families to have their children vaccinated.

“I’m not going to just tell people that everything is safe and effective. If I know there are problems, I have to respect people’s intelligence, ”replied Kennedy.

2. HHS lings and cuts

During his opening comments, Delauro, who ranks a member of the Credit Committee of the Chamber, was released by swinging on the administration cuts in HHS, NIH, CDC and FDA.

“With you at the helm, the Trump administration and the republicans of the congress destroy the jewels of the crown of our health system: the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration,” she said. “At NIH, the largest funder for the world of vital biomedical research, you and Elon Musk have drawn or driven almost 5,000 people, including some of the most pre -eminent scientists in the world.”

She added that Kennedy “eliminates scores” from CDC prevention programs, as for HIV, tobacco and armed violence.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) also questioned the HHS cuts, in particular concerning Alzheimer’s disease. She is the author of The Bold Act, who educates providers on Alzheimer’s disease and promotes an earlier diagnosis.

“I worked very hard to make sure that HHS has the resources necessary to carry out this law, which has been recently extended,” said Collins. “I fear that the reductions in force of around 10,000 employees across the HHS will fully undermine this law.”

Kennedy said he would work with Collins and Alzheimer’s disease takes place in his family.

3. Medicaid cuts

Representative Josh Harder (D-California) pressed Kennedy on the proposed Medicaid cuts, noting that she would leave 50,000 people in his community without health insurance.

“Why do you think that a community like mine does not deserve access to the same basic health care provided by Medicaid from which you have benefited?” Due more in question, referring to the treatment of drug addiction that Kennedy has received in the past.

“I don’t know if you understand this, or if you simply stretch the Democratic discussion points, Medicaid cuts are intended for fraud, waste and abuse,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy also argued that Medicaid is for poor children, mothers and disabled, and that adults who are valid and refuse to volunteer or obtain a job should not be eligible for Medicaid. Harder has resumed that the vast majority of Medicaid residents work and that the addition of paperwork will prevent people from accessing Medicaid.

Before the hearings, patient defense organizations have echoed these comments on the work requirements of Medicaid.

Photo: Mikeylpt, Getty Images