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By Monica Sager
Live News Reporter
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Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination for Health and Human Services secretary, giving him enough votes to clear the Senate Finance Committee and advance to a full floor vote in the Senate.
The vote was on party lines, 14-13.
Why It Matters
Kennedy appeared before the Senate Finance Committee last week for his confirmation hearing to become President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services head. Another hearing was held before the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. His confirmation requires a simple majority in the Senate, meaning he could be blocked if all Democrats and three Republicans vote against him.
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Kennedy focused many of his proposals on Wednesday on diseases among low-income Americans, especially those who rely heavily on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. He was also questioned about his positions on vaccinations as well as abortion rights.
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What To Know
Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican, and Democratic Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Maria Cantwell of Washington, and Raphael Warnock of Georgia spoke before the vote.
Crapo pointed out that Kennedy has "spent his career fighting to end America's chronic illness epidemic and has been a leading advocate for health care transparency both for patients and for taxpayers."
Wyden, on the other hand, asked the senators on the committee if they "want their legacy to include disregarding basic health science and instead elevate conspiracy theorists."
"I need someone at HHS who is going to say we are going to be a leader in medical technology, science, vaccines, we're going to fight foreign powers, we are going to be there to provide global health, and I don't want a recalcitrant," Cantwell said during her time. "I need a leader, and that is why I'm voting no."
Warnock discussed Kennedy's "going wild," saying that "the last thing we need is a dilettante dabbling in conspiracy theories at HHS."
After the vote, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, returned to Warnock's comments.
"I hope he does. I hope he goes wild and actually finds a way to reduce the cost of health care," Tillis said. "I hope he goes wild, and instead of having the discussions that we have had for the 10 years that I've been in the Senate of making Medicaid work and making people on Medicaid healthier, I hope he goes wild and figures out how to do it."
Tillis also listed food safety discussions and lowering drug prices. He also noted that people from the agriculture industry expressed concerns but said he was not aware of any "credible group" who said to vote against Kennedy.
Questions Surrounding Senator Bill Cassidy
It was unclear if the Louisiana senator would vote for Kennedy. Cassidy had pleaded with Kennedy previously to stop invoking debunked lies around the link between autism and vaccines.
Cassidy, a gastroenterologist, had conversations with Kennedy over the weekend, according to a post he shared on X, formerly Twitter, after his aye vote.
"I've had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning," Cassidy wrote. "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 issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes."
What People Are Saying
Democratic Vermont Senator Peter Welch at the hearing after the vote: "I want a disrupter in the health care system and the one leading it. I don't want a destroyer."
Republican South Carolina Senator Thomas Tillis at the hearing after the vote: "I believe in my 65 years—I'll be 65 in August—that Mr. Kennedy will be one of the first people coming before who is not a trained health care expert. He comes to this with the lens of an attorney. He's brought many lawsuits on food safety, vaccine safety and a number of other things."
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT'S 1 in 34. WOW! Something's really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT"
Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, sent Newsweek a statement: "Instead of protecting our public health systems from an anti-vax, anti-abortion conspiracy theorist, Senate Republicans voted to advance RFK Jr.'s nomination to the full chamber. This is disgraceful and cowardly...Most alarmingly, RFK Jr. unapologetically committed to carrying out Trump's violent health care agenda—an agenda that threatens access to reproductive health care, undermines science-based public health policies, and puts lives at risk. The Senate must reject his nomination to protect the health, rights, and safety of people across this country."
What Happens Next
Kennedy's position as the Secretary of Health and Human Services is now up for a vote on the Senate floor.
Update 2/4/25, 11:08 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 02/04/25 1:28 p.m. ET: this article has been updated with comment from Fatima Goss Graves.
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