[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Recognition of the Majority Leader

  The majority leader is recognized.


                  Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, this week, the Senate will consider the 
nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to be Secretary of Health and 
Human Services. President Trump has tapped Mr. Kennedy to lead the 
charge in making America healthy again--something that has been a 
concern of Mr. Kennedy's throughout his career.
  Mr. Kennedy promises to make HHS a collaborative, transparent, and 
science-driven Agency under his leadership. I will say that is good to 
hear. Many Americans' trust in health authorities has eroded in recent 
years, with the pandemic being a factor. A lot of Americans feel 
frustrated with confusing and sometimes contradictory guidance from 
government Agencies. And measures like requiring toddlers as young as 2 
years old to wear masks indefinitely not only defy common sense, there 
was no scientific research to back it up.
  Our public health Agencies do critical work. I am a supporter of the 
research, and I am proud of the contributions they make to American 
leadership in medicine and innovation. But if we are going to make 
America healthy again, the Agencies doing this important work have to 
rebuild some trust with Americans.
  I was pleased to hear Mr. Kennedy pledge to increase transparency and 
accountability, including an unprecedented level of collaboration with 
Congress that allows for regular and robust oversight of his Agency's 
activities.
  I was also pleased that Mr. Kennedy acknowledged the importance of 
vaccines and the concerning reality that vaccine uptake in this country 
is decreasing. Mr. Kennedy has pledged that he will maintain the best 
vaccine standards, and he has committed to work within existing vaccine 
approval and monitoring systems and maintain the FDA's review 
standards.
  I look forward to Mr. Kennedy being a partner with Congress on some 
very important issues. He has brought attention to America's chronic 
disease epidemic. I am pleased that he wants to put a focus on chronic 
diseases that affect too many Americans and cost far too much in lives 
lost and dollars spent.
  I am also encouraged that he is committed to implementing President 
Trump's pro-life policies at HHS. President Trump has been one of the 
most pro-life Presidents we have ever had. Mr. Kennedy's Agency will be 
critical in protecting life and supporting mothers and babies.
  Mr. Kennedy is also committed to working with farmers and ranchers on 
policies that affect our food supply. America's farmers and ranchers 
are a valuable resource, and I look forward to working with him to 
ensure that the voice of South Dakota's agriculture producers is heard.
  I believe that Mr. Kennedy's collaborative approach to this job will 
help restore some of the trust in our public health Agencies that has 
been lost in recent years. I look forward to working with him on a 
number of issues as we restore that trust and work to make America 
healthy again.