[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S957-S958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Recognition of the Minority Leader

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Democratic leader is 
recognized.


                  Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will vote on the 
nomination of Robert F. Kennedy to serve as Secretary of Health and 
Human Services. By now, it is beyond clear that Mr. Kennedy is not 
remotely qualified to become the next Secretary of HHS. In fact, Mr. 
Kennedy might be one of the least qualified people that Donald Trump 
could have chosen for the job. There are so many others that would have 
been better.
  I am very proud that every single Democrat will oppose Mr. Kennedy's 
nomination, because Democrats know better than to elevate a conspiracy 
theorist to the top healthcare job in the country.
  I know some of my colleagues feel the same way privately. In fact, if 
the Senate held a secret ballot today, I would bet Mr. Kennedy would 
never come close to becoming confirmed and that many, if not most, 
Republicans would vote against him. I think, most likely, most 
Republicans would vote against him if there were a secret ballot.
  But, sadly and unfortunately for America, Republicans are being 
strong-armed by Donald Trump and will end up holding their nose and 
voting to confirm Mr. Kennedy--what a shame, what a travesty.
  I urge my Republican colleagues to think very carefully, one last 
time, before rolling the dice--before rolling the dice--on Mr. Kennedy.
  A vote to confirm Mr. Kennedy is a vote to make America sicker. Mr. 
Kennedy has made a living not by promoting public health but by 
actively fighting it. Mr. Kennedy is the face of the modern anti-
vaccine movement. Mr. Kennedy has spent decades profiting off vaccine 
misinformation.
  Mr. Kennedy told me to my face that he would ``defer to the 
President'' on issues as personal, as deeply held, as important as 
abortion. How do we know that Mr. Kennedy won't defer to the 
President--who is far from an expert on healthcare--on other issues and 
healthcare issues as well? It is simple: We don't. But if he can change 
his view and defer to the President on something as deeply held as 
abortion, the

[[Page S958]]

likelihood is he will change his view on many other healthcare issues, 
to the detriment of the American people. One thing he won't change his 
views on is vaccines. I am sure because he has held that so deeply.

  My Republican colleagues should think very carefully before voting to 
elevate a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist to oversee our 
healthcare system.
  If confirmed, I fear greatly that Mr. Kennedy will take steps that 
severely undermine public health, weaken safety standards, and put the 
needs of for-profit corporations ahead of the needs of American 
families.
  Sooner or later, public backlash is going to build, and Republicans 
will have wished they hadn't signed their names for such a troubled 
nominee. So one final time--one final time--I implore my Republican 
colleagues to reject the nomination of Mr. Kennedy to be Secretary of 
HHS. A vote to confirm Mr. Kennedy is a vote I truly believe many, many 
Republicans and most Americans will eventually very deeply regret.