Latest news with #SenateHealthCommittee
Gulf Insider
17-05-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
RFK Jr. Defends His Comments On Vaccines: "I'm Going To Tell The Truth"
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his recent statements about vaccines during a congressional hearing on May 14. 'I'm going to tell the truth about everything we know and we don't know about vaccines,' Kennedy told Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) while testifying before the Senate Health Committee. 'I am not going to just tell people that everything is safe and effective if I know there are issues. I need to respect people's intelligence.' Several lawmakers expressed concern about Kennedy's recent comments, which include saying that the protection conferred by the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine wanes over time. 'The result is to undermine faith in the vaccine,' Murphy said. 'It's kind of like saying, 'Listen, I think you should swim in that lake, but you know, the lake is probably toxic, and there's probably a ton of snakes and alligators in that lake, but I think you should swim in it.' Nobody is going to swim that lake if that's what you say. I want you to acknowledge that when you say you support the measles vaccine, and then you go out and repeatedly undermine the vaccine, with information that is contested by public health experts, that is not supporting the vaccine.' Kennedy responded, 'If I advise you to swim in a lake that I knew there to be alligators in, wouldn't you want me to tell you there were alligators in it? 'The reason people have lost faith in this program is that they've been lied to by public officials for year after year after year.' Several outbreaks of measles have appeared in the United States in 2025, including an outbreak in Texas that has spread to hundreds of people. Texas officials say most patients are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the administration of two doses of the MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective against measles. Studies, including a paper from French researchers, have found that the protection wanes slowly over time. 'We're always going to have measles, as the vaccine wanes very quickly,' Kennedy said recently at a town hall. He has also said that the MMR vaccine has side effects and that many vaccines on the childhood vaccination schedule have not been tested in randomized, controlled trials against placebos. '[That] means we don't understand the risk profile for those products and that's something that I intend to remedy,' Kennedy told lawmakers on May 14, referring to the Department of Health and Human Services' announcement that all new vaccines must be tested against placebos before being licensed. Kennedy testified before the Senate panel and the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. It was the first time he appeared before Congress since being confirmed in February. Click here to read more…
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
RFK Jr. Defends His Comments on Vaccines: ‘I'm Going to Tell the Truth'
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his recent statements about vaccines during a congressional hearing on May 14. 'I'm going to tell the truth about everything we know and we don't know about vaccines,' Kennedy told Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) while testifying before the Senate Health Committee. 'I am not going to just tell people that everything is safe and effective if I know there are issues. I need to respect people's intelligence.' Several lawmakers expressed concern about Kennedy's recent comments, which include saying that the protection conferred by the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine wanes over time. 'The result is to undermine faith in the vaccine,' Murphy said. 'It's kind of like saying, 'listen, I think you should swim in that lake, but you know, the lake is probably toxic, and there's probably a ton of snakes and alligators in that lake, but I think you should swim in it.' Nobody is going to swim that lake if that's what you say. I want you to acknowledge that when you say you support the measles vaccine, and then you go out and repeatedly undermine the vaccine, with information that is contested by public health experts, that is not supporting the vaccine.' Kennedy responded, 'If I advise you to swim in a lake that I knew there to be alligators in, wouldn't you want me to tell you there were alligators in it?' Related Stories 5/1/2025 5/13/2025 He added: 'The reason people have lost faith in this program is that they've been lied to by public officials for year after year after year.' Several outbreaks of measles have appeared in the United States this year, including an outbreak in Texas that has spread to hundreds of people. Texas officials say most patients are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Studies, including 'We're always going to have measles, as the vaccine wanes very quickly,' Kennedy said recently at a town hall. He has also noted that the MMR vaccine has side effects and that many vaccines on the childhood vaccination schedule That 'means we don't understand the risk profile for those products and that's something that I intend to remedy,' Kennedy told lawmakers on Wednesday, referring to the Department of Health and Human Services' Kennedy testified to the Senate panel and the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. It was the first time he appeared before Congress since being confirmed in February. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) asked Kennedy, who has said his children received the typical vaccines in their childhood, if he had a child today, would he get that child vaccinated with the MMR shot? 'Probably,' Kennedy said. 'I would say my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant. 'I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me. I think if I answer that question directly, that it will seem that I'm giving advice to other people, and I don't want to be doing that,' Kennedy said, adding that health officials were going to try to outline the pros and cons, or the risks and benefits, of each vaccine. Pocan tried to get Kennedy to answer the same question for the chickenpox and polio vaccines. The health secretary demurred. Republicans largely steered clear of vaccines during the hearings. A number of them praised developments under Kennedy, including the banning of some artificial dyes and the focus on cutting costs at the health agency. 'You've done more to shine the light on things that average Americans can do to make themselves healthier than almost any secretary that I can recall,' Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) said, 'so thank you for that service.'
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Live Updates: Trump Lands in Qatar After Meeting Militant Who Now Leads Syria
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, will also be asked about the huge reductions he has already imposed on research grants and jobs. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose drastic overhaul of the federal health apparatus has left scientists and patients reeling, will face a demand from the Republican chairman of the Senate health committee on Wednesday to explain to Americans how his reforms 'will make their lives easier, not harder.' Mr. Kennedy will testify on Capitol Hill for the first time as health secretary, appearing back to back before the House and the Senate to promote President Trump's budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. But he will also be asked to defend the huge reductions he has already imposed on research grants and jobs, which key Democrats have condemned as part of what they call Mr. Trump's 'war on science.' Mr. Trump has published only the broad outlines of his budget plan, which calls for deep cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mr. Kennedy is expected to say that the cuts will save money 'without impacting critical services,' according to remarks he intends to deliver to the House Appropriations Committee. The budget blueprint, Mr. Kennedy's remarks say, 'recognizes the fiscal challenges our country faces today, and the need to update and redirect our investments to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.' The remake of the health department, engineered in part by Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency, includes cutting 20,000 jobs — one quarter of the health work force. It also collapses entire agencies, including those devoted to mental health and addiction treatment, and emergency preparedness, into a new, ill-defined 'Administration for a Healthy America.' Senator Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana Republican and health committee chairman, is expected to call on Mr. Kennedy to articulate 'a clearly defined plan or objective,' according to an excerpt from his prepared remarks. Mr. Cassidy voted to confirm Mr. Kennedy despite intense misgivings about his views on vaccines. Mr. Cassidy asked Mr. Kennedy to testify about the job cuts at the health department last month, but the secretary did not appear. 'Much of the conversation around H.H.S.'s agenda has been set by anonymous sources in the media and individuals with a bias against the president,' Mr. Cassidy's remarks say. 'Americans need direct reassurance from the administration, from you Mr. Secretary, that its reforms will make their lives easier, not harder.' That may be a tall order. A recent poll by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research organization, found that a majority of the public opposed major cuts to staff and spending at the nation's health agencies. A majority of Americans said the Trump administration was 'recklessly making broad cuts to programs and staff, including some that are necessary for agencies to function.' In anticipation of the hearing, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the ranking member on the health committee, released a report on Tuesday that accused Mr. Trump of waging an 'unprecedented, illegal and outrageous attack on science and scientists.' The report found, for instance, that Mr. Trump cut cancer research by 31 percent over the first three months of this year, compared to the same time frame last year. 'Trump's war on science is an attack against anyone who has ever loved someone with cancer,' Mr. Sanders said in a statement. 'The American people do not want us to slash cancer research in order to give more tax breaks for billionaires.' Mr. Kennedy, one of the nation's most vocal vaccine skeptics, is also likely to face questions about his management of a measles outbreak that began in West Texas, which has killed two unvaccinated children and one adult, and has now sickened more than 1,000 people in 30 states, according to the C.D.C. Mr. Kennedy has offered only a tepid endorsement of vaccination. He has acknowledged that vaccines are an effective way of preventing the spread of measles. But he has insisted that the choice to vaccinate should be voluntary. He has instead promoted treating the disease after infection with alternative therapies, including cod liver oil, which contains vitamin A — a remedy that doctors said had sickened some children who took too much of it. In the House, where Mr. Kennedy will appear before the Appropriations Committee, Democrats will argue that he and Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk are destroying 'the crown jewels of our health system,' according to a Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview lawmakers' remarks. Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, is likely to focus on cuts to scientific studies aimed at understanding and developing treatments for diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. The aide said that cutting basic research funded by N.I.H. is 'destroying the pipeline of future medical treatments.' Democrats will also press Mr. Kennedy on how the cuts are affecting clinical trials. Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, who serves on the health committee but is also the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, hosted a round-table discussion last week at Seattle Children's Research Institute to put a spotlight, her office said, on 'what's at stake for patients and families as Trump takes a wrecking ball to this research.' In an emailed statement on Tuesday, Ms. Murray complained that Mr. Kennedy was 'overdue to testify' after 'no-showing' when Mr. Cassidy invited him in April.
Politico
13-05-2025
- Health
- Politico
Will Newsom make the Medi-Cal chop?
PINCHING PENNIES: Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget blues are shining a big spotlight on California's heavily scrutinized health care program for undocumented immigrants. But health care advocates and insiders don't expect the revised spending plan Newsom announces tomorrow to slash the state's Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented immigrants — even as the state faces federal cuts and a budget hole that's tens of billions of dollars deep. Even if he wanted to, state lawmakers probably wouldn't let him. 'Fuck, no,' said Caroline Menjivar, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, when asked if federal pressure would prompt California to cut the program. 'Absolutely not.' Advocates and insiders say the governor's budget will more likely slice around the undocumented population with the intention of bringing down overall costs for the insurance system that covers California's poorest residents, as Rachel reports today for POLITICO Pro subscribers. Newsom's administration all year has been focusing on the ballooning costs of pharmaceuticals as a main cost driver. That focus was bolstered again today when the Democratic governor announced he'd be putting new regulations on pharmacy middlemen. That stance is likely Newsom's best option to rein in spending, even though he's facing federal pressure to stop covering the immigrant population President Donald Trump's administration has targeted for mass deportations. Congressional Republicans want to penalize California for providing health care to those in the country illegally by cutting 10 percent of the state's funding for higher-income earners on Medi-Cal. Health care advocates don't see those threats as a reason for the state to curtail coverage for undocumented people. 'We really want to see the state continue those investments, and not preemptively cut the program in anticipation of what might happen at the federal level,' said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, the executive director of Health Access California, a health care consumer advocacy group. It was former Gov. Jerry Brown who initiated the process of making all undocumented residents eligible for the state's version of the federal Medicaid program. But Newsom has taken ownership of it throughout his time in office as a way of fulfilling his promise of universal health care — especially as dreams of a single-payer system have largely fallen by the wayside. The Legislature, with its powerful Latino Legislative Caucus, isn't likely to go along with plans to kick vulnerable immigrants off the Medi-Cal rolls. Chair Lena Gonzalez, a state senator from Long Beach, said preserving health care coverage was a top caucus priority at a press conference last month and warned against using the issue to '[villainize] our community.' 'There's so many other factors,' Gonzalez said. 'Prescription drug costs have gone up. Long-term care is an issue. So we need to talk about those things in the full narrative.' IT'S TUESDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY DEFICIT DILEMMA: Local government leaders are hoping for budgetary help from Sacramento as they deal with their own spending gaps, our Dustin Gardiner reports today for Pro subscribers. Mayors of large cities and small towns have trekked to the capital in recent months to plead for a Trump-era safety net as they face steep local budget deficits and an administration in Washington D.C. that's angling to slash spending on a host of programs. And they arrived hats in hand, asking for increased funding to move homeless people into shelters, bail out transit agencies on the brink of collapse and hire additional police to enforce the state's crackdown on drug and theft crimes. Those are perennial needs, but such asks have taken on a deeper sense of urgency this session as Trump threatens to withhold billions of dollars from California cities and counties over his disdain for policies protecting undocumented immigrants and incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion goals into programs like federal housing vouchers. 'There's a lot, a lot of uncertainty, whether you're Los Angeles or you're Amador City,' said Carolyn Coleman, executive director at the League of California Cities. 'And we can't just manufacture money to make up for that.' IN OTHER NEWS LANDLORD LAMBASTING: The California Apartment Association is doubling down on its attacks against Senate Housing Committee Chair Aisha Wahab. The landlord lobbying group recently released a new website dedicated to slamming the Bay Area Democrat's tenant protection legislation and opposition to developer-backed bills meant to spur housing construction. The website, is part of the Apartment Association's $750,000 mail and digital ad campaign targeting voters in Assembly and Senate districts throughout the state, said Nathan Click, a spokesperson for the group. A graphic at the top of the website shows an arrow pointing to Wahab with text saying 'The biggest threat to California's housing progress.' Wahab's bills deal with rent-stabilization policies, limitations on tenant fees and eviction protections — all of which the Apartment Association strongly opposes. The senator has been critical of bills meant to expedite housing production, saying they give handouts to developers while failing to help needy tenants. Last month, Wahab clashed with state Sen. Scott Wiener over legislation promoting taller, more-dense housing near mass transit. She later explained her housing philosophy during a Legislative Renters' Caucus press conference. 'We are seeing bills that actually help renters, like many of our bills that we've talked about, actually be pushed back by the same people that say that they're trying to help renters,' Wahab said. NEW SUIT(S): California is, once again, joining with a coalition of Democratic states to sue the Trump administration — this time over freezing billions of dollars for transportation infrastructure, emergency preparedness and counterterrorism, our Alex Nieves reports for Pro subscribers. A pair of lawsuits, filed by 20 states in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, argue the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority and violated Congress' constitutional power to approve spending after the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation withheld funding from states over immigration enforcement and diversity policies. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general contend that the administration has no authority to attach arbitrary and capricious new conditions to receiving funding through grant programs. The state also announced Tuesday it would file a preliminary injunction to halt Trump's tariff policy while litigation on a complaint filed last month proceeds, citing ongoing economic damage to the state. Bonta's office also plans to file an amicus brief backing a lawsuit filed by a dozen states challenging the tariffs in the U.S. Court of International Trade. WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY — Hotel investors are threatening to pull out of room blocks and expansions if the LA City Council passes a $30 wage requirement for hotel workers. (Los Angeles Times) — Rich Hillis is leaving his post as San Francisco planning director after five years in the job and 25 working for the city. (San Francisco Chronicle) — Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong was seen in conversation with Trump in Saudi Arabia today — the latest sign of their strengthening relationship. (POLITICO) AROUND THE STATE — San Diego County named Dr. Saynone Thihalolipavan to be the county's public health medical officer. (San Diego Union-Tribune) — The race for Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva's seat in the 67th District has become one of the most expensive contests for the 2026 cycle. (Orange County Register) — Connie Clark has been appointed to the Hemet City Council to finish former Councilmember Carole Kendrick's term. (Press-Enterprise) — The San Francisco Conservation Corps, a job-training nonprofit that works on things like landscaping and recycling, has shut down due to financial strain. (San Francisco Chronicle) — compiled by Nicole Norman
Epoch Times
05-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
RFK Jr. to Testify to Senators on May 14
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is slated to testify to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on May 14, the panel said on May 2. Kennedy Kennedy has not sat before the committee since he was approved by the Senate and sworn in as HHS secretary in February. President Donald Trump's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which starts in October, includes $500 million to further the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda that Trump has tasked Kennedy with enacting. The money 'would allow the Secretary to tackle nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety across HHS,' the White House Trump has also asked for reductions in funding for a range of health programs, including a program that assists poorer families with paying energy bills, because they are duplicative or just unnecessary, the White House said. Related Stories 5/4/2025 5/1/2025 Kennedy, in a post on social media platform X, 'For decades, we've watched rates of autism, asthma, allergies, autoimmune disorders, and obesity skyrocket while our health institutions looked the other way. That ends now. Together, we will restore integrity to public health, protect our most vulnerable, and Make America Healthy Again,' he said. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a doctor and the chairman of the Senate Health Committee, delivered a crucial vote for Kennedy that advanced his confirmation to the full Senate, which later confirmed the nominee. Cassidy Kennedy Cassidy also said that Kennedy would testify to the Senate Health Committee on a quarterly basis and that Kennedy would keep in close contact with him. When HHS later announced it was firing 10,000 workers on top of 10,000 others who had already been terminated or accepted buyouts, with the aim of streamlining the agency, Cassidy Kennedy has said HHS supports measles vaccination but has emphasized that the shot can cause side effects and that some people will decline to take the vaccine. HHS also Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Health Committee, voted against Kennedy. Sanders Sanders more recently decried cuts to the Head Start program, which provides child care and schooling to young children from poorer families, and to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. He has not commented on Kennedy's upcoming appearance before the panel.
