Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging Senate Republicans To Reject Conspiracy Theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health And Human Services Ahead Of His Confirmation Vote

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services to implore Senate Republicans one last time to consider the dangers of confirming a conspiracy theorist who lacks the qualifications needed for this critical position and will jeopardize the health of Americans. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

The fact that we’re even here right now voting on this wildly unqualified conspiracy theorist to trust with one of the most life or death jobs – HHS Secretary, charged with protecting the health of every single American – should be an affront to every Senator and the millions of Americans that will be impacted by this horrific nomination.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I implore you: think one more time, one last time, about this vote.

My colleagues on the Republican side, you know the consequences of what you’re doing.

My colleagues on the Republican side, you know how dangerous this is.

My colleagues on the other side, you know you are not putting your constituents – their health, their families – first when you vote yes.

To quote my colleague, the junior Senator from Texas just a few years ago: “We need an expert, we need a scientist, we need someone who knows something about healthcare leading the Health and Human Services Department.”

Well, which is Robert F. Kennedy? An expert? A scientist?

Or what about the senior Senator from Louisiana, the chair of the HELP committee, a well-respected medical professional himself?

A few years ago, here’s what he said: “Previous HHS Secretaries have had a pharmaceutical industry background, been a state health commissioner, run health systems, have been governors – somebody who has had a background in actually administering the programs that HHS administers.”

I ask my colleagues: which of these qualifications does RFK possess? You know the answer – none of them.

The question in front of this body is not simply to confirm RFK to run the nation’s health department.

The question before us is very simple: what is more important to you, the health and well-being of your constituents, or blindly obeying orders knowing full-well the dangerous impacts your vote will enable?

I plead with you one more time. Rethink this issue. This is dangerous. This is wrong – very wrong.

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