RFK Jr. joins Republicans in effort to gain top health job

(Bloomberg) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is meeting with Republican senators trying to better understand his views on abortion and vaccine policy as he makes his case this week for his nomination to the top role at the Department of Health and Human Services. Are giving support. Services.

President-elect Donald Trump in mid-November appointed Kennedy, a leader of the anti-vaccine movement and a critic of the pharmaceutical industry, to serve as secretary of HHS. The selection was criticized by public health experts and some Democrats and Republicans. This also led to a rise in the shares of vaccine manufacturers.

Kennedy’s meetings with Republicans on key Senate committees are set to last all week, paving the way for expectedly contentious confirmation hearings that will make or break his way into Trump’s Cabinet.

Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Senator Rick Scott of Florida are meeting with Kennedy on Monday, according to spokesmen for the lawmakers’ offices. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, who also serve as ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee, will speak with him this week, according to their spokespeople, who did not provide more specific details at the time. ,

To win the nation’s top health job, Kennedy would have to win over the Finance Committee and then win a vote of the full House. If all Senate Democrats ultimately vote against his confirmation, he could lose only three Republican votes.

Kennedy is set to meet with more than two dozen senators, according to Politico, which first reported the meetings on Capitol Hill this week. A spokesman for Kennedy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

To help Kennedy in the nomination process, many Republicans are seeking concessions focused on vaccinations and abortion, according to a person familiar with the matter.

On vaccinations, some Republican senators want more clarity on their stance, the person said. Kennedy, an environmental advocate with no background in health care or medicine, has spread misinformation about vaccinations, including the discredited claim that vaccines cause autism, although he recently suggested That he “will not take away anyone’s vaccines.” Lawmakers are interested in understanding how broad their focus on vaccinations will be, the person said.

Meanwhile, on abortion, Republican senators want assurances that Kennedy will roll back Biden-era abortion protections, particularly around the federal Title Providers are allowed to engage; Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act; and expanding some care through Medicaid waivers.

Some members of the Republican Party have already expressed concerns about his stances on vaccinations and abortion. Former Vice President Mike Pence asked Senate Republicans to reject Kennedy’s nomination because of his position on abortion.

The meetings came after Kennedy joined Trump at a dinner earlier this month with Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Albert Bourla and Eli Lilly & Co. Chief Executive David Ricks. Axios reported that they spoke for about three hours and discussed a possible public-private partnership, sending shares of both companies to their highest level. Stephen Ubl, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, was also in attendance, the industry trade group confirmed.

Trump’s selection of Kennedy to lead HHS has increased pressure on the industry. They have raised questions about the safety of vaccines and over-reliance on medication rather than healthy living to combat chronic disease.

“We congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his victory and look forward to working with him to build on the successes of his first administration,” UBL said in a statement on Nov. 6, shortly after Election Day. He said Trump had reined in “abuses” by pharmacy-benefit managers, a longtime target of the pharmaceutical industry.

The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment.

–With assistance from Antonia Mufarech and Gerry Smith.

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