WASHINGTON ― Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) delivered a fiery rebuke Thursday of President Donald Trump’s well being and human companies nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his historical past of fanning conspiracy theories about vaccines, turning into emotional as she described elevating a son with cerebral palsy and the necessity to construct on settled science.
Throughout Kennedy’s affirmation listening to, Hassan known as it “disturbing” that some Republicans have accused Democrats of opposing Kennedy’s nomination for partisan causes. In truth, she mentioned, Democratic senators take their function severely in relation to vetting potential Cupboard secretaries, and lots of have considerations about Kennedy’s mistrust of science.
“It’s possible you’ll not know that I’m the proud mom of a 36-year-old younger man with extreme cerebral palsy,” Hassan mentioned, choking up. “A day doesn’t go by once I don’t take into consideration, ‘What did I do once I was pregnant with him that may have prompted the hydrocephalus that has so impacted his life?’”
The New Hampshire Democrat condemned the suggestion that any senator, in both get together, doesn’t wish to know what causes autism.
“Are you aware what number of associates I’ve with youngsters who’ve autism?” she requested, her voice rising. “The issue with this witness’ response on the autism trigger and the connection to vaccines is as a result of he’s relitigating and churning settled science. So we are able to’t go ahead and discover out what the reason for autism is and deal with these youngsters and assist these households.”
Immediately addressing Kennedy, Hassan referenced a widely known and now-debunked 1998 study linking vaccines and autism, saying it “rocked my world” and left her nervous “like all mom” about whether or not vaccines had “carried out one thing” to her son. In truth, that research, which solely concerned 12 youngsters and went on to be extensively reviewed, turned out to be improper. The medical journal that initially printed it retracted it.
“Generally science is improper. We make progress,” mentioned the New Hampshire Democrat. “Whenever you proceed to sow doubt about settled science, it makes it unattainable for us to maneuver ahead. In order that’s what the issue is right here.”
Kennedy didn’t say something in response as Hassan moved on with questions on Medicaid. When she wrapped up, folks within the viewers clapped.
It’s not clear if Kennedy has the votes to be confirmed. His document of spreading vaccine misinformation and his shaky understanding of how federal well being packages work have alarmed senators in each events. He additionally has to clear two Senate panels: the Finance Committee, which held its affirmation listening to Wednesday, and the Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee, which held Thursday’s listening to.
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Kennedy didn’t accomplish that properly in Wednesday’s listening to, flubbing basic questions from Sen. Invoice Cassidy (R-La.), who’s a doctor, about how Medicaid works. And on Thursday, he raised eyebrows together with his responses to questions on vaccine security from Cassidy, who chairs the well being panel. The Louisiana Republican has been mum on whether or not he’ll help Kennedy’s nomination.
Trump first started contemplating Kennedy for the Cupboard submit after Kennedy dropped his presidential bid against him in August.
