stock here: below is a Gemini created partial transcript summary.
This transcript is a continuation of the Senate hearing with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary. It covers a range of topics including agricultural regulations, drug price transparency, organ transplant reform, the politicization of COVID-19, and the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines. The tone remains highly contentious, with senators from both parties expressing strong opinions and clashing with Secretary Kennedy.
The key points of the latter part of the hearing include:
- Senator Grassley questions Kennedy about his past promise not to regulate farming. Kennedy reassures him that HHS is working closely with the agricultural community. Grassley also asks about requiring drug companies to disclose prices in TV ads and expresses concern about reports of “transplant line skipping” and illegal organ harvesting. Kennedy responds that HHS has launched a major investigation and is reorganizing the organ procurement industry.
- Senator Cornin questions Kennedy about the high cost and low outcomes of the U.S. healthcare system, arguing that simply spending more money isn’t the solution. Kennedy agrees, stating the U.S. has some of the worst health outcomes despite high spending. He cites rising rates of chronic diseases and infant mortality as evidence of the system’s failure.
- Senator Bennett and Senator Cassidy both challenge Kennedy on his appointments to the CDC’s advisory panel on vaccines (ASIP). They accuse him of replacing qualified scientists with “anti-vaxers” and conspiracy theorists. Kennedy denies this, claiming he is de-politicizing the panel and putting “great scientists” on it. The senators quote some of Kennedy’s appointees who have made controversial statements about vaccine safety, which Kennedy either denies or agrees with. The debate becomes heated, with both sides accusing the other of lying and misrepresenting the facts.
- Senator Cantwell echoes the concerns about Kennedy’s stance on vaccines, stating that she represents a science-based state. She praises mRNA technology and Operation Warp Speed, questioning why Kennedy canceled $500 million in related research. Kennedy defends the cancellation, saying the research was for upper respiratory infections and that he is focusing on different health priorities. Cantwell also accuses Kennedy of perpetrating hoaxes and undermining the healthcare system.
- Senator Warner expresses disbelief at Kennedy’s testimony, particularly his statements that he doesn’t know how many Americans died from COVID-19 or if vaccines prevented deaths. Warner accuses Kennedy of being “ignorant” of basic data and not understanding the real-world impact of his policies, such as the closing of rural hospitals.
- Senator Langford offers a brief comment, expressing support for Kennedy’s work on the “one big beautiful bill” and its $50 billion investment in rural hospitals.
Names Supporting Kennedy
- Senator Grassley: He expressed gratitude for Kennedy’s work, specifically for having the CMS fill the open slots for the rural community hospital demonstration program. He also thanks Kennedy for addressing the program’s underutilization and for a major investigation into organ harvesting.
- President Trump: Mentioned as the leader of the administration and the person who made a “steadfast commitment to make America healthy again.” Kennedy attributes the achievements of HHS to Trump’s leadership and says he “absolutely” deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed.
- Senator Cornin: He agrees with Kennedy that throwing money at healthcare is not the answer and provides Kennedy with a platform to explain his alternative approach.
- Senator Langford: He expresses support for the “one big beautiful bill” and the $50 billion it allocates for rural hospitals, noting that hospitals in his state of Oklahoma are looking forward to the funding.
- Brook Rollins: An individual with whom Kennedy says he is working “very, very closely” to ensure the administration’s agenda is consistent with the agricultural community’s.
Names Attacking Kennedy
- Senator Widen: As the ranking member, he was the primary critic, accusing Kennedy of causing a “healthcare calamity,” elevating “conspiracy theorists,” and putting children in harm’s way with anti-vaccine policies. He was also the one who requested to have Kennedy sworn in as a witness, an unusual and public sign of mistrust.
- Senator Alsobrook: Mentioned as being in partnership with Senator Widen’s staff to release a report on what they consider the “disaster” of Kennedy’s first 203 days in office.
- Susan Monarez: The former CDC director who wrote an op-ed accusing Kennedy of telling her to approve the recommendations of an anti-vaccine advisory panel. Kennedy called her a liar in response.
- Senator Canwell: Noted by Senator Widen as having joined his effort to raise alarm about Kennedy’s actions. She accuses Kennedy of being a “charlatan” and undermining science and technology.
- Senator Bennett: He challenges Kennedy on his appointments to the ASIP panel and quotes the controversial statements of his new appointees. He accuses Kennedy of putting children’s health at risk and creating confusion.
- Dr. Robert Malone: One of the people Kennedy appointed to the ASIP panel. Senator Bennett accuses him of claiming the mRNA vaccine “causes a form of AIDS” and “can damage children’s brains, heart, immune system, and their ability to have children in the future.”
- Dr. Levy: Another new member of the ASIP panel, quoted by Senator Bennett as saying “Evidence is mounting and indisputable that mRNA vaccines cause serious harm, including death, especially among young people.” Kennedy agrees with this statement.
- Senator Cassidy: He expresses concern about Kennedy’s conflicting statements about Operation Warp Speed and his past lawsuits against vaccine makers. He questions why Kennedy canceled $500 million in mRNA vaccine contracts. He also questions Kennedy’s views on conflicts of interest, pointing out that some of his new appointees have been paid witnesses in lawsuits against vaccine makers.
- Eric Ericson: A conservative from Atlanta, Georgia, whose email is submitted for the record by Senator Cassidy. The email expresses concern that his wife, who has stage four lung cancer, cannot get the COVID-19 vaccine due to the “mess at HHS.”
- Senator Warner: He expressed disbelief and outrage at Kennedy’s lack of knowledge about key health statistics, such as the number of COVID-19 deaths. He accuses Kennedy of being “ignorant” and out of touch with the reality of rural healthcare.
- Tom Cotton: Mentioned by Senator Warner in a sarcastic tone, implying that he (Cotton) might be one of the people who trusts Kennedy’s “health advice” over a doctor’s.
- Jeffrey Epstein: Mentioned by Senator Widen to imply Kennedy is not a “protector of children,” as Kennedy had reportedly flown on Epstein’s private jet on multiple occasions.