LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The U.S. Senate has confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr as Secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Providers with a vote of 52-48. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan was one of many 48 dissenting votes.
Petrers took to the Senate flooring Thursday in opposition to Kennedy’s nomination, talking of his issues that Kennedy could be unqualified to handle the company in command of the general public’s well being, which incorporates applications resembling Medicare and Medicaid and businesses such because the CDC and FDA.
“Throughout his entire nomination process, it has become clear that Mr. Kennedy is wholly unprepared to lead this Department,” mentioned Peters. “Mr. Kennedy’s lack of experience and basic understanding of our nation’s health care system is, to say the least, extremely alarming. We cannot confirm a nominee who doesn’t even know the most basic answers about programs that he’s actually in charge of administering.”
Peters additionally spoke of issues he is heard from Michiganders.
“Since Mr. Kennedy was nominated to guide HHS, I’ve heard from hundreds of my constituents from each nook of Michigan, from densely populated cities to among the most rural areas in our state, who’re deeply involved about how his plans for the division would influence households,” mentioned Peters.
He then proceeded to provide a number of examples.
“I’ve heard from a constituent who has operated a meals pantry in her group for 13 years. She worries about what’s going to occur to the people who she serves if they don’t have entry to the meals safety applications made potential by HHS,” said Peters. “I’ve even heard from parents who are concerned about Mr. Kennedy’s narrative suggesting vaccines cause autism. Because he has given credibility to these lies, and questioned facts from scientists and doctors, these parents worry that their children will not receive the most basic, routine care that they deserve.”