In second round of testimony, HHS secretary nominee RFK Jr faced hard questions from GOP doctors

Heath and Human Services Secretary-nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday faced a second round of Senate confirmation testimony, which this time included tough questions from three Republican lawmakers, each of whom are doctors. 

The toughest questions perhaps came from Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and and a physician.

The Louisiana lawmaker challenged Kennedy on his claims about the measles vaccine being linked to autism rates and asked him to use his influence to help restore public trust in vaccines. On Wednesday at a finance committee hearing said Kennedy said he supports vaccines and that his children are vaccinated. 

Cassidy also asked Kennedy to rescind his previous statements about measles vaccines.

Kennedy offered to meet with him about the studies and referenced a recent Florida study contradicting the studies referenced by Cassidy.  He also told the chairman that if scientific research does disprove his position that he will publicly recognize it and apologize.  

"I want the best science," said the 77-year-old Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and member of the Kennedy political family. "I can guarantee you on my word of honor, if you show me science that says that I'm wrong, I'm going to say I was wrong. I don't have any problem. There's nothing that would make me happier."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent who serves as the top Democrat on the GOP-controlled committee, asked similar questions to Kennedy on his claims about the measles vaccine. 

Sanders asked Kennedy if a set of 16 studies finding a lack of evidence for the claims about connections between the vaccine and incidents of autism, to which Kennedy has ascribed, would change his opinion.  

Kennedy pointed to the lack of evaluation by the Institute of Medicine Publications on Vaccines in the studies referenced by Sanders, but also repeated that "nothing would make me happier" then being proven wrong about the effects of measles vaccines.  

GOP Sens. Rand Paul, Kentucky, and Roger Marshall, Kansas, each physicians, also raised questions about vaccines and scientific research. 

Paul stated that the cause of autism is unknown and emphasized the need for debate in scientific research while also calling vaccines a "modern miracle."

Marshall spoke about the importance of the transparency about available information plays a role in the physician-patent relationship and the need for providing the American public with "non-biased information."

On Wednesday, Kennedy went before the Senate Finance Committee, where vaccines were also a prominent topic, although none of the Republican committee members were as outspoken on the issue as Cassidy. 

Kennedy responded to questions regarding his views on vaccines by stating that he is not "anti vax" and saying that accusations of being a conspiracy theorist were "pejorative." 

The GOP Finance committee will recommend, or not, whether Kennedy should get a final, full-chamber confirmation vote.  So far, not Republican member has publically said they would not against a recommendation.