Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. (RFK), nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), appeared before the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for his confirmation hearing and would not state that vaccines do not cause Autism. Instead, he asked to see the research that proves that the link does not exist. The Autism Society of America is very disturbed that Mr. Kennedy has not clearly stated that vaccines are not linked to Autism. Any direction to reinvestigate debunked myths, will reverse progress, and deter funding that addresses healthcare inequities and services that the Autism community needs now. Mr. Kennedy also did not seem to understand the differences between Medicare and Medicaid. It is important as the Secretary of HHS, who oversees key health programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, food and drug safety, health insurance, family support services, mental health, health research, and community living, to understand the complexities of these programs that are critical to the disability community.
RFK Jr. was voted favorably out of the Senate Finance Committee on a partisan vote of 14-13 and will now face a vote on the Senate floor to become Secretary of HHS. We urge advocates to use this Action Alert to contact your Senators, urging them to not support his nomination.
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