[Not loaded yet]
RFK says he's not withholding any funding that Congress appropriated in 2025 for life-saving NIH research.
He commits to upholding the law: "Of course."
Lots of back and forth about whether RFK will spend the money that Congress appropriated to NIH in 2024, as required by law, versus not spending it because Russ Vought wants to hollow out the govt.
RFK says yes.
"Unbelievable," DeLauro mutters after she goes off. "Unbelievable."
(Ed note: I'm delayed by like 40 mins on this hearing, I've scrolled back to watch DeLauro)
DeLauro: Why did you eliminate CDC's Office of Smoking and Health?
RFK: We're under a court order not to do more reorg at HHS, my attorneys tell me I can't talk about this.
May 14, 2025 15:07Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) asks RFK if he'd vaccinate his children today for measles:
"For measles?" RFK says, pausing. "Probably for measles."
The HHS secretary says his opinions are irrelevant: "I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me." 😐
RFK says "everybody can make that decision" on whether to get vaccinated and he doesn't want to give his opinions bc "it will seem like I'm giving advice to other people and I don't want to be doing that."
Pocan: "But that's kinda your jurisdiction because CDC does give advice."
How is this real.
Pocan: Would you vaccinate your child for chicken pox?
RFK: "I don’t want to give advice. I can tell you in Europe they don’t use the chicken pox vaccine.”
Pocan: Polio?
RFK: “Again, I don’t want to be giving advice.”
