Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a key hurdle in his bid to become secretary of Health and Human Services when the Finance Committee voted along party lines Tuesday to recommend his confirmation to the Senate.
Sen. Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who indicated reluctance to support Kennedy at a pair of hearings last week, joined the 13 other Republicans on the panel to advance President Donald Trump's choice to be the nation's top health official. All 13 Finance Committee Democrats voted in opposition.
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The next step in the confirmation process is a debate and a vote on the Senate floor, which has not been scheduled. In spite of winning over Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Cassidy, who sparred with the nominee about his history of spreading misinformation about vaccines, Kennedy's chances of winning the job remain uncertain.
Kennedy must secure votes from at least 50 senators. Republicans have a 53-47 edge over Democrats in the upper chamber, and Vice President JD Vance has the constitutional authority as president of the Senate to cast a tiebreaking vote if necessary. That means Kennedy can afford to lose up to three Republicans and still become HHS secretary. Democrats so far appear united against the nominee.