Republican U.S. Senator from Maine Susan Collins has stated that she will be voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), verifying reports from Monday that nominee successfully addressed her earlier concerns and now earned her support.
“After extensive public and private questioning and a thorough examination of his nomination, I will support Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Sen. Collins said in a Tuesday statement to the Maine Wire.
“In response to my questioning at the HELP [Health, Education, Labor and Pensions] Committee hearing, Mr. Kennedy committed to support MaineHealth’s development of a vaccine for Lyme disease, as well as research for both chronic and infectious diseases,” Collins said. “He told me he believed in the efficacy of the polio vaccine, and said he would help restore Americans’ confidence in vaccines and our health agencies.”
Much of the controversy surrounding RFK Jr.’s nomination to be DHHS secretary is related to his skepticism about the safety and efficacy of certain vaccines.
Collins said that Kennedy agreed to have regular meetings and closely consult with the chair of the Senate HELP Committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who is a physician.
Maine’s senior senator also said this week she spoke with Kennedy regarding the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds medical research grants, and that Kennedy told her he would re-examine the initiative upon his confirmation.
“This week, I contacted Mr. Kennedy about the Administration’s decision to impose an arbitrary cap on the indirect costs that are part of NIH grants and negotiated between the grant recipient and NIH,” Collins said.
“He stated that as soon as he is confirmed, he will lead a re-examination of this initiative. I will continue to follow up with him to prevent the needless loss of jobs and to ensure that the vital biomedical research funded by the NIH continues,” she added.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="35212 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=35212">6 Comments
Hegseth was the vote that counted on my score card .
Susan Collins failed .
I will never vote for her again .
Anybody but Susan Collins .
As much as it is annoying that she didn’t vote for Hegseth, it would be more annoying to have a senator who doesn’t support any of the nominees. The fact that she only voted against one or two, should make it evident that she is not completely against President Trump’s agenda. Primarying her is just selfish and near-sighted. If you want to lose our majority, be my guest, but anyone with reason can see that it’s wiser to take what you can get.
Too little, too late. Just go home shakes the clown.
I’m sorry .
If Susan Collins was a “ Real Republican “ she would be more help to the people of Maine that oppose the insanity of the Mills Regime and the destruction of the state by the democrat party .
She doesn’t say a word .
Susan Collins is a Republican in name only .
Susan Collins like Angus King is a democrat .
Suzy has always been a Democrat disqcuized in Republican clothing! Her dad must be rolling over in his grave? She continues to get elected because she is a better Democratic candidate than the Democrat she has run against! I have always skipped the vote when Suzy is running for office. Rather not vote than vote for a fake!
Angus King doesn’t believe in making America Healthy Again. He’d lose all his kickbacks.