HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Testifies before Congress (C-SPAN)
YouTube video by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQKt2BGow-s). Transcript is the auto-caption track — verbatim ASR, not a certified transcript.

The committee meets today in pursuant to notice and without objection, the chair may recess the committee at any point. At a time when Americans are facing rising health care costs, declining public trusts and worsening rates of chronic disease, strong leadership at HHS is more important than ever. Under Secretary Kennedy, HHS is taking bold and decisive action to make America healthy again. Healthc care is a critical part of the equation. Yet for too many families, the cost of care continues to rise while transparency remains out of reach. Patients and employers are too often left in the dark, unable to make informed choices about price and quality. That's unacceptable. Americans deserve clear and upfront pricing that will help drive competition and lower costs. This committee remains focused on strengthening transparency and ensuring the system works for patients, not against them. And we're glad to have the partnership of this HHS to help accomplish those goals. But access to health care is only one piece of the puzzle. Health begins long before a patient enters a doctor's office. It starts with nutrition, prevention, and daily choices. Under Secretary Kennedy's leadership, HHS has writed the food pyramid and delivered scientifically sound dietary guidelines for Americans. These are critical steps toward building a stronger foundation for public health, particularly for children. This is also an era where the committee has led. We restored access to healthy full fat dairy in federal child nutrition programs, ensuring children receive the minimum they need to grow and thrive. Health is also shaped by environments in which we live. Strengthening highquality early childhood education and care programs that working parents rely on and protecting them from waste, fraud, and abuse helps create a culture of learning and care where our children can thrive. At the same time, restoring focus and accountability in these programs is critical to earning the public's trust. Taxpayer dollars should support children and families, not advance ideological initiatives. This is particularly true of DEIdriven mandates and gender ideology that have saturated our society. Policies that promote or subsidize irreversible medical interventions on minors raise serious concerns both medically and ethically. Sex rejecting procedures and mutilating chemical treatments are an abominable use of federal taxpayer dollars and tear at the very fabric of American society. I'm very glad to see HHS taking steps to combat this and ensure that the well-being of children, not politics, remains the focus. Finally, I want to commend the department for also making America fiscally healthy again. The department's budget proposal reigns in a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy by restructuring HHS to refocus on core principles all while saving taxpayers $1.8 billion every year. In other words, HHS is doing more with less. That's exactly the kind of governance the American people expect and deserve. At the end of the day, this is about people. Families trying to afford care, parents trying to raise healthy children, and communities striving for a better future. The policies we shape here have real consequences in each of their lives. We have a responsibility to get this right and I certainly appreciate Secretary Kennedy's willingness to take on these challenges and I look forward to working together to build a healthier, stronger future for every American. With that said, I yield to the ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Scott, for his opening statement. >> Thank Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Secretary Kennedy, for your testimony this morning. Uh your appearance before the committee today, as they say, has been a long time coming. Mr. Secretary, you lead an agency that has immense responsibility to both enhance and protect America's well-being. The mission of our of the Department of Health and Human Services is to embrace the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. This mission is why many get involved in public service in the first place. This is in part why president by the president's words the other day were so shocking. As pre as President Trump said and you can see on over my shoulder, we're fighting wars. It's not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things. They can do it on a state basis. You can't do it on a federal level. You have to take care of one thing, military protection. And regrettably, the proposed budget that you're here to defend today reflects that sentiment. Overall, the White House's proposed budget reduces HHS discretionary budget authority by about 15.8 billion or 12.5%. If these proposed cuts are enacted, we will have de they will have devastating consequences for Americans healths and well-being and will raise costs for America's families. Take Americans health care for example. The proposed budget cuts, excuse me, target public health agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes for Health, weakening the systems that communities rely on to prevent disease and respond to crisis. Additionally, thanks to the cuts from HR1 or what we refer to as the big ugly bill policies of this administration uh and policies of this administration. Americans are now paying more to see a doctor and to fill prescriptions. Americans should not have to go into debt just in order to stay healthy. The department should be focusing on ensuring affordable, accessible health coverage for as many people as possible. Regrettably, when fully implemented, the actions taken by this Congress and administration will reduce the number of people insured by about 15 million. And as a direct result of this administration's policies and priorities, the cost of living has been in has become increasingly unaffordable. Moreover, the president has recklessly gotten us into another war in the Middle East, causing energy prices to skyrocket. And as those energy prices skyrocket, your budget would eliminate the low-income home energy assistance program, LAP, which helps millions of families stay warm in the winter and and cool in the summer, reducing the risk of health and safety problems arising from safe unsafe heating and cooling situations. Um, similarly, American families are struggling to find safe, affordable child care. Intruder's word that it is not possible for us to take care of daycare. The president's budget proposes flat funding both Head Start and the child care development block grant even though current funding levels serve only a small fraction of eligible children. And when adjusted for inflation, flat funding would likely result in fewer children actually served. In addition, the president's budget would completely eliminate the preschool development grant, which helps states improve the quality and safety of child care programs and ensures all children can arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed. Last year, HHS illegally withheld funds from Head Start facilities nationwide, pushing many Head Start programs to the brink. And earlier this year, HHS froze over10 billion dollars in congressionally appropriated funds for five Democratic le states, which also impacted childcare development funds and the temporary assistance for needy families, TANNIF. These actions were not without victims. Many child care providers and grantees are already operating on shoestring budgets. And without federal support, child care centers may have to close. And when they do, the parents are left in a lurch without access to child care. In times like these, the social safety net programs provide struggling families a lifeline. Or of these programs have either been taken away or scaled back under your leadership. Cutting these programs doesn't make the cost of child care, food, or health go away. It only shifts the burden onto the households that can least afford them. Lastly, I want to address the growing concerns of dis of Americans with disabilities who have been acutely impacted by your department's policies and priorities. Last year, you targeted the Administration for Community Living, an office that houses several key programs for people with disabilities as well as seniors. The loss of ACL would not merely be a bureaucratic shift. Its proposed elimination sent a clear message that the rights and safety of people with disabilities and older adults were no longer a priority for HHS. After more than 50 years of bipartisan progress towards independent living and equal opportunity, the proposed dismantle of ACL takes this country backwards. Last August, I released a report detailing how the administration has undermined programs such as Centers for Independent Living and Assisted Technology. Moreover, the big ugly bill's deep cuts to Medicaid will inevitably reduce home and community based services, the very support that uh allows people with disabilities to live independently. I'd like to ask unanimous consent to enter that report into the record. Without objection. >> Uh addition >> objection and hearing none will be honored. >> Thank you. Additionally, your proposed budget uh eliminated the chronic disease self-management education and fall prevention programs effective programs that seniors across the country have come to rely on. When services are cut, families pay face impossible choices. People risk losing their independence. And so I ask you to reconsider your position and recommmit to fully supporting people with disabilities and older Americans. So, Mr. Secretary, I want today's discussion to focus on how we can actually fulfill HHS's mission and your commitment as citizens to care for one another. Regrettably, I fear that this budget proposal will not serve that goal. Thank you and I yield back. >> I thank the gentleman. Pursuant to committee rule 8C, all members who wish to insert written statements into the record may do so by submitting them to the committee clerk electronically in Microsoft Word format by 5:00 p.m. 14 days after this hearing. And without objection, the hearing record will remain open for 14 days to allow such statements and other extraneous material noted during the hearing to be submitted for the official hearing record. I'll now turn to the introduction of today's witness, the Honorable Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Secretary, we are grateful to have you here today. Thank you so much. As you're aware, it's your responsibility to provide accurate information to the committee. Pursuant to committee rules, I would ask that you limit your oral presentation to a fivem minute summary of your written statement. And with that, Mr. Secretary, you're recognized >> Thank you for that, Chairman Wahlberg and Ranking Member Scott. Members of the committee, I um I appreciate you all coming. I know a lot of you had a late night. And uh Ranking Member Scott, thank you for taking time to talk to me here earlier this week. and thank you for the opportunity to here here to discuss the president's fiscal year 2027 budget request. We stand at a generational turning point. Our children are the sickest generation in modern history and decades of failed policy captured agencies and profit driven systems caused it. Parents across the country demanded change and we are delivering it. We are ending the era of federal policies that fueled the chronic disease epidemic and replacing them with policies that put the health of Americans first. President Trump and I are challenging the status quo and the institutions that defend it as we work to make America healthy again. In just 15 months, HHS has delivered historic wins. We negotiated the most favored nation drug prices with 16 of the largest pharmaceutical companies. So Americans no longer pay more than other people in wealthy countries for the exact same medications. We are bringing real transparency to health care pricing so patients know the cost of care before they receive it. I use the full convening power of the federal government to bring health insurance CEOs to the table and reform prior authorization. We are cutting red tape, speeding decisions, and demanding transparency. We're also cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse. This year, HHS and USDA issued the new dietary guidelines that put real food, whole food, at the center of the American plate. We flipped the food pyramid upside down and sent a clear message to the American people. Eat real food. HHS has also opened the door to partnerships with industry, trade associations, nonprofit, and advocacy organizations. More than 50 medical schools have committed to expand nutrition education from an average of just two hours to 40 hours. Food manufacturers are stepping up, too. More than 40% of the food industry has committed to phase out petroleum based dies by year end. Many have already eliminated them. We're also working with the 400 top tech companies to end information blocking and they've all pledged to do so and Americans are already seeing the benefits. In conjunction with these efforts, FDA approved six natural food colorings derived from fruits and vegetables. Through President Trump's Great American Recovery Initiative, HHS is matching compassion with action to help Americans break the cycle of addiction. At HHS, we are prioritizing patients with ultra rare diseases and their families and driving faster access to life-saving treatments. We're restoring gold standard science and integrity across the agency. We're protecting children from sex rejecting procedures that expose them to irreversible harm. We're eliminating outdated and misleading warning labels on hormone therapies used to treat women during menopause. We're strengthening oversight of organ procurement. We're implementing operation to work speed to ensure the safety and quality of infant formula. We're applying that same focus and urgency to rural America. The rural health transformation fund delivers the largest investment in rural health in our nation's history. $50 billion over five years to strengthen rural hospitals and ensure that Americans can access the care they need no matter where they live. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have made rural health a clear priority in their conversations with me because every state is feeling the strain of hospital closures, workforce shortages, and gaps in access. HHS announced more than 135 million investment this month alone to expand rural residency programs from a completely different program and nutrition services. The data is clear. When physicians train in rural communities, they're far more likely to stay and serve there. The president's budget also puts these priorities into action. It invests in prevention because preventing disease costs less and delivers better outcomes than treating it. As my uncle, President John F. Kennedy said, progress is a nice word, but change is its motivator and change has its enemies. We see those forces clearly entrenched interest, defenders of a failing status quo and institutions that put profit ahead of the American people. The resistance underscores the urgency of this moment. We can reverse chronic disease, improve public health, and lower costs. I stand ready to work with this committee and Congress to seize this opportunity to implement and codify lasting generational reform in American health care for our country, for our children, and for the health of the American people. Together, we can make America healthy again. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Under committee rule nine, we will now question Secretary Kennedy under the five-minute rule. And I might make mention uh Mr. Secretary that this committee while it's known for being passionate in its its questioning and its debate um it still so far this term has followed the example that we could have a second grade class turn in and watch our our meetings and our hearings and our questionings and the teacher wouldn't have to turn it off. Uh and I think that will be the case today. But >> will be refreshing chairman. >> It'll it'll be firm and it'll be strong. I trust you'll continue to be respectful. I'll now recognize myself for five minutes of questioning. There is a burning question in inquiring minds as I understand it to to hear you answer the question as to whether you're responsible for the measles outbreak. So, let me ask that question. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I've been accused of that. Uh the accusement is not the accusation is not science-based. Measles outbreak began in January 2025 before I took office. Now almost 90% of the people affected are over five years old. So they made the decision not to v their decision to not vaccinate predated my my um my um occupation of this seat. We've done better. The the measles outbreak is not an American phenomena. It is global. It's happening all over the world. And we've done better under my leadership than any country in the world in limiting it. Last year we had 2200 approximately 2,200 cases. Mexico had almost three more than three times that number and they have onethird of our population. Canada had double that number and they have 1/8 of our population. Europe had almost 10 times that number and they only have double of our population. Many other countries have lost their uh elimination status. Canada lost it, Britain lost it. These are countries I haven't visited in years. Um many European countries have lost it. Austria and others. I want to say something because two little girls died tragically in the Menanite community in Texas. Menanites have not vaccinated since 1796. Oh, this has nothing to do with me. I went to the funeral of one of those little girls and I spent a day with the family of the other. And both of them told me that when they took their children to the hospital, they were treated as paras. They were shamed. Uh there they were not given proper treatments. Both families believe their daughters and their their own doctors believe their daughters could have been saved if the hospital gave them proper treatment. The fact that they did not have a proper treatment to give them is regulatory practice by this agency. This agency has been so focused on a single intervention that it does not advise doctors about how to treat people who are actually sick. There's a lot of people in this country who for religious reasons or other reasons are not going to vaccinate. And I believe that we need to treat them with compassion and understanding and empathy and get them the treatments that they would get anywhere else in the world except for this country. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, as part of the U Trump administration's effort to return education to the states and put power back into the hands of parents and families as well, HHS has signed a number of inter agency agreements with the Department of Education to administer medical accreditation and early childhood education and care programs. Uh, please uh say more about why it makes sense to run these programs out of HHS. Well, some of these programs should have always been in under HHS purview. It just makes more sense. They're health related programs rather than particularly educated programs. And we have many parallel programs at HHS that can benefit from synergies from each other. The uh the decision is also within the purview of the DA DOE Secretary Linda McMahon. She has power to contract out these functions to other agency and it's a broad power and she's operating under that power. >> Yeah. There have been troubling reports of states uh removing children from their parents' care when those parents decline to support their child's selfidentification uh or uh identification as another sex. Do parents have the right to raise their children according to their sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions? >> President Trump believes that they do. And during the Biden administration, the Biden administration, HHS sent out letters to states to pass legislation to prohibit people who had certain religious beliefs from being able to foster children. This turns out to been a very very large pool of people. And as a result of that, we've the ratio between children, foster children and parents has dropped to 2:1. Our objective by the end of my administration here and the Trump administration is to get us back to a onetoone ratio and we have sent out letters to all the states to end that policy. >> Thank you. My time is expired. I now recognize the gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Courtney. >> Thank uh thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, after 14 months on the job, your long overdue appearance before this committee is particularly pertinent given the fact that your uncle John F. Kennedy served on this committee for his entire six years as a house member representing the 11th district of Massachusetts. As his national archive bio states, as a house member, he advocated ex expanding healthc care for all. And as president in 1961, he supported passage of the Medicare legislation, the King Anderson Bill, which was ultimately enacted in 1965 by his successor. That transformational federal law provided universal insurance for seniors at a time when only 50% could afford health insurance. And over time, it has vastly improved the health and life expectancy of our nation. Your other uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy, who I'm proud to say campaigned for me when I was first elected to Congress by a whopping margin of 83 votes, declared, quote, "Universal health care is the cause of my life and was lead sponsor of the Affordable Care Act when it was introduced in 2009." He did not live to see its enactment, but we know now that the ACA successfully cut the uninsured rate in half by 2024 prior to your arrival at HHS. Clearly, universal health care is not the cause of your life. On your watch at HHS, we've seen a massive jump in the uninsured population. Since January 2025, 1.2 million have already lost coverage thanks to the Trump administration's refusal to extend the ACA enhanced tax credits, even though we passed a bipartisan bill in the House to do so. A couple of days ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that that 1.2 2 million uh number is going to continue to grow because 14% of new enroles this year didn't make their first payments for the new Trump premiums. As the journal reported, this will add millions more to the ranks of the uninsured. Even worse, with the passage of the misnamed one big beautiful bill, CBO reports another 10 million at least will lose their coverage as states are forced to implement the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. According to Gallup two weeks ago, the affordability of health coverage has now jumped to the top domestic policy concern facing Americans, which is pretty striking given the fact that the cost of housing, groceries, and gas to get to work has skyrocketed under this administration. But they're right to be concerned about the expense of of trying to maintain insurance coverage because they know when you lose health insurance, you miss routine checkups, preventive tests and scans for cancer and heart disease and inpatient care if needed. Slashing health insurance affordability does not make America healthy nor more economically secure. At an Easter lunchon a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Trump stated that quote, "It's not possible for the federal government to pay for Medicare and Medicaid. It's up to the states to take responsibility for those programs. As the person in charge of CMS and after 60 years of operation as a federal program, which by the way, your father voted for in 1965 when he was a senator from the state of New York, do you support his position that states should take over control and operation of the Medicare program? >> I believe that we should save Medicaid and Medicare. Um they're absolutely critical programs and President Trump has pledged to do though at that and is doing everything in his power to do so. There are no cuts to Medicaid. They look at the CBO the Congressional Budget Office report. >> My question, excuse me, was do you think the states the states the states should be vested with control of the Medicare program? That's the question because that's exactly what he said. He's your boss. Is that your position? >> President Trump's position is that we should preserve Medicare. >> No, by sending it to the states. That's the death. >> You saying Medicaid or Medicare? >> Medicare. It's right there. >> Yeah. President Trump's objective is to save Medicare and we are taking >> not by Well, it will not save it by sending it to the states. That that will destroy the program and that's why it was designed the way it was a >> proposal to send it to the states. >> Okay. Let me ask you another question. in your >> I don't know of that proposal and the president has not told me about it. >> Well, president is trying to say >> well the the for seniors seniors in and American families they listen to what the president says and they understand exactly what he's talking about which is destroying the Medicare program. In your testimony you talked about um having uh answer you clearly don't want me to answer these questions. >> No, you you actually didn't answer the question at all. You didn't talk about whether the state should be given the authority to run Medicare. >> My answer has to begin with correcting a lot of the misstatements that you made in your introduction. >> And I'm happy to do that. >> Well, that's not a a misstatement. That's a that's a direct quote from your boss. >> Matt, I'm telling you, the president's policy is to save Medicare. That's what he's always >> giving it to the states will destroy Medicare. I yield back. >> Gentleman yields. And I recognize the gentle lady from North Carolina, Mr. Virginia Fox. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, it's good to see you. We welcome you to the committee. I I have to join the chairman uh Chairman Wahberg in saying that the um Department of Health and Human Services budget request is a breath of fresh air. Congratulations to you on presenting us with a budget that could reduce spending by 1.8 billion annually, saving taxpayer dollars at the federal level while still providing um the programs and services that reach families who need them. Under the previous secretary, the department engaged in runaway spending. So, I congratulate you on what you're doing. Secretary, this committee has held two hearings and marked up eight bills related to the child care and development block grant or CCDBG program. Federal child care assistance is a critical support for lowincome working parents seeking to ac access child care and remain in the workforce. Therefore, child care is not only a family issue but an economic issue. HHS awards many different grants for states in the human services space. Can you explain the urgent need to protect programs like CZDBG from waste, fraud, and abuse, especially as they are administered at the state level? >> I mean, we we saw during the Biden administration, my predecessor actually instructed people in my department to end program integrity. So they took we had 80 people in my department when Bh secretary Bisera came in who were assigned to do program integrity for this these programs these state programs and he fired all but six of them. So that stopped and and they specifically told people in my department don't worry about fraud worry about enrollments. a change to policy to a policy of our payment policy to a pay and chase policy. So that even claims that we knew to be fraudulent, we would pay and then later go back and try to claw back that money, which incidentally never happened. We have now changed those policies. We are investigating the fraud. And I'll give you one example in Minnesota or uh applied behavioral analytics we which is treatments for autis kids with autism. We were expecting to pay seven billion dollars seven million dollars a year for that program. We ended up paying almost 300 million. The difference is fraud. And we're seeing that now that that money was being a some of it was being sent to al-Shabaabat and Somalia. We have now impounded payments to Minnesota because they for one quarter about 350 million because they've refused to give us receipts. And we've said we're not going to pay until you can show us the receipts. Well, I'm proud to say that in North Carolina, our Republican legislature is doing everything it can to hold uh Democrat elected officials in the state to account for fraud and abuse in North Carolina on Medicaid and other programs. And so I'm very proud of them. I also want to say, Mr. Secretary, many of us have issues from our states and from our constituents that deal with HHS, and I hope you'll commit today to helping us get some of those issues solved because many times they do save money for the taxpayers. So, I I I will appreciate your your making that commitment. >> I Congresswoman, I look forward to working with your staff. >> Thank you. Uh my last question, Mr. Secretary is I have heard today that a new Danish study just came out finding no connection between Tylenol and autism. What is your reaction to that study? >> The study is a garbage study. It should be retracted. The study took a million the medical records of a billion Danish women and it compared women who got Tylenol during pregnancy to people who did not. The problem is the way it determined whether they got Tylenol during pregnancy was by prescriptions. So only 2% of the people in the study got Tylenol during pregnancy according to the endpoint. Um in fact we know because Tylenol is available by over the counter most of you have taken Tylenol very few of you have ever gotten a prescription. 50% of the women in Denmark, we know from other studies, actually took Tylenol during pregnancy. So the study was comparing people, women who took Tylenol during pregnancy to women who took Tylenol during pregnancy. It was a garbage in, garbage out study. The industry has the capacity to generate these studies all the time and it's fraudulent. It should be retracted. >> Thank you. >> Gentle lady's time is expired. I now recognize the gentle lady from Oregon, Miss Manamichi. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, the mission of the Department of Health and Human Services starts with these words. To enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. This is a yes or no question. Does all Americans include children? >> Of course. >> Well, I frequently talk with families who tell me they can't find childare. And if they can find it, they can't afford it. In fact, the child care crisis is costing families about $134 billion in lost earnings annually. And recently, as we've heard this morning, and I'll repeat, the president said there's no money for daycare because he needs more money to fight the war, which is costing about $2 billion a day. Your department's budget flatfunds child care, which won't help at all. Yet, you did spend money on a bizarre vanity video with Kid Rock. So, Secretary Kennedy, how does it enhance the health and well-being of children to spend HHS's limited resources and taxpayer money on a video of yourself drinking milk in a hot tub with Kidrock? And how much did it cost to prepare and produce this video? >> Congresswoman, I was asked to cut costs across my department because we have a $39 trillion debt. >> I understand, Mr. Secretary, how much did it cost to produce this video? I want to correct something that you said. >> I'm I'm asking how much did it cost to >> I would have no idea. >> Okay. You don't have any idea. Well, I'll tell you that that money, whatever it cost, I consider waste, fraud, and abuse. And that's money that should have been invested in our nation's children and spent on something like healthcare and child care that actually improve people's lives. You know, >> you know, so many people have come up to me who saw that video and say that inspired me to work. Mr. secretary. That's one of the things that we want to do. >> The return on investment that we get from early childhood education shows that for every dollar we spend, we get back somewhere between $4 and $16. Secretary Kennedy, about 20 years ago, the United States eliminated measles. So, or so we thought. But now, because of your anti-science rhetoric, vaccination rates are down in many places below the 95% threshold needed to maintain her immunity. And I know you said that happened before you were secretary, but Mr. Secretary, you've been a longtime voice against vaccination for more than 20 years. Measles is highly contagious. It can make babies, babies who may be too young to be vaccinated, so sick that they stop eating and drinking and may develop pneumonia or brain swelling. In my home state of Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority just recently warned about multiple new locations where people may have been exposed. A community college, a middle school, health clinics, grocery stores. This is unacceptable. So, Secretary Kennedy, does exposing infants and children to measles enhance their health and well-being? >> I've never been antivaccine. I've always said I'm not antivaccine. Right now, I just approved three weeks ago $500 million for a new for research on a new cancer vaccine. >> Okay, Mr. Secretary, you have been voice against vaccination. You cannot No, I'm not antivax. I'm pro- science. What I've said is vaccines should be adequately safety tested so we know both both the risk and the benefits. I'm funding a major study on developing a universal >> reclaiming my time. Mr. Secretary, in fact, you have said in a congressional hearing that people should not be taking medical advice from you. The problem is that they are and they believe what you say. So, Secretary Kennedy, I have another question. Does enhancing health include mental health? >> Of course. >> Good. I'm glad you agree because recently masked armed ICE agents surrounded some high school students near their school. A Latino student from Oregon, a US citizen, recently spoke about he and his friends feel scared at school, have trouble trouble focusing, and feel dehumanized. And President Trump, as you likely know, repealed the guidance that keeps ICE out of sensitive locations like schools and healthcare centers. Now, children can't understand the complexities of the US immigration system, but they are scared and they can feel anxiety. So, Secretary Kennedy, does it enhance the health and well-being of children to allow immigration enforcement in and around schools and at childcare centers? Does that help kids? >> It enhanc It was not enhancing our health and well-being of the American people to allow 20 million illegal aliens into this country. And President Trump again is left with a mess >> and he is having to >> Mr. Secretary in no >> and he is having to clean up. >> In no legal or moral or ethical frame does it does it make sense to punish children. >> Uh young children's brains are highly influenced. >> That was the biggest humanitarian crisis in modern history. What you guys caused. Well, if you cared about children, we have now stopped 97% of the unaccompanied minors from coming across the border. >> Mr. Secretary, supporting this is a concern for children. Mr. Secretary, supporting I'm reclaiming my time. Supporting the health and well-being of our nation's children is the best investment we can make for the good of the country and the safety and health of American people, including children. And to truly make America healthy again, you should resign and allow someone with real qualifications to run this agency. Gentle lady's time has expired. I now recognize the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Growthman. >> Yeah. I I voted for President Trump for a lot of reasons, but one of the primary reasons was I thought he might give you this position. So, uh I I'm glad you're here. >> Very grateful. >> Yes. Um, and on this mental health thing, I am given where the mental health professionals have stood on this transgender treatment. I wonder how much we can trust that occupation to get anything right. So, just not everybody thinks we ought to give these mental health professionals uh more. But now, now we're going to switch to the questions. Uh what effect have the poor guidelines from the old food pyramid uh what effects have poor guidelines on the old food pyramid had on on child health? >> They and by the way compared Yeah. Matt go ahead. >> Yeah. I mean the food pyramid was for 50 years it was written by industry lobbyists and reflected the mercantile ambitions of those industries and not public health. It pushed Americans towards ultrarocessed foods and highly refined carbohydrates that destroyed their metabolic systems. Oh, 70% of the calories Americans eat typically right now are ultrarocessed or or uh highly refined carbohydrates and it caused a metabolic crisis. diabetes. And as an example, when I was a kid, the average pediatrician saw one case of diab juvenile or of type 2 diabetes over a 40 or 50 year career. Today, 38% of American teens are diabetic or pre-diabetic. It has made our country the sickest country in the world, the sickest with chronic disease in the history of the world. 77% of American children cannot qualify for military service. That should get a lot of people's attention. >> Well, I I'll tell you, there's a lot of uh a lot of money floating around here from the junk food lobbyists and the pharmaceutical industry, and I'm glad you're taking it on, and I'm sure you're going to get a lot of hostility from the other side of the aisle from from your desire to do that. Uh touching on this sex change operations and all this, hoo-ha. um the uh professional medical societies and particularly the mental health societies have endorsed these sex change operations. To me, it means we we just can't trust the medical societies. But uh why do you believe they did this? Why were the mental health professional people pushing uh sex change operations on 14y old kids? >> Why do you think? >> Well, it was a multi-billion dollar industry. And I think that you know it it the corruption follows the money and but you look at the science there's now been two major meta reviews been done the cast study in uh the UK which the re revelations in the cast study stop Europeans from funding these and then we did our own meta review plus individual studies at NIH that showed the same thing that um the the the the results to children, the outcomes in children are catastrophic in terms of depression, suicide, all kinds of illnesses. It's condemnation to a life of misery and uh there is no scientific justification. >> Common sense. I give a follow-up here. What can we do to protect children in the future from the medical associations and particularly the mental health medical associations from harming our kids? How can we prevent them from doing that? >> Well, we have taken steps to do that. We have ended all federal funding for those kind of for puberty blockers and uh gender mutilation surgeries and we have instructed hospitals and medical centers around the country that if they do host those kind of interventions that they will lose all their Medicaid Medicare funding. >> Thank you. What scares me is the professionals who pushed this stuff in the past are still practicing. And that concerns me because if they can't get this right, right, if they're if they're pushing sex change operations on 14-y old kids, I'm afraid they probably can't get anything right. I would you ever under any circumstances send one of your grandchildren to a a medical professional who you knew, even if he stopped doing it, had at one time rather pushed this stuff? >> I would not. >> Yeah. I I I didn't think so. Now, a quick question followup. We talked about uh um nutrition and uh you know, a large segment of American society gets their money from food stamps or food share. Uh would you be in favor of some widespread restructuring this whole program or maybe getting rid of the food stamp program and starting with a new program that was more uh healthybased? I support the food stamp program and under Brook Rollins leadership at USDA, we are transforming it. We've already with Brooke and I encouraging them over the half the states have now applied for SNAP waiverss. Oh, they're no longer paying for soda for sugar sodas which were 10% of the SNAP budget. So, we were giving poor kids, 63 million poor kids in this country, diabetes for free at federal expense and treating them, 78% of them end up on Medicaid. And we're treating them afterwards. Well, you're paying at both ends. >> The gentleman's time is expired. >> States, almost all red states, although two blue states have now uh applied for SNAP waiverss. Soon, we're going to have a definition of ultrarocessed foods. We're going to >> Gentlemen's time is expired. I have to I have to move on. And I recognize the gentleman from California, Mr. Tucano. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, you are the nation's top health official. And I want to talk to you today about the president's mental health. On April 5th at 8:00 in the morning of Easter Sunday, President Trump posted this statement on social media. Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day all wrapped in one in Iran. There will be nothing like it. Open the straight, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. Just watch. Praise be to Allah. President Donald J. Trump. An American president used the F-word in a Sunday morning message that was seen by millions of people. Mr. Secretary, does this raise concerns for you about the president's mental health? >> The president is a bargainer and he he knows how to make good deals. >> Mr. Mr. Secretary, does this raise questions about the president's mental health to you? >> Here's what I would say that for two generations, every American president. >> Mr. Mr. Secretary, you're being unresponsive. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Secretary, I I gather the answer. It does not raise concerns for you. Two days later on April 17 on April 7th, President Trump put out a statement that said, quote, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will." End quote. Mr. Secretary, the commanderin-chief of the United States military is calling for the eradication of an entire civilization. And 5 days later, the president started posting on Truth Social at 900 p.m. at night, continuing until 500 a.m. the next morning and included an unhinged attack on Pope Leo, claiming Pope Leo was weak on crime. And then later that day, the next day, President Trump posted this image of himself as Jesus Christ. Mr. Secretary. People across the country and around the world were deeply offended by this blasphemous image. Millions of Americans are questioning this president's mental fitness, his emotional stability and whether he can carry out the duties of his office. Do you share their concerns about his mental health? >> I want to call your attention to the last line of that. >> Mr. Secretary, my question was, do you share their concerns about his mental health? >> I want to call your attention. I'm going to >> Mr. Secretary, you're not being responsive. Apparently not. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Secretary. Mr. Secretary, reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman. Direct the witness. It's my time, Mr. Secretary. >> You're not being responsive. And apparently, you don't share their concerns. We are a nation at war. Mr. Secretary, we need a commanderin-chief that we know has full command of his mental faculties and is emotionally stable. as he sends unformed American men and women into harm's way. Millions of Americans are now wondering if this president is delusional and thinks he is Jesus Christ. Mr. Secretary, given everything that I've shown you today, will you insist that President Trump undergo an assessment of his mental fitness and his emotional stability? >> Absolutely not. >> Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Reclaiming my time under so absolutely not. I remind you that under the 25th amendment, you have a duty to remove a president who is physically or mentally unable to discharge his responsibilities under the Constitution. It's your duty. You took an oath to the Constitution, not to President Trump. Mr. Secretary, should President Trump fail a mental fitness test or an evaluation about his mental stability or emotional stability, would you vote to invoke the 25th Amendment? >> There hasn't been a president who's more >> Mr. Secretary, my question is, would you vote to invoke the 25th Amendment? Mr. Secretary, we're claiming my time. It's my question. My question, Mr. Secretary, would you invoke the 24th amendment if he were to fail an assessment of his mental stability or emotional stability? >> I said President Trump is emotion. >> Apparently not, Mr. Secretary. Apparently not. Mr. uh uh Mr. Secretary, we can all see that this president is mentally unstable, emotionally unstable, and is unfit to lead this country. You as the nation's top health official have a particular role here and you are choosing your loyalty to Donald Trump over your loyalty to the Constitution and uh being keeping the faith with the American people. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I yield back. >> Well, you need the fundraising. >> Mr. Chairman, I question the the gentleman's time has expired and been yielded and I couldn't ask the second grade classes to turn in again. Uh at this point, um I would I would uh I'd hesitate to say something about the 25th amendment with the last president. There was no concern there from the other side, but I won't say that. So now I recognize the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Allen, for his five minutes. >> Uh thank you, Chair Wahlberg, for holding this important hearing, and I thank Secretary Kennedy for testifying. Sir, would you I'll give you I'll yield time to you. Would you like to answer the gentleman's question? >> Well, I don't really care to, but I you know what, because I'm not here to discuss foreign policy, but every Democrat in this chamber has promised for generations that we weren't going to let Iran get a nuclear weapon. It kept get getting down kicked down the road. President Trump is cleaning up messes that other people made. And he's doing it in a way he's an he's the best business bargainer that we've ever had in the presidency. He knows how to make deals. He's made the best deals for these country for this country through tariffs, all the things he's engaged in. He's a genius at it. Let him do his work. Let him be president. Give him your support and let's support this country and our troops and try to move forward as a nation. He's trying to fix the problems that you made. >> Thank you, Mr. Secretary uh for years getting back to the subject we're talking about here today is healthc care and we got a mess there too created by uh um obviously the affordable care act and u you know we're spending 5 trillion on health care and we get the worst outcomes. I mean you know that's what we should be concerned about here today. Uh but for years, pharmacy benefit managers have benefited from opaque pricing tactics while health care costs continue to sore. My legislation, the PBM kickback bro act, would prohibit PBMs from paying consultant and brokers who give trusted advice to employers and group health plan fidiciaries from taking compensation for steering businesses uh to PBMs. What steps can HHS take to curb PBM's abusive practices and how might Congress be able to assist in this effort? >> Well, it is a I it's one of the it's one of the I would say perverse features the health care system that PBMs who add nothing are getting 40% of the profits from drugs and they're driving up costs everywhere. President Trump has us laser focused on fixing the problem and I want to thank Congress for passing the recent bill that allows us to now go and um and negotiate with the PBMs. We were already doing that. I want to commend Sigma and David Cordani for actually developing a model that is much more rational and that gets rid of the hidden kickbacks that delinks the um the cost of the the list price of medicines from the compensations of the PBMs. The PBM's compensation was increased by getting you to buy the most expensive. there's supposed to be a neutral arbiter on your side. They made money if you bought the most expensive form of that medication. So, they were steering Americans always toward the most expensive one. And that's one of the things that drove up healthcare. >> Well, we're losing pharmacies every day in rural America >> and we're getting that is destroying our health care system. >> Um, and then let's talk about healthcare affordability. You know, affordability is a big subject today and uh obviously uh is we spend twice what any other uh nation spends on healthcare with worse outcomes. Um you know America and we I'm talking about American workers and their families um in Orisa specifically which is where we cover most of the lives. What do you believe is the under underlying causes of high health care costs? And would you please discuss how much control employers who provide health benefits for their workers have over these cost? >> Well, the biggest driver of health care cost is the chronic disease epidemic. So when my uncle was president, we spent zero on chronic disease in this country. Zero. Today we're spending 48% out of every dollar paid if you include social security on health expenditures in the military. 48 cents out of every dollar the taxpayer give to the federal government goes to healthcare and 90% of that is chronic disease. The only way that we can solve this problem is by is through chronic disease. Another driver is high drug cost. We were paying the highest. We were paying two, three, five, 10, 15 times for the exact same drug made in a a plant in New Jersey. And in London, for example, OMIC of this country, the list price when I came in was $1,300. In London, you could get it in any pharmacy for $88. And that was the rule. We are now fixed MFN. we're going to be paying the lowest cost in the world. Another driver is the lack of transparency. There is no market. If you go buy an automobile and the guy who's selling it to you said, "I'm not going to tell you the price till after you buy it." >> Right. >> You think he was crazy. >> I'm I'm sorry I'm out of time, but I would like fixing that, too. >> Yeah. I'd like to meet with you on some solutions that we're talking about, particularly to privatize Orisa and give it away. gentleman's time has expired and I'm sure the meeting can take place. Um, now I recognize the gentle lady from North Carolina, Miss Adams. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Secretary Kennedy, for being here. Um, I have a yes or no question. Do you agree that there's a connection between nutrition and health? >> Of course. >> Thank you. Uh, so nutrition and the importance of healthy foods seem to be uh a core part of the MA. Is that correct? Of course. >> Okay. Like you, I I believe that you can't be healthy if you're hungry. But as Secretary of Health and Human Services, do you in your capacity um advise the president on nutrition issues as they relate to health? >> You mean his personal health >> on on on health issues, any of it? >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Well, as I'm sure you know, many studies show that childhood is a critical time for proper nut nutrition. So, a person's diet in childhood has a massive impact on their lifelong health and chronic disease risk. In February, you visited an elementary school where you had the opportunity to observe their scratch cooking practices and discuss the importance of of serving healthy and fresh foods with school administrators and food service staffs. So, can you tell me why then did the president's budget include major cuts to programs for child nutrition like the the 5 million for the farm to school program, eliminating uh school lunch equipment grants and reducing the benefits that mothers and young children receive for fresh fruits and vegetables under the wick program. >> We are absolutely committed to child health and the good nutrition. We just put, you know, we have um we've preserved Head Start from any of the cuts and we just put $62 million into Head Start to make sure that the 660,000 children who are in Head Start can have let me reclaim my time. I have some other questions. So, did the president discuss these proposed cuts with you? >> Did the president No. >> Yes. Okay. Well, you know, cuts to the program that that help ensure access to healthy and local foods would be a betrayal, I believe, of of the MA uh agenda, which is your agenda. We are expanding. Excuse me, sir. I'm claiming my time here. Do you agree with these cuts uh being included in the president's budget? >> We are expanding access. >> Can you give me a yes or no? Do you agree with the with the cuts being proposed? >> We are expanding access. >> All right. I'm claiming my time. You do you agree or do you not? >> We are. >> You say yes or no? Okay. Okay. So, can can I count on you to urge the president the president to reconsider these cuts and instead invest in school meals? >> He is. >> Can we count on Can we count on you? Is that a yes or no? Can you give me a yes or no? Can I count on you to >> I providing good nutrition to children? Absolutely. >> All right. So, well, listen, it seems like, and I I'm glad you said that, but it seems like a betrayal uh of the people who have been promised by you as secretary to use your position to make food healthier. So, thank you for clarifying that for the American people. And let me ask you about a survey of school food service directors uh who found that 79% of respondents expressed an extreme need an extreme need for an increase in funding in order to expand scratch cooking and reduce the use of of ultra processed foods. So that same survey found that there's a serious need for additional staff, additional equipment, culinary training and infrastructure. So sir, are you aware of the barriers such as uh food cost inflation and lack of kitchen equipment that schools face in serving healthy meats to children across the country? >> I am absolutely aware of it. >> Okay. So that's good to hear. Uh but the budget and we are doing >> the budget fails excuse me sir I'm claiming my time here. Uh that's good to hear because the budget fails to provide any investments. In fact it it does the opposite. So, what should I what should excuse me, what should I tell I'm reclaiming my time. >> So, what should I tell food service directors in my district who want to to make the transition to less ultrarocessed and prepackaged foods but can barely cover the cost that of these expenses? What should I tell them? >> You you might start by telling them the truth. >> All right. Well, I I'm not getting that from you, but I suggest that you take the time uh to meet with food service directors across this country for a better understanding of the financial pressures on school meals programs. Many programs in our country are are just not well funded enough. They're not and you keep and and you keep supporting the cuts in these budgets. They're not wellunded enough to scratch, prepare meals, and serve less ultrarocessed and prepackaged food. All of which are are alleged goals outlined in your MAGA report, make America healthy again. You're not doing it, Mr. Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. >> Gentle time has expired. I now >> I yield back. >> I recognize the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Culmer. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Secretary. Thank you so much for being here today. Uh, I want to bring to your attention a program very important to Kuckians. Uh, the Community Services Block Grant or CSBG program. Community Action agencies throughout Kentucky leverage a lean budget, a federal CSBG funding, and private resources to help individuals and families set out on a path to financial independence and self- sustainability. The community action agencies in my congressional district in Kentucky have shared with me concerns about the delivery of CSBG funding administered by HHS being delayed. Uh thankfully Kentucky Community Action has a well-managed budget and has uh funding in reserves to last him for several more weeks. Unfortunately, they estimate the funding will begin to run out in early May. Is there an estimate of when CSBG funding for the remainder of quarter two and quarter three will be released? >> We are trying to get it out the door, Congressman. We are in the inter we're in the inter agency process right now. >> Thank you. >> Can I can I take a minute of your time just to reply to the previous >> Yes, sir. What I would say to the congresswoman is if you want just a sound bite that you can come in here, you can get that and you did it. But if you actually want to solve the problem, call call me because we're aligned on the issue of getting good food to children and we think that we're doing a good job of it. We could do a better job, but come and tell us how we can do a better job and that would be something we could all profit from. >> Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I love I love what you say about the sound bites. I This is not my the committee I chair committee I chairs oversight committee and the Democrats live and breathe for sound bites. They have competitions to get on MSNBC and and CNN during during committee hearings. Unfortunately, >> I can't wait to come and >> Yeah. Well, again, uh talking about the work in in my oversight committee, we've led an investigation of the pharmacy benefit managers. Uh we still have a long way to go to prevent PBM manipulation of patient access to effective and affordable medicines. Uh I was glad to see the lower cost more transparency act signed into law by President Trump. As you know the PBM transparency and disclosure requirements included in that law will give patients and plan sponsors a more accurate picture of how little known companies have distorted and taken advantage of our nation's health care system. My my question, Mr. Secretary, do you consider vertical integration by the PBMs and their related companies a safety issue? >> I absolutely do. And there is four companies that basically control the whole industry and that's not good by any economic model. >> Mhm. >> It destroys competition. It raises prices. It lowers the quality of care. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. There are three FDA approved drugs for a common form of leukemia. Doctors must prescribe the most effective one based on each patients individual health profile, including heart conditions or past responses to medication. These three leukemia drugs are not interchangeable, but some insurance plans are making patients fail on day one before they can access the preferred course of treatment prescribed by their doctor. So on March 19th, I sent a letter to Dr. Oz expressing these concerns. However, I continue to hear stories about how insurance companies and their PBMs override physician recommendations and block patients from getting the drugs they desperately need. Is there a reason patients should have to fail first on another medication? And what is HHS doing to prevent insurers and their PBMs from acquiring these types of unnecessary and often harmful outcomes? Well, we, you know, I convened the uh insurance companies, the the biggest ones that represent 80% of American lives uh three months into my office and I got them all agreed to end um uh prior authorization and 87% of the or 80% of the of the procedures and conditions and prescriptions I 2020 27. So I think we may see an improvement but as you know it is a rapacious industry and they have uh they have people who don't have medical degrees making decisions that are life and death for patients after the doctor has said you need this drug somebody some bean counter in the insurance company is telling them I'm not going to let you have it. um uh it's not a good system and it's and you know we have to end it >> and and and I will I'll conclude by saying this Mr. Chairman and Mr. Secretary I think we don't agree on a lot in here in a bipartisan basis but I think everyone agrees that the health care system in America is a disaster. We blame that on Obamacare. Uh everyone wants to improve the health care system. We all believe two two things that that the healthurers are taking advantage of of patients. Uh the health insurers are are you know impossible to deal with by the providers and the PBMs have to be reigned in. So thank you for your great work. Mr. >> Gentleman's time is expired. I now recognize the uh gentleman from New Jersey Mr. Norcross. Thank you, chairman, and like to thank the witness for being here today. And hopefully uh in the next five minutes, we can have a conversation that is unfortunately near and dear to so many people in the United States, certainly your family and my family, and that is the mental health and the disease of addiction. And the budget that is proposed speaks of the values of that organization. So, in particular, I want to talk about the mental health parody. We've seen devastation, the impact that addiction has on families. We know that all so well. We've been to those funerals. This is an issue that I hope that we can have an area of some common ground. I'm not looking for a sound bite. I'm looking for answers and something that I thought we had worked long and hard that we aligned. So the action by the department under your leadership suggests that the Trump administrations are retreating from the important issue and listening more to the insurance companies because as you know if we go back 20 years mental health was something that barely was ever talked about. >> Can you just clarify the insurance companies on what what aspect? No parody that if you >> Oh, for parody. Okay. >> Spend it physically, you have to spend the money and this is where much of the addiction and mental health comes in. Uh so looking at the facts under your predecessor, the Department of Labor, Treasury, and your department had landmark regulations strengthening the oversight of the health plan and the insurers. Critically important, these are the toughest federal parity rules ever applied to insurance companies. Last year, the department announced that you would no longer enforce this regulation. Since then, the administration has refused to stand up to defend the regulation in a lawsuit by the trade association. To me, this is an indication of a retreat by the departments to go after to make sure that mental health addiction treatment is available to anybody in the health care who has health insurance and really surprised to see that this happened. Trump's bipartisan recommendation coming out of 217 opioid commission led by Chris Christie and former representative Patrick Kenny amongst others to increase the federal government's authority to enforce parody going to the insurance companies to say you have to treat mental health addiction services the same way you would treat diabetes or any other health in uh condition. Why have the department that you have made this change not going after the insurance company so people can get the treatment they need? >> First of all, I want to thank you for raising the issue um and raising it in such a civil way and I would offline I would love to talk to you more about this. We have a major, for me it's a personal focus, but within my department, um, we have major new programs to address opioid addiction, other forms of addiction that I'd like to talk to you about. Um, my cousin authored that bill, Patrick Kennedy. He is an advisor now to the department and is helping us on these policies. Unfortunately, we lost the lawsuit and we are now developing a new rule. So that's where we are. I'm happy to go into details or have my staff meet with your staff and I invite you to call me at any time. We will. One of the major issues that we face going forward is that the rules in place that the insurance companies must do this. But if they are found to be in violation, there is no penalty. It's like speeding without getting tickets. It's a real problem. And just for the last few minutes, there's a major cut proposed in SAMA. that substance abuse and mental health literally almost a 40% cut. You know that I know that is a backbone for so much that goes on. I encourage you to restore that money so this disease of addiction mental health the people can get they help. With that I yield back. >> I thank the gentleman. Pursuant to the previous order, the chair declares a committee in recess subject to call of the chair. We'll plan to reconvene promptly in 5 minutes. Thank you. The Committee will please come to order. A quorum is present. The committee meets today in pursuant to notice and without objection, the chair may recess the committee at any point. At a time when Americans are facing rising health care costs, declining public trusts and worsening rates of chronic disease, strong leadership at HHS is more important than ever. Under Secretary Kennedy, HHS is taking bold and decisive action to make America healthy again. Healthc care is a critical part of the equation. Yet for too many families, the cost of care continues to rise while transparency remains out of reach. Patients and employers are too often left in the dark, unable to make informed choices about price and quality. That's unacceptable. Americans deserve clear and upfront pricing that will help drive competition and lower costs. This committee remains focused on strengthening transparency and ensuring the system works for patients, not against them. And we're glad to have the partnership of this HHS to help accomplish those goals. But access to health care is only one piece of the puzzle. Health begins long before a patient enters a doctor's office. It starts with nutrition, prevention, and daily choices. Under Secretary Kennedy's leadership, HHS has writed the food pyramid and delivered scientifically sound dietary guidelines for Americans. These are critical steps toward building a stronger foundation for public health, particularly for children. This is also an era where the committee has led. We restored access to healthy full fat dairy in federal child nutrition programs, ensuring children receive the minimum they need to grow and thrive. Health is also shaped by environments in which we live. Strengthening highquality early childhood education and care programs that working parents rely on and protecting them from waste, fraud, and abuse helps create a culture of learning and care where our children can thrive. At the same time, restoring focus and accountability in these programs is critical to earning the public's trust. Taxpayer dollars should support children and families, not advance ideological initiatives. This is particularly true of DEIdriven mandates and gender ideology that have saturated our society. Policies that promote or subsidize irreversible medical interventions on minors raise serious concerns both medically and ethically. Sex rejecting procedures and mutilating chemical treatments are an abominable use of federal taxpayer dollars and tear at the very fabric of American society. I'm very glad to see HHS taking steps to combat this and ensure that well-being of children, not politics, remains the focus. Finally, I want to commend the department for also making America fiscally healthy again. The department's budget proposal reigns in a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy by restructuring HHS to refocus on core principles all while saving taxpayers $1.8 billion every year. In other words, HHS is doing more with less. That's exactly the kind of governance the American people expect and deserve. At the end of the day, this is about people. Families trying to afford care, parents trying to raise healthy children, and communities striving for a better future. The policies we shape here have real consequences in each of their lives. We have a responsibility to get this right and I certainly appreciate Secretary Kennedy's willingness to take on these challenges and I look forward to working together to build a healthier, stronger future for every American. With that said, I yield to the ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Scott, for his opening statement. >> Thank Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Secretary Kennedy, for your testimony this morning. Uh your appearance before the committee today, as they say, has been a long time coming. Mr. Secretary, you lead an agency that has immense responsibility to both enhance and protect America's well-being. The mission of our of the Department of Health and Human Services is to embrace the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. This mission is why many get involved in public service in the first place. This is in part why president by the president's words the other day were so shocking. As pre as President Trump said and you can see on over my shoulder, we're fighting wars. It's not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things. They can do it on a state basis. You can't do it on a federal level. You have to take care of one thing, military protection. And regrettably, the proposed budget that you're here to defend today reflects that sentiment. Overall, the White House's proposed budget reduces HHS discretionary budget authority by about 15.8 billion or 12.5%. If these proposed cuts are enacted, we will have de they will have devastating consequences for Americans healths and well-being and will raise costs for America's families. Take Americans health care for example. The proposed budget cuts, excuse me, target public health agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes for Health, weakening the systems that communities rely on to prevent disease and respond to crisis. Additionally, thanks to the cuts from HR1 or what we refer to as the big ugly bill policies of this administration uh and policies of this administration. Americans are now paying more to see a doctor and to fill prescriptions. Americans should not have to go into debt just in order to stay healthy. The department should be focusing on ensuring affordable, accessible health coverage for as many people as possible. Regrettably, when fully implemented, the actions taken by this Congress and administration will reduce the number of people insured by about 15 million. And as a direct result of this administration's policies and priorities, the cost of living has been in has become increasingly unaffordable. Moreover, the president has recklessly gotten us into another war in the Middle East, causing energy prices to skyrocket. And as those energy prices skyrocket, your budget would eliminate the low-income home energy assistance program, LAP, which helps millions of families stay warm in the winter and and cool in the summer, reducing the risk of health and safety problems arising from safe unsafe heating and cooling situations. Um, similarly, so keep up the the good work and innovation. Um earlier this year we saw how the child care and development block grant funding was defrauded by in Minnesota to enrich bad actors taking advantage of a broken system there. In fact the HHS audit report finalized last year made several recommendations for Minnesota to improve their anti-fraud measures. Uh to your knowledge Minnesota work to implement those recommendations before the news Yeah. >> Microphone, please. >> Yeah. >> Congressman, let me just say uh take a moment to say how delighted I am to see you and say a word about the Oakland Raiders, which your former team. Um during the 1968 campaign, my father's bodyguard for a lot of that campaign were four members of the fearsome for some of the uh championship Oakland Raiders team, Rosie Greer, Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, and Lamar Lundy and and the night that my father was killed, Rosie Greer was the first person to grab her, hands her hand. So my family has always had a a very very strong connection to your team and uh I'm really grateful to see you here today. >> Thank you. >> Uh the re you know we went after both blue states and red states because there were fraud in both. Florida had some of the biggest fra uh fraud in the country. Florida attorney general and the governor cooperated with us particularly in durable medical equipment also in hospices and in child care and home care. Minnesota is the opposite. They just absolutely refused to cooperate and we asked them to provide receipts. They had already paid the providers and we now had to reimburse them for that pay but we said give us the receipts to show us that people were actually tested and for that program which is applied behavioral analytics the there are no qualifications. So the the only qualification is you need a high school education. >> And they were mainly members of the person's family and they would get a kid in the family a diagnos maybe several of them declared autistic by a crooked doctor and then have family members and cousins and everything else um treating them. We have no evidence that there were any kids even treated for a lot of these. And the the people were being paid these children were pay being paid $600 an hour. So they ran up these huge bills 300 million that disappeared. We don't know. We expected to spend 7 million. We spended $30 million. And they've refused to give us the receipts. And so what we've done is we've impounded $359 million and said when you show us the receipt for one quarter just one quarter when you show us the receipts we'll give you the money. >> Well I'm looking forward to this. I think it's great that our country is finally focused on that on that particular area. Our health data system remains fragmented, archaic and insecure across agencies and states. This creates real vulnerabilities for foreign back bad actors while crippling timely coordinated decision-m especially in crisis. Your budget request prioritize modernization and interoptability. What specific structural uh deficiencies in this funding designed is this funding designed to address and uh how will more integrated data infrastructure deliver faster real-time coordination, stronger policy execution and better health outcomes for American people? Well, cyber security is um an absolute priority for us and we've been able to bring in the best companies, the best contractors and the best minds in Silicon Valley to work on that issue. Tella health uh we are promoting in every part of our department including the rural health transformation fund which can give uh which can provide teleaalth now to rural communities where it's absolutely critical because a lot of them don't have access to doctors and it lowers cost for the community out because a lot of people don't end up having to go to the hospital emergency room. Oh, it's absolutely a critical part of our program and uh we're going to see massive changes over the next three years. >> Well, we uh this committee has done a remarkable job of bringing innovation to modernization and and interoperability uh from workforce uh to education. So, I look forward to working with your team. We're doing some great things in that area, learning, employment, records, and I think it's going to be a win for for all their agencies across the board. So, thank you so much. Now, yield back. >> Thank gentlemen. Gentleman's expired. >> I now recognize the gentle lady from Georgia, Miss McMath. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Secretary Kennedy, for being before us today. You have characterized many things as epidemics and threats to public health, including autism and the presence of fluoride in our drinking water. Shootings are the number one cause of death for children in this country, and they have been since 2020. But when you were asked if gun violence was a public health crisis during your Senate confirmation hearing last year, you answered with a succinct no, which I would like to submit digitally for the record. My son Jordan Davis was murdered in a shooting at just 17 years of age. Simple answer, yes or no. Do you believe that gun violence is an epidemic or a public health crisis? >> I would say it's an epidemic. I think it's a law enforcement issue and not >> I I I I find it kind of absurd to hear you say that. I I really do. Um >> You think I should be regulating gangs at >> Secretary? It's my time. I think it's kind of absurd to hear you say that. So, can you tell me how many children were killed by fluoride toxic toxicity in my home state of Georgia in 2024? >> Fluoride toxicity? I probably none. >> You're right. The answer is absolutely zero. So, can you tell me how many children were killed by fluoride across the country in 2024? >> Doesn't kill you. That's an absurd question. >> Again, that answer is zero. So, how about >> Nobody would answer that question. >> I'm reclaiming my time. How about by firearms? Can you tell me how many kids were killed in shootings across the country in 2024? >> You can see right behind me. Uh I I can't read it. >> 3,865 over 10 a day. That's more than drownings, more than car accidents, more than cancer, and certainly more than fluoride. It is far more than many of the things that you choose to focus on your time as secretary. I'm reclaiming my time, Secretary. >> It's obvious that gun violence is an epidemic and it is both a public health crisis. I know it and so do the thousands of parents who are burying their kids in this country every single year. But what I don't know is how you can expect the American people to take your opinion seriously when you try to tell them that they don't need to worry about the leading cause of death for their kids. >> I never told them >> I'm reclaiming my time. While you tour the country to talk about the supposed dangers of fluoride, you should focus your efforts on things that are really killing our children in this country every single day. We have limited time here, but I also want to ask you about your comments about people with disabilities, especially about people with autism. During your first press conference as secretary in April of last year, you said, and I'm quoting, "Autism destroys families." that these are kids who will never pay taxes, never hold a job, never play baseball, never write a poem, or go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted, which I would also like to submit for the record. is that the majority of people on the autism spectrum can do all the things that you >> Of course they can, and I never said they couldn't. Some people with disabilities do need direct care to assist them with activities like going to the bathroom, but that does not mean that they are somehow less than or unable to lead fulfilling and productive lives as you >> and nobody said they were. >> I'm reclaiming my time. I'm asking you here today, Secretary, to apologize for spreading lies about people with autism and their families. Will you apologize for those remarks that you've made? >> Of course not. Then if you let me explain, I'm happy to. I was talking about people with profound autism, not people who are, you know, who have lower impact autism, but I'm talking about people who are nonverbal, non-toilet trained, headbanging, stmming, toe walking. >> Okay. Then since you >> hundreds and hundreds of people have written me letters >> for explaining what you really mean since you're explaining what you really mean. Can you apologize to the >> thousands of families that do not believe what you're just telling us now? >> I know because if you look at my comments to apologize I find that very very sad. I find that very very sad. It should be very easy for you to apologize if that's not in fact what you >> Those are crocodile tears. Congresswoman, >> I'm very and for all the families that have children with autism, I'm very sad to hear you say that families are dealing with the kinds of conditions that many people just don't even understand. The president is trying to close to me. If you want that happen, I'm reclaiming my time. >> The president is trying to close the Department of Education. If that happens, services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including special ed, may move under your jurisdiction. This is unacceptable for unacceptable for so many reasons, but one of the most important reasons is this. No parent wants their son or daughter's education to be in the hands of a man who openly admits that he does not believe in their children. And I yield. >> The gentle lady's time is expired. I now recognize the gentle lady from Illinois, Miss Miller. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, would you like to respond further? >> I was very clear in my remarks that I was talking about people about children who have profound autism. Those children are as I describe them. And in fact, yesterday a man, a Democrat, came up to me and thanked me for what I said. I've had hundreds of people thank because these are hidden people. They are silent. parents are so consumed by caring for them that they can't even get out and advocate. They need a voice and I've given them that voice and thousands of people have thanked me for it. >> Thank you, Mr. Secretary. And I'm so grateful for the work that you and President Trump are doing to make America healthy again. And I just want to thank you for giving credibility to my healthy diet. I like to eat sauerkraut for breakfast also. >> I don't like it, but I I gag it down. Well, we can learn to like it. Your department, Mr. Secretary, has implemented muchneeded reforms to programs like Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant to ensure federal dollars are going to those who need it most, not to illegal aliens who are seeking to further defraud our government. HHS has all also upheld parental rights and biological sanity by rescending a Biden regulation that required foster parents to socially transition a confused child. Additionally, the department has enforced President Trump's executive order that protects children from chemical and surgical mutilation, ensuring that tax dollars are not used to fund puberty blockers or sex rejecting procedures. Mr. Secretary, thank you for following through on your pledge to make America healthy again by improving school lunches and ensuring that harmful dyes and chemicals are removed from our foods. I'm also pleased to see HHS accommodating religious and health exemptions and holding manufacturers accountable for vaccine injuries and deaths. Furthermore, Mr. Secretary, you and President Trump have done a lot of work to eliminate DEI at the Department of Health and Human Services and instead hire employees based solely on merit. To make America great again, we need to make meritocracy great again. I am hopeful that we can continue to collaborate on these efforts and codify these important changes. Lastly, I want to address the abortion pill. We both consider it harmful to public health. It's a drug that we both agree needs to be regulated. Not only does the abortion pill end the life of an innocent unborn child, but it also endangers the life of the mother. Since the abortion drug approval, presidents Obama and Biden continued to whittle away safety requirements, putting women at increased risk. In fact, at least 10% of women who take the pill experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, and other serious life-threatening events. Pro-abortion states are circumventing the laws of pro-life states by mailing abortion drugs across state lines. considering this, please, for the sake of women, I hope that we can continue building on your work at HHS by releasing the study on the abortion pill and reinstating the in-person dispensing requirements that were rescended by the Biden administration, making it very dangerous for our women, for young women. Thank you again for your time, Mr. Secretary, and I'd like to yield the remainder of my time to you to make any comments that you have. Well, thank you very much, uh, Congresswoman. I can't comment on myth me myth of pristone because it's under litigation now. We've been advised by the office of general counsel, uh, that they don't want me talking about it at all. Uh, but thank you for your concerns. I share President Trump's concern that we can't be a moral nation with 2.1 million abortions every year and that uh we um and that you know the government has has an obligation to protect women and babies. >> Yes. And when the government promotes it and pays for it and lies to women, we know for a fact that at least 80% of women when they have an ultrasound, when they are given the information on the development of the child, when they are given the support and information on how to access um help that they will choose life and not abortion. And I don't know why this is the only medical procedure that I know of that we withhold information from the patient so that we can tip the scales to a certain choice. The left is not pro-choice. They are pro-abortion. Thank you. And I >> gentle lady's time is expired. I now recognize the gentle lady from Michigan, Miss Stevens. >> Well, thank you, Mr. Chair, for holding this hearing and Mr. Secretary. Uh it is in fact true I come from the great state of Michigan and as you enter uh your second year as our nation's health and human services secretary I just had a few things I wanted to tick through with you here today. Um so in early 2025 after your confirmation measles cases spiked in the United States to the highest levels since 1991. Last year we had over 2,200 cases in America. Three people died, two were children. Do I have that correct? Because according to the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, I do. >> During this same time, >> epidemic started before I came. >> During the same time, you questioned the effectiveness of the measles vaccine. And then in September, your handpicked vaccine panel voted against recommending the combined measles vaccine for children under four. This is true. >> It was dangerous. We know now that over 90% of measles cases in 2025 were among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. That's correct. According to the >> think we should have given a dangerous vaccine that all the science >> in just the first three and a half months of 2026, the year we're in right now, we've already seen an additional 1,700 measles cases. I assume you're aware of this according to the CDC. >> And there's a global epidemic. You have also pushed vitamin A as a treatment for measles. That is correct. >> Yeah. >> According to the world, vitamin A overexposure among children increased by nearly 40% and in this time frame, children in the hospitals with both measles and unsafe levels of vitamin A has occurred. Correct. >> I'm not recommending unsafe levels. I'm recommending what every major international health organization recommends. >> American Poison Centers agrees. You characterized your response to one outbreak in Texas as a model for the rest of the world even as the number of measles cases climbed. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, have you ever taken steps to undermine medical guidelines rooted in science? Because we can look at your record, sir. Oh, I have >> I I serve on the science committee. As the be at the beginning of this year, the CDC tried to slash the childhood vaccine schedule from 17 recommended vaccines to 11 before it was blocked by a judge. Hepatitis A, B, RSV, multiple vaccines were demoted. Do you dis do you dispute this charge, sir? >> Do you think that we should recommend interventions that have not been saved? >> Save countless lives. A 2024 study estimates that childhood vaccines have saved 1.1 million children's lives and prevented more than 500 million illnesses in the last three decades. Doctors, researchers, and medical experts have spent years working to not only understand illnesses but also prevent them. Your actions restricting these vaccines have a grave impact on our country. And >> while you have waged war against established medical science, you've also attacked life-saving research on cancer and Alzheimer's. You have implemented measures that have raised costs, kicked families off their insurance, and made it harder to get coverage, devastated rural hospitals. >> Look, to top it off, Mr. Secretary, I got a copy of HR 944. Do you know what it is? >> It's your impeachment article, sir. You have abused your office. You have gutted America's public health. And you have sacrificed our leadership in medical research and innovation. Americans today are less safe under your watch. Children are dying of diseases that we thought we had eradicated. You can smirk, sir, but I answer to the people of Michigan and they have told me you should be ashamed. You should resign. And if you refuse, Congress should remove you from office. I yield back. >> The gentle lady's time has expired. >> I now recognize the gentleman from Missouri, >> the good doctor under. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Secretary. Um, thank you for being here. I'm glad my colleague got her little X clip there to, you know, hopefully it'll go viral for her like she intended. Secretary, thank you so much for your for your work on on just so many areas. But one of the things I wanted to highlight today was your work on prior authorization that was used too often to deny patients of the care they need. But I think what we're seeing, I'm I I'm a practicing physician, practice very little now that I'm in Congress, but now more and more we're seeing threats to patient access because insurance are allowing doctors to give patients the care they need, but then denying payment for those for those cares. And this isn't the usual, you know, fight over us over physicians getting reimbursed. An example from my own specialty. I've been contacted by dozens of allergist immunologists around the country that United Healthcare is claiming to follow Medicare, dishonestly claiming to follow Medicare on allergy imunotherapy reimbursement, allergy shots, and completely denying care for that very life-changing uh reimbursement for that very life-changing uh treatment. Given the market power of United Healthcare, this will put this particular therapy um out of business within I would say six months to a year if UHC's policy continues um you know for 45 million United Healthcare insured patients. So I think we need to we need to watch that not only the barriers to care upfront but if insurers can arbitrarily use their market power to to uh to deny reimbursement that care will go away likewise but yeah >> yeah I mean I have I have children with anaphylactic allergies. >> Yes. And um some of them have benefited from these uh you know he's allergen yes. I have a son who literally lost his peanut allergy which every doctor told me. >> Yeah that's oral imunotherapy >> never happened. Yes, that's oral imunotherapy which is relatively new and I don't think any insurer actually reimburses for that but um but but uh but then then aerero allergen imunotherapy pollen mold dust and so on uh that used to treat asthma uh sinus disease allergic diseases is is mostly what they're what United right now is >> the is the first I've heard of it so and I have two guys who are sitting behind me Chris Clump and Ken Callahan who'll be interested in helping you with this. >> Let's get them together with your staff. >> I appreciate that, Mr. Secretary. And I want to commend you and my colleague, uh, Representative Miller highlighted this, your work to protect kids from mutilating transgender procedures. Of course, I think most impactful, immediately impactful, was the denial of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to hospitals who insist on mutilating kids despite the science, including the recent Finnish Finland study. Um, but one thing that one thing that really just monumental development I think is the executive order that President Trump transmitted uh last January. It had a number of components including directing the HHS study that you that um that that that came out later last year, but also directed the Department of Justice to work on a bill to create strict liability for those healthc care providers who would exploit our kids with mutilating transgender procedures. Um I am honored to be carrying that bill in the House. It's the Khloe Cole Act Senator Blackburn is carrying in the Senate. Uh, I believe that strict liability, the ability of parents and children, young adults to hold those who exploited them with these mutilating procedures accountable could be very impactful. Just as we saw the AMA and the plastic surgeons change their position on mutilating procedures uh after the big uh verdict in New York. Um, do you think it's time that we be able to hold hold those who harm our children in this way strictly accountable? >> It makes a lot of sense to me. There's no I mean, the science is so clear that this is a harmful procedure with with very few little evidence of any benefits. Um, we'll work with you on that. >> No, I I appreciate that. And you know, the one talking point that these transgender doctors, I have a hard time even calling them doctors, but uh these quacks uh say is this is going to improve kids mental health, prevent suicide. >> Well, there's no evidence of that. >> There's no evidence of that. And the Finland study showed that that girls who are gender confused who undergo these procedures, their serious mental health issues double and boys, they go up sixfold. So I think there's never been a good evidence and now there's abundant evidence that we're doing more mental health harm than good. >> I thank the gentleman doctor. His time has expired. I now recognize the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Casar. >> Good morning, Secretary Kennedy. I have a few questions about who you're meeting with and talking to as you make this nation's health care policy and health policy. According to reports, you and President Donald Trump met with the CI CEOs of Fizer, Eli Liy, Pharma, and others at Mara Lago. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> And you've also met with the CEOs of Pepsi and Tyson and Kelloggs. Is that correct, Mr. Secretary? >> We met with people on both sides that of the issue. Yes, of course. The CEO we're going to meet with industry is >> Yeah. And the CEO of Starbucks as well. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Thank you. Do you know how many billionaires you've met with in your time in office? >> I I would have no idea. >> Well, at least at a cabinet meeting, there's of course Donald Trump, Mr. Lutnik, Miss McMahon, uh Mr. Musk. So, at least four or five. So, we've established here you've met with a good number of CEOs, some billionaires. I hear you've even met with Kid Rock. So, here's my question. the Trump policy that passed through the Congress was to give some of these ultra-wealthy people a tax cut. And part of paying for it, >> the the big ugly bill gives the ultra wealthy a massive tax cut. It's well documented, but part of what pays for it is kicking 15 million Americans off of their affordable healthcare. And your Secretary of Health. So here's my question. You've met with the CEOs. You've met with some billionaires. How many people have you met with? How many Americans have you met with that have lost or about to lose their health insurance? >> Well, I have uh I've met with the advocacy community on virtually everything that we regulate. I've met with more tribes and tribal leaders than any HHS secretary in history. >> And I'm grateful for your meeting with tribes and advocacy organizations. But have you met with everyday Americans who have lost their health insurance just this last year? >> I've met with every I meet with everyday Americans every day. >> And have you had conversations with those Americans who will lose their health insurance this coming year or next year because of the cuts to Medicaid? Have you met with people who have lost their health insurance? >> First of all, there are no cuts in Medicaid. There are no cuts in Medicaid. Look at the CBO report from this week. We are increasing Medicaid spending by 47% next 10 years. >> So, so over a trillion dollars comes out over the next 10 years. Report after report says 15 million >> by 40 >> 15 million people could lose their health insurance. >> How is that a cut? >> Okay, let's talk about that. >> That is only a cut in Washington DC of Have you met with again? Have you met with any of the 1.4 4 million people who have lost their health insurance just this last year from dropping off of Obamacare. Have you sat down and talked to those folks about the fact they won't have their health insurance again? >> They're almost all illegal immigrants. >> Oh well, you know what? It sounds like you haven't met with folks like Porsche in my district. >> We found 1.5 million illegal immigrants illegally collecting Medicaid. >> Mr. Secretary, there are people like Porsche in Butuda, Texas, whose health insurance costs went from $100 a month to $500 a month. People like my constituent Shauna in San Marcus, Texas, her premium went from 250 to 750 a month. Now, $500 a month may not be a lot to you or to some of the billionaires that y'all are talking to. But for these moms with kids, they've lost their health insurance this last year. So, have you had a conversation with how many people have you sat down with that have said, "Mr. Secretary, I lost my health insurance this last year. What are we going to do about it? >> 87% of the people who are on Obamacare are paying less than $90 $96 a month. 54% of the people are on Obamacare today are paying less than $50 a month. >> Well, and good for you us to talk about Obamacare, Obamacare policy. The question is, >> it sounds like the answer >> had three chances to make >> We could talk all we want about the past. We could talk about why didn't you do it? >> We could talk about the past. >> Why didn't you do it when you had the power to do it? >> Mr. Secretary, just like you, I'm I'm I'm new here. I'm responsible for what's happening right here and now at your colleagues. >> My question, Mr. Secretary, is have you met with anybody that's lost their health insurance? And it sounds like the answer is zero. So my question was, you've had time to meet with the billionaires. I know it's a lot of fun to meet with Kid Rock. >> Drew, I have met with people who who have lost their health insurance because of a policy from this last year. Yeah, people have come up to me and said that they've lost their health insurance, I talked to them and >> and and what have you said to them? How can you explain to them how as you're trying to make America healthy >> that they now can't see a doctor anymore? >> Point them to other options. >> President Trump is trying >> when somebody So when somebody's health insurance cost goes up $500 a month because of Donald Trump's policy, I don't see how you could honestly tell them how you're going to make this better for them. It is the Democratic policy to benefit billionaires. The health of the insurance companies stocks raised by a thousand% after Obamacare was passed. The money was not going to Americans. It was going to them and it was you who did it. >> The gentleman's time has expired. We need to move on here. It just sounds like he's met with nobody and been able to explain to them why it's okay that this policy kicks them off their healthare. I now recognize the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Harris. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and uh Secretary Kennedy, thank you so much for being here today. I I know that uh my Republican colleagues and I have admired your work on making America healthy again and really cutting down on the waste, fraud, and abuse in many of our government programs. Since President Trump was sworn into office on January 20th, his entire administration, as you know, has worked diligently toward the goal of improving our federal government's efficiency. I happen to serve on the subcommittee for higher education and workforce development and a strategy that the administration has used to improve efficiency and inter agency agreements are of great interest to me. between the department of education and the department of health and human services. I believe three IAAS um titled uh the education department, health and human services foreign medical accreditation agreement, the uh child care access means parents and school agreement and the uh family engagement and school support agreement have been implemented between the department of education and health and human services. My first question to you is how has that transition gone of moving education programs like CC campus and NCFMEA from the department of education to health and human services in your opinion? >> Well, so far we I have not heard of any bumps. Um I you know I I can't tell you all the details of the move but I have not I will hear it if there's a problem. >> Right. I understand that. So when discussions regarding the IAAS began, were there some specific benefits or things that you saw that health and human services could actually bring to these um education department programs? I know you mentioned earlier some of them just belonged or fit better in health and human services. What are some benefits you think maybe we've been able to see? in terms of you know the foreign policy issues CDC we're in 64 countries around the world we have one of CDC's major portfolio items is foreign policy and um and so international uh relations is what we do and that fits perfectly with what we're doing. The other functions are mainly health care functions that are related to public health and disabilities and special education and those are those fit perfectly align perfectly with what we're already doing and what we think we probably can do better than the department of education. >> Right. Well, with those three interaction agencies or inter agency actions in place, are there plans for HHS to enter other IAAS either with the Department of Education or other agencies that maybe as this efficiency effort is being made uh that you can see coming in the future that will help improve government efficiency? >> Yes, there are and we are talking to other agencies about that now. >> Okay. >> It's not something that I would be prepared to go into details. I understand, completely understand. Um, I also want to switching gears real quickly. I've been encouraged to see the administration working to restore common sense policies across all agencies and it's already been touched on by several of my colleagues here today of those one of those policies is prohibiting the transgender medical interventions on children. Um, it was also referenced a little earlier today, the executive order. And the the executive order from January 28th states, it's the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called transition of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and lo lifealtering procedures." End quote. Now, some reports that I have seen have shown that many hospitals and health systems have actually temporarily or indefinitely rolled back the transgender surgery and treatment for minors and some young adults because of these executive orders. Just quickly asking from your perspective, does that match these reports I've seen to the general trend that you're seeing as a secretary of health? We're seeing that trend across the board and particularly with the suspension of Medicaid and Medicare funding for the hospitals that host these procedures. I think that's going to have universal impact. Well, I want to join uh my other colleagues that have mentioned it in thanking you for your role as Secretary of Health and Human Services to take action to end chemical and surgical mutilation of children. And I'm very grateful for your service. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. I thank the gentleman. His time hasn't expired. And I recognize a gentle lady from Pennsylvania, Miss Lee. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, this is um Black Maternal Health Week, so I'll just start there. Secretary Kennedy, I'm sure you're aware that black women are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women. Uh the vast majority of those deaths are preventable. Black women in my district are more likely to die during pregnancy than their peers in 97% of US cities. Your written testimony mentions maternal and child health four times, but from what I've seen, the NIH council grants researching black maternal health. Um, your administration's fiscal year 27 budget proposes eliminating healthy start, which is one of the federal government's primary community-based maternal health programs. and you've made it a priority of HHS to end diversity, equity, and inclusion. So, um, yes or no. My question uh for you is if a medical school, our public health school educates students about addressing the black maternal mortality crisis, would you consider that an illegal DIE? >> No. >> No, you would not. >> No. >> Great. I I do hope for the medical schools um the universities and the accredititors your administration have been threatening that they're watching this and take this directive to continue teaching about uh and addressing the black maternal mortality crisis and I expect your agency to restore and expand funding and support for that work. Um also yes or no. Do you think consuming more protein and avoiding Tylenol will prevent black women from dying three times more likely during a pregnancy? I I doubt it. Um >> Tylenol doesn't kill you. >> So then why are you putting forth why aren't you putting forth serious policies that actually address the health crisis uh crisises in this country instead of just these unserious conspiracy theories and this wellness influencer mess that we >> You want me to answer that question or are you just talking? >> No, it's a question. >> We are doing more on maternal health than any other administration. No, I said black maternal health on >> on maternal health. >> Black maternal health >> and includes blacks and whites. >> But the thing is is that they're actually not the same outcomes which means that we need specific and intentional interventions for black maternal health and black. >> Can I finish? I'm saying >> are you going to answer that? >> Yeah. We have a right now we've implemented a um a paranatal pilot project that we're in 220 hospitals around the country and we have reduced maternal health mortalities by 42% of those hospitals by providing them protocols. >> Can you please share what the reduction has been for black maternal health? >> Across the board it's 42%. >> But black maternal health still has worse outcomes than other people. I I wouldn't know. It helps everybody, >> but it isn't >> object to that. >> Okay. Thank you. It is not. I I do want to just for the record state that it it does not help everyone. Your agency told programs to remove a list of nearly 200 words and phrases from their funding applications, including the word black. Um do you have an idea of how we could solve the black maternal mortality crisis if we can't say black? >> President Trump is trying to end division in this country. Not so done during the last four years. That's what DEI did. It divided people. It polarized people. >> No, no, no, no, no. We're not talking about eviction. We're talking about health. >> We're calling about DEI. >> We're talking about healthcare. >> Yeah. >> Disparities. >> So, what we're asking is is if you attack DE and I and then we have a a crisis that impacts one population over another, but you cannot direct specific spending or research or interventions to that population. How do you solve the problem? Do you think the federal government should be paying for DEI? >> I think the federal government has a vested interest in ensuring that its citizens survive child birth. >> Well, we we are meeting that obligation. >> We are not. >> Oh, that I can explain to you how we are if >> you have not done so so far. But also I would say that you know we can improve health care for everybody at the same time as helping the people who are most likely to die. That's what de and I well first of all de and I make sure that we have black doctors um or women doctors or we're talking about the fact that we have a mortality rate that is not matched by any other country as as what we would call developed as ours. Really quickly in yesterday's ways and means committee hearing you denied saying that every black kid is now just a standard put on aderall SSRI benzo which are known to induce violence and those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere else and get repared. Why did you deny saying this? Why did I deny payment? >> No. Why did you decide deny that you said that every black kid is now just standard put on aderall, SSRI, benzo, which are known as to induce violence, and that you would rehome them? >> Well, it's largely true that black kids because it's easier to handle people and and they the a lot of the public >> and you're going to rehome them. >> No, I never said that we should rehome them. Relegal drugs. Oh, psychiat >> gentle lady's time has expired. >> Okay. I just wanted to know if that was him for the record. Thank you. >> I thank the gentle yield back. >> I I recognize the gentleman from California, Mr. Kylie. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Morning, Mr. uh Secretary. Uh I just wanted to first start by echoing part of what my colleague from Texas said about the expiration of the ACA subsidies. This was this is a serious issue for a lot of people uh in this country right now who have seen an escalating an escalating increase in their uh premium payments. Um, I will say I think it represented a failure on both sides to come together and find a solution. I had a bipartisan bill. There were a couple of others on this issue. Uh, but partisan politics got in the way. Uh, and now people are having to pay a lot more and things have become even more unaffordable. So, uh, I do hope that we can, uh, still even at this late hour uh, find a way to solve this problem and make people whole. Uh but what I actually want to talk to you about today is the new uh food pyramid uh which uh you know I think is one of the most important documents our government has issued uh in a long time. And there's a website to go along with it, real food.gov. That is I think the most userfriendly government website I've ever seen. I'd highly recommend people check it out. Uh real food uh.gov. And regardless of what anyone thinks about you, Mr. secretary about the president or about me or anyone on this committee. I would hope that this is something that we can all come together around uh because some of the statistics you've already cited and they're in your supporting documents here are truly jarring. You know, 70 plus% of uh adults in the US being overweight way more than any other developed country. Third of adolescence have pre-diabetes. Uh as a result, we have lower life expectancy. Maybe two and a half years of reduced life expectancy because of these issues. uh chronic disease consumes as you mentioned 90% of our overall spending. So you've addressed some of this already but can you just explain briefly you know how it is that our food supply in the US is linked to all of these problems. >> Yeah. I mean there there are a um there it's a confluence of different forces but I think probably the most um potent driver was the grass standards. Grass is gen is a loophole known as generally recognized as safe and it was put into the uh food drug and cosmetic act in 1948 to allow companies to include ingredients that were traditional like vinegar and salts and wheat and these kind of things. but it was hijacked by the food industry so that they're now using it to put any chemical that they make in a lab without even informing us what it is. So, we now have 10,000 ingredients in our food and we have no idea about the safety of almost any of them. The Europeans don't have this and they have only 400 ingredients in their food. Oh, that explains that that explains why Americans partially why Americans are so sick. And then the other thing was the food pyramid itself was the was the the creation of corruption. The people who were writing it were captured by lobbyists. certain companies that were pro trying to promote margarines and um and ultrarocessed foods and to get rid of protein. And that's what they did. They gave a a did false studies that were fraudulent that said that protein caused heart attacks. There's zero evidence of that. So they took protein off and as a result today 70% of the calories that Americans eat are ultrarocessed food and it's just poison. >> So that's why you've inverted this in the sort of overarching principle as it suggests is to eat real foods. Uh and then you have you know various guidelines that people can check out. Eat the amount that's right for you. Prioritize proteins. Consume dairy. Eat vegetables and fruits throughout the day. Incorporate healthy fats. Focus on whole grains. Limit highly processed foods. specially added sugar. Notice the yogurt here is unsweetened. Uh so uh the question is then how do we actually you know cause this to compel change across the country. Uh that's a very you know uh challenging task but we do have a pretty good maybe uh precedent for this when it comes to uh cigarette use. You know we've seen a reduction of maybe four out of every 10 adults smoking in the 60s to one out of every 10 uh adults now. So is there are there any lessons to be learned here? And what do you think the keys are to actually compelling adoption of these habits and practices, changes in institutions in a way that will actually reverse these long time long? >> I mean, we don't want to use compulsion. Americans should always have choice. If you want to eat a crispy cream donut, you should be able to do it. >> Sure. >> Um, but we have the power of the subsidy program. $45 million a day from USDA to Wix Head Start school lunches um on Indian tribal services and we are using those to drive changes in the dietary culture. So for example, I'll just give you one example with the Brook Rollins is required that every retailer that gives out that that accepts food stamps has to double the amount of real food in their facility. And that's just one example, but there are many, many, many. We're we're changing food in the military. We're changing hospital food. We're doing this across the board to drive these changes and create a revolution in food culture in this country. >> That's fantastic. And yeah, the more we can do that to encourage uh this uh pyramid to become uh more widely known and in practice, I think it'll benefit our country enormously. Gentleman's time is expired >> even though I'm grateful here about crispy cream donuts. Now I recognize a gentleman from New York, Mr. Manion. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh thank you, Mr. Secretary, for your testimony today. Earlier in this hearing, uh Representative Tano had uh referenced truth social posts from the president and I believe I heard your response to be that he was the most sane president. Do you care to comment any further? or is that your >> if you look at that true social post I was pointing out the last line of it as God bless the Iranian people. So it was clear that he was sending a nuance message. He was sending a message of brute force and violence to the moolas to incentivize them to change but also sending a message of love and compassion to the Iranian people. So you can look at it and say, "Oh, it's insane that he'd make this kind of threat." But he's a dealmaker. He's a bargainer. >> Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I appreciate that. More sane than your uncle. >> He's he's very very sane. >> So, I grew up in a place called Tipperary Hill. >> I say he's more sane than Uncle Joe. Uncle Joe Biden. >> Your uncle, your father were heroes to the Irish Catholic community. your uncle, a Purple Heart recipient, a World War II veteran and naval commander, a hero, a member of the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and a president whose termed ended in assassination and is widely regarded as someone who navigated our country through possibly the most challenging time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. There were two pictures that hung in the homes of Irish Catholics in my neighborhood. Separate pictures. One of your uncle, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and the other of the baby Jesus, the light of the world. Two separate pictures. So, I thank you for being here today. I have various concerns about the direction of HHS under your leadership. But today, I'd like to focus on some particularly harmful attacks made on the disability community. Your actions and statements, Mr. Secretary, have contributed to real fears, anxieties, and consequences for millions of families. I know some of my colleagues have raised these with you as well, but I want to again point out some of the statements that I think reveal a bias and a credibility issue. You previously said that people with autism and again I acknowledge your statements previously in this hearing that these are the most profoundly autistic individuals. But the impact it has on families and statements that they will never hold a job, never play baseball, never write a poem, never go out on a date, or never use a toilet unassisted, those are incredibly impactful. additional statements that they uh individuals with autism and the epidemic that exists is catastrophic to our country and destroys families. As these words weren't insulting enough, you've also insinuated and insulted the intelligence of American people by linking autism to vaccines, Tylenol, and circumcision. Mr. Kennedy, not long ago, any of these claims would have been disqualifying for someone in your position, especially given a lack of scientific or medical training on your part. These would have prompted uh dismissal, and we would have dismissed these statements as ridiculous and unverified theories. But in this administration, falsehoods are routinely given a platform and are perpetuated. And competence is also often rewarded as is loyalty. And there's very rarely accountability for statements such as this. Mr. Secretary, as a science teacher at a college level for almost 30 years and the former chairman of the disabilities committee in the New York State Senate, I have worked intensively with individuals with disabilities and their families, understanding their concerns. So that experience goes back a long time. And as a country, we have made massive strides in improving disability policy. But now, under your watch, we're moving in the wrong direction. A1 trillion dollar cut to Medicaid that you have let happen and have tried to downplay, is dismantling many important programs, including the Administration for Community Living at HHS, which oversees programs supporting senior and individuals with disabilities. And now you and Secretary McMahon seem to be working behind closed doors to dismantle the Department of Education and expand HHS's role in key educational programs. Unlike you, career public servants at the Department of Education have worked for decades to develop expertise, expand educational opportunity, and protect the rights of students with disabilities. I cannot believe that we are talking about shifting critical programs that are enshrined into law and into the department of education over to HHS. In lie of going over on my comments, I will uh end my time here. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Gentleman's time is expired. Yields back. I now recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania and the uh champion of whole milk, Mr. Thompson. Uh thank you, Chairman, Mr. Secretary. Good to see you again. You, too. >> Always appreciate the opportunities to be able to work with you and and um and your leadership and your team uh that you put together. Um my my first question really is uh uh it's about the community services block grant program. That's a program I feel I just very passionate about that program. It's the original anti-poverty program. Um, and really doesn't matter what the source that led somebody into poverty. It it really helps provide a pathway out of poverty, which is I think this is what we want for folks, right? To be able to realize the American dream. Um, and certainly an important program in my state of Pennsylvania, helping low-income individuals and families get on a path to financial independence. Currently over $13.5 million in the fiscal year 26 congressionally allocated funds uh to my state are being held up at OM and uh SE Secretary Kenny just seeking your assistance in working at uh uh committing to to help immediately release the five months worth of CSBG funds currently stalled at OMBb. We we need them to to get those funds out into those communities. So, you know, you know, helping to lift people out of poverty, providing them a pathway forward. >> Thank you for that comment, Congressman. We're working as hard as we can to get that money out the door. >> No, I appreciate that. Anything I can help with on that, I'm I'm all in. I seem very very effective. We're uh uh we're actually working to reauthorize community services block grant program. And you know, reauthorization is important. You know, it uh making sure it's currently u on the question of crispy cream donuts. Um uh I I' I'd have to say only with a glass of whole milk. Uh that that would be the best combination. Now, I've worked for uh over a decade to restore whole milk in our schools uh cafeterias and was honored that my legislation, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, was signed into law by President Trump in January, allowing schools the flexibility to offer flavored, non-flavored, whole, and 2% milk. Just common sense. Uh really common sense and science. Uh, Secretary Kennedy, I was pleased that the dietary guidelines for Americans uh that were released earlier this year recommended whole uh full fat milk. Um, question for you. How would including whole milk in school meal programs improve nutritional outcomes for children? >> It's absolutely critical. It's criminal that we took it out of the schools for two generations. We had two generations of kids who were not growing up with the best access to the finest source of micronutrients that build their brains, build their body, build their bones. We're now putting it back in the schools. You know, the some of the schools are having trouble because um they have contracts with vendors that don't include it, but they are. We were working with them to make sure that they all are serving. Oh man, the kids love it. Kids are drinking it because it it tastes better. And you know, people's bodies crave fats. And you have healthy fats in whole milk that you can't get anywhere else. And it tastes better than, you know, 2% or skim milk. Kids love it much more. And it's uh it just it's crazy that we deprived all of those generations of kids on this critical food source. Yeah, absolutely. And I know that your colleague and good friend of mine, Secretary Brook Rollins, is uh uh preparing um I I anticipate hopefully in the next couple weeks to see published in a congressional record. Just clarity that uh this uh will apply not just to school lunches, but for breakfast and quite frankly any time that meals are served within the school system. Any thoughts on what steps that can we take to help schools successfully transition to offering whole milk? >> The biggest uh help we need, the biggest impediment to getting good food into the schools is that a lot of schools have abandoned their kitchens. Oh, you know, when I was a kid, every school had a kitchen. And that's not true today. And um you know, we need to be able to help them uh build kitchens and to get you know, to purchase cutlery and to purchase cutting boards and all the things they need to actually be making good food there. What we're finding is that the food at good food is actually in many cases cheaper than the processed and ultrarocessed foods that they were getting is much cheaper than fast food. In fact, our program in the military, we were shifting heat access is shifting the military from the terrible appalling food that they had that only a third of the troops were eating and we were paying $18.50 a day. We're now on five bases about to go into 20 bases with good, rich, whole food. A lot of it locally sourced and we're feeding about $10 a day. So, it's, you know, good food is not more expensive as long as you're cooking it at home. >> Gentleman's time is expired. >> Secretary, >> while we'd like to talk more about crispy cream and chocolate whole milk, uh, we're going to move now to the gentle lady from Connecticut, Mrs. Hayes. Thank you. Good afternoon. Firearms are the leing leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States. Pediatricians, trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, and public health experts have repeatedly described firearm injury as a public health emergency. As my colleague stated, when you were asked during your confirmation hearing if you believe firearm violence was a public health crisis, you answered with one word, no. You went on to say, "You believe that HHS can explore solutions for the behavioral health and substance abuse epidemic without compromising sacred rights and freedom." According to Edweek, which may which measures school shootings at K12 schools resulting in injury or death, there have been 26 school shootings since you were sworn in. According to the gun violence archive, which measures any gun discharge on school grounds, there have been 240 incidents since you were sworn in. In 2026, we have seen school shootings in Rockland, Maryland, Detroit, Michigan, Crannle, Texas, Bulver, Texas, Ferguson, Missouri, Oklahoma, Bethesda, Maryland. As you stated, I understand that you don't have full jurisdiction over the law enforcement side, the DOJ, the FBI. And since this committee has refused to respond to my request for a hearing on school shootings, I want to ask you about the things you do have direct jurisdiction over. HHS holds jurisdiction over public health aspects focusing on mental health services, trauma support for survivors, data collection, and data collection to prevent gun violence. Since under your tenure, we've seen threats of cuts to SAMA, cuts to school-based mental health programs, cuts to the CDC staffers who work on research and prevention, cuts to bipartisan community violence prevention programs. They've been terminated. So, Mr. Secretary, since you were sworn in and now have full visibility of the harm of gun violence to children, has your position changed? Do you believe gun violence is a public health crisis? >> I believe it's a public health crisis, but it's not. We don't have jurisdiction to >> the things you do have jurisdiction over >> and we're doing those. So, we're doing more studies on the ideology and cause of gun violence, the first that have ever been done in years. Sir, I have to I have to I only have five minutes and I apologize. >> Question, so I answered it. >> Well, I want to know specifically why the research and the funding has been cut for these programs that address trauma, that address uh student survivors, that address school-based mental health programs for students who are affected by gun violence. You're putting out all of these programs, all of these studies about keeping kids healthy. Keeping kids alive is part of keeping them healthy. And we're trying to do that by doing the studies to understand why people commit mass shootings. >> But you've also cut funding. >> That has not been done before. >> You've also cut the Trump administration. >> Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to exercise some restraint. You're a Kennedy. You know how oversight hearings work. And we don't want the second graders to think that your interruptions are rude, disrespectful, or impatient. So, I'm going to have to ask you to just allow me to finish my questions. >> Well, don't pretend you're asking. my home state of Connecticut where I was a school teacher in the classroom on the day 20 children were slaughtered and six educators. We worked really hard to see firsthand how to invest in our communities and provide prevention. Connecticut has has created some of the strongest school-based violence prevention systems in the country through multidisciplinary threat assessment teams, early intervention programs, and partnerships that help schools identify concerning behavior. I put forth a bill, the school vi violence prevention act to begin to collect data to si to see how we can have federal programs to address these uh traumatic outcomes for kids. Many of the the things that we fought for and the bipartisan safer communities act have been cut. So I have to ask you, what have you done to address the health of children? you point out so many other things about um the food they eat uh all these other things. What have you done to keep kids safe from gun violence outside of commissioning a study? >> As I said, we have no in law enforcement. Congress has not given us law enforcement. >> I'm not asking you about law enforcement, sir. >> Well, the what we do is we study issues and we study problems and we're doing that with gun violence, which has not been specifically study that you've that you've commissioned. >> We did a we've done I I think it's almost near completion. We did a study on uh on school shootings to look at what the shooters have in common, what medications they may have been receiving, whether they were on SSRI, whether they were on benzo, and we're expanding that now across the uh across the agency to do even more of those. The gentle lady's time is expired. >> I'd like more information on that study because I'm unaware of it. >> I yield back. >> Happy gentle lady yields back. I now recognize the gentle lady from Arizona, Miss Grahova. >> Thank you for your time today. I have to say as I listen here um with all the health initiatives that you're expousing, I have grave concerns about the HHS bill budget and the cuts that are being proposed. I spent 20 years on a school board and saw firsthand how support systems children have or don't have outside of the classroom shape their outcomes. At the most basic level, children can't go to school if they're sick. They can't learn on an empty stomach, and their families can't get ahead if they can't access health care. I'd like to first talk to you about your proposed cuts to medical research. I was reading an article this morning that talked about your affinity to perform your own medical research. You apparently once cut the penis off a roadkilled raccoon to study them later. You speak fondly of medical research. Yet your budget cuts um show that the National Institutes of Health are going to get a cut of more than 12%. This level of cuts would halt promising research, force layoffs of scientists and research staff, and undermine America's global leadership in medical intervention and innovation. What specific diseases do you believe deserve less medical research? a DEI. >> Okay. So, but >> we got a billion dollars. >> Do you have a specific program, a specific disease that deserves less funding? >> I would say we're putting a billion dollars into DEI and DEI research has never cured any disease. It's never produced any new drug. >> Okay. So between February of 2025 and April of 2025, HHS canceled or froze more than $180 million in National Cancer Institute grants. Were you the one to approve these cuts to cancer grants or did that come directly from the White House? >> We're giving the highest uh one of the highest uh budget increases to NCI. >> Can you just answer my specific question? Did you were you the one who approved those cuts or did that come from the White House? >> As I said, we are raising the budget for NCI for the National Can Institute in this budget. It's one of the only agencies throughout my sub agencies throughout my entire agency that's receiving a raise. >> So, Secretary Kennedy, you have the responsibility to tell the truth to this committee. And here are some examples of cuts. In April of 2025, HHS canceled an NIH grant regarding strategies to reduce cancer and chronic disease in the Arkansas Delta. In 2020, In 2025, a grant selective targeting of pancreatic cancer was cut. In March of 2025, a grant the automated digital imaging for cervical cancer screening. Those the list continues to go on. You've also noted that SNAP can be used to purchase whole foods. And we look at some of the recent data just in Arizona, the district that I represent, 424 fewer people, including 180 children, have lost food assistance since the enactment of HR1. My constituents are writing to me telling me that they're hungry and cannot afford food. As the Secretary of Health and Human Services, will you make a statement here today that you oppose hunger in this country? Well, I oppose hunger in this country and we're doing we're the first administration to be doing something about getting actually good food. >> Thank you. I'm grateful that you're standing against the Republican hunger cuts. Um and if HHS spends 21 billion on physician training, yet only 1% goes to community- based programs like teaching health centers that actually reduce primary care shortages. Why are we underinvesting in the models that work? in for rural health >> for community health centers. >> I just put $143 million into community health centers for physician retention. We also put $50 billion into uh the rural transformation process program which has a lot of money for rural health care frontline physicians to retain them to keep them to do residencies there. It's unprecedented. So, just so you know, only 1% of the funding that you've talked about actually goes to teaching health centers and community health centers and health centers lower cost and improve. >> You asked about the problem. I'm you know, we're trying to solve the problem of of rural residencies and and rural access to rural personnel and we're doing more than any administration in history to do So unfortunately there are five rural health centers in Arizona that are at risk of closure because of cuts from this administration. So what are you doing to ensure that every Medicaid patient can access a community health center? >> There's 39 million Americans in community health centers and my personal belief is that it's the most effective health centers in our country. What they're doing is better than any. We're making big investments to make sure that they continue. We've we've raised the funding in this budget for community health centers and then I'm finding other pockets of money funnel as I did last week, $135 million. >> I I would really like to see the data that shows that because the rural health communities and health centers in my district are suffering greatly under this administration. Well, I announced the program. I announced the program in Arizona last week at a community health center. >> The gentle lady's time is expired and I would recommend making direct contact between the two of you. So, thank you. I now recognize the gentleman from California, Mr. Don. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Mr. Secretary Terry, I want to start with something I think we agree on. I've had a a long time since local government and in the district I represent, the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay area, we've been leaders on attacking uh the tobacco industry and protecting kids in particular. So, you have made a comment um which I laed that you want to wipe out ecigarettes in the country. Um I put a lot of work into making sure that Juel was held accountable for what they were doing. Yet, we still have almost 2 million uh American kids using illegal ecigarettes. So where your jurisdiction is in enforcement, unfortunately you're cutting enforcement. How will you uh do what you have said you want to do and I believe you want to do is wipe out ecigarette use and in this instance illegal ecigarette use um by increasing enforcement. >> Do you mean vapes? >> Yes. Oh, the vapes jewel companies like >> we're increasing it for I mean the the the budget increases enforcement for for Chinese vapes and I've already been you know I was in Illinois a couple of weeks ago doing a major enforcement action. We confiscated about a million Pam Bondi and I about a million Chinese vapes. We the there there's a there there there's an argument for vapes. Vapes reduce cigarette tobacco smoking which that's that's that was the argument Juel made and I'd be happy to have a further conversation. >> I'd love to have that conversation. >> So um on another important matter and and I think and this goes to SAMA behavioral health. Uh you and I have some similar family uh background. Um my dad was a alcoholic um and he took his life many years ago. So since then I've spent a lot of time on behavioral health, mental health. Uh Mr. Wahlberg and I have done initiatives on this and prevention. And we now have according to the center for disease control uh a real mental health crisis in this country when it comes to kids. The CDC did a report in the prior administration that uh almost half of adolescent pre-adolescent young women, young girls, women uh were predisposed to depression and suicidal ideiation. So how can we work together to prevent that? How can we work together to using research from SAMA and other research around the world to make sure we start making an impact in dropping these uh really serious behavioral mental health issues for our for future generations. >> Congressman, it's a top priority for me. I would love to hear your ideas. We just um um announced the great American recovery plan. I'm working on with Karen uh uh Katherryn Bergam with my cousin Patrick Kennedy who you know and with many other people who are top in their field including I think Jonathan Sharon who you probably know from Los Angeles. So we're looking for the best ideas and President Trump wants us to implement them. This is a issue that is a high priority for him and as you point out for me personally. I would love to talk to you about what you think that we could be doing better and if there's new ideas we want to hear them. One of the big challenges I see both from my personal background which I think you share uh parts of that certainly is the deployment of the amazing research that NIH um SAMA u the University of California San Francisco not far from my district is doing remarkable work. So the deployment of that research is a real challenge. Since parody we had a 300% increase in Americans asking for mental health and behavioral health services. We've had a 300% decrease in young people going into the field because they can't pay their student loans because the cost of of uh school and training. I talked to two young psychologists uh who said they had $350,000 in student debt. They didn't have any money. They were clearly had a calling to this field uh but they didn't have any way that they could recover their costs. So that's another thing I think is of extreme urgency. Um, and then very lastly, in the county I represent and being a former county uh, elected, we spent a lot of time, thanks to my predecessor, Mr. Miller, the former chair of this committee, doing prevention. But with the big ugly bill, we've taken all of that prevention, primary care clinics, a lot of the work you espouse, Mr. Miller was very important in changing the nutrition standards in this committee on free and reduced lunch to make sure all the things that you've talked about actually deliver that we're bringing farm to food really wonderful food to kids and we've changed in California. I had a bill in uh here about getting schools to be able to get grants for kitchen equipment that was more appropriate to your last question more attuned to that to preparing food like that. I spent 35 years in the restaurant business. So changing that and changing away from prevention under the big HR1 is a huge contradiction to what I heard you say frequently that it's about prevention and knowledge. And in the county I represent, they've already seen this huge increase and it's going larger and larger to wrap up >> because all those people who we were working with in primary care and prevention are now ending up with higher acuity in the county hospital room, a hospital emergency room. So if you could spend just a second talking about moving away from prevention and into crisis which this administration's doing. >> We'll have to carry it on in another format but because the time has expired and we are running close to the time limit. So I now recognize the uh ranking member gentleman from Virginia Mr. Scott. >> Thank you m thank you Mr. Chairman and thank you Mr. Secretary for being with us today. Let me make a couple of comments before I get to questions. The first is I want to join in the bipartisan support for the community services block grant. Uh it's a strong program and has good support. We want to make sure that stays as strong as possible. The other is to put the savings in the um HHS budget budget in um in context. We're talking about a um savings in the budget of 16 billion. The big ugly bill added $3.5 trillion to the debt with interest maybe $4 trillion. Uh rounding that would be to the nearest hundred billion dollars. So we're not even a significant part of a rounding era. But these painful cuts are still very meaningful. The gentle lady from North Carolina talked about the school meal equipment grant which would help schools prepare healthy meals, but that program was zeroed out. Uh, another comment. You had an exchange with the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Norcross, about mental health parody. Um, we had a hearing yesterday with the Employee Benefit Security Administration where the administrator could not uh name any sanction he could impose to punish an insurance company for failing to comply with mental health parody. Apparently, he needs some legislation because he didn't have the authority. So, as you work with Mr. Norcross. Um I think he's got legislation pending. We may have to do legislation to um to to to fix that. >> We lost our case on that. Unfortunately, we lost our case on that. >> Oh, we we couldn't help you fix it up with legis legislation. >> Um Mr. Secretary, the GAO is wrapping up uh responding to a request I made last year about DOA's access to data and IT systems within many agencies including HHS because Doge was having access to data in HHS. That would be extremely sensitive health information and we wanted to know what Doge was doing with that information. Regrettably, we've been informed that that the um department is not fully cooperating with department to the GI. Our concern was because HS is not cooperating with the GI. So computers are now concerned about whether or not the information was actually accurate. Secretary, what did the department mean when it told that it was not fully cooperating to respond because they were concerned about the secretary betteration working of course. Um operates in exchange for exemption from the terror claim the lowest price ever over the public. Um there are uh there's proprietary in fact the inflation reduction act. Um the legislation that recognized during the negotiations that was going to be the Yeah. There's nothing that Congress do all the time. secret. >> Unfortunately, we are still having technical issues and we're not able to resolve the problem with our live feed from this event. 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This year, as we mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, C-SPAN Student Cam documentary competition invited students to create short films exploring themes from American history, the rights and freedoms rooted in this founding document and pressing issues of today, from the economy and immigration to criminal justice, education, and healthcare. Nearly 4,000 students from 38 states and Washington DC took part in this year's competition. Throughout this month, we're proud to showcase our top 21 winners. This year's first prize middle school winners are Harper Hayden and Helena de la Hussein, eighth graders from Korea Middle School in San Diego, California, where our local partner is Cox Communications. Their winning documentary is titled This Is What Democracy Looks Like about the influence of the Declaration of Independence on the No Kings Movement. >> SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. >> THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY looks like. >> SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. >> THIS IS WHAT democracy looks like. >> This is what democracy looks like. >> 7 million people. >> It's fundamental to who we are as a nation. >> This is a moment in our history. We've had tens of thousands of people that have come out >> in the same way that in the Declaration On July 4th, 1776, the American colonists published the Declaration of Independence, citing 27 grievances against King George III, including their belief that he was violating their rights by not following the law, obstructing the naturalization of foreigners, inciting insurrections, and protecting the unlawful actions of standing armies. On the eve of the document's 250th anniversary, the Trump administration is causing the echo of similar concerns among many of its citizens. >> My name is Brandon Christopher Sigua. I am the senior policy advocate for the advancing justice team here at ACLU of San Diego Imperial Counties. On October 18th, 7 million people across all 50 states at over 2,700 events came together by using their first amendment right to protest President Trump's escalating abuses of power. >> The theme to the No Kings um day of action, just like it was in June, was for people to affirm with one voice in unison in America, we have no kings. Not now, not ever. My name is Dane Colbreth. I'm 17 years old and I was a student at San Diego High School while I organized No Kings. When you see the same pattern that you saw back in 1776, it's very concerning. It's not necessarily the exact things being done, but it's the pattern in which they are being done with a disregard for our rights. That's why we called it no kings. >> What they were doing by protesting was saying that we do not consent to the way that your power is being exercised in this moment. In the same way that in the Declaration of Independence, they told the king, "We don't like the authority you have over us or the way that you're exercising." >> Kelly Martinez, and I'm the sheriff of San Diego County. So, we've had probably three really significant large-scale protests in San Diego County in time since I've been the sheriff. We've had recently two no protests, which were significant. One was about 65,000 people. >> My name is Monica Montgomery Step and I serve on the county board of supervisors as vice chair. The no kings march that I spoke at most recently was actually my first no kings march. >> Whenever there's a large-scale protest or demonstration, the sheriff's office is the one that for the most part handles if if the agency of jurisdiction asks, we handle a lot of the security for those. We're really there to protect the rights of the people who are demonstrating as well as the the rights of property owners and everyone else so that uh it's safe for both sides. >> I could not tell you who started it. I don't think it's that one person started it, but each person involved had their own role in starting it. I believe it was social media, a group of folks getting together and saying, "We're going to be a part of this national movement. We are going to show the nation that San Diego is standing up. My name is Megan Maza and I am a citizen of San Diego who attended the No Kings March. The issues that are most important to me that are implicated by the No Kings movement are immigration. Like I said, I'm the daughter of an immigrant and I think it's really important that we welcome immigrants, women's rights, and reproductive freedom is also really important to me. Gun control is also really important to me cuz I have three kids and I want them to be able to go to school safely. >> We have so many issues like homelessness, housing, and transportation that we just can solve. We're the richest country on the planet and we can solve these issues and we just don't because the people in power don't value solving them. civil rights, human rights, making sure that our government gives people the dignity and respect that they deserve. >> Donald Trump is threatening our democracy. >> We are in the middle of an authoritarian takeover. >> He's trying to treat this country like his personal piggy bank. >> In the days leading up to No Kings, we pro worked to provide know your rights information to our regions. In addition, more than 25,000 people join national ACLU know your rights and protester safety trainings in just two weeks. >> I thought this is important to be able to tell my kids that when things are happening in our country that you don't agree with that you do something about

Summary: The committee meets today in pursuant to notice and without objection, the chair may recess the committee at any point. At a time when Americans are facing rising health care costs, declining public trusts and worsening rates of chronic disease, strong leadership at HHS is more important than ever. Under Secretary Kennedy, HHS is taking bold and decisive action to make America healthy again. Healthc care is a critical part of the equation. Yet for too many…