RFK Jr. Senate testimony on vaccines and CDC (Face the Nation)
YouTube video by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pr1qSZtKWA). Transcript is the auto-caption track — verbatim ASR, not a certified transcript.

And I've made it clear. I think that Secretary Kennedy is dead set on making it harder for children to get vaccines and that kids are going to die because of it. And Mr. Chairman, I'd like to put in the record today an op-ed written uh by Susan Manarez who was fired by uh Mr. Kennedy. >> Without objection. >> So what we know and Dr. Manarez, you know, was approved by Republicans. She wrote an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal, which I've just put in the record, and I quote her. She said, "I was told to preapprove the recommendations of a vaccine advisory panel newly filled with people who have publicly expressed antivaccine rhetoric." So, this is not some liberal philosopher or something. And this is the CDC director who tells the Wall Street Journal, which is not exactly interested in progressive, you know, theories and the like, that she was told to pre-approve the recommendations of a vaccine advisory panel filled with people who've publicly expressed antivaccine rhetoric. So my first question, Mr. secretary is did you in fact do what director Monz said you did which is tell her to just go along with vaccine recommendations even if she didn't think such recommendations aligned with scientific evidence that >> No, I did not. >> That's a that's a yes or no. So you have an opportunity to call her a liar if you say that you didn't uh do it, but I'd like to see you respond to this. >> Yeah. No, I did not say that to her >> and I never had a private meeting with her. So, they're witnesses to every meeting that we have and all of those witnesses will say I never said that. So, she's lying today to the American people in the Wall Street Journal. Yes, sir. Okay, let's talk now about what's coming up because I've made it clear what I've thought about the 203, you know, days with my colleague Senator Also Brooks. In two weeks, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet to make decisions about critical vaccines that protect us against hepatitis B, measles, and more. The committee's got a profound uh impact on vaccine access, but these aren't ordinary meetings. You've stacked the deck to ensure the panel benefits bends to your views. In June, you fired all 17 committee members who are respected scientists and doctors. You replace them with non-experts, vaccine skeptics, and conspiracy theorists. As a result, this critical advisory panel has lost scientific credibility. After years, colleagues, we spend so much time not looking at this as Democrats and Republicans, but it's good science and scientific, you know, credibility. And now the American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that the committee is being politicized at the expense of children's health. American Academy of Pediatrics, you think they're lying, too? >> I think the American Academy of Pediatrics is gravely conflicted. They get very their biggest contributors are the four largest vaccine makers. They run a journal pediatrics which they make a lot of money on that is completely dependent on pharmaceutical companies. So I don't think I wouldn't put a big stake in what they say that benefits pharmaceutical interest. Senator, I didn't politicize as I depoliticize it. The Congress has been investigating as >> all over the country, Mr. Secretary, scientists and doctors are saying otherwise. They're all wrong, too. They're all lying. According to you, >> the scientists and doctors are supporting me all over the country. There is division on opinion. >> I don't I don't get letters from thousands of people who are not political saying that this set of changes is going to damage American healthcare and particularly these healthcare agencies for decades to come. I don't get any letters to people saying it's going to make a big difference forever. >> And maybe you're listening to a selective group of people. You you get you get me some. >> Yeah. And I will I I will tell you what, Senator. I will put my mailbag against your mail bag. >> Got 30 seconds. Dangerous respiratory viruses like RSV are on the agenda for the next advisory meeting. Countless parents have been awakened in the dead of night by a wheezing kid gasping for air, forced to rush their little one to the ER. There's no worse heart-wrenching fear. The RSV vaccine offers these kids protection against the worst effects of the virus, but now it looks like you're on a crusade to make infants and babies more vulnerable to the terrible illness. That's what we're doing with the CO uh changes. >> And please make your answer brief, Mr. Secretary. >> I've said position is indefensible. I think it's possible. Congress has been investigating that committee for 23 years because it is it is pervaded with conflicts of interest. What we did is we got rid of the conflicts of interest and we put we depoliticized and put great scientists on it from a very diverse group. Let me very proact with this because like Senator Crap, I'm a few seconds over. I don't think Mr. Secretary this is about you and me. This is about kids being pushed in harm's way by reckless and repeated decisions to get scientists and doctors out of the way and allow conspiracy theories to dictate this country's health policy. I don't see any evidence that you have any regrets about anything you've done or plans to change it. And my last comment is I hope that you will tell the American people how many preventable child deaths are an acceptable sacrifice for enacting an agenda that I think is fundamentally cruel and defies common sense. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Do I got a reply or Senator? You've sat in that chair for how long? 20 25 years while the chronic disease in our children went up to 76%. And you said nothing. You never asked the question why it's happening. Why is this happening? Today, for the first time in 20 years, we learned that infant mortality has increased in our country. It's not because I came in here. It's because of what happened during the Biden administration that we're going to end. >> I'm going to let Senator Widen respond briefly to that and then we're not going to go over like we just did. this committee on a bipartisan basis. Colleague, colleagues, my uh cabinet secretary says that we have no interest in chronic care. Mr. Secretary, Mr. >> Chairman, could we have regular order, please? >> We are in the process of turning around the Medicare program with the chronic care bill that chairman when he was chairman in this committee together on a bipartisan basis. >> All right, we're going to proceed. And I just want the rest of the members to know I gave Senator Widen as ranking members some leeway there, but we're going to stick to the five minutes. >> Mr. Secretary, in June, you fired every member. Mr. Secretary, are you Mr. Secretary? May I have my time back? Mr. Chairman, thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you for your attention. In June, you fired every member of the well-qualified panel that was charged with recommending vaccines to the CDC. No one in your job has ever fired every committee member all at once. That month, you told the American people that you were quote going to bring great people onto the ASIP panel, not antiaxers. Are you aware that one of the people you put on the panel, Dr. Robert Malone claimed that the commonly used mRNA vaccine quote causes a form of AIDS and can damage children's quote brains, their heart, their immune system, and their ability to have children in the future. Yes or no, Mr. Kennedy? And >> Dr. Malone is one of the inventors. >> Yes or no? Are you were you aware that he had that view when you appointed him to this panel? >> Dr. Malone is one of the in as I said Dr. Malone is one of the inventors of the MR that statement Mr. Chairman that statement is not true that Dr. Malone made just as it wasn't true when you wrote that quote African AIDS is entirely different from Western AIDS. Are you aware that another one of these new members Dr. Levy wrote that quote, "Evidence is mounting and indisputable that mRNA vaccines cause serious harm, including death, especially among young people." Yes or no? Are you aware that he said that? >> I wasn't aware he said it, but I think I agree with it. >> You agree with it? It's not true. It wasn't true when he said it. It is not true when you said it. Secretary month late Secretary Kenny later this month your new panel will meet to consider changing vaccine recommendations for American children. In addition to the COVID 19 vaccines they are set to review recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine for measles for MS for reubella and vicella vaccine and the RSV vaccine. These are common back tochool vaccinations for children all over the industrialized world. If you change that, you owe parents in Colorado and across the country the bene benefit of some transparency. I think if your panel recommends changing the vaccine schedule for children, do you anticipate that fewer children will receive these common vaci vaccinations? Yes or no? What I would say, Senator, is >> the obvious answer is yes. Should parents and schools of Colorado be prepared for more measles outbreaks as a result of that? Mr. Secretary, >> Senator, >> how about more mumps outbreaks? >> I don't I do not uh anticipate a change in the MMR vaccine. I you know, ASIP is an independent panel, so >> Well, it's it's a panel you just put those folks on. Far from what you said, there are people with ideas that are completely outside the mainstream. >> You mean out of the pharmaceutical paradigm? >> Let me just say, Mr. Secretary, all these vaccines that we're talking about today are free and accessible to parents today in America who have the freedom to be able to make that choice for their children. Will that be true after your handpicked panel makes their judgments about these vaccines? I think that parents should be free to >> I know you've said that before. I do too. >> to make their own choices. >> So, will they be just as free after these? >> I assume they will be. >> I will hold you to that, Secretary Kennedy. Because this is not a podcast. It is America, the American people's health that's on the line here. This is the last thing, by the way, our parents need when their kids are going back to school is to have the kind of confusion and expense and scarcity that you're creating as a result of your ideology. I think it's critical for you to share the evidence that this panel will rely on. Will you give the American people six months or six weeks in advance the record that they're going to rely on to make these decisions? Will you make it transparent for the American people? >> All the evidence is transparent. >> Will you make it in advance transparent for the American people so they can comment on it? >> All the evidence is transparent for the first time in history. And you were never there complaining when the pharmaceutical companies were picking those people and then running their products through with no safety. >> You can make you can characterize it any way you want. I quoted them today. What I said was accurate. What you said were lies. You describing the moving the titanic the mRNA vaccine has never been associated with myocarditis or paricarditis into saying I am simply >> Is that what you're trying to tell us? >> I am simply trying to say that the people that you have put on that panel after firing the entire >> You're evading the question. you. No, I'm asking the questions here, Mr. Kennedy. That question >> I'm asking the questions, Mr. Kennedy. I'm asking the questions for Mr. Kennedy on behalf of parents and schools and teachers all over the United States of America who deserve so much better than your leadership. That's what this conversation is about, Mr. Chairman. Senator, they deserve the truth and that's what we're going to give them for the first time in the history of that agency. >> And I'm approaching this as a doctor, not as a senator. I am concerned about children's health, seniors health, all of our health. And I applaud you for joining the president in a call for radical transparency. Thank you for that. I said yesterday, I believe it, that President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed. If he had been President Obama, he would have gotten it. But because of Operation Warp Speed, forcing the federal government to come to a vaccine development within 10 months when others said it couldn't be done, we saved millions of lives globally, trillions of dollars. We reopened econom economies. An incredible accomplishment. Mr. Secretary, do you agree with me that the president that the president deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed? >> Absolutely, Senator. Let me ask you, but you just told Senator Bennett that the COVID vaccine killed more people than CO. >> Wait, that was a statement. >> I did not say that. >> Okay, then let me ask because you also >> Senator, I just want to make clear I did not say that. >> We'll check the record. That's a question of fact. You also said that that you were also as lead attorney for the children's health defense. You engaged in multiple lawsuits attempting to restrict access to the COVID vaccine. Again, it surprises me that you think so highly of Operation Warp Speed when as an attorney you attempted to restrict access. Now, let me ask >> I'm happy I'm happy to explain why. >> Um I have I have 3 minutes and 30 seconds left. Um, it also surprises me because you've canled or HHS did, but apparently under your direction $500 million in contracts using the mRNA vaccine platform that was critical to Operation Warp Speed. Again, an accomplishment that I think President Trump should get a Nobel Prize for. You canled 500 million in contracts. Now, I grew up in a middle class family, so $500 million seems just to cancel. It seems like an incredible waste of money. But it also seems like a commentary upon what the president was attempting, what the president did in Operation Warps B, which is to create a platform by which to create vaccines. Um, so this just seems inconsistent that you would agree with me the president deserves tremendous amount of credit for this. Is this a question, Senator Cassidy, or is this a speech that you don't want me to answer? I want to answer that question. >> Please, please, >> if it's a question, >> but be be tight, please. >> First of all, the the reason that Operation Warp Speed was genius is it did something nobody had ever been done. I don't think any president but President Trump could do it. It got the vaccine to mark that was perfectly matched to the virus at that time when it was badly needed because there was low natural immunity and there were people getting very badly injured by COVID and then but he was also it was also brought in therapeutics like hydroxychloricquin and ivormectin and all and protocols for treatments and all and there were no mandates and then >> okay I have another question so please about that >> that's when I began litigating against President Biden's mandates. Now, >> I'm sorry. Let me go on because in terms of covering those contracts, >> I I have limited time, Mr. Secretary. I'm sorry. You've called for and rightly so, that we should restrict participation in agencies for those with conflict of interest. I would like to uh submit for the record a uh evaluation of the conflict of interest of those who are on the ASIP and the vaccines and related biologic products advisory board. It was not 97% as alleged rather it was 6.9% and it was 1.2% I think for the other panel >> without objection. >> Now I am concerned though because many of those whom you have nominated for the ASIP board. >> Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. Can I have my time back? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Um, what I am concerned about is that many of those whom you've nominated for ASEP have received revenue as serving as expert witnesses for plaintiffs attorneys suing suing vaccine makers. Now, one of my colleagues in another setting alleged that you seem more interested in settlements than science. If we put people who are paid witnesses for vaccine people suing vaccines, that actually seems like a conflict of interest. Real quickly, do you agree with that? >> No, I don't. It may it may be a bias and that bias if disclosed is okay, but it's not a financial bias. It's not a financial conflict. It's not a financial. Let me finish up. Let me finish up. You also told uh Senator Widen at the outset that you didn't want to take vaccines away from people. And as I conclude, I would like to say this because of the conflicting recommendations made by about COVID. This is from Eric Ericson, good conservative out of Atlanta, Georgia. Occasionally gives me help. My wife has stage four lung cancer. She is one of the people the COVID vaccine actually helps. Thanks to the current mess at HHS, CVS is unable to get our vaccine. Secondly, an email from uh a physician friend of mine. Hey, Bill, I'm not even sure what I'm asking you, but we're all confused and concerned about who can get the COVID vaccine. We are having our attorney try and render an opinion, but there's no firm guidance and concern about liability if vaccines are given to a patient requested, but not on the current CDC list. Pharmacists are requiring a prescription now even for patients over 65 creating a huge headache. I submit these for the record >> without objection. >> I would say effectively we're denying people vaccine. I >> Senator Catwell >> you're wrong. >> You know I represent one of the most science-based states in um the country that is percentage of scientists per capita. And at your confirmation hearing we asked about this whether you would follow science. You've made a statement here today in your testimony that you would follow science and yet you're not following science. And that's what Senator Cassid's question was. It's a simple yes or no answer. Do you think the president deserves to get a prize for warp speed in the M in the mRNA technology that saved so many lives? And you won't answer that question. >> I answered it. >> No, you're saying that there are problems with what was interpreted. You could say yes. Do you sustain? >> I said the president is also deserves a Nobel Prize, but our mRNA vaccines that we're working on, the ones that we canled, which are for upper respiratory infections alone, are those >> you canled 500 million dollars of research because the Mr. the MRNA technology is about continuing the research to be ready for the next flu, influenza, the next pandemic. And you have to do the >> I'm happy to have a detailed discussion with you about it. You're so wrong on your facts. >> You're you're interrupting me. And sir, you're a charlatan. That's what you are. You're the ones who conflate chronic disease with the need for vaccines. The history on vaccines is very clear. This is the 20th century. That's how many people had vaccines and had illnesses. This is the 21st century. This is the decrease. 99% down to 100%. This is what was delivered with vaccines and you don't want to support that. You don't want to support that evidence. So yes, the governors of the West, Washington, Oregon, and California will take up the efficacy of science. Yes, the University of Washington will deliver the science that America will depend on because you don't want to depend on it. in his own surgeon general of the Trump administration said over two million lives were saved because the mRNA technology and you don't want to continue that. You don't want to continue that technology. So what country is going to now take up that technology lead? What country is going to do that leaving us more vulnerable to some other country keeping the advantage on having the best technology? So, I'm telling you, I represent a state that's about technology. I have two other quick questions for you. >> These questions or statements because I can answer that question if it's actually a question. >> Do you believe in having the ACA and the the support for the ACA that is about to expire? Do you believe in doing something about that >> in terms of the advance of the enhanced premium tax credits? >> Yes. Well, the Democrats had two chances to make them permanent and they didn't. And they didn't for the ones who delivered it. So, I'm just asking for do you want to do something about this? Yes. >> I want to fix the system and that's what we're doing. Fixing systematically to make premiums lower. That's what President Trump do. You think the women on the steps of the capital were a hoax yesterday? >> I I don't know about any women on the steps of the capital. >> The women who were talking about Epstein. Do you think they were a hoax yesterday? Do I think they were >> Do we You think they were perpetrating a hoax yesterday? >> Perpetuating a hoax? Yeah. I have no idea what they were saying. I This is the first I'm hearing about it. >> Your first that you're hearing about the women on the Capitol steps saying that they believe that the Epstein information should be made public. That's the first you're hearing about it. What I'm saying is you are perpetrating hoaxes. you as this secretary of health. So, you're undermining the whole health care delivery system and you keep trying to point to chronic disease, but you're not putting solutions on the table to cover more Americans and you're taking away the science and technology that has made us the leader that has saved according to the first Trump administration surgeon general millions of lives. And you don't want to keep that going. So, no, I don't support your continued efforts at secretary and I definitely think that our colleagues need to rally around science. If you want the Northwest to just to continue to lead on all innovation and all healthy people, okay, we'll do that. But it's a sad statement for the rest of America and America's leadership on technology. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> I actually had hoped. I didn't support you. Um, I thought taking on chronic illnesses was going to be important. I've got two kids, as we discussed when you met, that have chronic illnesses. I'm not sure that the focus on red dye and seed oils are going to fully solve that problem. >> Of course, they won't. >> I would say this, that seems where your emphasis is. I want to go back to just again some basic facts. Do you do you accept the fact that a million Americans died from CO? >> I don't know how many died. You're the Secretary of Health and Human Services. You don't have any idea how many Americans died from CO. >> I don't think anybody knows that because the there was so much data chaos coming out of the CDC and there was incentives and these are >> you don't know the answer of how many Americans from CO. This is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Do you think the vaccine did anything to prevent additional deaths? Again, I would like to see the data and talk about the data. I'm not >> You have had this job for eight months and you don't know the data about whether the vaccine is safe or not. >> And that's the problem is that they didn't have the data. The data by the Biden administration absolutely did what we So, who was politicizing? You're saying the Biden administration politicized all the data. Go back to what Canwell just said. They fired the Trump surgeon general. They fired Dr. Gr. They fired all the people who questioned the orthodoxy. They fired Dr. Group or Dr. Cowman. The Secretary of Health and Human Services doesn't know matter how many Americans died from CO, >> doesn't know if that vaccine helped prevent any deaths and you were sitting as Secretary of Health and Human Services. How can you be that ignorant? Like, you know, I remember when we we went through the hearing with you, I I asked you about community health centers. You didn't know what role they play. I I've been visiting community I'm glad you've got to one think in April. I tell you what I hear on community health centers they are terrified with all due respect to my good friend the chairman of the big awful bill because they are going to lose health care across the board. They already live in food deserts. They can't get to a nutritionist because Medicaid doesn't do enough reimbursement. If you're going to want Americans to get healthier, should they have access to nutritionist? Should they have access to good science about healthy food? >> Absolutely. Well, then how is that going to happen with the Medicaid cuts that are taking place? >> There are no cuts to Medicaid, >> sir. That is an absurd There is not a single some of my Republican colleagues, but there is not a single study that does not I can tell you I was in Franklin, Virginia uh couple days ago. the rural hospital is going to close. The hospital system was so afraid they wouldn't even let me have the meeting there. But that rural hospital is going to close and they are looking for where those folks are going to go. I mean, I you're supposed to be doing healthc care policy, not being the doctor in residence for all of America. I I hope I can just say I'm still going to trust my doctor rather than your health advice. And obviously Tom Cotton's gonna >> who knows who he's going to trust. But let me let me go back to policy for a couple. So maybe we can lower the temperature a little bit. >> I got a bipartisan bill that would be a systemic fix, not a vote buying mechanism when Medicaid's getting cut than what was put in on the rural hospitals. One of the things we could do, Mr. secretary is make sure that the folks who work in rural hospitals get an 80% reimbursement of what folks get in more urban centers. Would you support >> Are you talking about the area wage index? >> I'm talking about the area age wage index and moving that up to 80%. So there is actually the ability to get rural providers. President Trump supports that and we support >> you support you support. >> Good. So you will work with us to get that passed. >> Yes. I that will increase costs on both Medicaid and Medicare. So you are committed to that. I appreciate that. What about Senator Widen and I've got a bill because across America, >> what about hospitals are shutting down on their OBGYn services. Try to have a baby. I don't know about all my other friends states, but in Southside Virginia, you can't find a hospital. Will you work with us to make sure that before OBGYn services are taken out of a rural hospital, there has to be a process and procedure? >> I'm happy to work with you on that, Senator, meet with you and and see if we can work with you on it. I don't know exactly what the issue is. Well, well, again, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who has said he doesn't know how many people died from COVID, doesn't know if the vaccines save lives, doesn't understand OBGYn are fleeing rural America because they can't afford it. And with the cuts that are coming up, it's going to be exponentially worse. I would invite you, sir, to come with me to a community health center in Virginia and hear what is on people's mind. They want to get healthier. Absolutely. Count me in, but they also don't want their basic healthcare removed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Now, I want to follow up on a line of questioning that Senator Cassidy began. Um, Mr. Secretary President Trump said that the CO 19 vaccine produced by Operation Warp Speed was, and this is these are the president's words, a monumental national achievement. Although I have strongly opposed many of President Trump's actions, I agree with him that Operation Warp Speed in 2020 was a monumental achievement. Unfortunately, you are undermining one of the president's biggest achievements, which, as the president said, saved millions of American lives. You even went as far as to call President Trump weak for this life-saving accomplishment. Last year, you tweeted that President Trump has a weakness for swamp creatures and that Operation Warp Speed was among, here's your quote again, the most devastating impact of President Trump's weakness. So, Mr. Secretary, was Operation Warp Speed a monumental national achievement as President Trump said? for the reason that I already said and I assume you won't let me repeat but I'm happy to if you want. Yes, it was. >> Good. Um, assuming it is a monumental achievement, you've said it was. Is it true that as President Trump has said he saved millions of American lives with the CO 19 vaccine? Because you've just expressed great confusion about that to uh Senator Warner. The only confusion I express is exactly how many lives were saved. I don't think anybody knows that because of the data chaos. >> So, multiple studies have shown that the vaccine reduced infections and severe diseases and saved at least three million lives in the United States and millions more abroad in the first two years of the pandemic. It's possible those are modeling studies that >> I I no I will also note uh just as you've been talking about data and your concern about it the process for COVID vaccine approval was public it was live streamed and it was out in the open manufacturers and experts have publicly submitted data analysis and when the FDA has asked for more they've submitted more. Um they've done that for years and the evidence is clear and supports what President Trump has said. the vaccine works and it has saved millions of lives. Your own process, on the other hand, has not been transparent. You repeatedly choose to ignore data because it doesn't match your preconceived notions and lies. So, you have said that the vaccine did save lives. You've said it was a monumental achievement. And given that, if you agree with President Trump that the vaccine saved millions of lives, why have you acted behind closed doors to overrule scientists and limit the freedom of parents to choose the COVID vaccine for their children? Why have you done that? >> For the COVID vaccine, I was removed by FDA because they were the industry. No, it was behind closed doors with the and scientists. Scientists who said they wanted to brief you on the science scientists who wanted to understand why the FDA, why you unilaterally changed the parameters for giving vaccines, making it possible now to Senator Cassid's colleagues points that they're going to have to go o off label. >> This is crazy. to prescribe to prescribe a vaccine for children. I'm not making things up. Do you know how the FDA approval process works and what I know exactly what an off Do you know what an off label prescription? >> I know exactly how it works. I know exactly how it works. >> So So why behind closed doors? >> It's not behind closed doors. The industry makes the studies and they could not provide a study that said that it is effective for healthy kids. So where when have you produced the data that you relied on and that this FDA relied on to change those parameters? You did it behind closed doors. The data is public. >> Now parents who decide that they do want their children down making stuff up, Senator, >> I I'm not just making stuff up. >> You know, sometimes when you make an accusation, um it's kind of a confession, Mr. Kennedy. >> So let's just let's settle with this. Here's what's going to happen. To Senator Warner's point, to the parents who are concerned all around the country, to people who want to get the COVID vaccine this fall, even if they're under 65 because the boosters have worked, there's been much less serious disease. People do not have the same level of threat and risk from COVID that they used to because of these vaccines. People who want to exercise their freedom of choice are being denied that. >> No, they are. Everybody because you are citing data that you won't produce to the public and you are you are rejecting. >> You're making things up to scare people and it's a lie. Um >> I don't think I don't with respect. I do not think I'm the one making things. >> You are lying right now. Senator, >> so last November while you were under consideration to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mr. Kennedy, you said, quote, "If vaccines are working for somebody, I'm not going to take them away." No exceptions, no ifs, ands, or buts. You would not take away vaccines from anyone who wanted them. Then last week, you announced that the CO 19 vaccine is no longer approved for healthy people under the age of 65. In announcing the change, you said the vaccine will be available for anyone who wants it. Now, obviously, both things cannot be true at the same moment. So, let's clear this up right now. Secretary Kennedy, will you tell America that all adults and all children over six months of age are eligible to get a COVID booster at their local pharmacy today. >> Anybody can get the booster. >> I'm sorry. >> Anybody can get it. >> Anybody. So you're saying that is now the official rule of HHS. Anybody is eligible to get a booster by just walking into the pharmacy. >> It's not recommended for healthy people. >> No. No. If you don't recommend, then the consequence of that in many states is that you can't walk into a pharmacy and get one. It means insurance companies don't have to cover the $200 or so cost. As Senator Dr. Cassidy said you are effectively denying people vaccines. >> We're not going to recommend a product for which there's no clinical data for that indication. Would you is that what I should be doing? >> What you should be doing is honoring your promise that you made when you were looking to get confirmed in this job. You're going like this and that is you promised that you would not take away vaccines from anyone who wanted them. You just changed the classification of the COVID vaccine. >> I'm not taking them away from people, Senator. >> It takes it away if you can't get it from your pharmacy. >> Well, most Americans are going to be able to get it from their pharmacy for free. >> Most Americans will be able to get it from their pharmacy. >> The question is everyone who wants it, that was your promise. >> I never promised that I was going to recommend products with which there is no indication. >> When you said And I know you've taken $855,000 from pharmaceutical companies. Senator, >> did you hold up a big sign saying that you were lying when you said that? Because you are the one who said you would not take them away. Now, Senator, >> I'm not taking them away from anything. >> Secretary, you >> you want me to indicate a product for which there is no clinical data? >> Senator, >> is that what you want? >> Secretary Kennedy, you said you wouldn't and now you did. I'm not taking them away. Everybody can get access to them. >> No, they can't walk into a pharmacy the way they could last month and get access. >> It depends on the It depends on the states. >> A year ago, >> but they can still get it. Everybody can get it. >> A month ago, it >> everybody can get it, Senator. >> So, look, let's move on. You clearly are taking away vaccines. I've seen the list for what's coming up next and that is the agenda for the next CDC vaccine panel and first up is ratifying your COVID action. Second is hepatitis B is on the agenda. So should Americans expect you to take away hepatitis vaccine access as well even though you promised not to? >> As I said, I'm not taking vaccines away from anybody. If >> the same answer, right? You're just going to deny that when people can't get access that you're not taking it away. Then let me ask you, is that the same game you're going to play with? >> You want me So you want me to recommend every product in the world >> so that without any clinical trial data? >> True on your promises. >> Yeah. My promise was to give >> a month ago we could get COVID vaccines by just walking. >> You can still get COVID vaccines. Senator, >> I'm taking that away. Oh, you are still you can still get the co vaccines and Medicare will still pay for them and Medicaid will still head of the CDC that if she refused to sign off on your changes to the childhood vaccine schedule that she had to resign. >> No, I told her that she had to resign because I asked her, "Are you a trustworthy person?" And she said, "No." So if you had an employee who told you they weren't trustworthy, would you ask them to resign? Senator, >> so I'm sorry, but this is not what she has said publicly. She has said >> I'm not surprised about that. >> So you're saying she's lying? >> Yes. Every conversation I had with her that were >> Let me get this straight. This is the same person that less than a month earlier you stood next to her and described her as unimpeachable and you had full confidence in her and that you had full confidence in her scientific credentials and in a month she became a liar. >> Yeah, you should ask her what changed. And by the way, a month ago you were voting against her. vote because you thought she was either incompetent, ineligible, or unsuited to the task. >> I lost her because I was afraid she was going to bend the knee to you and Donald Trump and it looks like she didn't bend the knee. So, you fired her. Look, you are putting America's babies health at risk, America's seniors health at risk, all Americans health at risk, and you should resign. I just want to pick up on Senator Warren's point. Are you telling us that the former head of CDC went to you, you asked her, "Are you a trustworthy person?" And she said, "No, I am not a trustworthy person." >> She didn't say, "No, I'm not a trustworthy person." She said, "No, >> giving a quote." And I >> No, no. One second. But And you're also repeating now that she is a liar. Correct. What she wrote in the Wall Street Journal. She wrote that I fired her because she refused to sign on in advance for the ASIP committee. No, that's not accurate. >> All right. So, you're calling her a liar and I look forward to her coming before the help committee. Maybe this committee as well. All right, Mr. Secretary, I've got a bunch of questions. Appreciate brevity and answering it. So-called beautiful bill through 15 million Americans off of healthare. substantially raised premiums uh and is going to have a terrible impact on nursing homes, community health centers, rural hospitals all over America. Very briefly, is that really making America healthy again? >> It's going to have it. It's going to it's going to be the biggest infusion of federal dollars into rural health care in American history. >> Yeah. You know why? Because you're cutting $150 billion for rural hospitals. You're putting 50 billion back. That's not an infusion. That's a loss of a hundred million billion dollars. All right. Next question. President Trump, who I don't usually agree with, called COVID vaccines, quote, one of the greatest miracles in the history of modern-day medicine that saved tens of millions of lives worldwide. Scientific community agrees with Trump. Lancet study founded it, prevented almost 20 million deaths during their first year of use. Secretary Kennedy, are President Trump and the medical community right or do you still believe that the COVID vaccine was quote the deadliest vaccine ever made? Oh, I first of all, I didn't say that. Oh, I said that in terms of affairs reports a while ago. I said today I think that President Trump should get the Nobel Prize. >> So, who's right? Is Trump in the medical community right or are you right? President Trump did some did an extraordinary piece of leadership. >> Is he right or wrong? Did co save millions of lives? >> As I said, he got Americans back to work at that time. That particular vaccine was perfectly matched to the virus that was circulating then. And I have no idea how many lives it saved, but it saved quite a few. >> Um, you know what I find a little bit weird in this discussion? I'm hearing it over and over again this morning, Mr. chairman is we got the entire medical community on one side. You got the AMA representing hundreds of thousands of doctors, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association. All of these organizations are telling us that COVID vaccine and vaccines in general are safe and effective. You are casting doubt on that. Who are your scientific who are the organizations that are agreeing with you and casting dispersions on vaccines? >> The uh the the primary advisors are Marty McCary uh Jay Bachara, Dr. Oz, Vid Iris. >> So you got a few doctors who agree with you, but I'm giving you the >> a few doctors. What you're talking about is there's a big difference, Senator, between established science and the the scientific establishment which has been co-opted by the pharmacy. >> So, you're telling me you're telling the American people that the American Medical Association representing hundreds of thousands of people have been co-opted and that they should not trust their doctors. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American and by the way, just for the record, every single Republican I don't mean to be political here, Mr. chairman has received pack money from the pharmaceutical industry. Are they all corrupt as well? >> And I'm telling you, the American Heart Association has been co-opted by the flu. >> Everybody but you, Senator, but you know what? When you ran for president, you know, we have a corrupt campaign finance system. Maybe you will agree with me on that. Okay. You already president, you got a billionaire behind it. You received $300,000 from people, not from the industry, people in it as I did, from individuals. You corrupt. President Trump got $3 million. Every Republican got corporate pack money for the pharmaceutical industry. Democrats as well. Everybody is corrupt. But you is that what we're looking at? I don't think so. And I think the issue now >> I don't even know what you're talking about. >> Well, I think you do know I'm talking about >> I don't know what you're talking about. >> The issue is every time anyone agrees with you. >> Are you saying the pharmaceutical industry was supporting my presidential campaign? I don't think so. >> No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that the pharmaceutical industry is a greedy institution which is charging us the highest prices in the world. They are pervasive. But to suggest that every institution, the AMA, the pediatrics people is corrupt because they disagree with you is an insult to the >> Listen, people disagree with me all the time. I have arguments in my agency, heated arguments every day with Jay Bachar, with Marty McCary, with Dr. Oz. >> You have given the names of a few people. I have given you the names of organizations representing hundreds of thousands of doctors and scientists. I yield, Mr. President. >> Senator Tillis, >> I I I can't conclude from the discussion today where you are on warp speed. Uh so I would like a the definitive statement on uh on exactly where you are. Uh was it good? Was it bad? Were the things that worked? Were the things that didn't work? I I can't discern that from what you said here. I for one think that it was a signature accomplishment of President Trump and the MRNA platform is something I agree with that I I'll I look forward to you giving us a detailed statement on exactly where you are with Warp Speed. Uh I'm not a doctor. I'm not a trial lawyer. I'm a boring management consultant. Another question that we'll submit in the record. I'll give you directionally where we're going. I I don't see how you go over four weeks from a public health expert with unimpeachable scientific credentials, a longtime champion of Maha values, caring and compassionate and brilliant microbiologist and four weeks later um fire her because at least the public reports say because she refused to fire people that work for her. So, as somebody who advised executives on hiring strategies, number one, I would suggest in the interview, you ask them if they're truthful rather than four weeks after we took the time of the US Senate to confirm the person just for the future nominee that we're going to have to consider. Um, but I I do also believe that some of your statements seem to contradict what you said in the prior hearing. You said you're going to empower the scientists at HHS to do their job. I'd just like to see evidence where you've done that. Uh, and I'm I'm sure that you will have some. You will do nothing that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking vaccines. There seem to be several reports that would seem to refute that, but I'd rather you just respond to it. I'm not going to come here and impose my belief over any of yours. That again seems to be uh contradictory to the firing of a CDC director, the cancelling of M mRNA research contracts, firing advisory board members, attempting to stall NIH funding, the eliminating funding for the uh a half I think a half a billion dollars for uh further vaccine I'm sorry, mRNA research and uh just want an answer for it. Um on the uh on HR1 uh I believe uh I you you know my concerns about HR1. I've had several meetings with U and NH HR1 is the big beautiful bill OB3 whatever the brand is. Um but I'm still I I've got an office with 60 staff including half of them in state office. I've had three different estimates of the economic impact on the state of North Carolina. Can I get your commit? And I have been looking for somebody that's far more resourced than an office of of 30 people up in here in DC to disprove my estimates with respect to the impact on North Carolina. Period. And I've yet to have any I would love to be embarrassed and be wrong, but I would like to get your commitment for people to tease through the numbers that I provided before the vote on HR1 that says that if you normalize three independent estimates across a broad spectrum, $25 billion over 10 years. I don't need your response now. I want somebody to destroy my estimates because to this point, the most resourced health agency in the world has only given me word salad responses and I need that. so that we can prepare for the response. $25 billion over 10 years is half of the rural relief fund over five years. And so we we just need to have that fact as a matter of policy so that we can go in North Carolina and absorb it. And I know every state's different and I'm assuming every one of my colleagues here have done the math for their states, not focused on that. But I want you to destroy my estimates if they're in fact wrong. And I want you to acknowledge them if in fact they're right. that will come into question as well. Um, Mr. Kennedy, you've you've stated it multiple times in response to other members questions that uh that scientists were lying. Um, we'll go back to the record and cases where you've said that. I just like to see the scientific evidence to substantiate that. I'm going to stipulate that that that you were honest and and you had research behind it. We'll go back and figure out what scientific studies you believe are founded on lies and not scientifically viable. Um and then um finally I just want to give you an opportunity apparently in the exchange with Senator Bennett. Uh you said you agreed with Dr. Levy's statements who said that the mRNA uh vaccine causes serious uh cause serious harm including death particularly in young people. Um they said you agreed with that comment. Did you agree with that comment or not? >> Uh I think that's true. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair. >> So Mr. Kennedy, I have sat here for the last many minutes and listened carefully to your testimony and I think actually Senator Tillis um laid out so many of the ways that what you have said has contradicted yourself and others. It's um I mean I don't even know where to start. So I'm going to start here. Over the last eight months, you have claimed to make America healthy again. But in actual fact, you have led the charge in the Trump administration to destroy what is best in our health care system. And your denials and your evasion and your lies here do not change that. You are the secretary of the health and human services. Yet you're trafficking in these fringe idea and discredited theories that are completely out of step with the scientific consensus. And you seem to be willing to say anything in the moment, even if it's untrue. So last time you were before Congress, Secretary Kennedy, you claimed, and I quote, "I have never been antivax. I have never told the public to avoid a vaccination." But in a podcast, you said the opposite. You said there's no vaccine that is safe and effective. So that sure sounds antivax to me, Secretary Kennedy. So, let me ask you, when were you lying, sir? When you told this committee that you were not antivax or when you told Americans that there's no safe and effective vaccine? >> Uh, both things are true. >> Oh, so more denial, more back and forth. I mean, here's what I know. Here's what I know. >> Let me explain why. Senator, you you just >> No, actually, I want you to listen to me. >> Okay, go ahead. >> I want you to listen to me because I've been listening to you. You said that ASIP is an independent panel after you stocked it with your picks. You said that you want evidence-based science, but it seems that what you mean is evidence that supports your view, not the scientific consensus. I mean, you dared to sit there and call my colleague from New Hampshire a liar when she presented you with facts that don't support your view of the world. It's incredible. But let me let me move on. Just last week, in the days after the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in my home state of Minnesota, you went on Fox News blaming school shootings on anti-depressants. You have no evidence of that because you have no evidence of a connection. And you want to talk >> I didn't You're just saying something. You're just making stuff up. >> You know, this is what you say, right, Secretary Kennedy? When someone presents you with information that does not fit >> I did not blame that shooting. I I have no idea whether I have no idea and I would I never said that. You're making it up. You're twisting. Yeah, you are. Secretary, you are being dishonest right now. >> If you want to talk about mental health and gun violence in this country, if you want to talk about mental health and gun violence in this country, we should be talking about that because that's what the pronunciation school. >> You don't want to talk. You want to herang and you want to politic, you want to have partisan politics. >> I want to actually solve these problems. Secretary Kennedy, what the Trump administration is doing right now is making it harder for people in this country to get access to mental health care. So don't talk to me about solving the mental health care crisis when you are making it harder. You cut Medicaid, which is the number one payer for mental health services in this country. You decimated the agency at Health and Human Services that focuses on mental health and substance abuse. That's what states count on. and they're cutting their services to schools. As a result of that, several years ago, in a bipartisan way, Congress came together and passed the Safer Communities Act, which made important investments in mental health care and did some important, though small things to reduce access to guns. What do you do? You propose cutting that funding. This is what we're talking about in your leadership in the Department of Health and Human Services. If you want radical transparency as you talk about, I mean, take a look at what you are doing. And you know, I've heard a lot about MA today while we've been here. There's a lot of Americans, Secretary Kennedy, who trust you, who believe what you say, especially when you say you're standing up to corruption. And I think that they need to know, you apparently have a lot of influence with President Trump. Did you ask him not to roll back these regulations that are stopping the big corporations from dumping heavy metals and endocrine disruptors into our soil and water? I mean, there's no evidence that you have been even opposing that. Did you do anything to stop the Trump administration from rolling back this handout to big pharma that makes it easier for the big drug companies to charge more for cancer drugs? No, you've presided over that. I mean, it's stunning really what's happened over the last eight months. It's stunning to me. And I just hope that in this moment, our colleagues, there's hardly anybody left in this room, are going to think about what it is that you've done, what your legacy is going to be at the Health and Human Services Agency, and pay attention >> Uh, Secretary Kenny, Dr. Dr. Dascalakis who recently resigned as director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. His res resignation letter stated he and his team were never allowed to brief you. I'm curious who you're listening to since it's clear you're not listening to qualified experts like Dr. Dus Kalakis. Can you give the committee the name of the person? >> I don't consider Dr. >> Mr. Mr. Chair Mr. Secretary, the question that I have for you is, can you give the committee a name of who you're getting briefed by? >> I'm getting briefed by all the time by CD. >> Just a name. >> Dr. William Thompson's one name. >> Thank you very much, sir. Now, >> but I can I can get you a whole list of other ones. >> Mr. Secretary, that's not a hard question. You know, you know a lot of answers. >> I'm not being evasive. >> Then you answered it. Let's go on. Now, you you said that you're soon going to release a study claiming to reveal the cause of autism, timed unsurprisingly, with the upcoming ASIP meeting to justify taking vaccines from Americans. Now, as you know, autism affects millions of children. So, I'd guess you'd have the nation's top medical experts working on this. Mr. Kennedy, you hired a man named David Guyire to conduct this study. Is that correct? >> No. >> Is Mr. David Guyire working for HHS. >> He's a contractor, but he's not conducting a study. >> He's a contractor. >> He's a contract. >> Do you know who works for you, Mr. Kennedy? >> Yeah. >> Do you know that Mr. Guyer is listed as a HHS on on the employee directory as a senior data analyst, not a contractor? >> He's a contractor. He's not an SGE. >> So, is your website wrong? >> He's not an SG. I you know, I don't know what the >> I'm going to pull up the website for you. He's a contractor. >> If the website says he is a senior data analyst, will you com will you at least admit to the committee? >> I don't know if contractor can be classified as a senior data analysis or not. >> Is Mr. Guyer a doctor? >> No. >> Did you know he never went to medical school? >> He's not He's not We're not He's not practicing medicine. >> Did you know that he got caught in Maryland and was charged for practicing medicine without a medical license? He was charged by a medical board. He sued the medical board and the medical board was found to have have acted an actual malice and was fined 2.6 million dollars by a judge in Maryland for doing that. >> See, so you choose to know a lot when you want to know a lot. >> You're It's incredible, Mr. Kennedy. Senator, so here here's the question I have. >> You brought him in to do this study. I I think there's no question about >> I told you he's not doing a study. Is he participating in the study? >> No. What >> is he doing any analysis in regards to this study? >> No. What he's doing is getting access the vaccine safety data link which is the biggest repository for vaccine information that >> your friend would not give us for seven months. Secretary, let me ask you this question just so because you know the answer. >> What is Mr. Guyer doing? He is he is the only one because Congress ordered CDC to open up the VSSD to him in 2002. He's the only outsider who's ever seen it. >> So because because they have Mr. >> Secretary is he participating in this then? >> No. >> But you just said he's the only dude that knows what's going on here. >> Do you want me to explain it to you, Senator, or >> No, you're confusing me. Do you just want to show a vote? >> I I'll I'll submit this. You just want to show both for your ads or do you want to hear a real answer to your question? >> Mr. Secretary, you you choose to know answers to questions with some colleagues that >> I'm willing to give you the answer. I'm willing to give you the answer. >> Mr. Secretary, someone should have asked you maybe President Trump should have asked you, are you a trustworthy person? >> And we should have waited for an answer. Then let's move on. >> I don't even know what you're talking about. You're you're talking gibberish. >> Mr. Secretary, let me speak slowly and clearly so that you can understand me through my New Mexico accent. >> Does this help? Can you understand me? >> Yes. >> Appreciate that, Mr. Secretary. Yes or no? Did you hire Mr. Guyer to do this study? >> No. >> Mr. Chairman, well, let me ask maybe we'll just get a will you commit to sharing the protocols used for the autism study with Congress and to the public? >> They're public. >> Will Will you commit to giving it to this committee by the end of the week? >> No, not because that's not the way it works. >> Will you commit? >> You don't even know what you're talking about, >> Mr. Secretary. Will you commit to sharing the protocols for the study by the end of the month? >> We already have. >> You just said it's public. But you we put out the notice of funding opportunities and then the scientists from all over the world. >> You're not understanding me. Let me >> You're not understanding how the world works. >> Do you understand what the protocol? Do you understand what they are? >> The the scientists who are doing the studies submit the protocol. >> Okay. So you you coming from us. >> So will you commit to sharing those protocols with this committee? >> Well, anybody can get a hold of the protocol. It's published with the study. >> Mr. Chairman, what I'd like to ask is is for your commitment here. I I'll send a letter to the secretary. I'll ask for support from the leadership of this committee to ask for those protocols. >> If those protocols are not given to this committee, >> anybody can get the protocols. >> Mr. Secretary, I'm not talking to you, >> Mr. Chairman. I'm If the protocols are public, we can work with you to >> What I'm asking, Mr. Chairman, is that if those protocols are not given to this committee, I'm asking for your agreement that we follow through with the with the subpoena to get them. No, I will not agree to a subpoena anything. >> Let's see what happens. >> Mr. Chairman, you'll help me get them if they're available publicly. >> Yes. >> I appreciate that, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Kennedy, with all the questions here today, people just want to know the truth. >> When >> I don't think so, >> Mr. Secretary, you don't think so. Thank you. I hope so. >> I hope everyone recording that got that because there explains the secretary's tenure here. Look, two young ladies in Los Cusus, New Mexico at a town hall recently gave me this starfish pin. I was going to give it to you today, but after your questioning today, I don't think you deserve it because what this represents is to remember that every one of us can make a difference, sir, to something as small as a starfish on a beach that maybe got washed up. You throw it back in the ocean. You might not save them all, but you can save one. I'm sorry that you're not worthy of this nice little pinser as a nice reminder. I'm going to pray for you, Secretary Kennedy. I hope we do better. I want you to do better. But today was a failure for you, man. >> Less than a month ago, uh, we received the heartbreaking news that a gunman opened fire at the CDC campus in Atlanta, Georgia. This obviously is my neck of the woods. This is heart-wrenching for all Americans, but for those of us especially who live in that area. Um, a Dicap County police officer David Rose was killed. Uh, the shots hit buildings on campus and at least 180 places, narrowly missing the CDC's daycare center. Law enforcement recovered nearly 500 shell casings. Clearly, he came to do a lot of damage. It's a miracle. And thanks to the quick action of Metro Atlanta and state law enforcement, more people were not killed. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that prior to the attack, the gunman the gunman expressed discontent with the COVID vaccine and quote wanted to make the public aware of his distrust of the vaccines. Uh, Secretary uh, Kennedy, I assume you are aware of these disturbing reports of the gun gunman's motives. >> Yes. >> And you know, I understand that some people may have concerns uh about new medical breakthroughs, but those people don't have the world's top medical experts working under them under them. Uh, you've been over HHS for seven months now. Uh, have you ever been briefed by CDC's career immunization officials to discuss uh your concerns? >> I I by the way, everybody, every member of this panel has criticized President Trump. Have >> Have you ever Have you ever been >> complicit in the assassination attempts on President Trump? >> Sir, I'm asking the questions. You are the witness. It's a simple yes or no question. Have you ever been briefed by CDC's career immunization officials to discuss their concerns? >> Yes, I have. >> What was the answer? >> Yes. >> You you have been briefed by CDC officials, >> uh the career immunization officials to express your >> the senior vaccine safety scientist. For example, >> have you ever been to the CDC as secretary before the shooting on August 8th? >> Have I been ever been there as secretary? >> Have you been there as secretary before the shooting? Okay, let's return to the shooting in the aftermath. Uh, Secretary Kennedy, I'm about to ask you a series of of yes or no questions about the events of the past month, and I would appreciate just a yes or no response. Uh, you you called Dr. uh Manarez to your office on August 25th for a meeting. Is that correct? Yes or no? >> I it could be. I just don't know the date. I'd have to check my calendar. Was was Jim O'Neal, the man you just appointed as acting director of CDC, in the room on whatever date you met with him since you can't recall, was he in the room when you met with Dr. uh Manarez? In that meeting, did you criticize Dr. Manarez for her statements to CDC following the shooting where she said, quote, "Misinformation can be dangerous." >> I I don't believe so. I have no recommend. >> You don't believe you don't believe you criticized her? Oh, I criticized. >> Did you criticize her? Did you criticize her? I don't even >> Did you criticize her for statements to to CDC workers following the shooting? >> Did Did you demand that she fire career scientists or public experts at the CDC? >> Yes. Did you demand that she accept the recommendations of your handpicked vaccine advisory panel without uh further review by career CDC scientists? >> No, I did not. >> You didn't ask for her commitment ahead of time that she would accept the recommendations uh from the uh advisory pan panel. You're denying that. I asked her about is she had made a statement that she was going to not sign on and I wanted clarification about that. >> Did Did you Did you Did you tell her to accept the the advisory panel's recommendations? >> I told her I didn't want her to have a rule that she's not going to sign on to it. >> Did Did you say that the CDC was quote the most corrupt federal agency in the history of the world? Not the history of the world, but definitely HHS. >> Did you say that? >> I did not say that, but I did say it's the most corrupt agency in HHS and maybe the government. >> So So you call the CDC corrupt. Did you say that CDC staff are quote horrible people? >> Horrible people. >> Did you Did you say that they're killing children and they don't care? >> No. >> Okay. I I I I think that we all have a history of listening to you and these answers. Uh but you're you're on the record for a number of these of these statements. Uh despite your lack of credentials and expertise uh clearly you have an agenda. Uh it is a threat to the public health of the American people. It's clear that uh you are carrying out your extremist beliefs. Uh which is why you attempted to fire Dr. I'm I'm not I'm >> the sickest people on earth. >> I'm speaking. >> How am I Secretary Kennedy? We for the first time we're seeing deaths from children from measles. We haven't seen that in two decades. We're seeing that under your watch. You are a hazard to the health of the American people. >> Can I you? No, I'm I'm I I I I back my time. >> We need to >> You are a hazard to the health of the American people. I think that you ought to resign. And if you don't resign, the president of the United States uh who put forward Operation Warp Speed, which worked,

Summary: And I've made it clear. I think that Secretary Kennedy is dead set on making it harder for children to get vaccines and that kids are going to die because of it. And Mr. Chairman, I'd like to put in the record today an op-ed written uh by Susan Manarez who was fired by uh Mr. Kennedy. >> Without objection. >> So what we know and Dr. Manarez, you know, was approved by Republicans. She wrote an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal, which I've just put in t…