Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor to oppose the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), raising the alarm on the disastrous public health implications if he is confirmed. Padilla called out RFK, Jr. for his severe lack of qualifications and his record of peddling dangerous public health misinformation.

• “I oppose this nomination for his wildly misinformed beliefs and his utter lack of experience. I believe he is fundamentally unfit and unprepared — and Americans will be less healthy if he is confirmed.”

RFK, Jr. has repeatedly spread dangerous conspiracy theories — for his own financial gain — even going as far as to say that “there’s no vaccine that is safe and effective.” Padilla called him out for making false accusations that vaccines cause autism, lying that the COVID-19 virus targeted specific racial and ethnic groups, founding his own anti-vaccine organization, authoring several books pushing public health conspiracies, and making millions off anti-vaccination lawsuits.

• “In the face of all the proven science, proven again and again science, Mr. Kennedy has chosen to profit off fear. And countless parents are being misled into making dangerous decisions for their children.

• “Look — I get the fear. I’m proud to represent California in the Senate. I’m proud to have an engineering background. But I too am a parent of three boys. And I remember what it was like to hold a baby in your arms, and to worry every time there was a sniffle and a cough. I’d do anything to protect my children, just as you would do anything to protect yours.

• “But where families have reasonable questions on everything from doctors to diets, Mr. Kennedy simply sees dollar signs.”

Padilla, a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, also highlighted the dangers RFK, Jr. poses to mental health care access and Medicaid benefits. He slammed RFK, Jr. for his dangerous lack of knowledge regarding Medicaid funding and benefits. 

• “At a time when Republicans are looking to cut funding for lifesaving services, I’d rather see a fierce defender of Medicaid at HHS. Yet, during his confirmation hearings, Mr. Kennedy failed to show even a basic understanding of Medicaid. Not the sources of funding, not the benefits, and at one point, he even seemed to conflate or confuse Medicaid and Medicare.

• “Colleagues, I shouldn’t have to say this: This is not a ‘learn on the job’ nomination.”

As Republicans threaten major cuts to Medicaid, Padilla underscored the importance of confirming a nominee with the necessary qualifications and experience to protect public health. He urged his colleagues to vote against RFK, Jr.’s confirmation.

• “Republicans are already floating cuts to Medicaid to pay for even more tax breaks for the rich. In the White House, President Trump and his Shadow President Musk have proven they’ll shutter any agency that stands in their way.

• “And today, we’re left wondering who will speak up to protect the health of millions of Americans. Unfortunately, Mr. Kennedy has already shown he is not up to the task. So colleagues, I urge you to join me in fighting to protect the health of our constituents and oppose the confirmation of Mr. Kennedy.”

Video of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here.

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