RFK Jr. claims 'he's never been anti-vaccine' at congressional hearing, notes he's funding research

[0:00] The gentlelady's time has expired. [0:02] I now recognize the gentlelady from Oregon, Ms. Matamichi. [0:05] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [0:06] Mr. Secretary, the mission of the Department of Health and Human Services [0:10] starts with these words, [0:11] to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. [0:15] This is a yes or no question. [0:17] Does all Americans include children? [0:19] Of course. [0:21] Well, I frequently talk with families who tell me they can't find child care, [0:24] and if they can find it, they can't afford it. [0:26] In fact, the child care crisis is costing families about $134 billion [0:31] in lost earnings annually. [0:34] And recently, as we've heard this morning, and I'll repeat, [0:36] the president said there's no money for day care [0:38] because he needs more money to fight the war, [0:41] which is costing about $2 billion a day. [0:44] Your department's budget flat funds child care, which won't help at all. [0:49] Yet you did spend money on a bizarre vanity video with Kid Rocks. [0:53] So, Secretary Kennedy, how does it enhance the health and well-being of children [0:57] to spend HHS's limited resources and taxpayer money [1:01] on a video of yourself drinking milk in a hot tub with Kid Rock? [1:05] And how much did it cost to prepare and produce this video? [1:10] Congresswoman, I was asked to cut costs across my department [1:14] because we have a $39 trillion debt. [1:16] I understand, Mr. Secretary. [1:18] How much did it cost to produce this video? [1:21] I want to correct something that you said. [1:24] I'm asking how much did it cost to produce this video? [1:26] I would have no idea. [1:28] Okay, you don't have any idea. [1:29] Well, I'll tell you that that money, whatever it costs, [1:32] I consider waste, fraud, and abuse, [1:34] and that's money that should have invested in our nation's children [1:37] and spent on something like health care and child care [1:39] that actually improve people's lives. [1:42] Actually, you know, so many people have come up to me who saw that video [1:47] and say, that inspired me to work out. [1:48] Mr. Secretary, the return on investment that we get [1:53] from early childhood education shows that for every dollar we spend, [1:56] we get back somewhere between $4 and $16. [1:59] Secretary Kennedy, about 20 years ago, the United States eliminated measles. [2:05] So, or so we thought. [2:07] But now because of your anti-science rhetoric, [2:09] vaccination rates are down in many places below the 95% threshold [2:14] needed to maintain herd immunity. [2:16] And I know you said that happened before you were secretary, [2:18] but Mr. Secretary, you've been a longtime voice against vaccination [2:22] for more than 20 years. [2:25] Measles is highly contagious. [2:26] It can make babies, babies who may be too young to be vaccinated, [2:30] so sick that they stop eating and drinking [2:32] and may develop pneumonia or brain swelling. [2:35] In my home state of Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority [2:37] just recently warned about multiple new locations [2:40] where people may have been exposed. [2:42] A community college, a middle school, health clinics, grocery stores. [2:45] This is unacceptable. [2:47] So, Secretary Kennedy, does exposing infants and children to measles [2:50] enhance their health and well-being? [2:54] I've never been anti-vaccine. [2:55] I've always said I'm not anti-vaccine. [2:57] Right now, I just approved three weeks ago $500 million [3:01] for research on a new cancer vaccine. [3:05] Okay, Mr. Secretary, you have been a longtime voice against vaccination. [3:10] You cannot deny that. [3:11] No, I'm not anti-vaccine, I'm pro-science. [3:14] What I've said is vaccines should be adequately safety tested [3:17] so we know both the risks and the benefits. [3:21] I'm funding a major study on developing a universal flu vaccine in NIH. [3:26] Reclaiming my time. [3:27] Mr. Secretary, in fact, you have said in a congressional hearing [3:31] that people should not be taking medical advice from you. [3:34] The problem is that they are and they believe what you say. [3:38] So, Secretary Kennedy, I have another question. [3:40] Does enhancing health include mental health? [3:44] Of course. [3:45] Good, I'm glad you agree because recently masked armed ICE agents [3:49] surrounded some high school students near their school. [3:52] A Latino student from Oregon, a U.S. citizen, [3:55] recently spoke about he and his friends feel scared at school, [3:59] have trouble focusing, and feel dehumanized. [4:02] And President Trump, as you likely know, [4:04] repealed the guidance that keeps ICE out of sensitive locations [4:08] like schools and health care centers. [4:10] Now, children can't understand the complexities of the U.S. immigration system, [4:14] but they are scared and they can feel anxiety. [4:17] So, Secretary Kennedy, does it enhance the health and well-being of children [4:21] to allow immigration enforcement in and around schools and at child care centers? [4:25] Does that help kids? [4:26] It was not enhancing our health and well-being of the American people [4:32] to allow 20 million illegal aliens into this country. [4:35] And President Trump, again, is left with a mess that he is having to... [4:40] Mr. Secretary, in no... [4:41] And he is having to clean up... [4:42] In no legal or moral or ethical frame does it make sense to punish children. [4:49] Young children's brains are highly influenced by these... [4:52] That was the biggest humanitarian crisis in modern history, [4:55] what you guys caused. [4:56] If you cared about children, we have now stopped 97% of the unaccompanied minors [5:03] from coming across the border. [5:04] Mr. Secretary, supporting the health... [5:06] That advances a concern for children. [5:08] Mr. Secretary, I'm reclaiming my time. [5:11] Supporting the health and well-being of our nation's children [5:13] is the best investment we can make for the good of the country [5:16] and the safety and health of American people, including children, [5:19] and to truly make America healthy again. [5:21] You should resign and allow someone with real qualifications to run this agency. [5:25] The gentlelady's time has expired. [5:27] I now recognize the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Grothman.