Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall engaged in a discussion with Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions hearing. The conversation focused on chronic disease epidemics in America, the efficiency of HHS operations, and vaccine policies.

Senator Marshall expressed concerns about the need for research funding priorities. He stated: “This was going to be a question. I’m just going to make a statement... We should be spending as much money at the front side of this as we are trying to cure the end of it.” In response, Secretary Kennedy emphasized understanding causes over treatment alone: “Why don’t we go figure out what’s causing it and eliminate that exposure with all of these with Alzheimer’s, with heart disease?”

The dialogue also addressed organizational inefficiencies within HHS under President Joe Biden's administration. Senator Marshall highlighted an increase in staff and departments: “Isn’t it true that under Joe Biden’s White House, they added 20,000 employees to HHS?” Secretary Kennedy confirmed the growth and described efforts to streamline operations: “What we’re trying to do is consolidate, streamline... and make them accountable to the American people.”

On vaccine recommendations, Senator Marshall shared his perspective as an obstetrician regarding advice given to pregnant women about measles vaccinations. Secretary Kennedy outlined current procedures for vaccine recommendations: “The vaccine recommendations... are normally made through ACIP... There’s another committee called VRBPC... that actually recommends whether the vaccines get licensed or not.”

Secretary Kennedy further discussed safety testing for vaccines: “Vaccines are the only medical product that is exempt from pre-licensing safety testing.” He committed to improving understanding of risk profiles by conducting more comprehensive safety studies.