From Sen. Mark Warner’s office:
AHEAD OF CONFIRMATION VOTE, WARNER SPEAKS ON THE SENATE FLOOR TO OPPOSE ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR. AND NIH FUNDING CUT
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about his opposition to the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“Earlier this week, the Trump administration put forward a plan to cut $4 billion in federal funding for research at hospitals and universities like those in Virginia, which conduct some of our nation’s top research. This illegal and shortsighted maneuver could decrease the kind of work that leads to medical cures and scientific breakthroughs. It could devastate a major research ecosystem in Virginia, eliminate 21st century jobs, and hurt countless American families who have been touched by cancer and other devastating diseases. I have no earthly idea why the President would choose to cede American R&D leadership to China right now. What I do know is that Mr. Kennedy will do nothing to stop it,” said Sen. Warner.
For weeks, Sen. Warner has been raising the alarm about Kennedy’s lack of qualifications to be HHS Secretary. In front of the Finance Committee, Sen. Warner pressed him on his threats to fire thousands of federal workers and the administration’s illegal attempt to freeze trillions in federal funding. You can watch the full exchange here.
Last Friday, the Trump administration made an announcement that would significantly cut back on funding for NIH grants at universities and research centers nationwide. While a federal judge has placed a temporary restraining order on this announcement, if it is allowed to go into effect, it would significantly hinder medical research across the country, and significantly hurt the operation of public research universities and health centers.
The final vote on Kennedy’s confirmation is expected tomorrow morning.
Sen. Warner’s full remarks as prepared are below:
“I rise today to oppose President Trump’s nomination of Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
It’s been less than a month since Donald Trump was inaugurated. And already… we’ve seen this administration attack non-partisan civil servants… illegally freeze federal funding… and gut the independent oversight bodies that crack down and protect Americans from corruption.
Now more than ever, the Senate needs to confirm nominees who want to make the government more efficient… who are willing to work in good faith to advance their missions, regardless of political ideology.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe that Mr. Kennedy is that nominee… and I fear that he will serve as a rubber stamp for the chaos and disruption of the Trump-Musk administration.
The past couple of weeks have made it clear that Elon Musk and his DOGE bros have a disturbing scheme to undermine the government’s ability to operate… all in the name of “efficiency.”
We’ve seen Musk take a hatchet to USAID, ceding leadership to China… limiting our ability to fight terrorism… and turning our nation’s back on the international community.
We’ve seen Musk take a hatchet to the CFPB… leaving consumers to fend for themselves, and giving a pass to scammers and institutions who defraud Americans.
We’re starting to see Musk take aim at the Department of Education.
We cannot allow this pattern to continue at the agency tasked with keeping people healthy and safe.
As folks at home may remember… earlier this month, the President issued an illegal order to freeze all federal spending.
Fortunately, the funding freeze order was rescinded after a major public outcry and the threat of losing in court.
Still, real people suffered the consequences.
Across Virginia, for example, three community health centers had to close during the funding freeze. And now… they won’t be reopening due to “uncertainty.”
These health centers… which provide primary and preventive care for underserved populations… feel that they can no longer rely on the government to keep its word or meet its obligations.
In rural Buckingham County… a health center is having to put off replacing the only machine in the county that provides breast cancer screening.
Who suffers when these things happen?
Certainly not Elon Musk… the richest man in the world. I would be willing to bet he gets excellent and timely preventative care.
Unfortunately, we’ve already seen some foreshadowing of what is to come if Mr. Kennedy is confirmed as HHS nominee.
Take the National Institutes of Health, for example.
NIH is one of many important agencies under HHS… and it’s tasked with advancing medical and public health research in the U.S.
Many of the medical advancements we have today started off as NIH grants… from cancer immunotherapies… to heart valve replacements… to medications for many health conditions.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration put forward a plan to cut $4 billion in federal funding for research at hospitals and universities like those in Virginia, which conduct some of our nation’s top research.
This illegal and shortsighted maneuver could decrease the kind of work that leads to medical cures and scientific breakthroughs. It could devastate a major research ecosystem in Virginia, eliminate 21st century jobs, and hurt countless American families who have been touched by cancer and other devastating diseases.
I have no earthly idea why the President would choose to cede American R&D leadership to China right now.
What I do know… is that Mr. Kennedy will do nothing to stop it.
What we need at HHS… is a nominee who is willing to go in with a scalpel – not a hatchet – to make our health care system run better.
We need someone with the preparedness and experience necessary to:
- Safeguard a woman’s right to reproductive care…
- Support health care systems in their fight against cyber attacks…
- Protect Medicaid & Medicare…
- And ensure that American families can count on good health insurance.
Rather than focusing on any of these things, Mr. Kennedy has expressed that he would like to gut our nation’s top health agency.
Specifically, he has said that he would like to oust 2,200 non-partisan health experts at HHS.
At his hearing before the Senate Finance Committee… I asked him a very simple question: which ones?
The folks who keep our food safe from things like Salmonella? The folks who examine the medications we give our kids?
He couldn’t answer that question!
Now, I do appreciate Mr. Kennedy’s concern with chronic illnesses and the obesity epidemic. I also agree… that not enough Americans have access to healthy food.
However, having met with Mr. Kennedy in private… and having questioned him at his hearing…. I don’t believe he is the right person to tackle these complicated issues.
I don’t have the confidence that he will be willing to consider the science… or consult non-partisan health experts when necessary. I certainly don’t have the confidence that he will stand up to Donald Trump or Elon Musk.
And frankly, I’m not the only one.
Mr. President… If you’ll allow me, I’d like to share some of the concerns I’ve heard from Virginians.
Katherine… an ICU Nurse in Charlottesville, wrote:
“I cared for critically-ill and dying patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, while public health conspiracies were spread by figures like RFK Jr. with no scientific or medical training. I have seen the potentially deadly consequences of spreading misleading health and safety information.”
Talia… an Alexandria resident who suffer from chronic illness, wrote:
“My ability to access effective treatments relies on accurate research and development of medicine.”
She fears that, if nominated, Mr. Kennedy will curb progress in science and medical research.
Another constituent, from Nokesville, wrote:
“My mother contracted polio at the age of 2 years old. She is now 92 and has spent her life dealing with the pain of post-polio symptoms. RFK Jr.’s stance on vaccines is dangerous to people of all ages.”
One doctor from Alexandria, wrote:
As a pediatrician for almost 50 years, I have seen many diseases nearly eradicated, thanks to vaccines. Mr. Kennedy would reverse that trend. In my career, I have seen children become profoundly impaired – unable to talk or care for themselves as adults – due to preventable infections. I have seen three children die from ‘harmless’ childhood diseases like measles and chickenpox. I never wish to see that again.”
A cancer survivor from Virginia Beach, wrote:
“Cancer survivors like myself count on public health initiatives and scientific research to ensure the effective long-term treatment and prevention of serious diseases. I do not believe Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – a man who lacks any credentials and credibility in this field – will have those interests in mind.”
Mr. President… the writing is on the wall. This nominee does not have the right experience, credibility, or motivations to be running a government agency of this size or importance.
That’s why I will be voting “NO” on Mr. Kennedy’s nomination to be HHS secretary.
With that, M. President, I yield the floor.”
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