【By Observer Net, Zhang Jingjuan】U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being overwhelmed by a wave of criticism. Under the pressure of calls for his resignation, on September 4th local time, Kennedy attended a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. During the session, his voice was repeatedly choked, and he was on the verge of a breakdown, but still made controversial statements.

According to CNN, during the hearing, Kennedy stated that the United States is the "sickest" country in the world, and attributed all the blame to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insisting that the recent personnel changes at the CDC were "absolutely necessary."

Kennedy is a well-known anti-vaccine advocate in the United States. During the Trump administration, he removed top government vaccine experts and terminated some key vaccine research. At the hearing, many bipartisan legislators questioned his public health policies, and several Democratic legislators directly demanded that Kennedy resign.

The report said that Kennedy first labeled his team as "achievers," trying to contrast with the CDC. He boasted, "At the Department of Health and Human Services, we don't just write reports. We are the busiest and most proactive management in the history of the Department of Health and Human Services."

"I can also proudly say that under the leadership of President Trump, the Department of Health and Human Services is doing more with less money. We have taken measures to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. By cleaning up duplicate registrations at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, we can save $14 billion for taxpayers annually," Kennedy said.

He then turned sharply, directing his fire at the CDC, saying that the recent personnel changes were "absolutely necessary adjustments" aimed at returning the agency to its role as a "top global public health institution."

He claimed that the CDC performed "terribly" during the pandemic, "those who handled related matters at the CDC, those who made our children wear masks and close our schools, will leave. That's why we need bold, capable, and creative new leadership at the CDC. We need people who have the ability and willingness to take new paths."

Kennedy also cited words from his father to defend himself, saying, "Progress is a good word, but change is its driving force, and change always has enemies. That's why we need a CDC infused with new energy."

Photo from the hearing of the Senate Finance Committee

Additionally, Kennedy also used a set of "fresh data" to make a big deal out of it. "This morning, I received the latest data from the CDC, which shows that 76.4% of Americans suffer from chronic diseases. This is shocking. When my uncle was president, this percentage was only 11%, and in 1950, it was as low as 3%. Eight out of ten children do not meet the requirements for military service, which has become a national security issue. When my uncle was president, we spent zero on chronic diseases. Now, our spending has reached $1.3 trillion. It is the largest expenditure item and continues to increase," he said.

He further emphasized that if the United States does not change this situation, it will be the "sickest" country in the world. "That's why we must fire some people at the CDC. They didn't fulfill their duties. Protecting our health is their job. I need to fire some of them to ensure this doesn't happen again."

In fact, this is not the first time he has described the United States as the "sickest" country in the world. In June this year, he told an interview that hospitals make money when people get sick, and pharmaceutical companies make money when people get sick. Every link in the American healthcare system profits from illness, pushing Americans to stay sick.

Kennedy's remarks are consistent with his long-standing controversial stance. During his tenure, Kennedy implemented policies to restrict the use of COVID vaccines and canceled about $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research. In June this year, Kennedy announced the dismissal of all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The recent CDC personnel upheaval has placed him in the spotlight. On August 27th, Susan Monarez, the newly appointed director of the CDC, was dismissed after less than a month in office. That day, several high-ranking officials at the CDC resigned simultaneously.

Face with questioning, Kennedy remained firm, stating that Monarez was "untrustworthy," and those who resigned supported her, "they should be fired."

According to the report, during the hearing, Kennedy had intense exchanges and confrontations with Democratic legislators, including accusing them of lying and trying to mislead the public. Kennedy tried to completely reform the highest-level public health institution in the United States, while some Senate Democrats and current and former CDC employees called for him to resign.

Senator Mark Warner of the Democratic Party said that Kennedy's attitude towards vaccines was a "major step backward." Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont said that Americans "are currently being misled, which could lead to very dangerous situations." "When we discuss the health future of American children and whether vaccines are safe, I think all legislators, regardless of party affiliation, must stand up for the children and for America. Uphold science, respect the medical community, and do not support conspiracy theories," said Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington State, who strongly criticized Kennedy as a "quack," claiming he conflated chronic diseases with vaccine needs.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said that Kennedy's main intention was to deprive Americans of vaccines. "He claims to support safety and science, but his actions show that he is determined to elevate junk science and fringe conspiracy theories," he said.

It is worth noting that before the hearing (September 3rd), over 1,000 current and former employees of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services signed a joint open letter criticizing the secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and calling for his resignation.

The letter directly pointed out the problems with Kennedy: his behavior continues to "threaten the health of the American people," including pushing for the dismissal of Monarez and leading to the resignation of several senior officials at the agency; refusing to listen to CDC experts' reports on vaccine-preventable diseases; and continuously verbally attacking employees of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The open letter emphasized that American public health policy should be based on strong, evidence-based principles, not subject to partisan politics. However, under Kennedy's leadership, these policies "are putting all Americans at health risks."

This article is an exclusive article by Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7546520273491673627/

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