Senate Confirms RFK Jr. Despite ‘No’ Votes From Booker, Kim In NJ

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey’s two U.S. senators – and the rest of their Democratic peers – weren’t able to overcome the Republican majority in a highly controversial vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Thursday’s vote was 52-48 in Kennedy’s favor, largely along party lines in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Kennedy has seen vocal criticism – and staunch support – for his stances on vaccines and other public health issues. He was nominated for the position by President Donald Trump.

In New Jersey, Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Andy Kim each voted against Kennedy’s confirmation. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote “no.”

Booker said he supports change to America's food system – which he called “painfully broken” – as well as tackling the “huge nutrition crisis” that the country is facing.

“However, I will not be voting to confirm Mr. Kennedy,” Booker continued. “He has championed views on a number of issues that are deeply concerning to me. Furthermore, the Trump administration is flagrantly ignoring the law in its efforts to dismantle vital government programs, from health care to education to national security, while ignoring the burden of rising costs on American families.”

Kim was among the Democratic lawmakers who spoke against Kennedy’s confirmation on the Senate floor (watch video footage here).

“There is nothing – nothing – that keeps a parent up at night, like the health of their child,” he said. “It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican, if you live in the reddest rural areas or the bluest cities, one of the things that bind us as Americans, as people, is that every parent looks at their kids and wants to know that they're doing everything that they can to keep them safe.”

“That’s what this is about,” Kim said. “It's about knowing that there's someone you can trust when you feel like you don't know where else to turn.”

Kim's Democratic peer in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), also blasted the confirmation, calling Kennedy an “unqualified anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist.”

“He ignores scientific evidence, champions racist conspiracy theories, spreads misinformation, and endangers reproductive rights,” McIver said. “His policies will make people sicker, restrict access to life-saving treatment, and backslide medical advancements.”

“It’s disturbing that Senate Republicans have embraced such a dangerous person to control the health of the American people,” she added.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2), a Republican who chaired the president’s New Jersey campaign last year, was quick to clap for Thursday’s vote.

“Time to make America healthy again,” he posted on social media.

Other New Jersey residents agreed with Van Drew.

“Our new HHS secretary is completely based,” one pundit wrote online. “Congratulations to RFK Jr... so excited for this.”

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