Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will spend the next two days speaking with more than a dozen other members of the Democratic caucus, including top progressives Sens. Bernie Sanders (Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts). Meet with the senator.
President-elect Donald Trump announced last year that he would nominate RFK Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in his second administration. Since the news broke, Kennedy has met with various senators at the Capitol.
Up until this point, he had only met with Senate Republicans. But on Wednesday, Mr. Kennedy will begin a sit-down with several Democrats who could be key to winning confirmation.
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RFK Jr. is scheduled to begin several meetings with Democrats starting Wednesday. (Reuters)
Mr. Kennedy, a former Democratic Party and independent presidential candidate, will be joined by members of the Democratic caucus, Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Sens. He is scheduled to attend a meeting with Sen. Ed Markey of Colorado, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, and Sen. Mark Warner of Colorado. Virginia, Mr. Warren, Mr. Sanders.
The one-on-one talks with Democrats are scheduled as some in the party have expressed openness to some of Kennedy's positions, particularly those related to agriculture and food production.
But some of those same policy stances could pose potential problems for his support among Senate Republicans.
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Kennedy supported Trump even after he left office. (Imagination)
He also joined Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-L.V.), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). ), will be participating in the Hilltop meeting with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). week.
Mr. Grassley is one of the few Republicans to express concern about Mr. Kennedy's positions on agriculture and their impact on farmers.
“They have to be able to use modern agricultural technologyIt involves a lot of things, including highly sophisticated equipment, as well as fertilizers and pesticides. So we have to have that conversation,” Sen. John Hoeven (R.N.D.) recently told reporters.
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Some Senate Republicans want answers about RFK Jr.'s agricultural beliefs before confirming him. (Reuters)
Grassley has previously emphasized the need for genetic engineering to meet food needs and feed the nation.
But some expressed confidence that President Kennedy would make the right call to farmers. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said he warned Kennedy not to go “too far” in regulating agriculture during a meeting last year.
He called Trump's picks for the Department of Health and Human Services “very spot on,” adding, “We understand that our farmers are in trouble, and we want to help farmers who can make a living.” “We want to make sure that we have the best of both worlds,” he added.
Tuberville supports RFK Jr. at HHS. (Imagination)
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After Kennedy endorsed Trump ahead of the 2024 election, the two debuted a campaign called “Make America Healthy Again.”
The slogan was adopted by a caucus of some Senate Republicans who support Mr. Kennedy in his HHS role and hope to advance his and Mr. Trump's domestic health policies. .
