Sen. Bill Cassidy, left, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke over the weekend ahead of his crucial committee vote. (Reuters/Getty Images)
His vote on the 27-member Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday could decide whether Kennedy's nomination to be Trump's HHS secretary moves forward to the Senate floor or is left to potentially die in committee.
Cassidy has yet to indicate how he plans to vote on the nomination. During one of Kennedy's hearings last week, he admitted, "I have been struggling with your nomination."
He explained that there are areas of alignment between them, but that his criticism and claims regarding vaccination have given him pause.
"But if there is someone that is not vaccinated because of policies or attitudes you bring to the department and there is another 18-year-old who dies of a vaccine-preventable disease, helicoptered away, God forbid dies, it’ll be blown up in the press," Cassidy said.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had two confirmation hearings last week. (Getty Images)
Whether he was decided yet on how he will vote, Cassidy's office declined to comment.
Kennedy has managed to get the support of other sometimes hesitant lawmakers, such as Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who said on X, "[Kennedy's] unique leadership on healthy lifestyle choices will benefit countless Americans, and he understands the critical importance of rebuilding trust in our public health institutions."
"I’ve also received assurances from him that strong pro-life policies will continue to be reinstituted at HHS under his leadership," Young wrote. "We spoke extensively about the importance of supporting innovation in health care to both bring down costs and improve treatment. I look forward to working with him to make positive changes for the American people."
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Sen. Todd Young endorsed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ahead of the vote. (Alex Wong)
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Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., will also be voting to advance Kennedy, his office confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Kennedy will likely need the support of every Republican on the committee, assuming he does not receive any Democratic support. No committee Democrats have come out to say they will back him. The committee vote will take place Tuesday morning.
Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
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