In Thursday’s Senate Finance Committee hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy on his incompetent leadership overseeing the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Secretary Kennedy’s incompetence has impacted chronic disease and cancer research, harmed efforts to protect servicemember’s health, and jeopardized America’s public health infrastructure to respond to infectious diseases
The hearing follows last month’s shooting at the CDC that claimed the life of a DeKalb County police officer and turmoil over firings and resignations of top CDC leadership
Senator Warnock to Secretary Kennedy: “You are a hazard to the health of the American people. I think that you ought to resign. And if you do not resign, the President of the United States, who put forward Operation Warp Speed, which worked, should fire you”
Above: Senator Warnock questioning Secretary Kennedy in a Senate Finance Committee hearing
Watch the exchange HERE
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) called on President Trump to fire Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his gross mismanagement of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Senate Finance Committee hearing follows last month’s shooting at the CDC that claimed the life of a DeKalb County police officer and turmoil over firings and resignations of top CDC leadership. Secretary Kennedy’s incompetence has impacted chronic disease and cancer research, harmed efforts to protect servicemember’s health, and jeopardized America’s public health infrastructure to respond to infectious diseases.
“You are a hazard to the health of the American people. I think that you ought to resign. And if you do not resign, the President of the United States, who put forward Operation Warp Speed, which worked, should fire you,” Senator Warnock said to Secretary Kennedy.
During his line of questioning, Senator Warnock pressed Secretary Kennedy on his extremist beliefs that are dismantling the nation’s public health infrastructure, leaving hundreds of Georgia public health workers without a job, and putting children at risk by spreading misinformation about vaccines.
“Despite your lack of credentials and expertise, clearly, you have an agenda. It is a threat to the public health of the American people. It’s clear that you are carrying out your extremist beliefs,” Senator Warnock said to Secretary Kennedy.
Last month, Senator Warnock reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Georgia’s CDC employees following the shooting at the CDC that claimed the life of a DeKalb County police officer. Earlier this year, Senator Warnock voted against Secretary Kennedy to lead HHS, the agency that oversees the CDC, due to concerns over disturbing comments and long-held beliefs of Kennedy that would threaten health care costs, quality, and access for millions of Georgians and Americans. Since the CDC and its employees became a target of this administration, Senator Warnock has led several efforts defending their employment and the crucial role they play in keeping the nation safe. This includes joining them at a rally, delivering a floor speech opposing Secretary Kennedy’s nomination, demanding answers from administration nominees at Congressional hearings, and more. Since coming to the Senate, the Senator has led the effort to secure federal funding for the CDC, and he will continue those critical efforts.
Watch the Senator’s full remarks and line of questioning HERE.
See below a transcript of key exchanges between Senator Warnock and Secretary Kennedy:
Senator Warnock (SW): “Less than a month ago, we received the heartbreaking news that a gunman opened fire at the C-D-C campus in Atlanta, Georgia. […] DeKalb County police officer David Rose was killed, and shots hit the buildings on campus in at least 180 places, narrowly missing the C-D-C’s day care center. Law enforcement recovered nearly 500 shell casings. Clearly, he came to do a lot of damage. It’s a miracle that thanks to the quick action of Atlanta and state law enforcement, more people were not killed. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that, prior to the attack, the gunman expressed discontent with the COVID vaccine and, quote, ‘wanted to make the public aware of his…distrust of the vaccines.’ Secretary Kennedy, I assume you’re aware of these disturbing reports of the gunman’s motives?”
Secretary Kennedy (SK): “Yes.”
[…]
SW: “Had you ever even been to the C-D-C as Secretary before the shooting on August 8?”
SK: “No.”
SW: “Let’s return to the shooting and aftermath. Secretary Kennedy, I’m about to ask a series of yes or no questions about the events of the past month. And I would appreciate just a yes or no response. […] Did you criticize Dr. Monarez for her statements to C-D-C following the shooting where she said, quote, ‘misinformation can be dangerous’?”
SK: “I don’t believe so. I have no record of that.”
SW: “Did you demand that she fire career scientists or public experts at the C-D-C?”
SK: “Yes.”
[…]
SW: “Did you say the C-D-C was, quote, ‘the most corrupt federal agency in the history of the world’?”
SK: “Not the history of the world, but definitely in HHS. I did not say that. But I did say it’s the most corrupt agency in HHS, and maybe the government.”
SW: “So you called the C-D-C corrupt. And did you say that C-D-C employees are, quote, ‘horrible people’? Did you say they are killing children and they do not care?”
SK: “No.”
SW: “Okay, I think that we all have a history of listening to you and these answers, but you’re on the record for a number of these statements. Despite your lack of credentials and expertise, clearly, you have an agenda. It is a threat to the public health of the American people. It’s clear that you are carrying out your extremist beliefs, which is why you attempted to fire—” [CROSS SPEAKING] “I’m speaking. Secretary Kennedy, for the first time, we’re seeing deaths from children from measles. We haven’t seen that in two decades. We’re seeing that under your watch. You are a hazard to the health of the American people. I think that you ought to resign. And if you do not resign, the President of the United States, who put forward Operation Warp Speed, which worked, should fire you.”
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