UnidosUS Urges Senators to Reject Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary

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WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plays a critical role in supporting the health and well-being of Hispanic and other communities nationwide. As the largest minority group in the country, Latinos continue to face significant health disparities. Even though 9 million Latinos gained health coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 11 million Latinos remain without health insurance — more than any other racial or ethnic group. Efforts to vaccinate during the COVID-19 pandemic were essential to safeguard the health of Hispanic Americans, who disproportionally were and continue to be essential workers.   

Ahead of the vote to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of HHS, Janet Murguía, UnidosUS president and CEO, issued the following statement urging U.S. senators to vote “no”:  

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s record on matters of public health, as well as his statements during last week’s congressional hearings, have demonstrated a fundamental lack of commitment to protecting and promoting public health, most notably in his decades-long campaign against vaccines, including the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine. Coupled with his extensive history of spreading misinformation about health data and his own health-related positions, we believe his leadership at HHS would pose a grave and unacceptable threat to the health of all Americans and the recent health gains made in the Latino community. We were also deeply troubled by his inadequate understanding of important programs that would be under his purview, including Medicaid and Medicare, revealing his limited knowledge of these programs, which serve millions across the country. Therefore, after extensive consideration, UnidosUS urges U.S. senators to vote ‘no’ on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of HHS. 

“UnidosUS also extends our deep appreciation to U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) for raising important issues and concerns during last week’s hearings. They underscored the essential need for the leading health official in our country to understand that health care is not a luxury, and that Medicaid and Medicare are a lifeline for millions, including nearly a third of Latinos. Their thorough and deliberate discussion reminded us — and our nation — that only a highly qualified candidate, who can demonstrate an unwavering commitment to our country’s health and well-being, should hold such an important role as Secretary of HHS.”