By SARAH EWALL-WICE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER
President Donald Trump‘s new health chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signaled that his number one priority over the next four years will be ending the childhood chronic disease epidemic.
RFK Jr. was sworn into office as Health and Human Services Secretary on Thursday afternoon at the White House, surroundetd by his family, after being confirmed by the Senate.
‘For 20 years I’ve gotten up every morning on my knees and prayed that God would put me in a position where I could end the childhood chronic disease epidemic in this country,’ Kennedy said in the Oval Office, standing beside Trump.
His swearing-in came hours after he was confirmed by the Senate following a nasty confirmation battle.
Kennedy was put under the microscope and blasted by Democrats for his past anti-vaccine work and promoting conspiracy theories.
In the end, he was confirmed nearly along party lines with a 52 to 48 vote.
Senator Mitch McConnell was the lone Republican to vote with every single Democrat against his confirmation.
McConnell, a polio survivor, slammed Kennedy in a statement saying the 70-year-old vaccine skeptic had a record of ‘trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions.’
McConnell said Kennedy ‘failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America’s largest health agency.’
Democrats, while praising efforts to improve Americans’ health, blasted Kennedy’s appointment.
They claimed he was unqualified and spent years undermining and rejecting scientific data.
Other Republicans also voiced concerns about the nominee ahead of his confirmation but got onboard with Kennedy after being given multiple reassurances by him and the administration that as secretary, he would work with Congress, support vaccines and follow the science.