At today's Senate Finance Committee hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) questioned James O'Neill, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.
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00:00Senator Warren is here to ask her questions.
00:03All right, thank you. Without objection, the letters will be entered in the record.
00:06And Senator Warren.
00:08Thank you, and I apologize for the delay.
00:10I'm, like many, trying to cover multiple hearings today.
00:14So Senate Republicans confirmed RFK Jr. despite warning signs that he would put Americans at risk.
00:23So far, the deadliest measles outbreak in decades has already left two children dead.
00:30A serious avian flu outbreak has driven farmers to call 30 million chickens this year and sickened 70 people and killed one.
00:41Secretary Kennedy has fired the experts, peddled dangerous conspiracy theories, and moved HHS decision-making into the shadows.
00:50Mr. O'Neill, if confirmed as Deputy Secretary, you would be Kennedy's number two and responsible for overseeing.
01:00HHS's response is to the public health crises.
01:03So I want to know if you would do anything to reduce the damage that Secretary Kennedy is doing.
01:10So let's start with measles outbreak.
01:12In just the last week, Secretary Kennedy has made multiple inaccurate claims about the measles vaccine.
01:20Meanwhile, under his leadership, HHS has censored CDC analysis on the importance of measles vaccinations,
01:30canceled research on vaccine hesitancy, and pulled funding that local health departments use to help parents vaccinate their kids.
01:40So, Mr. O'Neill, if confirmed, your job will be to advise Secretary Kennedy.
01:45So help us understand, would you have advised against any of the actions that Secretary Kennedy has taken in handling the measles outbreak?
01:57Thank you for the question, Senator.
01:58It's lovely to meet you.
02:00I strongly support vaccines.
02:02I think they're the greatest public health...
02:03That's not my question.
02:07My question is, I've told you what it is.
02:10You've seen it.
02:11What Secretary Kennedy has done, you will be his number two.
02:14You will offer him advice.
02:16And so I'm asking, what kind of advice would you offer on any of these actions that he has taken?
02:23Would you have advised against any of them, or do you embrace them all?
02:26Senator, I was not involved in those decisions, obviously, but I support the MMR vaccine.
02:31I've taken it myself.
02:32I think it is safe and effective.
02:34I would recommend it to others.
02:35And the Secretary has done the same.
02:37So you're saying every way, everything that Secretary Kennedy has done in handling the measles vaccine and this crisis, you're fine with.
02:48Is that right?
02:49I just want to make sure I understand.
02:50Senator, I think he's sincerely concerned about measles.
02:53That's not my question.
02:54My question is, you okay with all this?
02:58Sorry?
02:58You okay with all this?
03:00I think he's doing a great job.
03:01Okay.
03:02That's what we need to hear.
03:03Let's do another.
03:05The avian flu outbreak is destroying farmers' livelihoods.
03:09It's jacking up egg prices.
03:11It's raising the risk of an outbreak in humans.
03:14Secretary Kennedy has fired the top FDA staff tracking the outbreak.
03:19He's canceled scientific meetings on preventing human infections.
03:25And he has suggested that poultry farmers should consider letting the virus, quote, run through the flock, a strategy that experts say would be a genuine health disaster.
03:36So, Mr. O'Neill, would you have advised against any of the actions that Secretary Kennedy has taken in handling the avian flu?
03:45Or would you say on avian flu, you also think he's done a great job?
03:49Senator, I've been following the avian flu outbreak over about the past year.
03:53Senator, it's been a significant concern.
03:56Lots of people are watching it.
03:58CDC is tracking it.
03:59Canadians are tracking it.
04:02The kind of thing that everyone is watching for that would...
04:04My question is about Secretary Kennedy and the actions he's taken.
04:10I've just identified the actions he's taken.
04:13I'm asking you, would you have advised him to take any different actions than those he has taken?
04:19Senator, the avian influenza strain that is prevalent currently among both domestic fowl and wildfowl seems to be optimized for avian systems.
04:32If it were to appear to have evolved such that it's jumping from human to human to human...
04:37Mr. O'Neill, none of this is my question.
04:39You are going to be there to be number two to Kennedy and to advise him.
04:44So, I'm saying here are things Kennedy has done.
04:46I'm asking the question, which I think is perfectly reasonable.
04:50Would you have given different advice?
04:52And you have told me on measles, you think he's doing a great job.
04:56Which I assume means not different advice.
04:58How about on avian flu?
05:00You think he's doing a great job there?
05:02Senator, the Department of Agriculture makes most decisions regarding vaccination of wildlife.
05:09Of course, I will always give the Secretary, if confirmed, my honest, frank and update opinion.
05:14You know, I appreciate that you have done a great job of trying to avoid this question.
05:19Because the one thing we're trying to determine is what kind of advice this guy's going to give.
05:24And all he can do is mumble around and say Kennedy's doing a great job.
05:28I don't think that's somebody who's going to help curb the worst risks that Kennedy is pumping into our health care system.
05:37Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
05:38I apologize.
05:40Senator Blackburn.