RFK Jr. Just Survived a Key Confirmation Hurdle as Senators Who Grilled Him Vote to Recommend Him for Health Secretary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at his Jan. 29 confirmation hearing with the Senate Finance Committee.Photo:ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Robert F. Kennedy Jr.has survived his first major hurdle on the path to becomingDonald Trump’s health secretary, after the Senate Finance Committee narrowly agreed to advance his nomination to the full Senate. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the committee responsible for vetting Kennedy voted 14-13 along party lines to recommend his confirmation.

RFK Jr. Says He Won't Take Away Twinkies if Confirmed as Health Secretary — or Diet Coke, 'Which My Boss Loves'

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at his first confirmation hearing.Photo:ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Robert F. Kennedy Jr.says he isn’t attacking junk food — he just wants Americans to know what they’re eating. In his first of two Senate confirmation hearings for the role of health and human services secretary on Jan. 29, Kennedy said he doesn’t plan to restrict Americans from certain foods, as some had wondered.

RFK Jr. Says Vaccinating Birds Against Avian Flu Will Create ‘Mutation Factories’

(Left) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; (Right) Stock image of a chicken.Photo:John Parra/Getty; Getty John Parra/Getty; Getty Robert F. Kennedy Jr.addressed the worseningavian flucrisis, saying vaccinating birds turns them into “mutation factories." Instead, he recommends letting the birds who survive the virus continue to breed.Kennedy, theSecretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, spoke to Fox News hostSean HannityMarch 11, saying “avian fluwill never be eradicated” as the virus is “endemic in wild populations of birds” who spread it to domestic flocks.

RFK Jr.'s Lawyer Petitioned the FDA to Revoke Polio Vaccine Approval

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.Photo:Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty The vaccine, which was invented in 1955, eliminated polio in the United States, theU.S. Centers for Disease Controlsays. Kennedy — who was picked for incoming President-electDonald Trump’s cabinet to lead the Department ofHealth and Human Services— has been vetting candidates for the office with the assistance of Siri, who specializes in vaccine lawsuits, theNew York Timesreports.

RHOA's Cynthia Bailey Is ‘Proud’ of the ‘Young Lady’ Daughter Noelle Is Becoming: ‘Super Emotional for Me’ (Exclusive)

Cynthia Bailey poses with her daughter Noelle.Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Cynthia Baileycouldn’t be more proud of her daughter. While recently chatting with PEOPLE at the 1st Annual Gurus Awards, theReal Housewives of Atlantastar, 57, opened up about the “super emotional” day her daughter Noelle, whom she shares with ex Leon Robinson, turned 25 in early November. “For some reason, it was super emotional for me,” the reality star tells PEOPLE. “I was like, if I post one more picture of Noelle, they’re gonna start unfollowing me,” she jokes.