Overview:
Throughout contentious congressional testimony, Kennedy mentioned critics had been “simply making stuff up” — regardless of recorded proof — turning the listening to right into a broader check of Kennedy’s credibility, management, and decision-making.
Confronted with an announcement he made on a podcast in 2024 calling for Black youngsters on ADHD medicine to be “re-parented,” Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advised a Home committee on Thursday to not consider their lyin’ ears.
Throughout an change with Rep. Terri Sewell, an Alabama Democrat, Kennedy mentioned he didn’t recall making the assertion and accused Sewell of “simply making stuff up.”
The receipts, nevertheless, say in any other case
“Each Black child is now simply normal placed on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, that are identified to induce violence,” Kennedy mentioned on the 19Keys on-line present, when he was operating for the Democratic presidential nomination. “And people youngsters are going to have an opportunity to go someplace and get re-parented — to dwell in a group the place there’ll be no cellphones, no screens. You’ll even have to speak to individuals.”
Pending Price range Cuts
The change with Sewell, who known as Kennedy’s remarks “disturbing,” got here through the HHS secretary’s at occasions contentious testimony earlier than the Republican-controlled Home Methods and Means Committee. In his first look earlier than Congress this 12 months, Kennedy praised the company’s work to alter the nation’s dietary pointers and lower waste, fraud and abuse.
The secretary additionally claimed the administration’s overhaul has led to improved drug worth negotiations which have decreased costs. However a Senate committee report launched Thursday finds drug costs have truly continued to skyrocket.
Whereas the committee’s Republicans praised Kennedy as “a breath of recent air” for emphasizing diet and general well being, Democrats slammed him for the Trump administration’s plan to chop roughly 12% from his division’s 2027 price range. The discount would carve greater than $100 billion from the company that gives healthcare providers to all Individuals.
Residence Power Help Threatened
Together with slashing $5 billion from the Nationwide Institutes of Well being — the nation’s world-class well being and biomedical analysis group — the proposed cuts would additionally remove a program that gives house heating and power help to virtually 6 million households. And it could slash budgets for federal packages that assist feed low-income households and youngsters.
Kennedy additionally took hearth for adjustments to the vaccine schedule — a transfer that the courts have sidetracked for now which has been halted by a authorized injunction — and a collection of measles outbreaks that unfold by way of South Carolina and Texas earlier this 12 months.
However Kennedy’s remarks about separating Black youngsters who’ve ADHD and different psychological well being points from their dad and mom drew substantial warmth.
‘Re-parenting Controversy’
Pressed by Sewell, Kennedy continued to disclaim he mentioned something of the type. However a number of social media customers reposted the unique recording of Kennedy touting his plan for “wellness farms.” He additionally introduced up the concept greater than as soon as — together with throughout an interview with the “Excessive Stage Conversations” podcast.
“Each Black child is now simply normal placed on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, that are identified to induce violence,” he mentioned.
On the listening to, Sewell pressed Kennedy: “Have you ever ever re-parented – or parented, I ought to say – a Black youngster?”
Kennedy responded that he didn’t “even know what that phrase means” and denied he made the comment.
“I’m not going to reply one thing I didn’t say,” Kennedy mentioned. “You’re simply making stuff up.”
However Sewell insisted she was “completely not making this up, Mr. Secretary.” Even now, she says, Black youngsters and their dad and mom are separated extra usually than white households “not due to their higher hurt however due to longstanding bias and built-in institutionalism.”
To recommend that Black households “aren’t able to elevating their very own youngsters is deeply offensive, sir,” she mentioned.
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