also extremely concerned about your endorsement of radical fringe — your endorsement of radical fringe conspiracies that if implemented at hss would put fringe conspiracies that if implemei families 55 would put fringe conspiracies that if implemei families lives»uld put fringe conspiracies that if implemei families lives atj put american families lives at risk _ american families lives at risk - are - american families lives at risk. are one of our public health greatest public health triumphs. i am talking m— medical science. of the people helped was my = -e_7e - was myindfather was i - was myindfather was a i have a history of havea fi--htin you have a long history of fighting _ you have a long history of fighting for women's reproductive freedom, so mr kennedy, confused, you have kennedy, i'm confused, you have clearly— kennedy, i'm confused, you have clearly stated in the past that bodily — clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your bodily autonomy'is onuof your - w— bodily autonomy'is onuof your - m— bodily autonomy—is ofluof your values, and the question =:: =_t: do you stand for . do you stand for that - é do you stand for that value is, do you stand for that—value l_ is, do you stand for that—value im— is, do you stand for that value �* not? when was it that you or not? when was it that you decided _ or not? when was it that you decided to set up the values you have _ decided to set up the values you have held your life sauna“ = ye ,' of = order you'heuehfldrrrrwmhhfiela u ,, of = i order to you'heue held your whole life order to given ate-dune“ held your whole life order to given power in order to be given power by president _ in order to be given power by president | in order to be given power by president — in order to be given power by president ., president trump? i agree with president trump? i agree with president trump _ president trump? i agree with president trump - abortion | president trump that abortion is a tragedy that we cannot be

moral authority in your country. that is not what you said in new _ country. that is not what you said in new hampshire - country. that is not what you said in new hampshire in - country. that is not what you i said in new hampshire in 2023 when did you decided to set your 7§77§£;;f§; 77 _fififiii 7 i’fiif 77 i777 out your life work and values to get— out your life work and values to get this position? —— sell mm m that eve abortion is a trump that every abortion is a tragedy. so trump that every abortion is a traced . . tragedy. so what you are tellin: tragedy. so what you are telling us _ tragedy. so what you are telling us is _ tragedy. so what you are telling us is that - : -—: e _—e* what you believe, i what you believe, and i what you believe, and what of what you believe, and what values — of what you believe, and what values have, if you a??,,,,,,,, trump tells you to do something, you are going to do something; yo'uarre'gori” , you aomething; you arre'go�*iog—ttrdo i m_ something; you arre'go�*iog—ttrdo i you said just something; yduéte'qdifiq to do you said just now the =— he has asked me to the satetr; of the satetr; at it. here study the safety of it, here are the _ study the safety of it, here are the safety studies that tell us_ are the safety studies that tell us that it is safe and effective, i asked the effective, and i asked the - that _ effective, and i asked the that these about chairman that these about 40 studies — chairman that these about 40 studies be admitted to the §=r by unanimous record by unanimous consent. without— record by unanimous consent. without objection. there and the science is are there and the science is - but— are there and the science is - but what— are there and the science is but what you are telling there but what}; u e ~ is there but whatyouerertethng i h there but whatyouerertethng i is that if there but whatyou are telling is that if president trump us is that itpreeideet ere-fete a” , you to us is that itpresideet ere-res a” , you to take us is that itpresfiest trusses - you to take action orders 0 - '-| - m

orders you to take action to it harder for to get make it harder for women to get direty— make it harder for women to get direly needed health you direly needed health care you will follow his orders, and if mr trump as he yesterday, mr trump as he did yesterday, orders — mr trump as he did yesterday, orders a — mr trump as he did yesterday, orders a halt on medicaid era's-”sea ha'ter medieaie w, that area-”sea halt; en etedieaie _ that are area-”sea ha'ter etedieaie , that are essential for payments that are essential for taking — payments that are essential for taking - of— payments that are essential for taking of people with taking care of people with 77 all around this ou are c-oin to that order. because follow that order, because you are willing to sacrifice your values and knowledge if president trump tells you to do that, _ president trump tells you to do that, that — president trump tells you to do that, that to me is unacceptable in a of unacceptable in a secretary of health — unacceptable in a secretary of health and women's services. as explained before, i explained before, the - explained before, the white i explained before, the white house has issued a statement saying that that policy will zi—zz deprive any american not deprive any american started up white house started up the white house issued that statement only after we pointed out the damage it would do it became it would do and it became politically for politically uncomfortable for you know what them, you know what else the freeze on federal did? freeze on federal funding did? halted money for critical

it halted money for critical research _ it halted money for critical research cure research that could cure use ,, e. e 7 cancer. if the paediatric cancer. so if the president tells you to do that, you are — president tells you to do that, you are going to that as 77 a 77 7 thaienou - h. well. that is enough. thank ou. well. that is enough. thank you thank _ well. that is enough. thank you. thank you. _ well. that is enough. thank you. thank you. mr - you. thank you. mr kennedy, for you. thank you. mr kennedy, - forioining _ you. thank you. mr kennedy, - forjoining us. - you. thank you. mr kennedy, - forjoining us. i- thanks forjoining us. i _ your- thanks forjoining us. i your passion and you e:ée,?§ a: z: is you have spent years belief and you have spent years reatty _ the - belief and you have spent years really the issues really talking about the issues that matter to you and i that. let me appreciate that. let me ask you appreciate that. let me ask you a couple — appreciate that. let me ask you a couple of— appreciate that. let me ask you a couple of questions, where i -m— a couple of gueztm: where 5 some clarification, and need some clarification, and there — need some clarification, and there is— need some clarification, and there is a _ need some clarification, and there is a 40—year—old law that requires hospital emergency accepting payment from =e= =2—— ca re care to patients, so emergency care torpatiente; a say emergency care torpatients; so - say a emergency care torpatients; so say a woman experiencing let's say a woman experiencing a heart — let's say a woman experiencing a heart attack goes to the er, you would a-ree 77 7 7 protects her federal law protects her right to— care? - federal law protects her right

to care? . federal law protects her right to _ care?- a i to emergency care? yes. r , % woman pregna ht “remain with "ww” bleedin- pregha ht womani- _ bleeding from mi! an incomplete miscarriage goes to the _ an incomplete miscarriage goes to the er. — an incomplete miscarriage goes to the er, let rephrase, a to the er, let me rephrase, a pregnant— to the er, let me rephrase, a pregnant woman with a life—threatening bleeding from an miscarriage goes an incomplete miscarriage g , the an incomplete miscarriage goes i the er and an incomplete miscarriage goes the er and her doctor also to the er and her doctor also _ that _ to the er and her doctor also _ that she - to the er and her doctor also that she needs an she is emergency abortion; but s' 's a emergency abortion; but she—is i a state emergency abortion; but she is a state where abortion in a state where abortion is banned _ in a state where abortion is banned. you would also as in a state where abortion is ba attorneyi would also as in a state where abortion is ba attorney that jld also as in a state where abortion is ba attorney that jld lawso as an attorney that federal law an attorney that federal law - a right— an attorney that federal law a right that protects a right to that _ care? - protects a right to that _ care? i- protects a right to that care? ., �* ~ ., answer to that i i don't the answer to that is i don't know the top as an attorney, doesn't federal law go above a state law? the federal does, not ' 7159555 ' ' every federal law goes against laws. i'mjust

every federal law goes against laws. i'm just telling 7 -75 don't anw. 7 you, i don't know. i appreciate that. you, i don't know. i appreciate that- what _ you, i don't know. i appreciate that. what authority _ you, i don't know. i appreciate that. what authority do - you, i don't know. i appreciate that. what authority do you i that. what authority do you have — that. what authority do you have this as the director hss? i hss? to uses fisif ehis as ehe difeee-ef hss? to the h5s5 fissif ehi5 55 e55 5'f55e5f hss? to the law? in regards? to make - that what regards? hospital that receives a hospital that receives - from - a hospital that receives from medicare is making payment ftomlmed'loale is making that payment ftomlmeudicace ls making, - that they payment ftomlmeudicace ls making that they are providing sure that they are providing the necessary care the necessary emergency care that patients present. what 77 do you have respect that? �*that? my understanding is ofthat? myufi- ~- m“; ihave of that? my undefetafldmgfle - i have budgetary - of that? my undefetafldmgfle - i have budgetary power| that i have budgetary power and is probably limited to that it is probably limited to that but if you tell i have any but if you tell rne ! have any" ~ , ~ ~ , ~ �*authority, i other authority, i don't think we even have a law enforcement... . . . , enforcement... actually, you do. enforcement... actually, you d0- ems _ enforcement... actually, you j do. ems - investigates do. ems actually investigates complaints of these violations complaints of these vial] - complaints of these violations m complaints of these violations as the health and human as well as the health and human services — as well as the health and human services who services ins-ector general who

services inspector general who just recently fired seryices inspector general who just recently fired by if "?e—:' ”a,” donald trump, by the way. so you witi— donald trump, by the way. so you will be enforcing laws and is important that you -7 their im7 and do understand their impact and do not play— understand their impact and do not play politics with the patient at the er 5—7—7: 772 —;= 5—7—7g 772 —;= based on a position that this 7— has taken. let ask ou another uestion, me ask you another question, you said — me ask you another question, you said about lowering drug you said about loweringdrug - w— you said about lowering drug when prices are gouged prices, when prices are gouged the american people suffer, and we agree — the american people suffer, and we agree on that, and you are sincere — we agree on that, and you are sincere in— we agree on that, and you are sincere in your belief that you want — sincere in your belief that you want to— sincere in your belief that you want to reduce prices for americans, and the act — fi h5d"5*§ er “55““5e5 drug prices rte-fleas ea neaeeaee - — drug prices and — drug prices and it description drug prices and it penalises drug companies for price — penalises drug companies for price inflation and caps seniors out dru- costs it caps seniors out drug costs atong — it caps seniors out drug costs along with insulin along with reducing insulin prices _ along with reducing insulin prices to— along with reducing insulin prices to $35 per month. but future boss donald trump your future boss donald trump on his— your future boss donald trump on his first in office

on his first day in office revoked _ on his first day in office revoked president biden's revoked presidenti’eiden's eeeereerrerererr order that actually executive order that actually directed _ executive order that actually directed the health secretary examine ways to reduce dru- and improve access to prices and improve access to for prices and improve access to _ for thei innovative therapies for the _ people. - innovative therapies for the people, and american people, and unfortunately republicans in congress want to repeal the reduction congress want to repeal the - - reduction act 7 congress want to repeal the reduction act which inflation reduction act which the - inflation reduction act which i the - we on to lower prices for my question to you do my question to you do you question to you do you do? tion to you do you do? are to you do you do? are you ou isywhat do you do? are you,,,, is,,,what do ou do? are 7,,,, is,,,,what do ou do? are 7,,,, h is,,,,what do ou do? are 7,,,, is,,what do you do? are you,,,, to a rubber stamp? to - 7 administrat|n and i administration and cave ini these positions they - these positions they are | to all these positions they are taking — to all these positions they are taking even though you know, tglsing even thoughyotriew -w taking even though you ieno'as'e disagree with your they disagree with your on lowering prices for position on lowering prices for drug _ position on lowering prices for drug prices? how do you handle drugrpriceshelowdoryou handle that? my understanding is that if there i an —

if there is an executive order, i believe in supporting the negotiations, and i believe in supporting the negttrump;, and i believe in supporting the negt trump was d i believe in supporting the negt trump was very president trump was very aggressive in his first term 7 negotiating ”negotiatingdfugr’ ” 7 negotiating drug prices he has instructed me and i and he has instructed me and i have met with him repeatedly on this, we need lower prices for have met with him repeatedly on this seniors ed lower prices for have met with him repeatedly on this seniors in lower prices for have met with him repeatedly on this seniors in this er prices for have met with him repeatedly on this seniors in this country for the seniors in this country and others... i the seniors in this country and others - -_ others. . . 5775133725”, so we have others... eggs—$3” so we have alread timersowe hayealteady _ lowering - timersowe have already lowering prices for negotiated 'lowering pricesfor - m— negotiated lowering pricesfor - drugs with negotiated lowering prices for drugs with big pharma, who 7477 777 opposed this, by the way, they are asking _ opposed this, by the way, they are asking �* pores but they are asking for pores but they have — are asking for pores but they have filed but already ne -otiated i already negotiated the i have already negotiated the first — have already negotiated the first ten we want to first ten drugs we want to it first ten drugs we want to - it to _ first ten drugs we want to - it to the - first ten drugs we want to it to the next expand it to the next 10—15 that— expand it to the next 10—15 that the _ expand it to the next 10—15 that the biden administration has put — that the biden administration has put forward, would has put forwardrwould—you m has put forwardrwould—you path of has put forwardrwould you path of mandating 7 5 7 bi- pharma come to 7 i big pharma come to the i the big pharma come to the - and _ the big pharma come to the and negotiate drug table and negotiate the drug ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, for medicare so we table and negotiate the drus i for medicare so we can prices for medicare so we can ,, the prices for medicare so we can i the prices for prices for medicare so we can , �*the prices for americans? lower the prices for americans? the executive order that was today which i have not issued today which i have not seen, but i have read a

and my understanding summary, and my understanding of doctor you keep citing the summary, and my understanding of doci administration ng the summary, and my understanding of doci administration and he summary, and my understanding of doci administration and you lrgmp administration and you just going to follow what are just going to follow what they are just a rubber mm doesn't matter, it could be anybody— doesn't matter, it could be anybody coming forward as long z. 77——e ziz=e 7- 77 77_77 77—77 as it is a rubber stamp for this— as it is a rubber stamp for this administration and disregarding your beliefs and what — disregarding your beliefs and what think? so it really what you think? so if it really is fundamental to what you believe. _ is fundamental to what you believe, how you live with believe, how do you live with that? — believe, how do you live with that? how do you address those that? howedoeyou ad a, as that? howedoeyou addmesihose - as you that? howedoeyou addmesihose i as you move that? howedoevou address those as you move forward? you issues as you move forward? you want me to _ issues as you move forward? you want me to to — issues as you move forward? you want me to to answer— issues as you move forward? gm, want me to to answer the question?— want me to to answer the question? 7 guestjon? , trump has asked to president trump has asked me to make america healthy is the only reason that is the only reason you are the that is the only reason you are i the body. _ that is the only reason you are the body, to address that at the body, to address that issue? — at the body, to address that issue? . at the body, to address that issue? , . , issue? president trump has me issue? president trump has - me because - issue? president trump has i me because i'm i issue? president trump has i me because i'm in i asked me because i'm in a unique position to end that thatis unique position to end that that is what i'm doing. if we thatis what l'rn doing. lf we

thatis what l'rn doing. lf we that problem, don't solve that problem, senator, all of the other disputes we have who is disputes we have about who is paying and it is paying and whether it is insurance companies, providers, hmos, insurance companies, providers, hmos, patients, allmoving 7 7 all moving deckchairsr 7 on the while —|577-77 is 60% increase r’ei�*eitt is ei'tiei'tct, £4594 ieerseeer , ,, —— —— —— ——e medicare over —: 7777th5e5bi7gg5est7 777 77 ' ' "a; biggest 5.2.5; 7 7 years, the biggest budget line and is growing faster than gpg it is growing faster than other and griggd it is growing faster than other and no other nation egg 7 hemp" 7 7 7 lowing " 7 7 ' 7 itheiworldrharsiwhat 7 ' 7 itheiworldrharswhatwe’7 ' 7 itheworldrharswhat ou.. in the world has what we have no other nation, we have here. no other nation, we have the highest chronic disease burden of country in the burden of any country in the world. during covid we had a i6% of world. during covid we had a 16% of the deaths, but we only have 4.2% of the population of count any other death count than any other country in the world, and when was asked cdc was asked why, they said it is because americans are the eil- sickest on. earth and the person died from

they were had chronic . chronic diseases. this chronic diseases. this is 3.8 chronic diseases, this is an existential threat, an. existential threat, ,, ,,,, to the economically, to the military, to of well—being, and to our sense of well—being, and it is a priority for president and that is why he asked trump and that is why he asked me to run the agency, and if privileged to be confirmed, is exactly what i will do. that is exactly what i will do. senator. ~ g . for visitinu for visitin: me in m time for visiting me in my office _ time for visiting me in my office before the hearing :———’7:*7£ issues affecting ca re care in wyomin- 7 care in wyoming aswell health care in wyoming as e,,, the health care in wyoming aswell im— health care in wyoming as well the nation and i willin- ness -7 willin-ness to serve your willingness to serve our we your willingness to serve our - we - the i country. we discussed the _ that— country. we discussed the that health care 551155555 eh5e h551eh 555 and eh5iiihg55 eh5e h551eh 555 and patients are providers and patients are facing _ providers and patients are facing in _ providers and patients are facing in america, facing in rural america, financial— facing in rural america, financial obstacles facing hospitals, workforce shortages and new— hospitals, workforce shortages and new regulations that are paying — and new regulations that are paying for that have come out of the — paying for that have come out of the biden administration, that— of the biden administration, that are _ of the biden administration, that are hurting our ability to nursin- home m

provide nursing home staff and, so tet— provide nursing home staff and, so let me — provide nursing home staff and, so let me begin rural so let me begin with rural ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, hospitals and the closure of hospitals and the closure of hospitals like there are hospitals like that. ,-, lot hospitals like thatafhereare i _ hospitals like that. there are lot of facing in rural hospitals in rural communities and we — hospitals in rural communities and we have 33 in and we have 33 hospitals in wyoming, 26 located in locations which are hard locations which are often hard to get— locations which are often hard to get and whether it to get to and whether it - them _ to get to and whether it them and six of 7-7 7_7 7 at risk of closin- i at risk of closing and i i at risk of closing and to i at immediate risk of our at immediate risk of closing _ our at immediate risk of closing in the next two years and — closing in the next two years and ten _ closing in the next two years and ten have had to cut and services, this i concern bipartisan. it is critical— concern bipartisan. it is critical that the workforce 77 that we are facin- addressed so can commit addres on so can commit addres onaocan commit 7 _ 71; ' 7 ' immit 7 7 7 7— 77 m77 7 7c_mmit i777“ it critical nationwide issue thefcritifil: natienwiéfiissae i rural thefcritifil: natienwide issue rural health thsfcritical; natisnwids issus rural health care? the—eritieal flatienwideissue . rural health care?- of rural health care? yes, senator- _ of rural health care? yes, senator. i— of rural health care? yes, senator. i would - of rural health care? yes, senator. i would say - of rural health care? yes, senator. i would say that| of rural health care? yes, | senator. i would say that i 77 almost 77 7 77 almost 60 77 7 77 almost 60 seators visited almost 60 senators and the most common unifying issue,

democrats republicans, one and reform and the other was and reform and the other hospitals, and our was rural hospitals, and our nation made a to a hospital within miles have a hospital within 30 miles of every american, and we generally in doing generally succeeded in doing that, it is critical, it is that, and it is critical, it is and rural 777 closing closing an q9§jlilai$alre closing at an rate right now. extraordinary rate right now. they provide health e: 2-0: 7 777for7the7loc7ale7 77 7 7 777for7the7loc7ale7ar71d7 7 777for7the7loc7ale7a7r71d7they77 7 care for the locale and they , important economic also important economic drivers, and president trump is drivers; and president tum): —— —— ,,, — ~— — protect rural determined to protect rural "7 and he has asked do that through the of eml— aland innovations i sought the other day, i saw them at

other day. lsaw themat , ~ ~ clinic, other day. ! saw themat , ~ ~ clinic, which other oay. lsaw themat , ~ ~ clinic, which has cleveland clinic, which has developed an ai nurse that you distinguish 7 distinguish from 7 distinguish from a 7 distinguish from a human cannot distinguish from a human being, has diagnostics as being, that has diagnostics as good as doctor. we can good as any doctor. we can provide concierge to every 7 american in this country, even the parts of wyoming, the remote parts of wyoming, montana, alaska. we also have at the gma you opportunitiesattheema you live up to the ideal of finally live up to the ideal of providing personnel to and i will use all of hosoitats ano ! oitt ose att of w " w power because i've seen the my power because i've seen the priority it been given by priority it has been given by both democrats and republicans both democrats and republieans this committee both democrats and republicans this committee and i on this committee and i intend to make that a priority i'm to make that a priority if i'm privileged enough to be ortotlegeo eooooh to be a local hospital, of the common services to one of the common services to be cut— one of the common services to be cut in— one of the common services to be cut in rural hospitals is

maternity services and now we have _ maternity services and now we have women in driving maternity services and now we have 100 1en in driving maternity services and now we have 100 1en in to driving maternity services and now we have 100 1en in to access driving maternity services and now we have 100 1en in to access care, g over 100 miles to access care, 13 over100 miles to access care, 13 counties_ over 100 miles to access care, 13 counties do not access, 13 counties do not have access, we are — 13 counties do not have access, we are larger wears talkin’c’ounfes ,a e21,” wears talkin, flit] w , newjersey, than conn—mt we 75 sec - largerthan- than eonnecticutg heojereegg larger than those counties larger than those whole _ counties larger than those whole so we are hoping ==e7 =e —% 7777wl—— 77 777 7 77 7727 will help to -7 you will help to address these challenges? you will help to address these - challenges?— specific challenges??- look forward to it. another issue we — look forward to it. another issue we spoke _ look forward to it. another issue we spoke about - look forward to it. another issue we spoke about was | look forward to it. another i issue we spoke about was the harmful— harmful biden administration has been back for the nursin- homes —— é nursing homes —— has nursin- homes —— has been rural nursing homes —— has been - this — rural nursing homes —— has been - this will— rural nursing homes —— has been this will lead to issues bad. this will lead to issues because _ bad. this will lead to issues because there are not enough because'there arerrnot enough _ nurses to - registered nurses to comply with— registered nurses to comply with it. _ registered nurses to comply with it, see you work with with it, so can you work with me to — with it, so can you work with me to fix _ with it, so can you work with me to fix this serious problem me to fix this seriouseproe , .. was me to fix this sefidljseidrdbl-e—fll -m_ me to fix this seriouseproblem was a result of a rule (2de came out from the biden that came out from the biden administration that does not understand rural america?

administration that does not understand ruralamerica? | e think the rule was but as you