wyden: mr. chairman, i have several colleagues who were under the impression after we talked that we would have two or three and i'm happy for both sides to make brief remarks. i'd still like to stay with that. chair crapo: i did make that commitment, so i consider my collect on my side, i would appreciate it if you hold your remarks until after the. -- the vote. we will let a couple on your side have the remarks and then we will proceed to the vote. would be next? senator cantwell. sen. cantwell: thank you. when you said two or three people, i don't know who you had in mind, but being asked in seniority, i appreciate the opportunity. today is very concerning to me, because of the future of what i think our nation faces. when i think of this issue, i think of my pacific northwest leadership, how paul allen on his own invested $100 million to fight ebola. i think of bill gates and the gates foundation not just trying to eradicate polio and work on these issues, but to think of a regime that helps

chair cotton: senator wyden? sen. wyden: welcome. will try to get four questions in so i will be brief and if you could reciprocate that would be appreciated. with been talking about section 702. i believe it is critical that the dni support additional reforms to protect the privacy of law abiding americans. in your written response to committee questions you wrote "warrants should be required before an agency undertakes u.s. person query of section 702." is this your current position? ms. gabbard: yes it is. as you note i noted some circumstances with which there may be other options. i also want to make a note that a simple warrant requirement will be a policy decision all of you will make. i will point to history. sen. wyden: i am glad you answered. section 702 also involves a huge loophole that was included recently that could allow the government to force anyone with access to a wi-fi router or cable box to secretly participate in the warrantless surveillance program. you support eliminating this language? ms. gabbard: i would h

wyden: the same outbreak occurredsen. wyden: in tonga and no extra people died. there were seven measles outbreaks in the 13 years. the nominee wrote a book saying that people have been misled into believing that measles is a deadly disease. he's trying now to play down his role in samoa. that is not with the parents say, that is not what governor green says. it's time to make sure that we blow the whistle on what your views are. chair crapo: we need to move on. mr. kennedy: i support the measles vaccine, i support the polio vaccine. i will do nothing to change that. sen. wyden: anybody who believes that ought to look at the measles book you wrote saying parents have been misled into believing that measles was a deadly disease. that is not true. chair crapo: we need to move on. senator grassley. senator grassley: welcome. i'm going to do like i did in my office, i'm just going to make some points to you. i've got about seven i want to quickly get done, and then at the end, i'm going to ask if you disagree with anything i say and then address those things you disa

wyden: mr. kennedy, you have spent years pushing conflicting stories about vaccines. you say one thing, and then you say another. in your testimony today under oath you denied that you were anti-vaccine. but during a podcast interview in july of 2023 you said "no vaccine is safe and effective." in your testimony today, in order to prove you are not anti-vax, you note that all your kids are vaccinated. but in a podcast in 2020 you said and i quote "you would do you would "do anything, pay anything" to go back in time and not vaccinate your kids. mr. kennedy, all of these things cannot be true. so are you to congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine, or did you on all those podcasts? we have all of this on tape, by the way. mr. kennedy: senator, as you know, because it has been repeatedly debunked, that statement that i made on the podcast was a fragment of the statement. he asked me, and anybody who actually goes and looks at that podcast will see this, he asked me, are there vaccines that

wyden: we've heard it several places. mr. kerry can get you some of the details, but yeah, and the point really is, it's almost government by whim. we're used to rules and the opportunity for all sides to be heard on the finance committee. we have worked on this for years and years, and we said we want to save for the working guy. $500, $600 it is now the filing season. based on what we've heard, essentially musk, i guess, says he's now going to be secretary of treasury as well as everything else because he's telling bessent, you know, he's going to go in there and bessent told us in the finance committee when i asked the question, he said it is on for this year and people have started filing. >> have you tried getting a hold of the treasury secretary in these last few days? sen. wyden: he certainly didn't consult with us. under normal circumstances, the treasury secretary consults with the committee, and we've heard nothing from him on this. >> can i ask a question about usaid? now your former colleagues, senator, now secret

wyden. no. mr.. wyden. no. miss cantwell. no. miss cantwell. no. mr.. bennett. mr.. bennett. no. mr.. warner. mr.. warner. no. mr.. white house. mr.. white house. no. miss hassan. miss. hassan. no. miss cortez masto. miss cortez masto. no. miss warren. no. miss warren. no. mr. sanders. no. mr.. sanders. no. miss smith. no. miss smith. no. mr.. lujan. no. mr.. lujan. no. mr.. warnock. >> no. >> mr.. warnock. no. mr.. welch. mr. welch. no. mr. chairman. chairman. votes aye. mr. chairman, the final tally is 14 ayes. 13 ayes. >> the vote was. would the clerk please restate the vote? >> mr. chairman the was 14. ayes. 13. ayes. >> the. the vote was 1413. the nomination is reported favorably. we will now turn to other senators who would like to make a statement. since i asked my republican colleagues to hold off at the outset, i'll go to the republican side next. first, senator tillis. thank you, mr. chairman. >> i voted. >> i today, and i want to just briefly explain why i believe. >> in my 65 years, i'll be 65 in august that mr. kennedy will be one of the first people. >> we have been

marshall mr. >> marshall i mr. >> wyden. no. mr. wyden. >> miss cantwell, no. >> miss cantwell, no. mr. bennet, mr. bennet, no. mr. warner, no. mr. warner, no. mr. whitehouse, mr. whitehouse, no. miss hassan, miss. hassan, no. >> miss cortez masto. >> miss cortez masto. >> no. >> miss warren, no. >> miss warren, no. >> mr. sanders, mr. sanders, no. >> miss smith, no. >> miss smith, no. >> mr. lujan, no. mr. lujan, no. >> mr. warnock, no. >> mr. warnock, no. >> mr. welch, mr. >> welch, no. >> mr. chairman, >> chairman. votes i. >> mr. chairman the final tally. >> is 14 ayes. >> 13 ayes. >> the vote. >> was. would the clerk please restate the vote. >> mr. chairman. >> the final tally was 14 ayes. >> 13 ayes. >> the vote was 1413. the nomination is reported favorably. we will now turn to other senators who would like to make a statement. since i asked my republican colleagues to hold off at the outset, i'll go to the republican side next. first, senator tillis. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i voted i. >> today. >> and i want. >> to just briefly

and i urge my colleagues this morning to vote no. >> senator wyden we have all of our members here. senator wyden and i have agreed we'll have two or three on each side who wanted to make statements do so before the vote. so please, everyone, hold with us while we have those statements made and then we will proceed to the vote. i know we have a lot of folks pushing on some -- you want to vote now? >> mr. chairman, i've got several colleagues who were under the impression, after we talked, that we would have two or three -- i'm happy for both sides to make brief remarks and i still would like to stay with that. >> i did make that commitment and so i can say to my colleagues on my side i would appreciate it if you would hold your remarks until after the vote. we'll let a couple on your side have their remarks and then we'll proceed to the vote. who would be next? senator cantwell. >> i didn't know who you had in minute. being next in seniority i appreciate the opportunity. today is very concerning to me because of the future of what i think our nation faces. when i think of this issue

senator wyden. sen. wyden: let me ask you about medicaid because i'm the ranking member -- ranking democrat on the finance committee. i have been can -- perplexed about your views because medicaid is already an incredibly efficient payer within the health care system. so here we have a program that helps with rest homes and workers and kids and disabled. the track record is that it is efficient. do you disagree? mr. vought: i think it is to the extent that medicaid is now -- sen. wyden: yes or no, do you agree with the point that i am making that medicaid is efficient. i have read everything you have had to say about it. you are an influential figure in your politics are different than mine but i look at the merits of the arguments. medicaid is an efficient program that helps vulnerable people and i want to know if you think if it is inefficient? mr. vought: i do not know if we are using the same definition. sen. wyden: you use something that would suggest other than the point i am making because right n

ron wyden, musk now has access. >> to the social. security numbers. >> government contract payments, including those that compete with. his own companies. what he doesn't. have is a security clearance or. >> the right to access. >> that information. now. >> this comes after the acting deputy secretary. david labrecque, at. the treasury department, resigned friday. >> after musks. >> team first. >> requested access to their system. >> musk has always made his intentions clear. >> just this weekend, he. >> he admitted that he wanted. >> access to. >> the personal data of. many so that. >> he could. >> shut. >> down what he calls illegal. payments to essential nonprofits. well, today, he took it a step further. he actually called usaid. a criminal organization. >> and based on new. >> reporting from. >> nbc news, federal. >> workers across several. >> agencies are growing. >> worried over. >> what they describe. >> as trump's war. against his own government. >> as elon. musk helps carry. >> out his battles. and we can. >> report that em

senator wyden. sen. wyden: let me ask you about medicaid because i'm the ranking democrat on the finance committee. i have been perplexed about your views about medicaid over the years because medicaid is already an incredibly efficient payer within the health care system. so here we have a program that helps with rest homes and it helps with workers, it helps. the track record is it's efficient. do you disagree with that? >> thanks, sir, for the question, i think it's what to the extent -- >> yes or no, do you agree with the point that i'm making that medicaid is efficient? i've read everything you've had to say about it. you're an influential figure. your politics are different than palestine but i want to know, do you think medicaid is inefficient? >> i don't know if we're using the same definition of efficient issue. senator wyden: you used something that would suggest other than the point i'm making. right now -- spending less than medicare and insurance over the last four years so this program that

i strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the i recognize senator wyden for remarks. >> i'llbrief statement and several colleagues on my side and robert kennedy's nation healthcare officer. before we get to kennedy why he singularly unfit, i'd like to say this. the last several days we witnessed authoritarian takeover federal government by elon musk and trump. they set their sights on a project anyone in government that doesn't bend the knee and follow their order. they've taken over the treasury department payment system and it has a direct effect major programs are jurisdiction, medicare and medicaid. this committee voted for major reform benefit legislation. their congressional majority. now more than ever, the american people need leaders that will stand up to these abuses. that brings me to kennedy. a recent analysis is mr. kennedy made 114 separate appearances in the last four years espoused anti- vaccine views or spread information about the efficacy of vaccines. misinformation specifically. thirty-six of those directly link vaccines to autism. last week mr. kennedy wa

well, this week on book tv's after words program, oregon democratic senator ron wyden discusses his newest book, it takes chutzpah how to fight fearlessly for progressive change. he was interviewed by wall street journal congressional reporter natalie andrews. here's a preview. i decided when i went into public service and maybe when i'm done, my wife always gets half. what? what's your husband going to do? you know, she says he's going to shoot baskets and drink chocolate milk with his kids. and i always say, maybe i'll think i didn't do it right. but i decided early on that the best approach was to come up with good policy, good ideas and then work like hell to get them done. if you don't get them done, then they still don't happen. but what really breaks down around here is too often people do their politics first. and every week of, oh, boy, what do we do? let's go out and try to think up a good idea. and i decided that i wouldn't do it that way. and that's why, you know, finding good ideas and i start with the proposition that good ideas is are the foundation of principle of bipartisa

senator wyden, thank you so much for sitting down with me. i enjoyed reading your book. can set the scene for me. what caused you to sit down and? put these 12 rules together? and when did you and what prompted you to take the effort to write the book? been thinking about it for a time, but what i really wanted to do was write a very different political discussion piece and make sure that it wasn't just. it was about chutzpah. this indispensable instrument of improving your world and the broader world in a way that would get a lot people interested and a lot of young people have come up to me, found a galley somewhere, and they said, we never have anybody. a political guy write a book like that because they always thought the books were different. and i would always ask them what you mean. i said, well, you know, there's a lot of bragging talking about. they did this bill and that bill and then they go, well, everybody is urging me to run for and i'm really thinking about my family. so i'm going to do that. and then usually they say, contribute to my committee. 20 differ

democrats like oregon's ron wyden say his views on vaccines are dangerous peddling these conspiracy theories the nation's chief health officer. it's going to be deadly director of national intelligence pick tulsi gabbard also got the green light in committee. both she and kennedy next face full senate votes. other nominees expected to face scrutiny include education secretary pick and former wwe ceo linda mcmahon, maryland democratic senator chris van hollen said he doesn't think she's qualified. i'm trying to figure out what her background has in education and you need to search far and wide. and i can tell you after you do that, you're not going to find anything. the senate has not yet scheduled a hearing for mcmahon in washington. i'm maggie beer, temple. >> back here in the bay talking about all that rain that has been causing headaches across local airports. this is a live look from a saturated sfo tarmac. there have been lots of delays and cancellations all day long. that's right. kron four's lezla gooden is live from the airport. she continues our team coverage this evening was like,

wyden: so, on the finance committee, i'm the point guy. to make the decisions that really matter for the people that are here and the people of our country, and i'm going to tell you, this is not complicated. it's not hard to design. we've got one message today. tell elon musk to take his hands off your money! [cheers and applause] this, as you know, is about choices. some of thesemusk people know what they want. they want to cut medicaid. they want to cut hunger. they want to give the money to the people at the top. not going to happen on our watch, everybody! >> not on our watch! >> i'm looking out at this great crowd, and it seems to me there is one message for the billionaires. and that is that political change doesn't start at the top and then trickle down. we are here to say we are going to be organizing from coast to coast, change is bottoms up and we are going to protect these funds in the trust. count on it today. they are not going to be meddled with, and i assure you that's the case. god bless. [cheers and applause] >> are you h

caroline: senator of oregon, ron wyden most vocal out there saying you can't do this but for all of ust have been so close to doge and the birth of it can't be surprised in the least he's running roughshod. max: no, i think it's somewhat surprising how quickly this has moved but you're right. this is what trump and elon musk said when trump was running for president. so in that sense it's not a surprise. i do thinking there were a lot of people, a lot of moderates who supported trump who were hoping for something different, similar to the tariff story, is the hope that this would all be bluster or something and, you know, this is what they said they were going to do. and one difference, though, here again is that elon musk doesn't work for the government -- it's not clear what his authority is. he hasn't been subject to a confirmation hearing. he hasn't put his financial stuff in a trust. he's also very erratic. this is probably more extreme than it would have been if it were a different trump appointee doing this. but having somebody with musk's temperament and reputation and frankly,

wyden: so, on the finance committee, i'm the point guy. to make the decisions that really matter for the people that are here and the people of our country, and i'm going to tell you, this is not complicated. it's not hard to design. we've got one message today. tell elon musk to take his hands off your money! [cheers and applause] this, as you know, is about choices. some of thesemusk people know what they want. they want to cut medicaid. they want to cut hunger. they want to give the money to the people at the top. not going to happen on our watch, everybody! >> not on our watch! >> i'm looking out at this great crowd, and it seems to me there is one message for the billionaires. and that is that political change doesn't start at the top and then trickle down. we are here to say we are going to be organizing from coast to coast, change is bottoms up and we are going to protect these funds in the trust. count on it today. they are not going to be meddled with, and i assure you that's the case. god bless. [cheers and applause] >> are you h

assigned to slash the federal budget, budget and senate finance committee member, oregon senator ron wydensed concern that the department wanted access to the systems in order to illegally withhold program payments. >> honda is recalling thousands of its pilot and acura vehicles for engine, power and software problems. the national highway traffic safety administration says improperly programed software in the fuel injection systems could cause engine stalls or loss of power, heightening crash and injury risks. no accidents have yet been reported because of those issues. honda says affected owners will be notified by mail by mid-march, and honda dealers will reprogram those electronic control units free of charge for owners. a southern california company is recalling its breadcrumbs. la fiesta food products in la mirada is recalling their eight ounce packages of both seasoned and unseasoned breadcrumbs. they say the products contain sesame as an undeclared allergen. the labels also do not include the allergen declaration in spanish, so if you have purchased either of those products, you ca

ron wyden journavx, thank you so much for speaking with us. really appreciate it. >> so thanks a lot for relief international. thank you. all right. >> well, that wraps this hour of cnn newsroom. i'm kim brunhuber i'll be back with more news in just a moment. please do stay with us super man. >> the christopher. >> reeve story tomorrow at eight on cnn. >> a sleep number bed is perfect for couples. the climate 360 smart bed is the only bed that cools and warms on each side. and all our smart beds adjust firmness for each of you. and now save 50% on the new sleep number. limited edition smart bed shop a sleep number store near you. >> gold bond believes touch says everything it says. i see you, i feel you and i know you. gold bond. get in touch with irresistibly touchable skin. >> hi, susan. honey. >> yeah. >> i respect that. but that cough looks pretty bad. try this. robitussin, honey. >> the real honey you love. plus the powerful cough relief you need. >> mind if i root through your trash? >> robitussin. the only brand with true source certifi

ron wyden, who is the top democrat on the finance committee, has already said that he doesn't expect any democratic votes for him on that panel. so that does go back to the point where bill cassidy, a republican on that panel and the chair of the health committee that had the other hearing his vote, is very important in terms of advancing him to the floor and then on the floor. then there are several other republicans to watch. if he makes it that far, as well as some democrats who may or may not vote for him. but it's more likely to be a party line vote. >> some of the sharpest attacks, as we saw, you know, came from republican senator bill cassidy, the chair of the senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions. he's also a physician. the senator has remained steadfastly loyal to trump, but says he's struggling with, you know, this nomination and, you know, might have to have a conversation with kennedy throughout the weekend. do you think, you know cassidy's loyalties to trump? um, will outweigh his, i mean, clear concerns that he has about rfk jr.. >> no, i don't think

things will play out -- first we will hear from committee chair mike crapo of idaho and democrat ron wydenon. each expected to speak for five minutes. then the vote. then there will be statements from any other members of the committee who wish to speak. one lawmaker we could hear from his senator bill cassidy. now, last week the louisiana republican said he was struggling with the nominee's reticence to publicly support vaccines despite the overwhelming evidence that they are safe and effective. republicans' one-vote edge in the finance committee means senator cassidy could ultimately keep rfk, jr., from getting a favorable recommendation from the panel should all the democrats vote against waiting for chairman crapo to gavel in the session. while watching live coverage -- you are watching live coverage on c-span.