WATCH: In Senate Floor Speech, Kelly Calls Attention to RFK Jr.’s Record of Attacking Science for Personal Benefit

“This is a nominee who traffics in conspiracies, who doesn’t know much about the agency he’s nominated to lead, and who has said he’ll just do whatever he’s told”

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the confirmation vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kelly examined Kennedy’s dangerous track record of spreading vaccine disinformation and profiting off attacking science, and why that makes him the wrong person to be in charge of Arizonans’ health and well-being. 

“I’m thinking about this as a father and grandparent. I know how much Arizona families care about their kids’ health—all they want to do is what is right for their families and for their kids. […] I want my granddaughter, Sage, to grow up in a world that is safer and healthier than the one before her—where we don’t have to worry about diseases we already know how to prevent. […] The last thing parents need is one more loud voice—especially one in a position of authority—pushing conspiracy theories that make it harder to know what’s true,” Kelly said.  

Sen. Kelly speaks on the Senate floor

In his speech, Kelly took particular issue with Kennedy’s claims that antidepressants—not guns—are to blame for school shootings.  

“My family and I have lived with the consequences of gun violence. My wife, Gabby Giffords, was nearly killed by a gunman when meeting with her constituents outside a grocery store in 2011. Six people died. 12 were injured. You won’t find anyone at that grocery store who believes that an excessof mental health treatment was responsible for that tragedy. Not one. […] I will not stand here and let conspiracy theories distract from real solutions,” he recounted. 

Click here to view and download Sen. Kelly’s remarks.