Applause for Kennedy as he doubles down on mission to make America healthy againpublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Kennedy just received some of the loudest applause he’s received throughout this hearing – so far.
“President Trump has asked me to end the chronic disease epidemic and make America healthy again,” he says during an exchange with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada.
His family and friends, as well as some members of the public, cheer him on.
“President Trump has asked me because I’m in a unique position to end that and that is what I’m doing,” he continues – going on to say there’s an “existential threat” to the country’s sense of wellbeing.
“It is a priority for President Trump and that’s why he asked me to run the agency and if I’m privileged to be confirmed, that’s exactly what I’ll do,” he says – at which point there’s more loud applause.
This feels like a standout moment for Trump’s pick to be health secretary.