By — Jackie Hai Jackie Hai Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-rfk-jr-commits-to-prioritizing-funding-for-long-covid-research Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: RFK Jr. commits to prioritizing funding for long COVID research Politics Jan 29, 2025 3:04 PM EDT Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to commit to directing funding for long COVID research toward potential treatments and diagnostics if he were to be confirmed as health and human services secretary. Watch the video in our player above. “Absolutely, senator, with enthusiasm,” Kennedy said in his hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Finance. WATCH: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies at confirmation hearing for HHS secretary Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, has questioned the efficacy of COVID vaccines and spread misinformation and falsehoods about vaccines and their safety, including the heavily debunked claim that they cause autism. His views on these issues and others have prompted concern among health experts about his nomination. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, ran for president as an independent in 2024 before dropping out of the race and endorsing Donald Trump. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Jackie Hai Jackie Hai
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to commit to directing funding for long COVID research toward potential treatments and diagnostics if he were to be confirmed as health and human services secretary. Watch the video in our player above. “Absolutely, senator, with enthusiasm,” Kennedy said in his hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Finance. WATCH: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies at confirmation hearing for HHS secretary Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, has questioned the efficacy of COVID vaccines and spread misinformation and falsehoods about vaccines and their safety, including the heavily debunked claim that they cause autism. His views on these issues and others have prompted concern among health experts about his nomination. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, ran for president as an independent in 2024 before dropping out of the race and endorsing Donald Trump. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now