Luna Warns Of Corporate Efforts To Block Kennedy’s HHS Nomination

With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. preparing for Senate confirmation hearings next week, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is raising concerns over corporate influence working to block his appointment as Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary.

Kennedy, who has long advocated for changes in the food and health industries, faces opposition from senators still undecided on his nomination. Luna, a vocal advocate for healthier food policies and a supporter of Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, believes corporate interests are pressuring lawmakers to oppose Kennedy to protect their profits.

The nominee will appear before two Senate committees—the Finance Committee on Wednesday and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Thursday. While both will question him, only the finance panel will vote on advancing his nomination to the Senate floor.

Some Republican senators have not committed to a stance on Kennedy’s confirmation. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has voiced concerns over Kennedy’s vaccine views but acknowledged his work on health-related policies. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) found his meeting with Kennedy to be constructive but has not publicly announced his position. Meanwhile, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has stated he will vote for any Trump nominee who passes committee.

Luna warned that rejecting Kennedy would undermine Trump’s promise to revamp public health policy, noting that millions of Americans support stricter regulations on food safety. She also pointed to the growing movement of parents advocating for healthier food choices, which she believes will influence senators’ decisions.

Kennedy’s nomination is expected to face significant hurdles, with some GOP senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, potentially siding with Democrats to oppose his confirmation. Their votes could be crucial in determining the outcome.

Luna, who has introduced legislation targeting harmful food additives, remains committed to pushing for reforms. Kennedy’s confirmation hearings could pave the way for stricter regulations on artificial ingredients and processed foods. The Finance Committee is expected to hold its vote in the coming weeks.