WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt will play key roles in questioning some of President Donald Trump’s most controversial nominees in committee hearings today.
Both Alabama Republicans have shown they fully support Trump’s picks.
Tuberville will ask Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee, questions during the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee nomination hearing. Tuberville said Kennedy will be a “change agent” in leading the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“RFK doesn’t care about the status quo,” Tuberville said during a call with reporters. “He’s just concerned with helping all Americans live longer, healthier lives.”
Kennedy was questioned Wednesday during the Senate Finance Committee hearing, which is the committee that is ultimately responsible for voting on his nomination. Democrats grilled him on his past comments against vaccines and Kennedy struggled to answer questions about Medicaid.
Tuberville said he is 100 percent on board with Kennedy.
Britt will question Kash Patel, FBI director nominee, during a hearing today in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Patel is a lawyer and loyal Trump ally. In a book published two years ago, Patel made broad accusations of several government officials conspiring as part of a “deep state,” leading some lawmakers to question his judgement and whether he would attempt to go after former political adversaries.
Britt told Alabama Daily News last week that she expects Patel to immediately answer questions that have been raised about his ability to run the FBI and said he will do an “excellent job.”
Britt voted to advance Pam Bondi for attorney general Wednesday during a Judiciary Committee hearing.
“I feel like we are obviously keeping track and obviously holding Democrats accountable when they are trying to stall things and so we worked through the weekend and glad to get Bondi out of committee and look forward to more hearings tomorrow,” Britt said.
Britt also introduced Kelly Loeffler, the Small Business Administrator nominee, during her hearing Wednesday afternoon.
Patel’s hearing will start at 9:30 a.m. today and Kennedy’s will start at 10 a.m.