Austin News

On January 29, 2025, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, U.S. Senator John Cornyn engaged with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration. The discussion focused on several key issues.

Cornyn raised concerns about unaccompanied migrant children who were placed with sponsors in the United States under the Biden administration. He stated, “There were roughly 500,000 children—unaccompanied minors—that were placed with sponsors in the interior of the United States.” He expressed his intent to collaborate with Kennedy to locate these children and ensure their safety.

Kennedy acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating, “Many of them we know have been sex trafficked, and childhood slavery, and it is a plight on America’s moral authority, and we need to find those kids.”

The conversation also touched on improving access to mental and behavioral health services. Cornyn highlighted that many Americans face challenges in accessing timely care for mental health issues. He emphasized the role of primary care physicians in this process: “Primary care physicians are most likely to be seeing these individuals as opposed to a specialist.”

Kennedy responded by affirming his commitment to addressing these challenges: “This is a priority for me.” He shared his personal experience with addiction and recovery as part of his dedication to improving access.

Finally, Cornyn addressed strengthening the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), noting its success during Trump's first term. He said that discontinuing this program could allow adversaries like China to gain influence: “Would you work with me and my colleagues to make sure that this program continues?”

Kennedy confirmed his support for PEPFAR: “I absolutely support PEPFAR, and I will happily work with you to strengthen the program.”