Former Westchester resident and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is one step closer to becoming the country's top health official, scoring enough votes from the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday, Jan. 4 to advance his nomination to the full Senate.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once seen as a long shot to serve as America’s top health official, is now set to head to the Senate floor for a confirmation vote.

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday will be the first to vote on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary with several key Republican senators still publicly undecided on if they’ll support the candidate,

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) spoke on the Senate floor to explain his vote in favor of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Health and Human Services faced tough questioning in hearings about vaccines, abortion and other major health-care issues.

La., spoke on the Senate floor to explain his decision to support Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to serve as health and human services secretary. Cassidy said it was a "long, intense process" for Kennedy but that he had committed to "collaboration" to address the wide range of health issues facing the nation.

Kennedy won the support of Republicans on a Senate committee including Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor who had expressed scepticism.

Chairman of the Senate Health Committee Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) defended his Feb. 4 vote to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead Health and Human Services.