The top Republican on the Senate's chief health committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., indicated Thursday that he was “struggling" to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his inability to admit vaccines are safe and don't cause autism.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial environmental lawyer turned public health critic, is set to find out on Tuesday if he has cleared the first hurdle to become the nation’s top health official when the Senate Finance Committee votes on his nomination.

Sen. Bill Cassidy's concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination for HHS secretary have conservative critics and his GOP challenger awaiting his next move.

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday voted along party lines to support the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary—a key victory for one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks, after some GOP lawmakers remained on-the-fence due to Kennedy’s claims about vaccines.

The health committee chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also has expressed concerns about Kennedy's anti-vaccine work. A physician, Cassidy said earlier this month he “had a frank conversation” and “spoke about vaccines at length” with Kennedy. On Tuesday, Cassidy told reporters that he is still unsure if he is backing Trump’s nominee.

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.

By a 14-13 vote along party lines, the Senate Finance Committee voted to move Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s HHS nomination to the Senate floor.

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.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a key hurdle Tuesday after a Senate panel voted to advance his nomination to be health and human services secretary to the full chamber.