The U.S. Senate on Wednesday advanced President Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services, setting up a likely vote on awarding him the position in coming days.

Floor votes are expected this week on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in line to be the nation’s health secretary, and Tulsi Gabbard, the choice for director of national intelligence.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and physician, said before the hearing that he would vote to confirm Kennedy. During his second hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Cassidy, the committee chairman, repeatedly grilled Kennedy about his claims about vaccines and autism.

The Senate paved the way for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, voting 53-47 along party lines to advance his nomination. Why it matters: Kennedy now has a clear path to confirmation later this week,

Republican state legislators across the country are filing a flurry of bills to advance the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda promoted by activist lawyer and former presidential candidate Robert F.

The Senate will take another procedural vote Wednesday on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. A final vote will happen soon after. Lawmakers will move to wind down debate on Kennedy after confirming former Democratic Rep.