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.

Next, the full Senate will vote whether to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cleared his first hurdle to become the nation’s top health official as the Senate finance committee voted to advance his nomination for a floor vote.

After a very dry January, February is getting off to a much sloppier start. One system moved through Sunday night. Now we’re tracking a series of systems – three, to be exact – between now and next week.

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.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) cast a key affirmative vote to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. CNN’s Manu Raju reports on Cassidy’s decisive vote.

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