The committee voted entirely along party lines, 15 Republicans against 14 Democrats, but President Donald Trump's controversial candidate must also clear the next vote to become a minister.
It requires that only four of the Senate's Republicans vote against him for him to lose the ministerial post. If three vote no, Vice President JD Vance can rescue the candidacy with a decisive vote.
Kennedy, however, received support from Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, who had previously been critical of him.
During the hearing, much focus was on his stance on vaccines and how he had previously spread conspiracy theories about, among other things, the COVID vaccine, which he claimed causes autism.
