1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am a constituent in Austin and a licensed mental health clinician. I want to share concerns where my professional perspective is directly relevant, alongside broader concerns about the direction of this administration. Patient data security at HHS: In my work, I document some of the most sensitive records in medicine: trauma histories, suicidal ideation, medication details, relational dynamics. The proposed HIPAA Security Rule update, which would require encryption of electronic protected health information at rest and in transit and mandate multi-factor authentication, is essential. Healthcare ransomware attacks have crippled hospitals, exposed millions of patient records, led to extortion, and in documented cases contributed to suicide. I am especially alarmed by the proposed rule titled “Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions To Unleash Prosperity” (RIN 0955-AA09), published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2025 , which proposes to strip multi-factor authentication, end-user device encryption, trusted connection, and other core security certification criteria from the ONC Health IT Certification Program. Removing these baseline requirements from certified electronic health records is dangerous and out of step with every credible cybersecurity authority. I ask you to publicly support the HIPAA Security Rule update, oppose the ASTP/ONC deregulatory proposal, and submit comments before the February 27, 2026 deadline. Preventive care politicization: Secretary Kennedy’s termination of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force leadership, the indefinite postponement of its meetings, and the replacement of the vaccine advisory board with members sharing his vaccine skepticism will delay and distort evidence-based recommendations on mammograms, cervical cancer screening, HIV prevention, and more. Under the ACA, these recommendations determine what insurance must cover at no cost. Patients will be harmed. Please support legislation protecting USPSTF from political interference and oppose the dismantling of ACA preventive-care coverage.