1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Re: Evidence-Based Public Health Leadership — Urgent Action on Measles Outbreaks I am writing to urge immediate, evidence-based action to address the ongoing measles outbreak and to ensure Texas public health guidance is led by qualified scientific and medical experts. This outbreak is not just a public-health statistic — it is harming real people, including children and others who are most vulnerable. Measles is highly contagious, and preventable infections can lead to serious complications, long-term health impacts, and deaths. I oppose any approach that weakens or replaces science-based vaccination and outbreak-control measures. The CDC has logged 2,318 measles cases nationwide as of this week, already surpassing the 2,289 cases reported for all of 2025 — itself the worst year for measles in more than three decades — with five months of 2026 still remaining. Ninety-three percent of confirmed cases this year are outbreak-associated, with 35 new outbreaks reported so far. Major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona have sickened hundreds, with smaller clusters emerging in other states. Texas must treat this as an urgent warning and respond with policies grounded in established public health evidence. I request that you: 1 Support and fund aggressive, science-based outbreak control measures in Texas, including timely vaccination outreach, accurate medical information, and rapid response resources for affected communities. 2 Require transparency and minimum qualification standards for any advisory or decision-making bodies influencing public health guidance, ensuring leadership is held by licensed medical professionals and scientists with relevant expertise. 3 Hold hearings or otherwise conduct oversight into how public-health messaging and advisory appointments are influenced, with a focus on preventing the sidelining of evidence-based guidance. 4 Advocate for state-level coordination with health departments to reduce measles spread and protect people at highest risk.