1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent to express serious concern over the latest public health policy proposals put forward by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These proposals, particularly those related to disease research funding, vaccine science, and the implementation of an autism registry, have the potential to harm public trust in health institutions and undermine effective medical policy. Mr. Kennedy has a long history of promoting discredited theories about vaccines and public health. His continued efforts to question vaccine safety—despite overwhelming scientific evidence supporting vaccines—risk fueling misinformation and decreasing vaccination rates, which could lead to the resurgence of preventable diseases. I am especially alarmed by his plan to implement a national autism registry. While collecting data to improve health outcomes is important, the framing and purpose of this registry raise serious red flags. Given Mr. Kennedy’s history of linking autism to vaccines—a claim thoroughly debunked by science—this registry could be misused to reinforce false narratives rather than support individuals and families with autism in meaningful, respectful ways. Such a program risks stigmatization and the violation of privacy rights for neurodivergent individuals. Additionally, Mr. Kennedy's proposal to overhaul the National Institutes of Health by shifting research funding away from infectious diseases toward chronic conditions lacks the scientific consensus needed to justify such a dramatic shift. While research into chronic illnesses is important, doing so at the expense of infectious disease preparedness could leave us vulnerable to future outbreaks. Our public health policy should be grounded in evidence-based science and shaped by trusted experts. I urge you to closely examine these proposals and speak out against policies that threaten to weaken our national health infrastructure, spread misinformation, or compromise civil liberties. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued service to our community.