1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to you as a deeply concerned Pennsylvania parent and citizen to urge you to take a strong public stand in defense of the civil rights of individuals with autism, Tourette syndrome, and other neurological or developmental conditions. Specifically, I respectfully request that you follow the example of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker by issuing an executive order preventing Pennsylvania from participating in any proposed national database of individuals with such diagnoses. Recent comments by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about creating a national registry for individuals with mental health or neurological conditions have sparked alarm across the disability and advocacy communities. While the stated goal may be to increase services or support, any effort to track individuals based on a medical or neurological diagnosis risks reinforcing stigma, violating privacy, and setting a dangerous precedent for government overreach. My child lives with Tourette syndrome. He is not a threat. He is not a statistic. He is a bright, kind, and capable individual who deserves to grow up in a world where his neurological difference is accepted—not monitored. Labeling or cataloging people with autism or Tourette’s in a government database does not increase their safety—it threatens it. We have seen throughout history the harm that can result when governments collect and misuse data on vulnerable populations. Governor Pritzker’s executive order firmly stated that Illinois will not support or enable such a registry. I urge you to do the same in Pennsylvania. Our Commonwealth should lead with dignity, compassion, and a firm commitment to the rights and privacy of all its residents. Please act swiftly and decisively to assure Pennsylvania families that our state will not participate in any such database. We are counting on you to protect the rights and futures of our loved ones. Thank you for your leadership and service.