1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

Pennsylvania families deserve strong public health leadership. As the nation faces its worst measles outbreak since the disease was eliminated in 2000 and other preventable disease outbreaks continue to grow, our state needs federal leaders who will strengthen disease surveillance, support evidence-based vaccination campaigns, and restore public confidence in proven public health measures. The Department of Health and Human Services should be led by individuals with the scientific expertise and credibility to protect Americans from preventable disease. Congress and Pennsylvania leaders should advocate for leadership that is committed to evidence-based medicine and clear public health communication. I am also deeply concerned by proposals to move responsibility for special education from the U.S. Department of Education to HHS. Students with disabilities deserve oversight from an agency whose mission is education, civil rights, and ensuring every child receives the services guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Those protections should not be transferred to an agency led by someone who has repeatedly promoted false claims linking vaccines and autism despite decades of scientific evidence showing no causal relationship. Please speak out in support of strong vaccination and public health initiatives, oppose any effort to transfer special education oversight to HHS, and work with Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to ensure our most vulnerable children continue to receive the educational protections they deserve. Pennsylvania’s children deserve leadership grounded in science, education, and accountability.