- United States
- N.C.
- Letter
Reject Kennedy's Nomination for HHS Secretary: Protect Public Health
To: Sen. Tillis, Sen. Budd
From: A constituent in Haw River, NC
February 5
The troubling nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services poses a grave risk to public health and safety. As an outspoken anti-vaccine activist, Kennedy has a long history of spreading misinformation and undermining confidence in lifesaving vaccines. Putting someone with such views in charge of the nation's public health agencies would be disastrous and could lead to declining vaccination rates, increased outbreaks of preventable diseases, and needless loss of life. Kennedy's financial interests also raise serious ethics concerns. He has earned millions referring clients to lawsuits against vaccine makers, creating a blatant conflict of interest that could incentivize him to weaken vaccine safety policies and regulations for personal gain. A Health Secretary must be able to make decisions based solely on scientific evidence and the public good, not personal profit motives. Advancing this nomination would be an abrogation of the Senate's Constitutional duty to properly vet presidential nominees. For the sake of public health, medical ethics, and faith in our democratic institutions, I urge you to vote no on confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. His fringe views and conflicts of interest disqualify him from overseeing the nation's public health infrastructure and policies.