Urgent State Action Required to Protect Public Health

I am writing to demand that you take immediate action to protect the health and safety of the people you represent by pursuing state participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), following California’s recent decision to do so. Public health threats do not respect borders, political ideologies, or state lines. Pandemics, infectious disease outbreaks, and global health emergencies require coordination, transparency, and access to the best scientific expertise available. The WHO exists for this purpose. Refusing to engage with it is not an act of independence, but rather an act of negligence. If the federal government will not responsibly lead on public health, states must step up. States have both the authority and the obligation to protect their residents, and that includes aligning with global health institutions that provide early warnings, data sharing, research coordination, and evidence-based guidance. This is not about politics. It is about preparedness, safety, and the basic duty of government to protect human life. Ignoring global public health infrastructure only leaves our state more vulnerable to future crises and less equipped to respond effectively when they arrive. I urge you to publicly support and actively pursue state-level participation or formal cooperation with the WHO, and to clearly explain to your constituents how you intend to safeguard their health.