Dear John,

Well folks, Congress came back into session this week for the first time in over a month. And it sure didn’t take long for things to go off the rails again.  
This week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate.  And if it made one thing clear, it’s that he simply is a danger to American health. 

From day one as Secretary of HHS, RFK Jr. has shown a complete disregard for science and facts – instead using his platform to peddle misinformation and politicize public health.   

He terminated the entire CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in one fell swoop – a group made up of our country’s leading experts on immunizations. And their replacements? Vaccine skeptics who refuse to acknowledge the facts and science we know to be true.  

Despite the fact that vaccines are safe and effective, Secretary Kennedy’s handpicked appointees are slated to formally change vaccine recommendations for our kids as soon as this month – impacting their ability to be covered by insurance. These decisions will put a financial burden on families, take choices away from parents and put kids at risk of dying from preventable diseases like Measles.   

You don’t have to take it from me – take it from the experts. Over 1,000 current and former HHS employees have now called for him to step down, and nine former CDC directors who served under both Democratic and Republican presidents have said that he is “endangering every American’s health.”  

Public health decisions need to be rooted in science, not politics. And despite what this Administration wants you to think, science isn’t partisan – both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have expressed concern about RFK’s policies on vaccines.  

Secretary Kennedy is endangering the health of Minnesotans – and that’s why, this week, I formally called for his resignation. To preserve the integrity of the Department of Health and Human Services, I urge him to resign immediately.  

You can read my full letter to Secretary Kennedy here.  

Here’s what else I’ve been up to this week:

Honoring the victims and first responders of the Annunciation School shooting 

On Tuesday, as Minnesota kids were wrapping up their first day at school, I stood with the Minnesota delegation in a moment of silence. We honored the two lives lost, the 21 injured and the innumerable lives forever changed from last week’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. 
  
It’s time to pass common-sense gun laws so that no child, parent or teacher has to endure this pain ever again. 

Standing up for Minnesota’s youth and families 

It was great to meet with Tikki Brown, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families.  

As the Trump Administration rips away food assistance from kids and families, I’m working with state leaders to ensure Minnesotans are able to put food on the table. 

Fighting monopolies  

It’s too expensive to be sick in this country, and we know that many large corporations are putting profits over patients. 

This week, I led the Monopoly Busters Caucus in a discussion on how we can put some common-sense solutions on the table – and get to work breaking up monopolies and putting money back into patients’ pockets.  Shout out to RN and former Minnesota Nurses Association President Mary Turner for being on our expert panel! 

Behind the scenes: 

Last week, fall interns started in my DC office! To get acquainted with the Hill, they went on a scavenger hunt around the Capitol Complex. Siri and Sophia – I hope you had fun, and welcome to the team!  

Until next time,
 

Angie Craig

Member of Congress