Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, State Senators Elvi Gray-Jackson (AK-01), Kim Jackson (GA-41), Elgin Rogers (OH-44), Michele Grim (OH-43), and Terrence Upchurch (OH-20), Arvind Venkat, MD (PA-30) Joined Protect Our Care Alongside Other Health Care Advocates
Over the past couple weeks, lawmakers and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care for 10 events across the nation to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. Members of Congress, local elected officials, and advocates headlined events in Alaska, Arizona, California, Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania resulting in 26 clips from various news organizations.
The consequences of this nomination and the other radical HHS nominations will touch nearly every household in the nation. Not only does RFK Jr. have a long history of pushing dangerous and outlandish health-related conspiracy theories, but he will undoubtedly support MAGA efforts to increase health care costs and slash coverage by repealing the Affordable Care Act, slashing Medicaid, and banning Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. Between his fringe views on vaccines and his disregard of science and public health, RFK Jr. is unfit to lead HHS and is a danger to the American people. Read more here.
ALASKA
Tuesday, November 26—RFK Jr Nomination Event with State Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson and Health Care Advocates: Alaska State Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, AFL-CIO President Joelle Hall, and Alaska Caretaker’s Union Senior Political and Advocacy Advisor Judy Jessen joined Protect Our Care Alaska to call on Alaskans to raise their voices against Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Alaska is already grappling with critical health care challenges, including the opioid crisis, mental health care shortages, and rising health care costs. So, appointing someone like RFK to oversee U.S. health care policy would jeopardize the health care funding and support Alaskans rely on,” said Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson. You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
ARIZONA
Tuesday, November 26 – RFK Jr. Nomination Event with Arizona Families for Vaccines Director Ashley Chambers: Dr. Larry DeLuca, associate professor of emergency medicine at University of Arizona and Ashley Chambers, executive director of Arizona Families for Vaccines joined Protect Our Care Arizona to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. If RFK Jr. is confirmed, it will put Arizonans’ lives at risk and jeopardize critical programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. RFK Jr. is deeply unqualified to serve in this position as he has no leadership qualifications in any role in public health or a government agency. Additionally, his fringe views on vaccines and his disregard of science and public health makes him a danger to the American people. “Who do we really need in charge of somewhere like HHS,” said Dr. DeLuca. “I would argue that it should be a physician, an epidemiologist, a public health expert of some sort. Robert Kennedy, for all of his accomplishments, is a lawyer.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
CALIFORNIA
Friday, November 22 – RFK Jr. Nomination Event with California Health Access and California Providers: Chris Noble with Health Access California and resident physician Dr. Diana Dayal joined Protect Our Care CA to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. If RFK Jr. is confirmed, it will put Californians’ lives at risk and jeopardize critical programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. RFK Jr. is deeply unqualified to serve in this position as he has no leadership qualifications in any role in public health or a government agency. Additionally, his fringe views on vaccines and his disregard of science and public health makes him a danger to the American people. “I’m a first-time parent, and I need full confidence that my 18-month-old son won’t be put in harm’s way when he’s off to school. Nearly eradicated infectious diseases like Polio and Measles could come back into circulation under an RFK Jr. regime,” said Chris Noble. “If RFK Jr. becomes Secretary of HHS, over 20 million Californian lives that are covered under programs overseen by HHS could be at risk.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- Public News Service: Health experts speak out against RFK Jr. leading Health and Human Services
- Kiowa County Press: Healthcare Advocates Oppose RFK Jr.’s HHS Nomination Over Vaccine Views and Healthcare Stance
GEORGIA
Thursday, November 21 – RFK Jr Nomination Event with State Senator Kim Jackson and Health Care Advocates: State Senator Kim Jackson, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld and Sara Cherry joined Protect Our Care Georgia to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. If RFK Jr. is confirmed, it will put Georgians’ lives at risk and jeopardize critical programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid. RFK Jr. is deeply unqualified to serve in this position as he has no leadership qualifications in any role in public health or a government agency. Additionally, his fringe views on vaccines and his disregard for science and public health make him a danger to the American people. “I feel a profound obligation to speak out against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. This is not just a bad idea—it is a threat to the health and well-being of every Georgian and every American. Kennedy has spent decades undermining trust in vaccines, a cornerstone of modern medicine. Childhood vaccines alone have prevented over 500 million cases of disease, 32 million hospitalizations, and more than one million deaths in the United States in the last 30 years, according to the CDC,” said Senator Kim Jackson. You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- WABE: Sen. Kim Jackson Joins Protect Our Care Georgia to Speak Out Against RFK Jr.’s HHS Nomination
MAINE
Friday, November 22 — RFK Jr. Nomination Event with Maine Health Care Advocates: Medical professionals and activists joined Protect Our Care Maine to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. If RFK Jr. is confirmed, it will put Mainers’ lives at risk and jeopardize critical programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. RFK Jr. is deeply unqualified to serve in this position as he has no leadership qualifications in any role in public health or a government agency. Additionally, his fringe views on vaccines and his disregard of science and public health makes him a danger to the American people. Dr. Patricia Hymanson, neurologist and past Chair of the Joint Committee on Health and Human Services in the Maine Legislature, said “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has no meaningful leadership experience and is unfit to run an agency that employs more than 80,000 people. He has zero demonstrated knowledge of the massive 11 agencies run by HHS, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. His anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense, lists fewer than ten staff members. Leading the Department is literally the job and Mr Kennedy has no qualifications to lead it.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- Portland Press Herald: Public health advocates rail against Trump’s nomination of RFK Jr. for Cabinet post
- Maine Public Radio: Medical professionals object to Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s nomination
- FOX 23: Maine medical professionals warn against RFK Jr. becoming head of DHHS
- WGME (CBS Portland): Maine medical professionals warn against RFK Jr. becoming head of DHHS
- WMTW (ABC Portland): “Protect Our Care” Warns Against Nomination of RFK Jr. to Lead HHS
MINNESOTA
Monday, December 2 – RFK Jr. Nomination Event with Attorney General Keith Ellison and Health Care Advocates: Attorney General Keith Ellison joined Protect Our Care Minnesota to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. If RFK Jr. is confirmed, it will put Minnesotans’ lives at risk and jeopardize critical programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. RFK Jr. is deeply unqualified to serve in this position as he has no leadership qualifications in any role in public health or a government agency. “RFK Jr.’s anti-science plans puts access to medical innovations, including vaccines and cures for serious diseases, at risk,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “Millions of people could needlessly suffer because of his plans to stop research on cures and treatments. And all Minnesotans would suffer if he slashes our health care agencies and programs.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- WCCO radio: Keith Ellison warns RFK Jr. and his policies will harm Minnesotans
- MPR/KNOW-FM: AG Keith Ellison is asking the US Senate not to confirm RFK JR as HHS Secretary
- KVRR: Attorney General Keith Ellison and Protect Our Care Minnesota Raise Concerns Over RFK Jr. Nomination
- WCCO TV (preview clip): Minnesota AG plans to speak against RFK Jr. nomination
- KAAL TV: Minnesota Attorney General criticizes RFK Jr.
NEW YORK
Tuesday, November 26 – RFK Jr. Nomination Event with Congressman Dan Goldman and Health Care Advocates: Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Speakers underscored that, if RFK Jr. were confirmed, it would put New Yorkers’ lives at risk and jeopardize critical programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. They highlighted that RFK Jr. is deeply unqualified to serve in this position, as he has no leadership qualifications in any role in public health or a government agency. Additionally, his fringe views on vaccines and his disregard for science and public health make him a danger to the American people. “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a dangerous conspiracy theorist who has no business leading the Department of Health and Human Services,” said Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10). “He has no public health or science training or experience, and was clearly appointed to this vital position because he made a campaign deal with Donald Trump to trade his support for this appointment. His nomination represents an inflection point in the trajectory of the American health care system. Senate Republicans must place the health of our families and our nation above politics by rejecting this nomination.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- Spectrum News NY1: Rep. Dan Goldman Joins Protect Our Care to Oppose RFK Jr. Nomination
- POLITICO: New York Playbook PM
NORTH CAROLINA
Tuesday, November 26 – RFK Jr. Nomination Event with Congressman Wiley Nickel and Health Care Advocates: Congressman Wiley Nickel and Haywood Watson joined Protect Our Care North Carolina to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. “Every U.S. Senator should oppose this nomination if they care about the health of their constituents. As an anti-science, anti-vax, conspiracy theorist, RFK Jr. is unfit to lead HHS. He poses a grave threat to the health of North Carolinians and the American people. Our country deserves leaders who believe in science and are committed to building on the progress we’ve made since the passage of the Affordable Care Act,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel. “Honestly this is insane. The levels that Trump and his MAGA entourage will stoop to, but I’m optimistic. I believe in North Carolina. I believe in the American people. I implore our senators to hear the people’s voice and reject RFK Jr.’s nomination because working families in our state are counting on you.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
OHIO
Monday, November 25 – RFK Jr. Nomination Event with State Representatives and Health Care Advocates: State Representatives Elgin Rogers, Michele Grim, and Terrence Upchurch, as well as Dr. John Ross, joined Protect Our Care Ohio to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. If RFK Jr. is confirmed, it will put Ohioans’ lives at risk and jeopardize critical programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. RFK Jr. is deeply unqualified to serve in this position as he has no leadership qualifications in any role in public health or a government agency. “We are here because we care about people, quality health care in Ohio, and America – and the future of health care in America,” said Representative Elgin Rogers. “The American people need someone who respects science and will utilize that science to make the best decisions to improve the health care of our nation and our state. We encourage everyone who believes in a healthy Ohio to join us in voicing your concern about this nomination.” You can watch the event here.
- Toledo Blade: Democrat legislators worried about future of health care under Trump administration
- Newsbreak: Democrat legislators worried about future of health care under Trump administration
- Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio legislators, medical leader fear vaccine hesitancy, health care impacts if RFK Jr. confirmed
- Mahoning Matters: Ohio legislators, medical leader fear vaccine hesitancy, health care impacts if RFK Jr. confirmed
PENNSYLVANIA
Tuesday, November 26 – RFK Jr. Nomination Event with State Representative Armind Venkat, MD and Health Care Advocates: Representative Arvind Venkat, MD joined Protect Our Care Pennsylvania to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. “At a very fundamental level, RFK Jr. stands against the first responsibility of this position: to protect the health of our country. Someone who has no significant administrative experience, in addition to his conspiracy theories on proven public health interventions, endangers the lives of our fellow Pennsylvanians,” said Rep. Arvind Venkat. “I strongly urge Senator-elect McCormick along with Senator Fetterman to not vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary for Health and Human Services. This is not simply differences in the health care agenda that the incoming Trump administration may have – this goes to whether we will protect our fellow Americans or not.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- WTAE: Rep. Arvind Venkat joins Protect Our Care to speak out against RFK Jr.’s nomination
- WTAE: Raising concerns about the future of health coverage in the U.S.
- WTAE: Addressing concerns over the future of health care in America
- WHYY: Representative Venkat calls on Senators Fetterman and McCormick to vote against Kennedy’s confirmation
- WESA: Pa. state House member and ER doctor Arvind Venkat urges ‘no’ vote on RFK Jr.
- WTAE: Doctor-lawmaker, advocacy group label RFK Jr. as ‘threat to American health care’
- WVIA: Pa. state House member and ER doctor Arvind Venkat urges ‘no’ vote on RFK Jr.