Schatz, Senators Introduce Resolution Warning of Serious Public Health Threats From Trump Administration Freeze on Critical Health Alerts, Including Disease Outbreaks and Food Contamination

WASHINGTON – Following reports that the Trump Administration has paused critical communications from federal health agencies, including warnings on disease outbreaks and food contamination, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced a resolution calling for uninterrupted health warning services for the American people.

“People deserve to have timely and accurate information about dangerous disease outbreaks or contamination in their food. This shouldn’t be controversial or political. It’s about keeping people healthy and safe,” said Senator Schatz.

“Federal health agencies must be able to communicate timely and accurate information to health care providers and the public, especially as the devastating Southern California fires burn down community health centers and put hospitals and lives at risk,” said Senator Padilla. “President Trump’s dangerous order halting federal public health communications puts vulnerable California communities at even further risk in a time of crisis. I will keep fighting to protect public access to essential health information.”

“Disease outbreaks and public health crises don’t stop during presidential transitions. Preventing health agencies from communicating with the public is flat out dangerous,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Avian flu is spreading, and the Trump Administration thinks it’s a good idea to stop federal health agencies from communicating with the public? This is dangerous and misguided,” said Senator Welch.

“President Trump is playing politics with people’s health. At the very least, the federal government should be able to alert the public when it is aware of disease outbreaks or contaminated food.  The Trump Administration should not withhold this information from the public,” said Senator Reed.

“Halting alerts about deadly disease outbreaks or food contamination serves no one. Just last year, ten people died after a listeria outbreak at a Boar’s Head facility – a number that might have been even higher if public agencies hadn’t been allowed to warn the public. Even in a time of deep political difference, we ought to agree that preventing the spread of deadly disease is a wise use of taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Blumenthal.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

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