Two Calls to Action; Both Critical and Both in Congress. Time Is Not Our Friend.
The BBB is overshadowing our fight for public health, but really, it's the same problem.
There are two critical calls to action happening right now.
Both are a bit of a long shot, but neither is impossible.
Currently, two things are happening; of course, there are more than just these…
The Big Ugly Reconciliation Bill is moving through the Senate.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is voting on RFK Jr.'s budget for restructuring the HHS.
Even though the Senate is voting on the Bill, the House bill and the Senate bill differ, and the two must be reconciled. This will take a bit.
I wrote several articles about reconciliation bills in early 2020.
Phase 1 & 2 → https://bit.ly/35z5Dh9
Phase 3 → https://bit.ly/38BWwhD
Phase 3.5 → https://bit.ly/3nBX0bR
Phase 4 → https://bit.ly/38NStz1
Phase 4.1 → https://bit.ly/38TxYAO
Phase 4.2 → https://bit.ly/2NJicR9
Phase 4.3 → https://bit.ly/3d2wJ54
Bottom line, in the hopes of saving you a lot of reading?
The Senate hopes to have the Bill passed by July 4th, but that’s far from reaching Trump’s desk. Not to diminish the risk that the Bill creates, though, and it should ultimately be stopped completely.
This bill is poised to alter the balance of power in our government.
It’s terrifying stuff.
However, just to add an additional layer of overwhelming hardship, this situation is somewhat akin to a challenge mode from a Democrat’s perspective.
This will come down entirely to the Republicans, as they currently control both houses of Congress. While calling Republicans and begging them not to let us die is a long shot, there have been more than a few moments in modern history when a Republican vote stopped their agenda.
And while that Bill still has quite a bit of process…
Stopping the budget to restructure the HHS does not.
The Energy and Commerce Committee only had nine days to submit questions for RFK Jr. after the hearing last Tuesday. Assuming that those are not all business days, that puts us at two, maybe three, days to push the Committee to not move forward with his budget until an investigation can be completed.
We had already called for an investigation last week before the meeting, and based on what we know now, an investigation by both the Senate and House is badly needed.
Congress typically has a method for extending the previous budget when a new one cannot be agreed upon. This is referred to as a “Continued Resolution” regarding the larger budget, and I am sure a similar mechanism exists for such instances.
The HHS budget and the reconciliation bill share many similarities, albeit on different scales. Both attempt to radically alter the fabric of how we interact with our government, while creating the perception of reducing waste and streamlining processes. Ultimately, only the former is true.
In the same way folks are trying to mislead us about the state of the reconciliation bill, RFK Jr. is trying to mislead Congress about his intentions with HHS changes.
This clip should bring you up to speed.
Also, follow our YouTube account.
RFK Jr. is not operating in good faith.
Talk about a headline that needs less of an explanation, right?
If you are a regular reader, you are probably wondering about my thoughts on the clown committee of an ACIP meeting that took place last week.
And to be honest, they chickened out, and it was a nothing-burger.
Not because they did the right thing, but because of the pressure they are experiencing from all the people, including everyone who responded to our previous calls to action, who have a problem with what we all know they are trying to do.
Thimerosal, for example, should have been sunsetted years ago, as it is only in 6% of our adult influenza vaccines after agreeing to remove it twenty-six years ago.
That’s a quarter of a century on a century-old product. It doesn’t matter if it is safe or whatever talking point you heard; this was low-hanging fruit for a committee under tons of scrutiny.
And it’s a preservative, not an antigen or adjuvant… We have better options now.
As for everything else, the only thing of great concern is that they expressed plans to revisit various childhood vaccines to argue for their necessity.
… Spoilers: They are necessary.
This means future ACIP meetings will almost certainly be VERY problematic.
And, hey, I agree with some of their arguments because that’s how antivaxxers’ arguments work. Just a shred of truth, but no real solutions. I agree that we give a lot of vaccines very early, and that’s only necessary with our capitalist cycle that forces new mothers back into the workforce and children into daycare.
Hep B at birth is one of the ones they are focused on.
Does Hep B spread easily at home? Well, not really.
Can Hep B spread like wildfire at daycares? … I don’t have words to express the issue.
Of course, tons of information will tell you it’s not a thing… because of vaccinations.
Therefore, we vaccinate automatically at birth because it overall reduces the risk of severe disease. Remember, it’s a multi-step vaccine as well. So, we’re throwing a hot dog down the hallway, trying our best to limit the risk of an infant being hospitalized.
Is this the absolute best way to handle things? Probably not.
But a sick child, and worse, an infant, is the worst imaginable thing for a parent.
Even then, I’m still willing to reexamine things like this, given that we can change other aspects that the committee cannot control, perhaps with the help of Congress.
However, the reality is that this is the world we live in, and this Committee is not responsible for matters that Congress should address to improve everyone’s life.
Should we change that? Yes, absolutely.
Is that the role of this Committee? Not even a little bit.
Do none of these people actually care about making people’s lives better?
Making people’s lives better is completely left out of their equation.
The ACIP Committee makes decisions based on what will cut disease and save lives, primarily through the lens of reducing hospitalizations.
While I think that doesn’t go far enough, that’s further than these new clowns want.
These new committee members appear to be committed to creating an environment that benefits wellness influencers the most. That’s the wrong environment.
When the wrong environment is fostered, we all lose.
This is why we need to support Senator Rochestor’s Bill to reform ACIP by reinstating the former approved members and making it illegal to change it in this way later.
While this may not solve our problems right now, it could be a lot of help later.
So, when it comes to the reconciliation bill, please take action wherever you see it.
Calling House members or Senators is likely going to be the call to action.
But for the HHS budget that will restructure the entire agency?
We only have a few days.
Please contact these representatives in any way you can.
Since we included Fax lines, we have also included a free online fax service.
https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php allows 50 free faxes with a trial account.
If you are having trouble writing your message, imagine you’re arguing with someone on social media. It’s basically the same thing.
CALL TO ACTION
Message to House Committee members:
RFK Jr.’s budget for significant HHS changes cannot be approved until an investigation into his actions at HHS, CDC, and ACIP has been conducted.
He has already lied to Congress and cannot be treated as acting in good faith. We can assume he will continue to lie to Congress, as we saw last week.
An investigation must be held into his impropriety.
His HHS budget should be put on hold until the investigation is concluded.
We are requesting coordination with the Senate HELP Committee on these matters.
Contact for House Committee on Energy and Commerce:
Chairman Buddy Carter (R-GA): Phone: (202) 225-5831 Fax: 202-226-2269
Vice chairman Neal Dunn, MD (R-FL): Phone: (202) 225-5235 Fax: 202-225-5615
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY): Phone: 202-225-3965 Fax: (202)-225-1909
Diana DeGette (D-CO): Phone: (202) 225-4431 Fax: 202-225-5657
Morgan Griffith (R-VA): Phone: (202) 225-3861 Fax: 202-225-0076
Gus Bilirakis (R-FL): Phone: (202) 225-5755 Fax: 202-225-4085
Dan Crenshaw (R-TX): Phone: (202) 225-6565 Fax: 202-225-5547
Troy Balderson (R-OH): Phone: (202) 225-5355 Fax: 202-226-4523
Diana Harshbarger (R-TN): Phone: (202) 225-6356 Fax: 202-225-5714
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA): Phone: (202) 225-6576
Kat Cammack (R-FL): Phone: (202) 225-5744 Fax: (202)-225-3973
Jay Obernolte (R-CA): Phone: (202) 225-5861 Fax: (202)-225-2908
John James (R-MI): Phone: (202) 225-4961 Fax: N/A
Cliff Bentz (R-OR): Phone: (202) 225-6730 Fax: (202)-225-5774
Erin Houchin (R-IN): Phone: (202) 225-5315 Fax: (202)-226-6866
Nick Langworthy (R-NY): Phone: (202) 225-3161 Fax: (202)-226-6599
Tom Kean (R-NJ): Phone: (202) 225-5361 Fax: (202)-225-9460
Michael Rulli (R-OH): Phone: (202) 225-5705 Fax: (202)-225-5907
Brett Guthrie (R-KY): Phone: (202) 225-5705 Fax: (202)-226-2019
Raul Ruiz (D-CA): Phone: (202) 225-5330 Fax: (202)-225-1238
Debbie Dingell (D-MI): Phone: (202) 225-4071 Fax: (202)-226-0371
Robin Kelly (D-IL): Phone: (202) 225-0773 Fax: (202)-225-4583
Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA): Phone: (202) 225-8220 Fax: (202)-226-7290
Kim Schrier (D-WA): Phone: (202) 225-7761 Fax: (202)-225-4282
Lori Trahan (D-MA): Phone: (202) 225-3411 Fax: (202)-226-0771
Marc Veasey (D-TX): Phone: (202) 225-9897 Fax: (202)-225-9702
Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX): Phone: (202) 225-2571 Fax: (202)-226-3805 or (202)-225-4381
Jake Auchincloss (D-MA): Phone: (202) 225-5931 Fax: (202)-225-0182
Troy Carter (D-LA): Phone: (202) 225-6636 Fax: (202)-225-1988
Greg Landsman (D-OH): Phone: (202) 225-2216 Fax: (202)-225-3012
Frank Pallone (D-NJ): Phone: (202) 225-4671 Fax: (202)-225-9665
John Joyce (R-PA): Phone: (202) 225-2431 Fax: N/A
Senate HELP Committee.
Message for Senate Committee:
We are requesting a thorough investigation into RFK Jr.’s actions regarding ACIP and his alleged misleading of the Senate regarding his intentions. We are also requesting coordination with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to prevent the approval of his HHS budget and changes until the investigation is completed.
We also request that the investigation include his unilateral changes to COVID vaccine recommendations without proper oversight from the ACIP, his removal of the Federal oversight officer, and his limitation of public comment, both oral and written.
His decisions have been made in bad faith and must be treated as such.
Senate HELP Committee Contact:
Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA): (202) 224-5824 Fax (202)-224-6161
Bernie Sanders (I-VT): (202) 224-5141 Fax (202)-228-0776
Patty Murray (D-WA): (202) 224-2621 Fax (202)-224-0238
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI): (202) 224-5653 Fax (202)-224-9787
Christopher Murphy (D-CT): (202) 224-4041 Fax (202)-224-9750
Tim Kaine (D-VA): (202) 224-4024 Fax (202)-228-6363
Maggie Hassan (D-NH): (202) 224-3324 Fax (202)-228-0581
Ed Markey (D-MA); (202) 224-2742 Fax (202)-228-0769
Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE): (202) 224-2441 Fax (202)-228-2190
Susan M. Collins (R-ME): (202) 224-2523 Fax (202)-224-2693
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): (202) 224-6665 Fax (202)-857-0322
Markwayne Mullin (R-OK): (202) 224-4721 Fax (202)-228-0380
Tim Scott (R-SC): (202) 224-6121 Fax (202)-228-5143
Jon Husted (R-OH): (202)-224-3353 Fax (202)-224-9075
Josh Hawley (R-MO): (202) 224-6154 Fax (202)-228-0526
Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD): (202) 224-4524 Fax (202)-228-0629
Ashley Moody (R-FL): (202) 224-3041 Fax (202)-224-0104
John Hickenlooper (D-CO): (202) 224-5941 Fax: N/A
Andy Kim (D-NJ): (202) 224-4744 Fax: N/A
Roger Marshall (R-KS): (202) 224-4774 Fax: N/A
Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): (202) 224-4124 Fax: N/A
Jim Banks (R-IN) :(202) 224-4814 Fax: N/A
Rand Paul (R-KY): (202) 224-4343 Fax: N/A
If you find any missing fax numbers, please share them in the comments.
Thank you for taking the time to protect our public health.
If you are a new reader and want to follow up with some of my work…
Amidst this, I started doing a show multiple times a week in early 2023. We formed a group and consistently did the show to push successful direct action.
This led to presentations and direct contact with members for further action…
VRBPAC Meeting: June 15th, 2023 - COVID
VRBPAC Meeting: March 5th, 2024 - Influenza.
VRBPAC Meeting: June 5th, 2024 - COVID
VRBPAC Meeting: Sept. 20th, 2025 - Pertussis
VRBPAC Meeting: May 22nd, 2025 - COVID
The COVID presentations employed an “inside/outside” strategy. We did the presentation “inside” the meeting, but also had the public contact from the “outside” with not only public comments but direct contact via academic emails to members.
If you are unclear, VRBPAC is a committee of the FDA and, with that, the HHS.
Our work has been cited in a few articles.
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