Baldwin, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Warning of Serious Public Health Threats from Trump Administration Freeze on Critical Health Alerts, Including Disease Outbreak and Food Contamination

WISCONSIN – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of her colleagues in introducing a resolution calling for uninterrupted health warning services for the American people following reports that the Trump Administration has paused critical communications from federal health agencies, including warnings on disease outbreaks and food contamination.

“Wisconsinites need to know if diseases are spreading nearby, if there are food recalls, or about ongoing outbreaks, like the avian bird flu. But, this misguided directive stops that and could put families and businesses in harm's way,” said Senator Baldwin. “Keeping people informed and healthy all starts with communications and this freeze prevents that and needlessly puts lives at risk.”

The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD.), Peter Welch (D-VT) Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Tina Smith (D-MN).

The full text of the resolution is available here and below.

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the people of the United States should have continuous access to timely, up-to-date, and accurate health information.

Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services provides crucial external communications to protect the health and well-being of the people of the United States;

Whereas urgent communications provided by the Department of Health and Human Services help health care providers and the public learn about and respond to public health incidents and threats, including outbreaks of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and the opioid overdose epidemic;

Whereas the United States has published the epidemiological digest, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, every week since 1961;

Whereas foodborne disease outbreak notices published by the Department of Health and Human Services are essential in coordinating and investigating illness, helping to respond to the estimated 48,000,000 people who get sick from foodborne disease each year in the United States; and

Whereas in 2024, public health information reported through the Health Alert Network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention included information regarding increased risks in the United States of avian influenza, dengue virus, and measles: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the people of the United States should have continuous access to timely, up-to-date, and accurate health information provided through the Department of Health and Human Services.

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