Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is joined by Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) and 24 colleagues to condemn recent comments from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy where he suggested individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cannot lead fulfilling lives and oppose HHS proposals to track autistic individuals via private health data.

The Members point out serious concerns about cutting funding, dismantling education programs, and the sidelining of expert advisory committees like the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Members write to the HHS Secretary as they promote the “Make America Healthy Again,” (MAHA) slogan but recent cuts to programs across federal agencies will have the opposite effect.

In a letter to the Secretary the members urge him to retract his statements and call for a renewed commitment to evidence-based ASD research, support for caregivers, funding for IDEA programs, and full implementation of the Autism CARES Act of 2024.

“We are deeply concerned and outraged about your recent comments and proposed actions related to autism spectrum disorder,”wrote the Members in the letter. “We write today as Members of Congress, but also as parents, family members, and Representatives of loved ones with ASD to demand that you retract your comments and make clear to the nation that individuals with autism play a constructive and valuable role in American society.” 

“Instead of vilifying and tracking Americans with ASD, MAHA should help the ASD community by implementing key programs, including: evidence-based research that focuses on improving quality of life, support for caregivers of individuals with ASD, increased access to early childhood screening and interventions, care for adults with ASD and co-occurring psychiatric conditions, and continued access to public health information relating to ASD. It is essential to develop the workforce of the next generation of behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists, special educators, and other related health professions,” continued the Members. 

“This should go without saying but Americans with autism are valuable and constructive members of our communities who lead meaningful and joyful lives,” said Rep. Balint. “I was appalled but not surprised to hear the Secretary continue to spread baseless lies about autism spectrum disorder under the guise of making Americans healthier. I’m standing with colleagues to implore the Secretary to listen and learn more from people with autism and immediately retract these harmful comments. Misinformation coming from someone who should be fighting for the health and safety of our country is not only disgusting but poses real risks to public health.” 

"Secretary Kennedy is peddling lies that are devastating to individuals with autism spectrum disorder," said Rep. Min. "Conspiracy theories like those that Secretary Kennedy has pushed forward cause major harm to public health and should have no place in the Health and Human Services Department. He must take back and apologize for these hateful comments."

"The Autism Society of America is deeply concerned by ongoing threats to critical services and the misalignment in research priorities under the current Administration. The proposed cuts to Medicaid, and disruption of Autism-related programs, risk dismantling the essential infrastructure that millions of Autistic individuals and their families depend on,” said Tracey Staley, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of America. “We appreciate the vital role that Congress plays in overseeing these matters and ensuring accountability and transparency in policies that impact the disability community.”

“As a non-partisan organization, the Autism Society of America remains committed to working with HHS to ensure that policy and research reflect the diverse needs of the Autism community and uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals on the spectrum,”Staley continued. 

The letter was signed by Reps. Bonamici, Cleaver, Correa, Craig, Elfreth, Garcia (CA), Goodlander, Huffman, Johnson (GA), Kaptur, Krishnamoorthi, McCollum, Norton, Quigley, Ramirez, Raskin, Sherman, Takano, Tlaib, Tonko, Torres (NY), Velázquez, Vindman, and Watson Coleman. 

Find the full text of the letter here. 

###