Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) introduced a resolution opposing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposal to limit public notice and public comment for proposed rules. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), and Senator Angus King (I-ME) introduced this legislation in the U.S. Senate today.

“For decades, HHS has engaged with the public about policies that directly affect their lives and livelihoods,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “As a result of this input, Democratic and Republican administrations alike have modified proposed rules in response to the issues and concerns exposed through this public comment process, often clarifying a rule’s intended meaning and correcting unforeseen errors.  Banning public comment not only reduces transparency and accountability in the HHS decision-making process, creating uncertainty for health care providers, research institutions, and advocacy groups in grantmaking processes, it also excludes the people from their government. That’s why I am glad to introduce this legislation in the House with Congressman Mike Quigley and Congressman Gabe Amo in partnership with Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Ed Markey, and Senator Angus King to reaffirm the importance of public engagement in our health care and of the people in our government.”

“For an administration that claims to be transparent, Trump and RFK’s choice to insulate HHS from public input is repugnant,” said Congressman Mike Quigley. “This change reverses years of HHS precedent. As Founder of the Transparency Caucus, I’m proud to lead this resolution to preserve public involvement in HHS decisions.”

“For more than half a century, the Department of Health and Human Services — under Democratic and Republican administrations alike — has allowed the American people to weigh in on proposed rules that would affect public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Secretary Kennedy committed to ‘radical transparency’ during his confirmation hearing, yet his decision to end this public input would eviscerate transparency, undermine public participation, and allow the department to operate in secret. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s push to rescind basic transparency in public health begs the question — what are they trying to hide?”

In 1971, HHS adopted the Richardson Waiver to ensure that public notice and comment procedures for HHS would include rules related to public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts.  The 1971 directive built on legal requirements laid out by the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 (APA) to allow the public greater input in agency matters.  On March 3, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced that HHS would rescind this longstanding policy to solicit public comments on proposed rules, effective immediately.

AFSCME, AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services, AI Arthritis, Alliance for Aging Research, America’s Essential Hospitals, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Federation for Aging Research, American Kidney Fund, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Association of American Medical Colleges, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, CancerCare, Caring Across Generations, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Center for Reproductive Rights, Center for Reproductive Rights, Children’s Hospital Association, Community Catalyst, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Daily Voice National, Epilepsy Foundation of America, Families USA, Geriatric Circle, Gerontological Society of America, Gillette Children’s, Immune Deficiency Foundation, Justice in Aging, Large Urology Group Practice Association, LeadingAge, Medicare Rights Center, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Health Council, National Health Law Program, National Kidney Foundation, National MS Society, National Nurses United, National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Patient Advocate Foundation, National Rural Health Association, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, PHI National, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Protect Our Care, SEIU, Susan G. Komen, and the United Steelworkers (USW) have endorsed the resolution.

To read the full text of the resolution, click here.