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HR 507

AUTISM-SEC. KENNEDY

104th Regular Session Introduced by Diane Blair-Sherlock and 19 co-sponsors

Condemns RFK Jr. for unfounded vaccine-autism claims and urges his resignation as HHS Secretary (or removal by the President) to uphold public-health trust.

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh
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Bill Summary · HR 507

Summary — H.R. 507 (titled “AUTISM‑SEC. KENNEDY”) — Resolution (introduced 2025‑01‑16)

Important note on source texts and jurisdictional inconsistency
- The available bill text and metadata appear to combine two different resolution texts and sponsor lists from different jurisdictions: one is a Georgia House resolution commending the 2025 Watermelon Capital, Miss Georgia Commodity, and Miss Georgia Sweet Potato queens; the other is an Illinois House resolution condemning statements by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (here described as Secretary of Health and Human Services) and urging his resignation or removal. Sponsor/co‑sponsor lists include both U.S. Representatives and state legislators. Because of these mixed elements, the authority, exact chamber, and single coherent text of “H.R. 507” are ambiguous. Users should verify the official source (state House journals or the U.S. Congressional Record) for authoritative text and jurisdiction.

Purpose and intent
- Two distinct purposes appear in the compiled material:
1. A ceremonial Georgia House resolution to commend and recognize the 2025 Watermelon Capital Queens, Miss Georgia Commodity Queens, and Miss Georgia Sweet Potato Queens for promoting Georgia agriculture.
2. A separate substantive Illinois House resolution that condemns public statements by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that link vaccines and common medications (e.g., acetaminophen/Tylenol) to autism; reaffirms support for science and public‑health institutions; calls his statements demeaning to autistic individuals; and urges his immediate resignation as Secretary of Health and Human Services — or removal by the President if he does not resign.

Key provisions (by text)
- Georgia agricultural recognition resolution
- Commends named titleholders (e.g., Collyns Austin; Leigh Sturdevan; Scarlett Tyson; Ava Wilkinson; Abigail Odom; Jessie Blair; Charlotte Shiflett; Karter Jane Smith; Alanna Ondic; Nora Downie) for advocacy and public education on Georgia’s agricultural commodities.
- Authorizes the Clerk of the House to provide copies of the resolution to the honored queens.

  • Illinois public‑health condemnation resolution
    • Condemns Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for promoting what the resolution characterizes as false and disproven claims linking vaccines and common medications to autism.
    • Asserts that decades of peer‑reviewed research and consensus (CDC, NIH cited) show no connection between vaccines or acetaminophen and autism.
    • States that Kennedy’s statements undermine public trust in science, may endanger maternal/fetal health by advising withholding necessary medication, and are dehumanizing to autistic people.
    • Reaffirms that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with genetic and environmental influences, not a disease to be “cured.”
    • Urges Kennedy to immediately resign as Secretary of Health and Human Services; if he does not resign, urges the President to remove him.

Who would be affected
- Georgia resolution: the named queens and Georgia agriculture promotion/communities — ceremonial recognition only.
- Illinois resolution: primarily targets Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (as HHS Secretary in the resolution’s framing) and addresses public perceptions affecting:
- Autistic individuals and families (defense of dignity, factual framing).
- Public‑health agencies (CDC, NIH) and public trust in vaccination and maternal health guidance.
- Broader public health outcomes tied to vaccine confidence.

Procedural and timeline highlights (from provided metadata)
- Introduced: 2025‑01‑16.
- Referred to House Committee on Financial Services (metadata — appears inconsistent for a resolution).
- Consideration and adoption events listed between March and April 2025 (e.g., placed on Congratulatory & Memorial Resolutions Calendar, laid before the House, adopted on 2025‑04‑17) and “reported enrolled” 2025‑04‑21.
- Additional activity on 2025‑10‑15 shows many co‑sponsors added, Rules Committee referral, placement on calendar, and a recorded adoption vote (074‑033‑000). These later actions suggest either re‑filing, a separate chamber/jurisdiction action, or consolidated entry errors.

Impact and considerations
- The agricultural portion is purely ceremonial with no legal or budgetary effect.
- The public‑health resolution is a formal statement of condemnation and request for resignation/removal; as a resolution it does not itself remove an official or create policy, but it signals legislative censure and can increase public pressure.
- Because the compiled record mixes jurisdictions, interested readers should consult the official legislative websites (the relevant state Houses or the U.S. House Clerk) to confirm which chamber adopted which text and to obtain the authoritative resolution language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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