ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Bennet Calls on Trump to Rescind Unscientific Vaccine Order and Fire HHS Secretary Kennedy

About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Bennet Calls on Trump to Rescind Unscientific Vaccine Order and Fire HHS Secretary Kennedy Video of Bennet’s Full Remarks Available HERE Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet reiterated his call for President Donald Trump to rescind the unscientific childhood vaccine executive order and fire the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. last night on the Senate floor.  Bennet’s speech comes when […] Sep 24, 2026 | Press Releases Video of Bennet’s Full Remarks Available HERE Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet reiterated his call for President Donald Trump to rescind the unscientific childhood vaccine executive order and fire the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. last night on the Senate floor. Bennet’s speech comes when measles cases are at 30-year highs across the country and Colorado is seeing the sixth-lowest measles vaccination rate in the nation for kindergarteners. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are amplifying anti-vaccine rhetoric instead of making communities safer. Immunization rates are dropping, schools are vulnerable, and Colorado’s children are paying the price. “Right now our nation is living through the most severe measles outbreak in over 35 years. Measles is not a mild childhood inconvenience; it is one of the most contagious viruses on earth, capable of causing high fevers, brain swelling, long-term disability, and death. In Colorado, we have already confirmed 25 cases this year, including seven hospitalizations,” said Bennet on the Senate floor. “Of these cases, 22 people were unvaccinated. Of the 25 that have measles in Colorado today, 22 were unvaccinated. That’s the most we’ve had in over 30 years. You have to go back to 1995 to find an outbreak in my state that’s even close to what we’re seeing today. We’re going backwards when it comes to public health in the richest country in the world, and families in Colorado and all across this country are suffering the consequences.” Bennet emphasized that Colorado’s measles cases are particularly disappointing given the state’s history: it was a 1988 outbreak at Fort Lewis College in Durango that directly prompted the CDC to change its vaccine recommendation from one dose to two. This followed a rigorous investigation by CDC investigators. Bennet highlighted the sharp contrast of following the facts with the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Kennedy who are playing political games with people’s health. He concluded by saying, “ I think we should be having a debate in this country about the state of health care in the United States of America and about the ways in which we failed this generation and the next generation in providing a system that actually delivers better health care at a reasonable price and mental health care at a reasonable price, instead of plunging people into further misery or into bankruptcy. I wish we were having that debate on the Senate floor, but we can’t begin to have that until the basic facts about science and medicine are taken seriously by this administration. “The president should start by rescinding his executive order today on childhood vaccines. He should fire Secretary Kennedy, as I have long called for. But until that happens – and I don’t think it’s going to happen in the foreseeable future – until that happens, we’re going to be stuck fighting battles against a disease that we functionally eliminated 30 years ago. Kids and families in Colorado and all across this country deserve so much better than that.” Bennet has consistently fought against Trump and Kennedy’s anti-science agenda. Last week, Bennet questioned HHS Deputy Secretary Nominee Chris Klomp during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee about Trump and Kennedy’s reckless vaccine efforts resulting in chaos and confusion for children and families. Last month, Bennet led 90 of his Congressional colleagues demanding Trump rescind his executive order that directs federal health agencies to overhaul longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations and encourages states to reconsider school immunization requirements. Bennet issued a statement immediately following the announcement of Trump’s executive order directing federal health agencies to overhaul longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations and encouraging states to reconsider school immunization requirements. In April 2026, Bennet questioned Kennedy during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his skepticism of childhood vaccines amidst the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in over thirty years. Additionally, in March 2025 and 2026 , Bennet joined in sending a letter t