State Rep. Abigail Salisbury (D-Allegheny), chair of the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus, on Monday called upon state legislative leadership to convene official hearings with scientific and medical experts to examine current research into the potential causes of autism.
Salisbury’s request came after President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went on TV to say that the administration is issuing a warning to doctors not to recommend acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol and other widely used medications — for pregnant women, claiming it might be linked to autism in children.
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The federal advisory has sparked renewed national discussion about the importance of precautionary guidance, public awareness, and evidence-based policymaking surrounding autism and prenatal health.
“As Chair of the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus — and as the first person with an autism diagnosis to hold this position — I believe it is our moral and legislative responsibility to seek truth, clarity, and scientific guidance wherever the health and well-being of Pennsylvania’s children are concerned,” Salisbury said. “Today’s federal announcement underscores how urgently we need expert-informed hearings to understand the full range of environmental, medical, and developmental factors contributing to autism.”
The proposed hearings would gather testimony from medical professionals, researchers, and experts on the autism spectrum, with a focus on emerging research, risk communication, and public health messaging, according to the release.
Salisbury emphasized that the goal is to ensure Pennsylvania leads the nation in thoughtful, transparent, and evidence-driven legislative action on one of the most pressing public health conversations of our time.
“Autistic individuals and our families deserve to know that our lawmakers are listening to data, to doctors, and to lived experiences,” she said.