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September 26, 2025
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Today 314 Action Fund, the nation’s only organization dedicated to recruiting, training and electing doctors and scientists endorsed Carol Obando-Derstine to flip Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.
“Carol Obando-Derstine has spent her career fighting to give people a better life—which is exactly what she’ll do for Pennsylvanians in Congress,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “As an engineer, she has helped families lower costs and grow good-paying jobs through smart energy solutions. Unlike Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, who rolled over as Trump continued his attacks on health care, science, and our security, Carol knows that tackling the challenges we face requires real expertise, data, and science. She will always stand up for Pennsylvanians and we’re proud to endorse her in this race.”
“Pennsylvania families can’t afford more politicians who put party bosses ahead of people,” said Carol Obando-Derstine. “As an energy engineer, I’ve seen how real solutions can cut costs, create jobs, and strengthen our communities. Ryan Mackenzie turned his back on us by siding with Trump to gut health care and block progress. I’ll fight every day for affordable health care and housing because the future of our district depends on it. 314 Action understands the importance of electing STEM leaders who follow science and I am honored to have their endorsement.”
Carol Obando-Derstine is an energy engineer, educator, and bilingual leader committed to creating opportunity for families in Pennsylvania’s 7th District. She spent nearly a decade at PPL Electric Utilities during which she worked as a project manager and energy engineer connecting businesses — including renewable energy companies — to the grid, and directed grants that expanded STEM programs for young people. She also taught at Northampton Community College and partnered with career and technical schools through SkillsUSA Council to prepare students for careers in the trades and new energy economy.
Carol has also been a dedicated public servant. She served as U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s Regional Manager in Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties and as his Statewide Latino Affairs Advisor, where she connected with thousands of Pennsylvanians. She later joined Governor Tom Wolf’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, continuing her work to strengthen and uplift her community.
314 Action is the only national organization working to recruit, train and elect Democratic scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists and health care professionals who will use science and facts to address the most urgent issues facing our generation.
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September 25, 2025
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Donald Trump today announced the implementation of a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical products unless companies are actively building manufacturing plants in the United States. 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement in response:
“Trump has unleashed an all out war on the American people, who are already struggling to afford prescription drugs. We are already being crushed by the highest prescription drug cost in the world and this will cause them to skyrocket further. Trump’s tariff war is reckless and unscientific—which seems to be the theme of this administration. No one should be priced out of a prescription, but Trump’s tariffs will force people to choose between affording life-saving medication and basic necessities.
“This means higher drug prices, increased insurance premiums, and greater out-of-pocket costs. Trump’s impulsive reactions and decisions to serious problems are destroying our public health. Between the trillion dollar cuts to Medicaid—which will eliminate health care coverage for 17 million Americans, decimate rural hospitals, and worsen staffing shortages, the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year—which will skyrocket insurance premiums, and the attacks on pregnant women taking safe pain medication, Trump has created a health care crisis that will take generations to fix.
“If he goes through with these tariffs, people across the country will die, even if they have treatable illnesses. Trump is putting his own ego over lives, plain and simple.”
314 Action is the only national organization working to elect scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care.
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September 24, 2025
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — With less than one week until Congressional Republicans shut down the government over health care cuts, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:
“Once again, we are looking at a government shutdown, wasting tax payers’ dollars, and causing chaos because of failed Republican leadership. A shutdown hurts everyone—not only will thousands of American workers lose their incomes but federal agencies will no longer have the funds to perform critical services.
“Republicans are ready to shut everything down until they’re able to gut our health care system even further. Beyond the already $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, Republicans are now refusing to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. This would lead to a 75% increase on average in insurance premiums to an already expensive health care system.
“If the government shuts down, the FDA will have to delay food safety inspections, the NIH can’t perform new clinical trials, and the EPA will suspend hazardous waste clean up. Services that are crucial to the health and safety of our nation will be brought to a grinding halt because Republicans won’t do their jobs.
“This shutdown is punitive, petty, and pathetic. We’re not going to let Republicans off the hook. We’re going to hold their feet to the fire and make sure we elect candidates who will use facts and data to run a functioning government.”
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314 Action President calls announcement: ‘shambolic, premature’
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Today, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that taking Tylenol causes autism. Former drug researcher, founder and President of 314 Action, Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement in response:
“RFK Jr. suddenly finding the ‘answer to autism’ isn’t some sort of medical marvel—it’s another shambolic, premature announcement from RFK Jr. under pressure from Trump to find a new villain to blame. RFK Jr.’s half-baked theory that Tylenol causes autism has already been tested in the courts and thrown out for its lack of merit. Without sufficient evidence, this only creates more chaos for American families.
“As a former drug researcher, I know that scientific discovery takes years of work, testing, and trial. But RFK Jr. fired all of our top scientists, tasked his team of ultra science-deniers to lead this new ‘discovery’ and rushed to the White House to meet his September deadline with the news. This is a total betrayal of the scientific method.
“Instead of protecting women and their children—this announcement will scare women away from proven and safe methods for managing illness during pregnancy. A study published by the CDC has previously shown that if illnesses like the flu are left untreated—pregnant women are at higher risk of miscarriage and pre-term birth—that’s not “Making America Healthy Again.”
“RFK Jr. has already told us that we “shouldn’t take medical advice” from him, this time is no different. He should never have been confirmed as HHS Secretary and if he isn’t fired or removed from office immediately, the fallout will continue for generations to come.”
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September 18, 2025
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Today, 314 Action held a virtual press conference ahead of the first ACIP meeting today, spotlighting the dangers of RFK Jr.’s hand-picked panel set to roll back childhood vaccine guidance nationwide. 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton was joined by Hawaii Governor Dr. Josh Green and doctors running for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House: Dr. Annie Andrews (SC-SEN), Dr. Thomas Fisher (IL-07), Dr. Dave Oxman (PA-03), and Dr. Tina Shah (NJ-07).
The speakers warned how RFK Jr. and his anti-vax panel are destroying public health and what will happen if childhood vaccines regulations are weakened. Excerpts from their remarks are below:
Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action
“RFK Jr. is not looking to establish the gold standard for medical research or medical or scientific research in this country. He’s continuing his multi decade campaign against safe and effective vaccines, which are very dangerous to the health and future of particularly children, but really all of us in this country. Vaccines work. They’ve been proven to be safe and effective.”
Governor Dr. Josh Green, Hawaii Governor
“I don’t like seeing this in some ways because they forced us into a position that looks as though Americans are divided. But really, the division lies in those who would just deny science. And we, as leaders and policy-makers, that believe in science have always been together…It will be, though, a distraction and some people will get confused. That’s one of the challenges. When confidence gets undermined or there’s some confusion, you lose a margin of the people who would get vaccinated.”
Dr. Annie Andrews, candidate for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina
“RFK Jr. systematic dismantling of our nation’s public health infrastructure, including deliberate attacks on the childhood vaccination schedule, will lead to more preventable illness, suffering and death in children. The fact of the matter is, what RFK Jr. and the sham ACIP committee is doing is anti-science and anti-health. This will make America sicker.”
Dr. Thomas Fisher, candidate for Illinois 7th Congressional District
“Vaccines are about protecting ourselves and our lives, but it’s also about protecting our loved ones, our communities, our children, those who can’t protect themselves. With misinformation and the erosion of our public health infrastructure, we have less quality information and less research that helps us to understand the best ways to protect ourselves. This can’t stand.”
Dr. Dave Oxman, candidate for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District
“The overwhelming majorities of Americans like vaccines [and] don’t want any changes, but these people are going to try to keep doing their dirty work wherever they can to sow doubt and make people think twice about the safety and or efficacy of vaccines.”
Dr. Tina Shah, candidate for New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District
“America is in critical condition. Vaccines are a crowning jewel in the history of modern medicine. Cutting corners on vaccines and undermining trust in science might look like a way to save money to Trump and RFK Jr., but let me be clear, the way they save money is by letting people die. That’s not leadership. That’s straight negligence.”
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September 17, 2025
“There is no science”
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Today, the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) heard testimony from former CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez. In response, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:
“In today’s HELP Senate Hearing, ex-CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez clearly laid out RFK Jr.’s attempts to undermine trust in science and vaccines. Her bombshell testimony revealed that RFK Jr. claimed that ‘there is no science or evidence with vaccines schedules’ and that he demanded pre-approval for all changes made by his newly minted vaccine committee stacked with skeptics. This is America’s top health official.
“Dr. Monarez’s powerful testimony pulled back the curtain on this administration and exposed RFK Jr.’s anti-vax directives, which directly contradict his statements under oath in previous Senate hearings. RFK Jr. is a liar and cannot be trusted to lead our nation’s public health agencies.
“Today, our children are at higher risk for previously eradicated diseases: measles, polio, rubella, and more—and tomorrow, RFK Jr.’s new vaccine committee will begin to discuss and vote on new recommendations for childhood vaccines that prevent deadly infectious diseases—including the MMRV and Hepatitis B vaccines—without providing any data to CDC directors ahead of time. If RFK Jr. is not fired or removed, he will continue bulldozing the CDC to advance his anti-vaccine agenda.”
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September 16, 2025
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — 314 Action Fund today announced the endorsement of 25 new downballot candidates in 12 different states, bringing the total number of endorsed local candidates to over 150. This slate includes three Guardians of Public Health — a physician, a nurse, and an advanced nurse practitioner, who are all answering the call to serve. They are part of 314 Action’s cohort of candidates with a background in medicine as we work to elect 100 new doctors up and down the ballot by 2030. This new slate continues to demonstrate our commitment to supporting a pipeline of new Democratic leaders committed to protecting science and health care.
The slate included the endorsements of two candidates running in Florida’s 2025 legislative special elections. For Florida’s 11th Senate District, 314 Action endorsed Ash Marwah, as well as Rob Long for Florida’s 90th House District.
“Science and health care are under an unprecedented attack. To meet this moment, we need pro-science leaders working at the state and local level — they are our last line of defense,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “We’re proud to endorse this new group of doctors and scientists answering the call to serve their communities. There are thousands of state and municipal seats up for grabs and we’re doing everything we can to support these candidates and fill offices across the country with Democratic doctors and scientists.”
Endorsed candidates
314 Action Fund is the only national organization working to recruit, train and elect Democratic scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists and health care professionals who will use science and facts to address the most urgent issues facing our generation.
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September 10, 2025
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Following last week’s Senate Finance Committee hearing, over 85,000 Americans signed 314 Action’s new petition to investigate and impeach Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his dangerous tenure as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The signatures were collected following RFK Jr.’s disastrous hearing on Thursday, amassing over 80,000 in less than 48 hours from grassroots supporters and people with a background in health, science and tech.
The new petition follows Senators and the Democratic Congressional Doctors Caucus joining together to call for his removal.
“We are the antidote to the pseudo-science movement. While RFK Jr. takes a wrecking ball to public health, it’s clear that the majority of Americans trust vaccines and believe in science,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “Since taking office, RFK Jr. has undermined our top health officials, employed anti-vaxxers, and destroyed public health agencies. It’s time for RFK Jr. to listen to the calls of the American people and Congress members. If the President of the United States refuses to fire him, he must resign or be removed.
Last week, new polling showed that voters across political parties believe that vaccines should be more widely available and agree that RFK Jr. is making it harder to receive them. Additional polling also found that voters trust Democrats significantly more on health care and vaccine policy than Republicans.
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