Kane County Reporter

Devin Corbett, Chairman of the Aurora Township Republicans, has emphasized the importance of a science-based approach to children's health. He said that the MAHA Commission is addressing long-overlooked root causes and focusing on prevention. Corbett shared his views with the Kane County Reporter.

"The MAHA Commission has taken an uncompromising stance on protecting children's health by addressing its core challenges," said Corbett. "They cite processed foods, dangerous environmental exposures, digital excess, and overmedication as the major overlooked contributors. Their evidence-based response signals a new era of proactive and transparent health advocacy. It's a brave pivot that challenges the status quo in meaningful, necessary ways."

The Hill reported that the Trump administration's MAHA Commission, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., released its inaugural report tackling America's childhood health crisis. The report identifies four main contributors: ultraprocessed foods, toxic environmental chemicals, digital overexposure, and overmedicalization. It calls for urgent research into substances such as glyphosate, atrazine, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and phthalates due to concerning trends in physical and mental health. The Commission advocates for rigorous research and transparency to restore scientific integrity without hastily implementing regulations.

According to a 2021 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, ultraprocessed foods constitute nearly 70% of daily caloric intake among U.S. children and adolescents—a significant increase over two decades. These foods are linked to rising childhood obesity rates, now affecting over 20% of children aged 6–19, as well as an increased risk of metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

In an October 3, 2024 post titled ‘PFAS Explained,’ the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency highlighted that exposure to harmful chemicals like PFAS is nearly universal among American children. PFAS are present in approximately 97% of the U.S. population's blood and are associated with serious health risks including developmental delays and immune system suppression due to their persistence in the environment.

Corbett was elected Chairman of the Aurora Township Republican Party in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Aurora Township voters."