July 22, 2023
Dear Friends,
As we approach the final days of this legislative session before a long District Work Period, the regular hustle and bustle at the Capitol reaches a new level of intensity. While members participate in committee hearings and spar over enormous, consequential legislative packages, the constant grind of the legislative process continues.
The passage and implementation of major pieces of legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law receive significant public attention, and deservedly so! But much of the important work done on Capitol Hill is focused on drafting and introducing pioneering legislation, building support for these bills, and driving conversations that inspire action outside of Congress. This week, I’ve been focused on that essential work.
Identifying a problem & crafting a solution
As one of only a few engineers in Congress, I’ve worked for many years to set clear, enforceable standards for federal agencies and federally funded research that keep public science independent from political interference and special interest meddling. From year to year and administration to administration, we have seen politics stifle science and set our nation backwards.
Science must be about the pursuit of truth—not about serving political objectives. That long-held belief is at the heart of why I authored and plan to reintroduce the bipartisan Scientific Integrity Act, which provides much-needed protections for our federal scientists, helps restore public trust, and better enables us to address the challenges our communities face. With federal research playing a significant role in our efforts to cure diseases and address the climate crisis, it has never been more critical to maintain our commitment to ensuring that scientific standards are protected under the full force of law.
Building a coalition of support
I’ve also been working to build support for bipartisan legislation that will tackle our nation’s mental health crisis head-on by addressing the extensive community trauma caused by natural disasters. Just last week, communities in our Capital Region and across the Northeast experienced torrential downpours and catastrophic flooding. This week, these same regions faced down plumes of wildfire smoke that brought air quality to dangerously poor levels. Our climate crisis is causing natural disasters to increase in frequency and intensity, and the lasting strain on our communities is not only physical, but also mental.
My Community Mental Wellness & Resilience Act will address this growing issue by establishing a new federal grant program to empower communities to craft their own locally specific responses to the mental health problems caused by disasters and toxic stresses. More than 3 million Americans were impacted by a natural disaster last year alone, and studies show that these events can traumatize upwards of 40 percent of those living in the affected area. This week, I addressed more than 400 advocates brought together by the International Transformational Resilience Coalition to drive home the critical need for this legislation. With natural disasters becoming a new normal for so many Americans, I’m committed to working alongside dedicated advocates to deliver evidence-based solutions that benefit communities across our nation and offer a holistic response to toxic stresses and our ongoing climate crisis.
Moving the needle & inspiring action
We have also seen significant developments over the past few weeks in our efforts to support those living with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones, and to ultimately put an end to this devastating illness. I’ve worked for years to improve access to care and advance new research into cures and treatments for Alzheimer’s, fostering dialogue between advocates and federal agencies and passing critical legislation like my BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act and my Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act.
Now, thanks in part to these efforts, we are making real progress. Earlier this month, the FDA shined a light of hope for millions of Americans by granting full approval to Leqembi, the first approved medication to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. And just this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed decision I pushed for to provide Medicare coverage for PET beta amyloid diagnostic tests that can detect Alzheimer’s years and even decades before the onset of symptoms, thereby sidestepping bureaucratic hurdles and allowing broader coverage and access to these critical diagnostics. I’m proud that our efforts have helped spur meaningful action in this space, and I’ll never stop working to end this devastating disease once and for all.
Even as much attention remains focused on large legislative packages that grab the biggest headlines, I’m continuing my work to bring forth targeted new legislation and drive conversations that lead to action on the issues that impact us every day. Only through this kind of dedicated, persistent effort can we hope to deliver legislation with real meaning for the American people. Going forward, you can count on me to continue doing the hard work required to get things done and improve the lives of everyday folks across our Capital Region and our nation.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- Recently, the IRS released tips on preparedness and how to protect your personal information during natural disasters.
- With natural disasters growing increasingly common and increasingly severe across our nation, year-round preparation has never been more important.
- Some of the IRS recommendations include:
- Keep key documents inside a waterproof container in a safe space and make copies to store in a secondary location.
- Create a record with current photos or videos of all valuables and high-value equipment to help support claims for insurance or tax benefits after a disaster.
- Consult the IRS’s Reconstructing Records webpage to learn how to estimate your losses accurately in the event of a disaster, so you can receive your fair share of loans or grants.
- You can find more tips by clicking HERE, or by visiting other online federal resources like Disasterassistance.gov or Ready.gov.
