December 16, 2023
Dear Friends,
As the first session of the 118th Congress draws to a close, I’m reflecting on all we’ve been able to accomplish during this challenging year. Advancing legislation is always an arduous process filled with setbacks and procedural roadblocks, but chaos and dysfunction within the House GOP has made 2023 especially difficult. Republican infighting cost us weeks of precious time that should have been spent addressing the priorities of the American people and our responsibilities around the world, and much important business remains unfinished as members head home for the holidays.
Despite these challenges, my Democratic colleagues and I have remained laser-focused on bettering the lives of American families. Through the implementation of the transformative legislation passed in the 117th Congress and through the advancement of new priorities, we are breaking through the gridlock to deliver results. And this week, I was thrilled to see a piece of legislation close to my heart cross a critical milestone.
On Thursday, the House passed my National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 407-9. Parkinson’s is the second most common — and fastest-growing — neurological disease, with more than one million Americans already living with the devastating effects of Parkinson’s and nearly 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year. This legislation, which I introduced and championed alongside Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), will unite all corners of the federal government in a mission to cure and prevent Parkinson’s disease, offering a dose of hope for the millions of Americans living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones.
Earlier this week, I was proud to join Rep. Bilirakis in leading floor debate on this pioneering bill, where I recognized the bravery and determination of my friend and colleague Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. Earlier this year, Rep. Wexton was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), which she describes as a kind of “Parkinson’s on steroids.” Her battle against this debilitating disease, along with the hard work of dedicated advocates from across the nation, has filled me with inspiration as I’ve carried this fight through the halls of Congress. I’m forever grateful to her and to all who have joined in this effort to deliver hope to our neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones.
That common thread of hope runs through many of the accomplishments that I’ve been proud to celebrate this year. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced some of their first steps to implement the HEART Act, bipartisan legislation I authored that aims to increase regulatory flexibility and improve access to treatment for the millions of Americans living with rare and ultra-rare diseases. Part of that effort involves bolstering engagement with patients, doctors, and advocates, and I was pleased to highlight the FDA’s first public meeting this week to help understand and incorporate patient experiences and priorities throughout the drug development process.
I’ve also been hard at work on efforts to bring hope to Americans suffering from opioid use disorder and other substance use issues, through my leadership with the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery (ATR) Caucus and through legislation like my bipartisan Reentry Act and Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act. The MAT Act, signed into law by President Biden last December, eliminates bureaucratic barriers that prevent practitioners from prescribing proven treatments to combat the disease of addiction. The FDA granted approval for the use of buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder earlier this year, and I’ve been proud in recent months to work alongside local advocates to expand the use of these treatments in our Capital Region and beyond.
As President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “we have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.” As a member of Congress, I consider it my essential duty to advance policies that move us toward that better world, feeding the flame of hope for the future and reigniting that flame for those for whom it has been extinguished. The achievements we’ve celebrated this year are a powerful reminder of the hope we can deliver when we set aside our disagreements and come together to tackle the issues that impact our communities every day. In the coming year, I’ll keep moving forward with that spirit of unity and commitment as I continue my work on behalf of our Capital Region and all who call it home.
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:
- To make sure you and your family stay safe this holiday shopping season, I invited Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric to share a few tips for you.
- The CPSC serves as a leader in consumer product safety and works to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the risk of injuries and deaths associated with products.
- Among other tips, Chair Hoehn-Saric provided helpful guidance for parents and caregivers who may be shopping for young children, as well as individuals who are shopping online for the holidays.
- You can view our brief but informative conversation HERE.
- For more tips for consumers to stay safe during the holidays, visit CPSC.gov.
- The CPSC website contains information about holiday safety in general, as well as updated information to check for recalled items.
- Further, if you have a concern about any product, you can report it to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and they will look into the product.
