I’m Working to Deliver for American Families at Every Step of the Legislative Process April 13, 2024 Dear Friends,Throughout my time in public service, I’ve made it my mission to advance meaningful legislation that delivers results for our communities and for our nation. Often, especially in this dysfunctional Congress, the path toward that goal is long and filled with roadblocks. Overcoming those obstacles requires diligent advocacy and unwavering commitment at every step of the legislative process, from the inception of a bill to its final implementation. This week, my team and I have been deeply engaged at each stage in that process, and I’m committed to following through to make certain that the policies we champion make a real difference in the lives of Americans. Ensuring sound stewardship of our cultural resourcesOur national parks serve as powerful monuments to our nation’s rich heritage and vibrant history, bringing cultural opportunities and economic benefits for all Americans. Despite their crucial importance, however, these critical resources are chronically underfunded and continue to face dire threats from natural disasters and climate change. That’s why on Wednesday, I introduced the Cultural Resources Challenge Act, new legislation that aims to preserve our nation’s cultural resources by empowering the National Park Service (NPS) to expand its vital historic preservation efforts. My bill would address staff shortages at the National Park Service, confront the role of climate change in NPS’s present challenges, and improve the resiliency and accessibility of our nation’s cultural resources. With the critical investments included in this legislation, I’m working to ensure that the stories of our shared past will continue to inspire, enrich, and connect individuals and communities for generations to come. Keeping up the fight against Parkinson’s diseaseThis Thursday, I joined with advocates from across the globe in recognizing World Parkinson’s Day — an opportunity to stand in solidarity and call for action on behalf of the Parkinson’s community. I’ve made it a top priority in Congress to champion efforts to combat this devastating disease, including through my National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act. This vital legislation, passed by the House in December with a strong bipartisan margin of 407-9, will unite the federal government in a mission to cure and prevent Parkinson’s while alleviating the medical and financial burdens the disease places on American families. As I stood in the House chamber to watch that overwhelming show of support for this crucial legislation and for the Parkinson’s community as a whole, I was honored to stand alongside my colleague and dear friend Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton of Virginia, who is in the midst of her own brave fight against a similar disease that she describes as “Parkinson’s on steroids.” This week, I joined Rep. Wexton and my bill’s Republican cosponsor, Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida, to step up our efforts to urge the Senate to take up and pass this legislation without delay. With nearly 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year, we cannot afford to wait longer to bring hope to the millions of Americans living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. Investing in safe drinking water for familiesEver since the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021, I’ve been working hard to make sure that transformative legislation is implemented in a way that brings benefits for all Americans. One of the most important provisions contained within our law was a $9 billion investment in helping communities combat exposure to PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” I was proud to push successfully for the inclusion of that funding, and in February, I joined my fellow leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) to urge the Biden Administration to finalize the first-ever national drinking water standards to protect American families from PFAS. On Wednesday, I was proud to celebrate the culmination of those efforts as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized these groundbreaking new public health protections and made critical funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law available to our water systems and local governments to help comply with the new standards. With these protections in place, public water systems will be required to monitor these toxic chemicals, notify the public when PFAS contamination is present, and work to reduce PFAS levels within their water systems — ultimately preventing thousands of deaths and reducing tens of thousands of serious illnesses. Going forward, I will remain steadfast in my dedication to driving legislative action on the issues that matter to our communities. From preserving our cultural heritage and ensuring access to safe drinking water to battling diseases like Parkinson’s, I’m committed to delivering tangible results at every stage of the legislative process, whatever the obstacles. 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:This month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is actively seeking new air traffic controllers!The application window will be open from Friday, April 19th through Monday, April 22nd.To provide more information on this exciting opportunity, the FAA will host a live Q&A on Instagram with current air traffic controllers on Thursday, April 18th at 2:00 PM ET.At the Q&A session, you’ll join air traffic controllers for a frank conversation about their experiences with training, what they love about the job, and some of its challenges.To join live, follow the FAA on Instagram at @faa!To view eligibility requirements and further details about the application process and informational events, you can visit the FAA website HERE.