July 6, 2024

Dear Friends,

I’ve made it my mission throughout my time in Congress to implement commonsense, compassionate legislation that will make a positive difference in the lives of people in our Capital Region and beyond. That mission comes with countless challenges, delays, and stumbling blocks. But the joy of seeing what was once an unresolved issue transformed into legislative text and finally into enacted law makes all of those challenges worthwhile. This week, I was humbled to join dedicated advocates across the Capital Region to celebrate one such moment — the enactment of my National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act.

I first gained an in-depth knowledge of Parkinson’s from a friend who suffered with it. More than one million people in the U.S. are currently living with Parkinson’s, and—as anyone who has been personally affected knows—there are no treatments to cure this devastating disease or fully prevent its progression.

That painful fact inspired me to author and champion the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act — bipartisan, no-cost legislation that, for the first time, unites the federal government in a mission to cure and prevent Parkinson’s, improve diagnosis and treatment options, and lessen the financial and health burdens for caregivers and families. The bill text is modeled after the successful National Alzheimer’s Project Act, which—as I highlighted in my newsletter last month—united many parts of the federal government in an effort to accelerate research and improve care. Over the years, that federal unity has resulted in monumental strides in research and new treatments for Alzheimer’s. My bill does for Parkinson’s what the National Plan is already doing for Alzheimer’s, fostering coordination of care and research to help those with Parkinson’s as well as their loved ones.

Following the bill’s introduction, I enlisted the help of dedicated patients, families, and medical professionals to spread the word about the urgent importance of this legislation. Working hand in hand, we told every member of Congress about the challenges of Parkinson’s and why this bill is so essential. Together we built a strong bipartisan coalition of advocates across the nation, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation and numerous New York-based groups and advocates. Following the bill’s passage through the House, I was personally honored to bring my friend and powerful advocate Mark Burek to DC as my guest for the State of the Union in March of this year to call upon the Senate to move this legislation forward. As founder of Parkinson’s Albany, which later became Hope Soars, Mark and his wife Ann have made incredible strides to raise awareness, support research, and inspire the Parkinson’s community to live fuller and healthier lives.

Slowly but surely, and with the unwavering partnership of these advocates, we won over hearts and minds and built strong and deep support. The result of that long effort came to a head this week, when our bill was signed into law. I was joined by local advocates to celebrate this culmination of a long journey and the beginning of a new one.

I know that receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis is truly devastating. It is incumbent on Congress to ensure Americans know they will be supported during this frightening and life-altering time. With the enactment of this law, that support system will be there to ease the burden for families and make untold strides in research for treatments and a cure.

The legislative fight on the National Plan to End Parkinson’s is over, but now the work to successfully implement this law begins. This is a pivotal achievement, and one that would not have been possible without the tenacious and ceaseless advocacy of those who have been touched by this disease. Through their efforts, we have delivered hope—to those families, to our communities, and to the millions more impacted by this disease.

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:

• In the wake of blistering heat waves felt in our Capital Region and across the nation, the Biden Administration announced new actions that seek to protect tens of millions of workers from extreme heat.
  • Extreme heat is the top weather-related killer in the United States, claiming hundreds of lives each year.
• This week, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed a rule that, if finalized, would establish the nation’s first-ever federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace.
• Among other efforts, the proposal would:
  • Require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive heat;
  • Implement requirements for drinking water, rest breaks, and control of indoor heat at workplaces; and
  • Mandate employers provide training and establish procedures on how to respond if a worker is experiencing symptoms of heat-related illness.
• OSHA is encouraging the public to participate in this rule-making process by submitting comments when the proposed standard is officially published in the Federal Register.
  • For more information on how to provide comments, click HERE.
• For more information on the proposed rule, click HERE.