December 14, 2024
Dear Friends,
In many ways, the past year has been a difficult one for getting things done in Washington. Time and again, Republican obstruction and dysfunction have stymied progress on a wide range of important priorities — from passing a federal budget to delivering urgently needed disaster relief for communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Despite these challenges, I’m proud of the meaningful strides we’ve taken this year to support the well-being of American families and drive forward scientific progress and innovation. This week, we took another important step in that ongoing effort.
Throughout my time in public office, I’ve been a strong proponent of efforts to bolster technological development and support cutting-edge research. Those efforts — and our nation’s leadership in science and innovation — are dependent on the work of highly trained graduate and postdoctoral researchers who make enormous contributions not only to our institutions of higher learning, but also to our communities and society as a whole. Unfortunately, burnout, poor mentoring, and mental health concerns are taking a serious toll on students and researchers — shrinking a critical pipeline of workers and stunting innovation. In fact, a recent survey revealed that about half of postdoctoral researchers have considered leaving science altogether due to work-related mental health concerns.
That’s why this week, I joined Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) to introduce the Mental Health Enhancement, Navigation, and Treatment for Our Researchers Act of 2024, also known as the MENTOR Act. By establishing federal guidelines through the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to address and improve mentoring and mental health in our critical research workforce, this legislation will give our researchers the support they need while maintaining our nation’s spirit of innovation and scientific prowess. If we are to maintain our nation’s status as a global leader in research and technology, we must prioritize the enduring success of those who make that leadership possible.
As I work to advance this important piece of legislation, I’m also looking back with pride on all we’ve accomplished in 2024 to accelerate innovation and provide support for American families. This year, I was thrilled to see five of my bills signed into law — each of which will deliver a dose of hope to those who need it most. Those bills include:
These landmark laws — combined with billions of dollars in direct investments I’ve helped bring to our district through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and more — will provide a significant boost to public health and quality of life here in our Capital Region and beyond.
Still, I know that our work remains far from finished. Going forward, I’ll continue my efforts to address the climate crisis by moving our nation toward a carbon-free economy and advancing innovative strategies to combat pollution. I’ll keep working to bolster public health by improving indoor air quality in our schools and addressing the growing crisis of problem gambling. And I’ll continue working to ensure that all those suffering from the disease of addiction have access to the treatments they need to move forward on their road to recovery. In the upcoming 119th Congress, I’m ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance these priorities and deliver real results for the families and communities we all represent.
This year has been filled with obstacles and setbacks for those of us dedicated to bettering the lives of working families across our nation. Yet, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Through all of this year’s disappointments, I have held on to that hope for a brighter future, and I’ve been inspired by the progress we’ve achieved together over the past year. As we look ahead to whatever challenges and opportunities the next year may bring, I will carry that enduring hope and inspiration with me 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:
- Last month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the opening of the application period for the Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program.
- The 2024 AFG application period opened on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 at 9:00 AM EST and closes on Friday, December 20th, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST.
- Each year, my office and I assist numerous local fire departments and EMS organizations by writing letters of support and helping to prepare their applications for these critical grants.
- Last week, as part of that effort, I hosted a virtual workshop to answer questions and provide more information about how to apply for AFG awards!
- You can view a recording of that workshop HERE.
- Additionally, FEMA’s 2024 AFG Application Development Training Series is now available to view on YouTube.
- Click HERE to view the playlist of seven videos that cover a wide spectrum of AFG-related topics.
- FEMA’s AFG team will also be hosting live Q&A sessions at various times throughout the application period, including next week.
- You can find a schedule for those Q&A sessions HERE.
