I had a great time at our recent toy giveaways. Sharing toys and seeing the joy on children’s faces made each event unforgettable.
D.C. Updates
I wrote to the Department of Education urging them to protect graduate students’ access to federal loans, after proposed changes threatened to exclude post-baccalaureate programs in nursing, education, social work, engineering, and other licensed professions. Ensuring access to these loans is critical for students, local universities, and the workforce, and will help maintain opportunities for careers that serve our communities and strengthen our economy.
Furthermore, I introduced the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act to reverse recent cuts to federal loan availability for graduate and professional students. This legislation would restore full federal loan limits, helping students in fields like medicine, law, education, and social work afford advanced degrees without turning to higher-cost private loans.
I reintroduced the Anesthesia for All Act to ensure that health insurers cannot impose arbitrary time limits on anesthesia coverage and that reimbursement is based solely on medical necessity. This legislation would protect patient safety by ensuring anesthesia care lasts as long as needed for a safe procedure, without interference from insurance companies.
I introduced the Our Parks Act along with Rep. Yvette Clarke to guarantee free admission to all national parks on every federal holiday, following President Trump’s decision to remove fee-free access for Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day while adding his own birthday. This legislation would ensure that our public lands remain accessible to all and that holidays honoring Black freedom and civil rights are protected from political manipulation.
I reintroduced the Repealing the IMD Exclusion Act to expand Medicaid coverage for inpatient mental health and addiction treatment, ending a decades-old restriction that blocks care even when it is medically necessary. This legislation would help ensure people in crisis can access lifesaving treatment in qualified facilities instead of cycling through emergency rooms, jails, and shelters.
I sponsored four bills that advanced out of the House Financial Services Committee, bringing them one step closer to full House consideration. Part of the Housing for the 21st Century Act, these bills aim to make housing more affordable, protect tenants, and help families build savings. They strengthen HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency program, increase transparency in federal housing contracts, create federal guidelines for “single-stair” buildings, and require temperature monitors in federally assisted housing. This package reflects my commitment to making life more affordable, safer, and more secure for working families.
Constituent of the Week: Cheryl McNear
