Constituent Spotlight

This month, I visited the Meridian Health Service’s Suzanne Gresham Center in Muncie and met Katie and Marceline, a mother and daughter who participate in Meridian’s Maternal Treatment Program. The program seeks to prevent, educate, treat and provide community support for mothers impacted by the opioid crisis and their children.

The opioid crisis is one of the most urgent health emergencies we face today. With this Thursday marking the one year anniversary of the SUPPORT Act, containing six provisions I introduced or co-led, I will continue to advance legislation that helps quality providers like the Suzanne Gresham Center treat more Hoosier patients impacted by this epidemic.

Protecting Hoosier livelihoods from harmful government regulations is a priority. Today, special interests are trying to stop production of genetically engineered salmon that will eliminate jobs in Delaware County. AquaBounty Technologies, which is raising salmon right here in Indiana, is facing an uncertain future if a provision blocking production becomes law.

I wrote a letter to the President and Vice President to highlight my concerns:

• Dozens of jobs will be terminated.
• 160,000 healthy fish will be destroyed.
• Millions of dollars that were already invested will be wasted.

In addition, last Wednesday I spoke about genetically engineered salmon in a Senate Commerce Hearing and experts agree that more innovation in this field is good for jobs, the economy, and our food supply.

For more on my fight to protect aquaculture’s future in Indiana, check out WIBC’s article, Why Saving the Salmon Farms Could Mean Saving Jobs and Tax Money.

Joint Measure on Syria to Protect our Allies

President Trump is right to examine our enduring presence in places where threats have been defeated. However, we learned from President Obama’s premature disengagement from Iraq in 2011 that if we withdraw from countries too quickly our hard fought gains on the battlefield can be quickly erased and undermine the trust and confidence of our allies. President Trump successfully defeated ISIS, and we need to make sure they remain defeated through continued support of America’s Syrian Kurdish partners.

Last week, I introduced a bicameral, bipartisan resolution calling on the administration to explain this decision in greater detail, and, in light of the severity of the situation, members of Congress should take a time out from politics and stand ready to work constructively to help stabilize the region, prevent an ISIS resurgence, stand with Syrian Kurdish communities impacted by violence, and recognize their commitment and sacrifices in the fight against ISIS to protect our allies in Northeast Syria.

Week in Review

For a glimpse of last week’s meetings and events, click here.

Social Media Recap 

Join me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular updates and photos.

Thank you for the continued privilege to serve you in the U.S. Senate. My mission is to fight on behalf of Hoosiers and the interests that are unique to our state. I look forward to working with you, and sharing our progress, in the days ahead. 

In Service,