It's been a busy week this week. Here are a few of the things we did back here in DC that you may have missed...
1.) Increased Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment
This week, the House passed the PADME Act, otherwise known as the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act. Our citizens covered by Medicare deserve access to the medical equipment they need in order to live happy and healthy lives. Whether they need canes, blood sugar monitors, crutches, oxygen tanks, hospital beds, or power wheel chairs, the PADME Act ensures our senior citizens are taken care of.
2.) Started the Overhaul of the American Mental Health System
Mental health is an issue across the nation. There are 4 million Americans across the country that have a serious mental illness and don't receive any treatment. Our children need over 30,000 juvenile and adolescent psychiatrists, and yet there are only 9,000. As a prosecutor, I saw how mental health issues affect individuals and families in our very own community. Our country needs change and our mental health system needs an overhaul. That is why, this week, I voted in support of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015. This bill is the first step in fixing our broken system. To learn more about the bill, watch the video below.
3.) Addressed the Opioid Epidemic Opiate abuse has been causing tragedy after tragedy for our families and our communities. Just three days ago, it was reported that - within just 10 hours - there were 15 heroin overdoses in Akron, Ohio. This isn't some far away problem. It is happening here, at home, to our friends, families, and neighbors. That is why, Friday, the House responded to this epidemic with bipartisan legislation - the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. In a bill that will actually reduce the federal deficit by $47 billion, grants will be given to address this national problem of heroin and prescription opioid addictions. America needs help, Congress has listened, and yesterday we acted.
4.) Took Action to Stop the IRS's Abuse of Power
Thursday night, the House passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017 - I know, it can be a mouthful. Essentially, this bill provides funding for programs to boost economic growth and opportunity, protect consumers and investors, promote an efficient federal court system, and stop financial crime. In order to provide funding for these programs, we reduced funding to programs and agencies that just are not getting their job done - like the IRS. The bill reduces funding to the IRS by $236 million and requires additional oversight and transparency requirements so that we can ensure taxpayers' dollars are being spent properly. Some of the new limits of the IRS include prohibiting the agency from targeting individuals based on their ideological beliefs or for exercising their First Amendment rights. We must make sure the money of hardworking Americans is going to programs that work and help our country. It is time the IRS is put in their place and their control is reigned in.
Thanks for reading! Next week will be another busy one, so make sure to contact one of my offices if you ever have any questions or concerns.
God bless,
Dave
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