July 17, 2023

New Dem Members Travel to National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Meet with Experts on Substance Use, Mental Health, Cancer, and Cutting-Edge Research

The Congressional Delegation (CODEL) was hosted by the NDC Health Care, Substance Use, and Mental Health Task Force

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, NDC Health Care, Substance Use, and Mental Health Task Force Chair Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Vice Chairs Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) led a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) of nine Coalition Members to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, MD. 

During their visit, NDC Members met with senior NIH leadership including Acting Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, Acting NIH Principal Deputy Director Dr. Tara Schwetz, and NIH Clinical Center CEO Dr. James Gilman to discuss the importance of funding medical research. 

NDC Members also toured the National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute of Mental Health to meet with senior medical professionals and discuss the NIH’s cutting-edge initiatives to transform health care in America.

NDC Health Care, Substance Use, and Mental Health Task Force Chair Terri Sewell (AL-07)and Vice Chairs Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement following the visit:

“As leaders of the New Dem Health Care, Substance Use, and Mental Health Task Force, we’d like to express our gratitude to our friends at NIH for meeting with our Members today and demonstrating how groundbreaking research will impact the treatment of everything from cancer to substance use disorder and mental illness.

“New Dems’ number one priority is to break through partisan gridlock to advance legislation that improves Americans’ lives. The Coalition has been hard at work fighting to pass legislation to improve our healthcare system. Last year, New Dems secured the passage of 10 Coalition-endorsed bills that addressed mental health and substance use in the end-of-year government spending package.

“This year, we are seeking to build on this momentum. New Dems are committed to working with the Biden Administration and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver meaningful legislation that improves quality of care and lowers health care costs across the country.”

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