Dear Friends –

I joined my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee to highlight the need to address the nation’s mental health crisis. It was a privilege to introduce and learn from Dr. Wizdom Powell, Director of the Health Disparities Institute and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Health, who testified at the hearing. You can watch the full hearing here, and you can hear our remarks below.  

Poverty and addressing mental health go hand in hand. When Congress expanded the Child Tax Credit for 2021, it cut childhood poverty in half. Dr. Powell agreed poverty has a significant impact on mental health and creates barriers to receiving treatment. As she said, we must meet children and families where they are so we can provide them with the best possible resources to live happy, healthy lives. The House of Representatives has passed legislation to extend the expanded Child Tax Credit into future years, and I urge the Senate to take up this bill to continue our work. 

I will keep fighting in Washington and Connecticut to expand the Child Tax Credit and bring more mental health and wellness resources back to our district. To follow what I’m working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.

Best wishes,