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A Note From the Desk of Congresswoman Letlow
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recommit to ensuring women have access to the resources and information they need to protect their health and make informed decisions about their care.
Early interventions gave me insight to my own risk, and the opportunity to take preventative action. I believe every woman should have access to information about their risk, which is why I recently introduced the Know Your Risk Act to create a universal breast cancer risk assessment tool.
I encourage all women to speak with your doctor about early screening options and risks. Early interventions can help detect breast cancer when it is most treatable and increase survival odds.
Continue reading for more updates!
Sincerely,
Julia Letlow, Ph.D.
Member of Congress
Protecting Unborn Life
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, a provision banning taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. This policy must be reenacted every year through the budget process, which is why I am fighting to ensure the Hyde Amendment stays in place.
My children are my greatest blessing, and they reinforce my belief every day that all life is sacred and worth protecting.
Through my seat on the House Appropriations Committee, I fight to ensure your tax dollars do not support abortions, and I will always support legislation that protects the unborn life. I sat down with Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council to discuss our shared pro-life values.
Expanding Resources for Women
I recently filed the Know Your Rights Act to strengthen risk assessment tools for women who are vulnerable to a breast cancer diagnosis, including due to their own family history.
My legislation kickstarts the process of creating a universal risk assessment tool that produces reliable information for women to evaluate their individual risk. A proliferation of risk evaluation tools and the lack of a clear, go-to assessment prevents many women from properly determining their risk. Additionally, the Know Your Risk Act expands access to existing grants that will further strengthen early detection services for women.
Like many women and families, I’ve had personal experiences with this awful disease and continue to see the need to ensure that women are not left in the dark when it comes to knowing their risk. Early interventions were crucial to determining my own risk and taking preventive action, and I believe all women should have this opportunity.
Delivering for Louisiana Farmers
Agriculture is at the heart of Louisiana’s economy, and I’m committed to fighting for our farmers. I am honored to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, where I can advocate for responsible investments that bring taxpayer dollars back to Louisiana to support our farmers, producers, and loggers.
Through this role, I have worked to cut red tape and improve support for our farmers, especially when natural disasters strike. I have also advocated for infrastructure investments that strengthen our rural communities and help Louisiana’s agriculture industry continue to grow. I sat down with AgriPulse to further discuss how I’ve secured results for our farmers and producers in Congress.
Strengthening the American Supply Chain
Louisiana is setting the standard for American manufacturing! The Port of Avondale in Jefferson Parish recently welcomed the nation’s first shipment of primary aluminum from Venezuela in eight years, marking the beginning of an annual trade deal.
I was proud to join Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Majority Leader Steve Scalise to celebrate this exciting milestone. With aluminum moving through Avondale to manufacturers across the country, Louisiana is at the forefront of strengthening our supply chains, creating more jobs here at home, and reducing our reliance on foreign adversaries, like China.
Lending a Hand
In September, our office returned over $300,000 to constituents and closed more than 100 cases. My office knows how difficult working with a federal agency can be, which is why we are always here to guide and assist you in any way we can!
My team will host Satellite Office Hours in several communities next week. It is our priority to be present, engaged, and accessible to communities throughout the 5th District. Office hours provide an opportunity for constituents to receive in-person assistance when working with federal agencies, such as the IRS, VA, or Social Security Administration. Please see the dates below for our upcoming visits, and you can also contact our offices at any time for assistance.
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