News from Representative Upton

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February 11, 2022

@MyKitchenTable: Friday February 11, 2022

Dear Friend:

“Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today, let us begin.” – Mother Teresa

CURES 2.0 AND ARPA-H

This week the Committee on Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee came together to discuss the future of Cures 2.0, H.R. 6000, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Act, H.R. 5585. I introduced Cures 2.0 with Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) back in November and we’re looking to bring it to the President’s desk this year. Cures 2.0 builds on the great success of 21st Century Cures by revolutionizing patient care and paving the way for breakthrough cures.

H.R. 5585, as a companion bill, will establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, known as ARPA-H, to find new cures and treatments for some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Modeled after the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), ARPA-H would allow the top scientists, doctors, and researchers to come together and shape the future of medicine for many years to come without the burden of overbearing federal regulation.

It appears likely that the Appropriations Committee will include nearly $3 billion this year as we establish an independent research body to foster faster cures. One of the experts we heard from noted that among the 24 most effective drugs on the market, the median time between the discovery of key knowledge and FDA approval was 32 years, highlighting the many barriers our researchers face when developing new medicines. There’s no doubt that our federal science and research fields are in desperate need of revitalization, and Cures 2.0 paired with ARPA-H provides the long-overdue challenge to the stagnant rut American medical innovation has been in for years.

Additionally, Cures 2.0 and ARPA-H incentivize the pharmaceutical and medical industries to seek out cures for diseases that are not necessarily profitable but still effect millions of Americans. Each time an industry takes on a new endeavor, it comes with a hefty price tag that cuts into any potential profit. Cures 2.0 and ARPA-H provide the incentives and space for these companies to be willing to take on the challenge and make the impossible, possible, without the risk of going under.

You can watch the full subcommittee hearing HERE.

UPDATE ON CHIPS FUNDING

My main concern, just like many of you, is inflation. I have voted against literally trillions of dollars of federal spending in an effort to get our economy on the road to recovery. Last week I voted against H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act, a $353 billion spending bill that was framed as a pro-America, anti-China bill. However, it would actually reward and strengthen China’s monopoly over the critical minerals used in solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles. One of the many items embedded in this 2,900-page bill is funding for semiconductor chips. As badly as we need this funding, I could not support going about it in this way and adding billions more onto our national debt. I would note that this bill includes $8 billion for the UN Green Climate Fund, raising caps on certain visa programs that would displace thousands of hardworking Americans, and will further empower the Chinese Communist Party to commit awful human rights abuses against the Uyghur population.

This past summer the Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which contains $52 billion to expand domestic semiconductor capacity, including a provision to provide $2 billion specifically for critical “mature node” semiconductor chips used in the automotive industry. Due to the stark differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, both chambers will have to reconcile and consider a new, final version of the bill. The EU has grasped incentives for their industries by providing some $45 billion to bolster their domestic manufacturing and you read that article HERE.

Funding for chips needs to come from its own independent bill, such as the CHIPS for America Act, which echoes many of the same priorities found in the Senate’s version of chip funding. There is no doubt that America desperately needs this funding in order to boost domestic production and get folks back to work but holding it hostage in order to get a partisan wish list through Congress is not the way to accomplish it.

I will note that I am encouraged that the final bill will include chips funding and much of the remaining provisions will be stripped out of it … at that point I believe it will receive substantial bipartisan support.

OPIOID COMMISSION FINDINGS

On Tuesday, the US Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, which I serve on, released our final report on our key findings and proposals. This commission is made up of four members of the Senate and the House, seven Executive Branch departments and agencies, and four subject-matter experts chosen for their expertise on this subject. We’ve worked long and hard on coming up with evidence-based solutions that are practical and will provide real change for southwest Michigan.

We’ve come to the conclusion that one of the most effective things we can do to combat this epidemic is to cut off the illegal supply chain. We do this by doubling down on our efforts to secure our southern border and cracking down on Chinese pharmaceutical companies that supply the base compounds used to manufacture these highly addictive drugs. We’ll be able to keep these dangerous drugs and the criminals that distribute them off our streets by cutting off their access points.

Drug overdoses increased 28.5% over the past year, a majority of these being overdoses on fentanyl and other opioids. I’ve met with grieving parents from our district whose pain is unbearable. Addiction and the trail of destruction it leaves behind has torn too many families and communities apart. I’ve also spoken with many of our local sheriffs who strongly support the recommendations made by the Commission.  

I also spoke with abc57 about the ongoing opioid crisis and what Congress is doing to combat it which you can watch HERE. You can read a good Politico story HERE or the ABC News story HERE.

UPDATE ON BIF FUNDING

With the enactment of the bipartisan Infrastructure bill last year (BIF) which was successfully split off from the Biden Build Back Better multi-trillion dollar spending bill (still not moving forward), many of us were concerned that even though the new spending was paid for with offsets, operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) might not provide the manpower to actually administer the new grants for roads, bridges, and replacement of lead water lines as the CR imposes a freeze within each agency’s budget. This was highlighted in an earlier KT report. There was late word this week that the House and Senate Appropriators were very close to a FY22 bill (we’ve been under a CR since Oct 1) that finally would see a budget done which impact both Defense and non-Defense programs.

I’ve signed onto a bipartisan letter to House Leadership to complete their work on T-HUD for FY22 so the Department of Transportation can fully implement the BIF and surface transportation law. Failure to provide these essential improvements further delays critical work in southwest Michigan and impact the lives and livelihoods of everyone. Without swift action from the House and Senate, our state and local partners face continued uncertainty on how and when they can advance these important projects.

SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL VETERANS

On Thursday, I visited the Keystone Veteran Transitional House (KVTH) in Kalamazoo to hear from our veterans. KVTH opened its doors in July 2020 and is a service supported by Integrated Services of Kalamazoo (ISK). KVTH fulfills a critical need for our veterans by providing 12 beds for homeless veterans and helps them get connected with the Battle Creek VA. We owe our veterans a great debt for their tremendous sacrifices. They put their lives on hold during their service, andImage many leave the military with service-related medical conditions that burden them for life. It’s our duty to make sure our veterans have the education, employment tools, first-class medical care, and support they have earned as they return to civil life.

I sat down with Jeff Patton, the CEO of ISK, to discuss the future of the organization and what we can do to provide critical mental health resources for our veterans. As veteran suicide remains a tragic epidemic, and post-traumatic stress continues to impact between 11 and 30 percent of veterans, there is much to be done to help those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our freedoms. I’ve long supported programs and legislation that promote innovative and creative means to assist our veterans. A few weeks ago, I voted for and the House passed H.R. 4673, the Ensuring Veteran’s Smooth Transition (EVEST) Act. This bipartisan bill automatically enrolls eligible veterans in the VA health care system, saving them from a lengthy approval process. Our vets don’t need to wait in line to sign up for their VA Health care but need to be seamlessly added.

KALAMAZOO BATTLE CREEK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Also this week I stopped by the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) and met with Airport Director Craig Williams to see how the $1,672,872 investment provided by the bipartisanImage Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (BIF) in FY22 will be used. You’ll remember in previous KT’s I’ve discussed the BIF in-depth and just how important this funding is to communities like ours. As you know I’ve been a strong supporter of the BIF since day one and I even had a hand in writing it. Specifically, the BIF helps states like ours rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges, highways, airports and ports; expand rural broadband; and protect our energy grid. I am proud to see the investments I’ve fought for in Washington finally come to fruition here at home.

In addition to this new funding, last summer I secured a competitive $1,000,000 Department of Transportation grant for the airport to recruit, initiate, and support new nonstop service to Charlotte, North Carolina. This grant is funded through the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), which helps small communities address air service and airfare issues. Specifically, this funding was used to lengthen the airport’s runway by about 1,150 feet and fund the realignment of an existing railway and the reconfiguration of taxiway intersections to bring the runway and taxiway systems into compliance with current FAA standards. You can read more about the SCASDP HERE.

FINANICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AT COMSTOCK HIGH SCHOOL

Every year, the Capitol Hill Challenge (CHC) invites public school students from across the country to participate in an education and fun online competition that teaches the understandings and importance of personal finance. This year Comstock High School has joined the program to teach their students about financial literacy and how savings, investments, and retirement funds work in the real world. It’s imperative that these bright young minds have a grasp on the importance of financial literacy in order to succeed. You can read more about this program HERE.

PFIZER AND PORTAGE: A ‘WIN-WIN’

On Thursday I joined Portage Mayor Patricia Randall and State Senator Sean McCann to speak on the positive effects Pfizer has here in Portage. We’re going to see growth in southwest Michigan with high paying jobs and the ripple effect on our local economy. I’ve strongly supported Pfizer from the start and helped make the COVID-19 vaccine possible in a short amount of time through legislation like 21st Century Cures. You can watch our short interview with WOODTV8 HERE.

US MILITARY ACADEMY CONGRESSIONAL NOMINEE

As you may know, one of my most important responsibilities as a Member of Congress is to make annual nominations to our nation’s elite military academies: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, The U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (the Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination). The application process for students is incredibly rigorous and competitive, as it should be to prepareImage the next generation of military leaders. In order to receive an appointment, a candidate must have a nomination from either their U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, or the Vice President. In December of 2021, each nomination applicant to my office participated in a panel interview with our Academy Nomination Board made up of community leaders from across the district. In late December, I was very proud to nominate a slate of tremendous candidates from the Sixth District. Just yesterday my office received word that the first appointment for the year had been offered. A West Point selection had been made, and I had the great honor of stopping by Portage Central High School to congratulate our nominee in person. I know that the citizens of the Sixth District join me in being so very proud of all of our nominees and selected candidates who represent the finest of our community. If you or a student you know is interested in learning more about the military academy process, please visit my website HERE.

I would also note that it is often so exciting to hear from the parents or students later on regarding their career and the missions they accomplish. We are so proud of our military and our veterans...always thank them for their service with the follow up line, “Welcome Home.” Their sacrifice and their families’ indeed makes our country what it is today.

After all, we are the home the Free, because of our brave! 

BRONSON HOSPITAL E-VIGIL FOR COVID-19

You’ll remember in last week’s KT I mentioned that the wonderful team at Bronson Hospital is hosting a virtual vigil to remember the folks we’ve lost to COVID-19 the past couple years on theImage 15th. We’ve also been provided the opportunity to write a note remembering our loved ones, and a chance to thank our healthcare workers for leading our community through the pandemic. This is a beautiful way to honor the families of loved ones lost to COVID and the heroic healthcare workers that cared for them. You can share your message prior to the 15th and use the same link to join the vigil on the day-of HERE.  

 
All best,

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Fred Upton


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