Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank the courageous men and women responding to the historic ice storm that left tens of thousands without power across northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Ten counties are under a state of emergency, and our grid suffered near total collapse under nearly 1 inch of ice.

In the face of these challenges, linemen from Michigan and across the country have worked tirelessly in brutal conditions to restore power. This past weekend, I was able to meet with many of our first responders: police, firefighters, dispatchers, and emergency medical teams. They all answered the call, keeping our communities safe and our roads open. Their bravery, professionalism, and dedication embody the spirit of resilience and unity that defines northern Michigan.

The determination of all those affected has not gone unnoticed. My colleagues and I stand ready to support the State's request for Federal assistance.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking these everyday heroes who rose to the challenge helping us rebuild, recover, and emerge stronger.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this Senate amendment to the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution.

Let's be clear about what we are voting on today. We are not voting on the budget. We are not voting on the numbers. We are voting on the framework, a starting point for building a budget that delivers on President Trump's priorities.

Those priorities are securing our border, strengthening national security, energy independence, and preventing a tax hike of $4 trillion set to hit at the end of the year if we don't act.

Think of the reconciliation process as a baseball scrimmage. The House and Senate can't take the field and start crafting the budget until we step out of the dugout. Approving this framework gets us into the game.

Yes, there are concerns about how we achieve the spending cuts and reduce the deficit. That is a critical conversation, but it starts here.

In the last 100 years, Republicans have had just four chances to do a reconciliation bill. We were given a mandate by the American people. Let's not waste it. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and celebrate Bay View Association for 150 years of dedicated service and charity. Bay View Association serves as an inspiration to the community, standing by their mission of

promoting Christian values through lively services and events for those in Northern Michigan.

Founded in 1875, Bay View Association has since played an integral role in the Petoskey area. The organization has evolved into a vibrant community dedicated to cultural and educational enrichment and spiritual growth. Bay View boasts over 337 acres of land, encompassing more than 30 public buildings and 440 cottages. This feat earned Bay View the designation of a National Historic Landmark by the National Parks Service in 1987.

For 150 years, the list of services that Bay View Association offers, have expanded substantially. Bay View is renowned for its exceptional religious services, educational lectures, summer programs, and so much more. The distinguished Music Bay View Music Festival stands as the country's longest-running collegiate music festival. Bay View Association's commitment to lifelong learning is also evident through its robust educational program, which offers courses in history, literature, religion, and the arts.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Bay View Association for 150 outstanding years of service to the Northern Michigan community. I'd like to thank Bay View for their continued commitment to education, the arts, and spiritual enrichment, and I wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Sergeant Christine Bettis on her retirement after twenty-seven years of dedicated service to the Michigan State Police. I thank Sergeant Bettis for her tireless work to keep the citizens of Northern Michigan safe.

After graduating from the Michigan State Police 117th Recruit School in 1998, Sergeant Bettis began her distinguished career in law enforcement with her first assignment at Reed City Post 62. Setting a standard of commitment and excellence, Sergeant Bettis's service extended to a variety of assignments, including time with Governor Rick Snyder's Detail in 2011, Houghton Lake Post 72, West Branch Post 32, and Tri-City Post 31. Eventually, Sergeant Bettis returned to West Branch Post 32, where she served her final assignment.

Throughout her career, Sgt. Bettis was often recognized for her professionalism, excellence, kindness, and fairness. Her approach to policing was always rooted in integrity and understanding, qualities that were exemplified in her interactions with the public and her peers. Fellow officers remember fondly her compassion for animals which extended into the line of duty.

Beyond her law enforcement duties, Sgt. Bettis has been a consistent mentor and friend to her colleagues. Known as ``Mom'' at West Branch Post 32, she provided unwavering support to her peers, always ready with a smile and her characteristic wit. Her presence brought warmth and camaraderie to the department, leaving a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of working alongside her.

Mr. Speaker, let us all join in congratulating Sergeant Christine Bettis for a remarkable career with the Michigan State Police. I wish her great happiness in retirement and thank her once more for keeping Michigan's First Congressional District safe.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, it is crucial we are clear about the focus of today's debate. Our aim is not to remove vulnerable Americans from the government assistance programs they and their families depends on. On the contrary, we are focused on strengthening the integrity of these programs to ensure that taxpayer dollars are directed to those who genuinely need them.

In the past decade, Medicaid has accounted for over $550 billion, with a b, in improper payments, making it one of the government's largest sources of payment errors. It would be irresponsible and a betrayal of our fiduciary duty to American taxpayers not to make a focused effort to recover these misused funds and redirect them to those who need them the most.

With that said, it is essential these efforts are made with a careful approach that avoids unintended consequences for vulnerable Americans and providers.

As my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee begin their critical efforts, I urge them to keep this top of mind. I urge all my colleagues to support this good resolution.

Mr. Speaker, please accept this personal explanation as I was unexpectedly detained during vote proceedings. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 34 and YEA on Roll Call No. 35.

Mr. Speaker, in my office on Capitol Hill hangs a service banner--14 inches high by 8.5 inches wide, with a blue border, a white center, and a red star in the center. Given to me by its designers and fellow Marines Jerry Shaffer and Sergeant Major Gene Overstreet, this banner is used to recognize the service of a Veteran or service member who has died by suicide. It is my honor today to recognize the Red Star Service Banner and the Red Star Foundation.

Each year, nearly 8,000 Veterans die by suicide in the United States--including over 500 active, reserve and guard deaths. Since 2001, more Veterans have died by suicide than have been killed in action since 1950. Despite greater focus and investment being placed both within the Department of Veterans affairs and outside to address this suicide crisis, tragically, little to no real progress has been made.

For each suicide, at least 6 surviving family members and loved ones are directly impacted leaving over 1 million people in the United States to cope with the pain and loss of a loved one. A new service banner specifically for Veteran and military suicides would serve several essential purposes:

1. Recognition: it would provide a visible and enduring acknowledgment of the sacrifice made by those who lost their lives to the struggles of mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder. These battles are just as real, just as honorable, and just as deserving of remembrance as those faced in the field of combat.

2. Support for Families: it would offer a form of recognition to the families who have endured the loss of a loved one due to the invisible scars of war. They, too, have made significant sacrifices, and they deserve our empathy, understanding, and respect.

3. Awareness: A specific banner would raise awareness about the crisis of Veteran suicides, promoting open dialogue, reducing stigma, and emphasizing the critical need for resources and support for mental health and suicide prevention among Veterans.

4. Community and Unity: it would bring together the broader military and civilian communities in collective remembrance and action, uniting us in our support for those who have served and our determination to ensure that no veteran feels alone in their struggles.

This service banner has been initially manufactured by ``The Flag Company'' in Clearwater Florida, and adopted by America's Gold Star Families, Military Order of the Purple National, Bruce Rector; mayor of Clearwater, Florida, the American Legion Turner-Brandon Post 7, Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Pinellas County Veterans Association, Florida Veterans Coalition, Veteran Forces, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1963, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 705, Operation Warrior Wishes, and the Sgt. Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Red Star Service Banner and the Red Star Foundation. I applaud them for their work to honor our Veterans and service members lost due to suicide and to provide support and community to their loved ones. On behalf of my constituents, I wish the Red Star Foundation all the best in its future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Brian Johnson and Caroline Reynolds on the occasion of their engagement. It is with great pleasure and excitement that I share the wonderful news.

Brian, a steadfast friend and dedicated professional, has been a true partner in our work with Veterans Guardian, helping countless veterans across the Nation achieve their well-deserved disability rating increases.

Fate brought Brian and his incredible fiance, Caroline Reynolds, together at the U.S. Open during an event hosted by our mutual friend and colleague, Congressman Richard Hudson. Their story reached a beautiful milestone over the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26, when Brian proposed to Caroline in her charming hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas. The engagement was a heartwarming celebration, surrounded by family, friends, and joyous festivities.

Love and marriage represent the joining of two hearts and lives, built on a foundation of trust, respect, and shared dreams. Brian and Caroline embody the promise to stand together through life's joys and challenges, growing stronger as individuals and as partners. Their love story is a testament to the beauty of finding someone who not only inspires you but also walks beside you every step of the way.

Mr. Speaker, let us all join in congratulating Brian and Caroline on this exciting new chapter in their lives. I wish them boundless happiness, love, and success as they embark on their journey together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025. I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership in bringing this critical piece of bipartisan legislation for the national security of our Nation to the floor for the 64th consecutive year.

This bill continues to provide resources and capabilities to counter our Nation's number one threat, China.

The bill accomplishes this by ensuring the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and our Special Operations Forces have the tools required to execute the Department's efforts in strategic competition and in countering malign Chinese actions.

This NDAA requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a methodology that ensures strategic competition is part of force sizing analysis, enhances intelligence and counterintelligence capabilities, requires more frequent biodefense posture reviews to ensure we can defeat and prevent biothreats, and authorizes the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative to enable Taiwan to maintain self-defense capabilities.

Mr. Speaker, this is a critically important bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my colleagues today in highlighting the accomplishments and ongoing challenges facing access to high-quality healthcare in rural and remote parts of our United States.

Healthcare providers in areas like Michigan's First District work every day to provide the best possible care for patients while overcoming struggles unlike anything facing those in urban or suburban areas.

Unfortunately, we have seen a significant increase in rural provider closures, and many of those still operating today are doing so at the razor's edge of financial viability and stability.

In my own district, Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital ended all hospital and emergency room operations earlier this year and consolidated into a rural health clinic. A single provider closing their doors could result in patients having to travel hundreds of miles further to receive treatment, including lifesaving emergency care.

In 2020, Congress took an important step to address this crisis by creating the Rural Emergency Hospitals, or REH designation. Under this designation, rural hospitals receive direct financial support, more than $3 million annually, and increased Medicare reimbursement in exchange for maintaining 24-hour emergency departments, as well as observation beds and other key health services.

However, when Congress created this designation, REHs were not included as eligible facilities under the 340B drug discount program.

Mr. Speaker, 340B provides significant revenue for critical access hospitals and other rural providers, helping them improve access to prescription drugs and essential health services in underserved and underinsured areas.

This oversight has severely hindered the usefulness of the REH program and made it less likely for rural hospitals facing potential closure to keep their emergency departments open.

That is why I introduced H.R. 8144, the Rural 340B Access Act of 2024, along with my colleague from Michigan, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. This bipartisan bill will make a commonsense correction and include facilities under the rural emergency hospitals designation as eligible for 340B.

This will further our work to stop rural hospital closures and ensure patients in rural and remote areas can continue to receive essential emergency care. Our rural and remote health providers will continue to do everything in their power to provide top-of-the-line care to their patients.

In turn, Congress must continue to address rural health priorities and remove the barriers in the way of that future success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8371.

This important bill package will strengthen VA community care, streamline the disability benefits process, and improve oversight and accountability at VA. Its consideration here today is the culmination of months of committee work, negotiation, and fine-tuning on behalf of our Nation's veterans. Included in this package is language from the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023, which will improve support for aging veterans and their caregivers.

I was proud to join Congresswoman Brownley in introducing the bill last year, and I am proud to support this larger bill package as a veteran and as a member of the House VA Committee.

While I could fill an hour of time discussing this and the many other important reforms of this bill, I will focus on a relatively small provision that exemplifies the good advocacy and policymaking that often goes unnoticed by the media. Gerald's Law, which I originally introduced as H.R. 234, is named after Gerald Elliott, a U.S. Army veteran and a resident of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in my district.

Jerry passed away in 2019 while receiving VA hospice care at his home. Following his death, Jerry's family discovered that, even though he received hospice care through the VA, the fact that he received this care at home meant his family did not qualify for burial benefits after his death.

I was made aware of this injustice by Denise Formolo, the Veterans Service Officer who was assisting Jerry's family. Her advocacy led me to create Gerald's Law, a bill to fix this legislative oversight and ensure that no veteran will have to worry about losing VA benefits for their family when choosing to spend their last days in the comfort of their own home.

I am grateful for the inclusion of Gerald's Law in this package, and I thank Chairman Bost and the VA committee staff for their tireless work getting this across the finish line.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8371.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record an updated open letter from myself and Congressman Correa. the founders of the PATH Caucus, to ensure stakeholders have a voice in crafting the rules and regulations surrounding psychedelic assisted treatments. This is an updated version of the letter from my previous submission to the Record on August 9, 2024. It serves to extend our requested deadline for responses to February 28, 2025.

Dear Commenter: In 2022, a new Congressional caucus was

created to raise awareness among federal lawmakers about the

therapeutic potential of psychedelic and entactogenic drugs

to treat several mental health conditions that were

refractory to contemporary evidence-based therapies. The

Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus

aimed to accelerate and support clinical research in the use

of these novel substances, specifically psilocybin and 3,4-

methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

To better inform Congressional members, the bipartisan PATH

Caucus is seeking input on how to implement programs and

policies that address the range of complex issues with

potential novel therapies that may use a psychedelic or

entactogenic drug in medically supervised and interpersonally

supportive settings.

To gain a more complete understanding of the issues

associated with use of these substances, the PATH Caucus

believes that taking an inclusive, intentional, and reasoned

approach to gathering input from the public may engender

valuable insights that can more accurately and

comprehensively characterize how different modalities

incorporate the use of these substances while also ensuring

responsible, accountable, safe, and ethical use. We seek

information from the general public, those who have received

psychedelic-assisted therapies as an intervention, interested

stakeholders, and those individuals and entities working

within the bio-psycho-social-spiritual behavioral health

ecosystem (e.g., palliative care, addiction services), which

stresses a holistic system of care comprised of clinical

providers, counseling, and peer support (Courtney et al.,

2023; D'Souza, 2007; Urutia et al., 2023).

It will be essential to receive input from people and

organizations with specialized experience in implementing

therapies where psychedelic or entactogenic drug substances

are administered, such as in clinical research protocols

(e.g., depression, palliative care, substance use disorders,

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), or experience in

training others for such therapies. As a part of the PATH

Caucus information gathering effort, we acknowledge the

significant anthropological role of certain psychedelic

substances such as ayahuasca, peyote, and Psilocybe

mushrooms. Some indigenous peoples of the Americas have

extensive traditions dating back hundreds to thousands of

years, where they incorporated these substances into

spiritual ceremonial or ritual healing practices. The PATH

Caucus believes that respectful, inclusive, cultural

knowledge sharing from these communities may provide

substantial insights, further informing our overall

understanding, and we welcome their input.

In medications derived from psychedelic or entactogenic

drug substances are ultimately approved for therapeutic

indications by the FDA, it is important for States to

understand the risk mitigations frameworks FDA has

established and develop ways to make sure they are supported.

Aspects of real-world risk reduction and mitigation

frameworks may include, but are not limited to, providing

comprehensive transparent public education, implementing

substance misuse prevention programs, minimizing the

potential for adverse reactions, and developing implementable

risk mitigation, safety, and ethical monitoring strategies.

Moreover, it will be vital to consider how Congress can best

support states in developing and adopting scalable

infrastructures and sustainable service delivery systems that

ensure proper accountability and monitoring, as well as

facilitate access and equity in utilization, with a

particular focus on communities that may be at risk for

experiencing inequities in care resulting in disparate health

outcomes (e.g., veterans, the uninsured, those who are

experiencing homelessness, people with lower incomes, and

individuals living with mental illness and/or co-occurring

substance use disorders; Ortiz et al., 2022). In addition,

when federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans

Affairs make these products available, we need to be sure

there is sufficient infrastructure to ensure patient safety.

All of these components, when collectively addressed, may

contribute to more responsible, accountable, safe, and

ethical use of psychedelic and entactogenic derived

substances in medically supervised and interpersonally

supportive settings.

The PATH Caucus seeks input that can inform Congress so any

potential future appropriations will support states

collectively addressing the relevant issues and support

necessary federal initiatives such as research,

implementation and FDA regulation. Congress believes that by

listening and learning from the broader ecosystem, staying

abreast of potential innovative evidence-based therapies that

may treat individuals with behavioral health disorders

refractory to current treatment modalities, and

simultaneously undertaking proactive measures for developing

real-world risk reduction and mitigation frameworks, will

help protect public health and safety.

Current State of Psychedelic and Entactogenic Clinical Research

Clinical data continue to be collected regarding the safety

profiles and potential benefits from therapies that use

psychedelic or entactogenic drug substances across a variety

of diagnoses such as major depressive disorder (MDD),

treatment resistant depression (TRD), demoralization, PTSD,

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and substance use

disorders, in conjunction with appropriate supervision and

support from qualified mental health professionals (Belouin

et al., 2022; Carhart-Harris et al., 2021; Davis et al.,

2021; Griffiths et al., 2016; Jerome et al., 2020; Mitchell

et al., 2021; Ross et al., 2016; Siegel et al., 2021; Xi et

al., 2023). Additionally, FDA has granted requests for

Breakthrough Therapy designation to specific development

programs involving MDMA for the treatment of PTSD

(Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies, 2017),

psilocybin for TRD (COMPASS Pathways, 2018; Goodwin, G.M.. et

al. 2022) and MDD (Khan, 2019; Raison et al., 2023), CYB003

for MDD (Cybin, 2024), and MM120 (lysergide d-tartrate) for

GAD (MindMed, 2024). The Breakthrough Therapy designation

process facilitates and expedites the development and review

of certain new drugs that have the potential to address unmet

medical needs. This designation is available for drugs that

are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease

or condition and where preliminary clinical evidence

indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial

improvement over available treatments on clinically

significant endpoint(s) (U.S. Food and Drug Administration,

2022). It should be noted that a Breakthrough Therapy

designation does not mean that the FDA has made a safety or

efficacy determination for a drug, and the Breakthrough

Therapy designation is not a substitute for marketing

approval. Currently, FDA has not approved any drug containing

MDMA, psilocybin, psilocybin analogs, or LSD or other

psychedelics or entactogens as being safe and effective for

any therapeutic indication(s).

Acknowledging the Need to Address Complex Issues

Use of these substances is not without risk. A psychedelic

(e.g, psilocybin) or entactogenic (e.g., MDMA) drug can

temporarily alter a person's mood, thoughts, and perceptions,

and lead to heightened suggestibility, anxiety/panic, and/or

paranoia, among other outcomes. For psychedelics, a

participant can experience vast changes in their perceptions

of reality, including time and space. Moreover, an individual

can become extremely sensitive to internal and external

stimuli and altered in their cognitive functioning and

visuoperceptual skills. Knowing these realities, any therapy

that uses psilocybin or MDMA, for example, should involve

thorough participant screening, education, and preparation,

supportive settings, and close supervision by credentialed

and qualified medical and mental health professionals to

maximize safety and promote potential therapeutic outcomes

(Davis et al., 2021; Johnson et al., 2008; Nichols, 2016;

Phelps, 2017).

Furthermore, acknowledging that it has been suggested that

some therapies could potentially lead to blurring of ethical

boundaries between participants and provider(s) in some

cases, as well as the potential for enhanced suggestibility,

there might be increased risk for serious intimate ethical

boundary violations by session facilitators/monitors,

including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse (Anderson,

B., Danforth, A., Grob, C., 2020; Goldhill, 2020; Pilecki et

al., 2021), though psychedelics and entactogens are by no

means unique in this regard. Some populations might have a

higher risk for adverse reactions from psychedelic or

entactogenic drugs, such as people with a known history of

serious cardiac conditions or serious mental conditions such

as borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder

(Bender and Hellerstein, 2022; Bradberry et al., 2022;

Leonard et al., 2018; Lim et al., 2012; Malcolm and Thomas,

2021).

Given the broad array of potential challenges with

therapies that may use psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin) or

entactogens (e.g., MDMA), compounded by an absence of

consensus about how best to address these challenges, a

proactive collaborative approach may be most effective, where

a partnership of subject matter expertise can consolidate

efforts and collectively work to address relevant issues

(Belouin et al., 2022; Belouin and Henningfield, 2018; Xi et

al., 2023). Best practices good, credentialling, et.

Information Being Requested

This letter seeks broad input to address five major

landscape domains that may contribute to developing real-

world risk reduction and mitigation frameworks that protect

public health and safety when considering implementing

potential therapies that use a psychedelic or entactogenic

drug substance in medically supervised and interpersonally

supportive settings. These include: (1) service delivery, (2)

promoting participant protections, (3) engagement of

communities, (4) safeguarding equitable access, and (5) best

practices for data standards.

Service Delivery

What is the spectrum of interdisciplinary practitioners who

will be held accountable as session facilitators/monitors for

the potential use of these substances in medically supervised

and interpersonally supportive settings?

Training considerations

What are the minimal training standards for integrated care

delivery?

What curriculum is needed that best addresses variations in

psychotherapy (e.g., how best to address a participant's

vulnerability and manage psychedelic-related challenging

experiences)?

Credentialing considerations

What are the relevant background education, qualifications,

professional experiences, and potential examinations that

might be considered for interdisciplinary credentialing?

Which disciplines may represent `service providers' (e.g.,

clinical practitioners, counselors, peer support)?

What might be appropriate supervision and practice hour

requirements?

What types of guidance documents may be necessary for those

who provide close supervision/monitoring of participants

using psychedelics or entactogens?

Promoting Participant Protections

Provide input on strategies that may be critical to

protecting participants, including:

What strategies will be needed to ensure participant

education, screening for medical or mental health conditions

that may disqualify from participation, and informed consent

prior to an individual participating in a therapy that may

use a psychedelic or entactogenic drug substance?

What is needed to assess baseline pre-dose and adverse

event monitoring post-dose (e.g., suicidal ideation or

behavior, physiological reactions, psychological harm,

substance misuse, and drug-drug interactions)?

What information is available or needed on how medically

supervised and interpersonally supportive settings might

incorporate substance misuse screening and prevention, risk

mitigation, safety and ethical monitoring strategies that

protect participants from potential ethical boundary

violations from providers?

What components need to be developed to support ethical-

vigilance reporting systems (e.g., state departments of

consumer protection, professional societies, state licensing

bodies, and law enforcement)?

What data might be collected that improves existing

pharmacovigilance reporting systems?

How will these strategies complement existing patient

protection regulations enforced by FDA that reduce risk for

clinical trial participants as well as for users of approved

and regulated products?

Engagement of Communities

The PATH Caucus invites input to help identify best

mechanisms/approaches that achieve engagement with diverse

communities, including:

How might some indigenous people's use of psychedelics

(e.g., ayahuasca, peyote) as sacraments in spiritual

ceremonial or ritual healing practices, improve our

understanding to protect public health and safety?

How might we ensure engagement with vulnerable populations

disproportionately affected by mental health conditions,

including people experiencing homelessness, racial/ethnic

minorities, sexual and gender minorities, older adults,

people living with disabilities and chronic health

conditions, and individuals in the criminal justice system

(Ortiz et al., 2022)?

Are there examples of best practices that facilitate

provider (e.g., clinical practitioners, counselors, and peer

support) engagement with vulnerable populations?

How do we effectively navigate societal stigma associated

with psychedelic or entactogenic use?

How do we effectively educate healthcare, local crisis

response systems, and law enforcement?

How do we best engage in comprehensive transparent

community educational outreach?

Safeguarding Equitable Access

What should be considered critical elements to the

development of capabilities across the following domains or

activities?

Reimbursements that ensure equitable access to services.

Healthcare economic impact analyses.

Types of medically supervised and interpersonally

supportive therapy settings.

Collaboration on activities that may include input on

prescribing, administering, and dispensing.

Manufacturing and distribution standards.

Supporting oversight of the available supply of substances.

Diversion control monitoring.

Information on how potential psychedelic and entactogenic

medicinal use might fit within the medication use process and

workflow of health care systems.

How should these activities be performed in a manner that

complements and supports FDA's regulation of development,

manufacturing, distribution, marketing and use of

psychedelics?

Best Practices for Data Standards

What types of data standards and repositories (e.g.,

Coordinated Registry Networks) may be created to collect data

that continually informs best practices and vice versa?

How might current surveillance systems of regulated and

unregulated settings be improved?

For example, Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-

Related Surveillance (RADARS), Monitoring the Future,

National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the Drug Abuse

Warning Network, collect actionable data on psychedelic and

entactogenic use; associated adverse events; prevalence of

medical and non-medical use; frequency, dose, and use

settings; and participant comorbidities, health concerns,

long-term effects, as well as demographic characteristics.

Please email your input and feedback to PATH@mail.house.gov

by close of business on February 28, 2025. Your responses to

these questions are crucial, as they will directly inform

Congress on how best to contribute to protecting public

health and safety, acknowledging the complex nature of issues

associated with these novel therapies that use psychedelic or

entactogenic substances in medically supervised and

interpersonally supportive settings. We aim to ensure the

path we walk is illuminated for all Congressional members

where they can make informed decisions on the relevant

issues.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center on 10 years of dedicated service to the community. Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center (NMCAC) provides services for abused children in areas all across the region, including Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, and Roscommon counties. Since 2014, NMCAC has been a compassionate voice for those most vulnerable in our society. Under the leadership of Executive Director and Founder Rebecca Yuncker, NMCAC has transformed from a one-person operation into one of the greatest advocacy organizations in the state, offering counseling, advocacy, forensic interviewing and medical services for both children and adults. With locations in both Tawas City and Roscommon, this diverse group of professionals have dedicated their lives to the noble undertaking of improving the lives of those who desperately need it most. They are a great example of servant leadership and I'm grateful for their selfless devotion to this cause. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center on 10 years of dedicated service to our communities and state.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate PACE North on their five years of dedicated service to the Northern Michigan Community.

Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly--North is an all- inclusive healthcare plan, which serves primarily as an alternative tailored to individuals' and families' specific needs. Once admitted, an interdisciplinary team works with families to design a plan that works for each person. Once this is done, PACE replaces traditional health coverage such as Medicare and Medicaid to become both provider and caregiver.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Nicole Farkas, PACE North has helped hundreds of seniors navigate the uncertain terrain of living co-dependently, providing top of the line medical care as well as kind and compassionate assistance with day-to-day life.

PACE North has certainly lived up to their core values of Quality Safety, Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration and Community.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate PACE North on their five years of dedicated service to the Northern Michigan Community. I wish Director Farkas, Dr. Wilborn and the rest of the team the very best going forward.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to congratulate Ray Carlson for being named the Marquette County Veteran of the Year. I thank him for his immense sacrifices and love of country. Ray joined the United States Navy

shortly after graduating from Dollar Bay High School in 1969. After completing training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Camp Pendleton, and Coronado, Ray was deployed to Vietnam where he was stationed at TanAn and assigned to a Riverboat base, supporting combat operations throughout Vietnam as a central maintenance hub for U.S. watercraft.

Ray returned home from his service just in time for Thanksgiving in 1971, earning the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal for his time overseas. He began his civilian career in the Western UP at the White Copper Mine, and upon its closure, obtained a Civil Engineering Degree from Michigan Technological University. Ray went on to lead large civil engineering projects throughout the UP, culminating with the critical HW-58 project in Grand Marais. Ray's emphasis on service above self did not stop there, as he has been incredibly active within the Veteran community, serving in numerous capacities throughout the American Legion, including Post 44 Commander, 12th District Commander, and the 5th Zone Commander--spanning the entire Upper Peninsula over the past 20 years. As one of the most active and dedicated individuals in the region, Ray also serves the community during Bingo at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans and Marquette County Fair, Boys State, and the Post 44 youth raffle. Ray also has even coached baseball for the American Legion teams. Reigniting a passion for the sport he enjoyed in his childhood, Ray's time as a baseball coach has also helped many young men who received his mentorship and guidance--both on and off the field--as they have come through the Legion summer ball program.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Ray Carlson as the Marquette County Veteran of the Year. I thank him for a lifetime of dedicated service and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.