Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Yesterday, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Health Care, Substance Use, and Mental Health Task Force Vice Chairs Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) alongside Chair Terri Sewell (AL-07) led a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) of nine Coalition Members to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, MD. This visit is just the latest in Pettersen’s ongoing efforts to address the public health crises, including the opioid and substance use epidemic, ravaging communities in Colorado.

Download high-quality photos of the visit by clicking here.

During their visit, NDC Members met with senior NIH leadership including Acting Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, Acting NIH Principal Deputy Director Dr. Tara Schwetz, NIH Deputy Director of Management Dr. Alfred Johnson, NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity Dr. Marie Bernard, 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 Vice Chairs Pettersen and Caraveo, and Chair Sewell 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.

“Our 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.”