This week the House passed S. 3389, naming NASA’s IV&V Program in the Fairmont facility after Katherine Johnson, the trailblazing NASA mathematician and West Virginia native. Her greatest contribution to space exploration were her calculations that helped synch Project Apollo’s Lunar Lander with the moon-orbiting Command and Service Module. As the lead House sponsor of the bill, I am excited to recognize this remarkable lady, as it now goes to the President’s desk for signature.

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This week we met with West Virginia representatives of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) to discuss how to encourage Americans to save for retirement. We also discussed several important retirement tax provisions that would help build on the economic successes we continue to see throughout the country. We had a productive meeting, and I look forward to continue working together in the future.

This week a team of medical investigators at WVU’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute conducted the nation’s first clinical trial using a micropellet to combat chronic pain. The long-acting, local delivery of the micropellet slowly releases medicine to fight the pain associated with sciatica that would otherwise be eased through opioid use. This is a great step in the right direction to fight the opioid epidemic. I am glad to see WVU leading with innovative research to find non-addictive alternatives to opioids. This has and continues to be a top priority for our office.

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We recently visited Hazelton correctional officers to discuss inadequate staffing levels and unsafe working conditions. Following the injuries of Hazelton officers this week after being assaulted by an inmate, prison reform is now more important than ever. Simply put, correctional officers deserve better and I will continue to stand with them and work with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to solve this problem.

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