Brycen Gray and Ben Price Covid-19 Cognitive Research Act
Floor Speech
I rise in support of H.R. 7180, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Gonzalez, for introducing and championing this important legislation.
The Brycen Gray and Ben Price COVID-19 Cognitive Research Act directs the National Science Foundation to support research on the long-term neurological effects of COVID, particularly in adolescents. It also instructs NSF to commission a National Academies study on the disruption of cognitive processes associated with COVID.
This bill is named for two men who died by suicide after suffering neurological problems caused by COVID-19.
Tragically, there have been numerous instances of psychosis developed after COVID illnesses. The neurological effects of this disease is not well understood, and H.R. 7180 will help to change that.
Research on this issue has been progressing as we continue to learn more about the long-term effects of the disease. This bill will help accelerate these efforts to better inform the public and medical community; and hopefully, it will prevent more tragic deaths from occurring.
I again thank Representative Gonzalez for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.
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Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gonzalez).
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Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
This legislation reflects how Congress can work in a bipartisan way to address difficult issues that our constituents are facing. The deaths of Brycen Gray and Ben Price due to COVID psychosis were unexpected and tragic.
While their memories will live on through their families and friends, we can give them a further memorial through the passage of this legislation and, hopefully, prevent more tragedies like this in the future.
H.R. 7180 represents a grassroots effort to address the issue in a thoughtful and meaningful way.
Again, I thank my friend Mr. Gonzalez for championing this legislation. Many times, people who observe this body may think it is all about political tit-for-tat or it is about making noise or directing time and energy in a fashion that is less than productive. What Congressman Gonzalez has demonstrated here today in the case of both Brycen and Ben is that we are people, too, as Members. This tragedy touched Mr. Gonzalez and compelled him to respond legislatively to make sure that other families can be spared what the Grays and Prices have gone through. It is a testament to my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Gonzalez) and a statement that we are basically good and decent people in this place. We just need to focus on the priorities that are important to our fellow Americans as Congressman Gonzalez is doing today.
Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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