September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
I know first-hand how incredibly important it is for men to have an annual prostate exam. This exam has saved my life not once, but twice. Detecting cancer as early as possible is the best way to increase your likelihood of successful treatment and survival. Because prostate cancer is one of the cancers that is least likely to show symptoms until it progresses to a more advanced stage, it is very important to make an appointment with your doctor and discuss options for screenings and your individual risk factors. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test that successfully identified my cancer twice is recommended for men starting at age 50 if you have an average cancer risk, according to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Risk factors such as family history of prostate cancer can move that age up.
With September designated as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, it is a good time to talk with your doctor about screening and remind those important to you to do the same.
Better Way Wrap Up
Over the last six weeks, I highlighted the featured themes of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s “Better Way” policy proposals. Often it’s easy to focus on what we are against: big government, high taxes, and the list continues. Under Speaker Ryan’s leadership, House Republicans are making a concerted effort to focus on and draw attention to what we are for and back up those ideas with specific policy solutions. We are for a resilient economy that gives people incentives to pull themselves out of poverty and achieve the American Dream. We are for a strong national defense at home and abroad. We are for a government that works for the people and doesn’t insist on unnecessary regulations that harm small businesses. We are for a simplified tax code that is understandable for individuals and competitive for businesses. We are for a health care system that puts patients in control instead of the government. In laying out real solutions to problems standing in the way of progress for individuals and our country as a whole, my hope is that you understand the policies House Republicans will continue to fight for as Congress returns to session this week.
Labor Day Message
As many people enjoy a day off work in observance of Labor Day, it is a great time to reflect on the many opportunities we have to contribute to our families, communities and our country. I wrote in the Roundup several weeks ago about the ways current federal anti-poverty initiatives do not reward or support workforce participation, but rather discourage work. Americans’ opportunities to find productive and gainful employment have also been under attack from both from external and internal forces. It is important that federal government policies support employers’ ability to create new jobs and enhance jobs already available.
The Department of Labor’s new regulation addressing which workers must be paid overtime is one example of the federal government attacking job opportunities. Small businesses, universities, and others who rely on part-time or flexible employees tell me they will be forced to either scale back hours or eliminate jobs in response to this regulation. Neither of those options helps the employees struggling to make ends meet. Instead, Congress should focus on pro-growth policies that open the workforce to more people, such as improving career education, reducing regulatory burdens and reforming the tax code. I also look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress this fall on options for addressing the damaging overtime regulation.
