George S. Helmy: “Thank you so much for your kind words, my friend. I am honored, frankly, to be by your side--two former staffers uniting…”

“Thank you so much for your kind words, my friend. I am honored, frankly, to be by your side--two former staffers uniting on an important issue here on the floor of the U.S. Senate. It is like ``The Avengers'' uniting. Working with you on this issue has been a highlight of my time here and foundational to the hope I feel being back in the institution. I would be remiss if I didn't note the presence of a great leader of this institution, a storied Senator from Texas who is in the Chamber. In my 100-day plan, I had vowed to spring toward progress with youth mental health, which, again, is an issue that I had seen firsthand with my own experience. In addition to speaking with the Surgeon General, I know Katie and I both spoke with key government leaders, nonprofit organizations, and youth leaders who truly told us what they were experiencing as young people and the experiences of their friends, which are vastly different than the experience I may have had as a child, growing up. We worked across the aisle to cosponsor and lead legislation with not only Senator Britt but with my mentor, senior Senator, and friend Cory Booker, and tremendous colleagues, like Senators Casey, Butler, Klobuchar, Fetterman, Durbin, Wyden, and Coons, to name a few.…”