[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 195 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1639-E1640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING KATHY NICKEL FOR HER TIRELESS SERVICE IN ADDRESSING THE OPIOID 
                                 CRISIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANN M. KUSTER

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2018

  Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
our Brookings Fellow, Kathy Nickel. I am sad to say that her last day 
in my office is today, December 14th. I thank Kathy for her work on 
addressing the opioid crisis. Her service to the people of New 
Hampshire and the United States of America is truly appreciated.
  Kathy, like many of us, is personally affected by the opioid 
epidemic. Her desire to make a positive impact in our nation's struggle 
with this ``disease of the brain'' brought her to Washington from her 
home in Oxford, Ohio. An accomplished employee for the Environmental 
Protection Agency, she brought a passion and perspective that is 
greatly needed here in Washington.
  As you might expect, Kathy was a wonderful liaison to families and 
community leaders

[[Page E1640]]

grappling with the crisis at home. The compassion she embodied brought 
people together not in grief but with the hope that this crisis can be 
solved, together. I was proud to have her represent me at a national 
conference on drug misuse in correctional settings and Kathy 
demonstrated her ability to bring people together.
  But, she will also leave an important legislative legacy for my 
office. She crafted legislation that would improve the delivery of 
medication-assisted treatment in correctional settings. Through her 
work on this issue, Kathy went above and beyond merely crafting said 
legislation--she brought together disparate stakeholders to champion 
the bill. The Corrections Public Health and Community Re-entry Act will 
be one of my top priorities for the next Congress.
  Moreover, she started what will be an important issue for the 116th 
Congress to consider--whether to eliminate a half-century old 
prohibition on the use of Medicaid in a correctional setting. Her work 
on uncovering the negative impacts to what is known as the Medicaid 
Inmate Exclusion may prove transformational. Few fellows can say they 
have personally crafted such impressive legislation.
  Kathy was a fantastic team member. Her kindness and positive attitude 
will be missed in our office. I wish her the best of luck in her next 
endeavor with the EPA. I thank her again for her dedication and 
service.

                          ____________________