Democratic senator teams up with Rob Gronkowski on fungal disease

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) has teamed up with former NFL star Rob Gronkowski to promote legislation that tackles Valley Fever, a type of fungal disease that has greatly affected Arizona.

“Today, I joined former U of A tight end @RobGronkowski to advocate for the FORWARD Act, my new legislation to combat Valley fever,” Kelly, wrote in an X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, post on Tuesday.

Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), also noted that Gronkowski — a former University of Arizona standout — lost a former teammate of his to the fungal disease. 

Sterling Lewis, who spent two seasons on the Wildcats football team, died in 2020 at the age of 32 from complications from Valley Fever. 

“We’re supporting the development of the vaccine and treatments needed to save lives,” Kelly added.

Gronkowski, an analyst for Fox Sports’ NFL coverage, spent 11 seasons in the NFL playing for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kelly and fellow Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) introduced two bills on Tuesday that are aimed that strengthening their state’s response to Valley Fever. 

Valley Fever, a fungal infection that can be contracted by breathing dust containing a certain type of fungus, is regularly present in Arizona and other parts of the Southwest. 

The FORWARD Act would authorize $500 million to research initiatives combatting the effects of fungal diseases such as Valley Fever. It would also support research efforts to prevent the spread of viral infections by streamlining the process to approve new vaccines and treatments and establishing a working group at the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Another bill, the Priority Review Voucher bill, would allow Valley Fever to be eligible for a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) program that allows drugmakers who develop treatments for tropical or neglected conditions, rare pediatric diseases or medical countermeasures to have a review of their drug products expedited.

“Arizonans know the dire impacts of Valley Fever all too well, and without action, this disease will pose deadly health risks to a growing number of Americans with few tools to treat it,” Kelly said in a statement. “We’re working to invest in the treatments and public health strategies needed to protect the health of Arizona families.”