Fong Holds Fungal Disease Roundtable with HHS Sec. Kennedy; Introduces Valley Fever Awareness Resolution

Image September 18, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) joined an Invasive Fungal and Mold Disease Roundtable at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz, HHS Senior Leadership, and patients. The roundtable follows Congressman Fong’s (CA-20) introduction of a resolution that would recognizes the third week of September as Fungal Disease Awareness Week (FDAW). The resolution encourages efforts to improve awareness, diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and prevention of fungal diseases, like Valley Fever, in the United States. “In the Central Valley, fungal diseases — Valley Fever in particular — are not a distant public health concern. They are a reality for thousands of our neighbors and families every single year,” said Congressman Fong. “Too many patients are misdiagnosed and left without answers while their condition worsens. I am committed to improving awareness, increasing investment into research and development, and improving diagnosis and finding new treatments and cures. This is exactly how we improve patient outcomes and save lives. Secretary Kennedy and HHS have made combatting fungal diseases a priority, and I’m proud to be a partner in this fight.” “Fungal diseases can devastate patients when doctors fail to recognize them early,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are changing that. HHS is working to strengthen detection, accelerate diagnosis, advance new treatments, and give doctors the tools they need to act sooner. I thank Congressman Fong for bringing the experiences of Valley Fever patients to Washington and helping us confront these diseases head-on.” The discussion covered how to better incorporate fungal and mold diseases like Valley Fever into the broader public health response, increasing investment in research and development and clinical trials to better diagnose and treat patients, and ensuring fungal diseases receive the sustained attention they need. Fungal disease patients also shared their stories and highlighted the critical importance of awareness and early treatment. Click here to watch the roundtable. “Congressman Fong has been a consistent voice for communities affected by fungal diseases, including Valley Fever,” said Rob Purdie, Valley Fever Patient and President, MYCARE Foundation. “His continued leadership helps connect patient experience with the policy, research, and public health solutions needed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. The 10th anniversary of Fungal Disease Awareness Week is an opportunity to turn awareness into action, and Congressman Fong’s leadership helps move that work forward.” Valley Fever is of particular concern in CA-20, the Central Valley, and across the desert southwest. Caused by breathing in fungal spores found in soil and dust, it accounts for 15 to 30 percent of community-acquired pneumonias in the Bakersfield area. Approximately 20,000 cases are reported nationwide each year, and 5 to 10 percent of patients develop serious chronic complications. The resolution also highlights the growing threat of histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and Candida auris — an emerging, drug-resistant fungus with 6,304 new U.S. cases reported in 2024, a number that has increased every year since its first U.S. detection. It supports expanded education, improved surveillance, stronger public health readiness, and research into better diagnostics and treatments. This resolution is cosponsored by Reps. David Valadao (CA-22), Young Kim (CA-40), and Ken Calvert (CA-41). To view the resolution text, click here . ### Issues : Congress Health