Kathie Fife is a lyme and tick-borne disease ecologist. She is a governor-appointed member of the New Hampshire Lyme Study Commission.

I observed a notable contrast in the conduct of two New England senators during Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearings for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

At a recent hearing, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine conducted herself in a composed and respectful manner, allowing Kennedy ample opportunity to respond to her questions. They conversed about the debilitating consequences of late-stage Lyme disease for their immediate families and the citizens of Maine. Their interaction during the hearings demonstrated confidence in their ability to collaborate and identify effective solutions for reliable testing and treatments for the leading vector-borne disease in America.

The first Trump administration made strides in the fight against Lyme and tick-borne diseases by launching the HHS Lyme Innovation Initiative, forming the LymeX Innovation Accelerator and signing the Kay Hagan Tick Act, named after North Carolina’s Sen. Hagan, who died from complications from the Powassan virus, the result of a black-legged tick bite. Sen. Collins was the sponsor of this bill, working closely with Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota and New Hampshire’s own Sen. Maggie Hassan, who co-sponsored it. This bill requires the HHS to develop a national strategy that would help expand research, improve testing and treatment and coordinate efforts across federal agencies.

476,000 Americans are newly infected with Lyme disease each year, and a quarter of new cases are children. Even with prompt treatment, 10 to 20% of people experience prolonged and sometimes chronic, life-altering symptoms. This year marks 50 years since Lyme disease was officially recognized in the United States, and millions of Americans are now living with debilitating conditions following tick bites or in-utero transmission of these dangerous pathogens.

The urgent need to address the public health crisis of Lyme and tick-borne diseases is deeply aligned with the Make America Healthy Again missions to address the epidemic of chronic illness and protect the health of future generations. It’s imperative we continue to prioritize Lyme and tick-borne diseases to help alleviate the burden of chronic illness on the American people and economy.

Change is on the horizon and we need to keep pushing.

When Sen. Hassan initially ran in 2016, she circulated a petition for constituents to sign in support of her proposed work on Lyme disease; I signed it. Hassan is now on her second term.

At Kennedy’s confirmation hearing, Hassan’s emotionally charged conduct put science into a narrow box, calling it “settled science” and saying that Kennedy was “impeding progress moving forward.” Her statement is an oxymoron. There is no such thing as settled science. Science is the process of continued research. Throughout his career, Kennedy has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to this work, and upon confirmation, he will promote government transparency concerning vaccine efficacy via impartial research.

Hassan verbally berated Kennedy, using an accusatory tone and gestures that made it impossible for him to respond. By intentionally consuming the available time with her own views and mischaracterizations of his statements, she effectively denied him the opportunity to clarify his positions or participate in a productive conversation.

Nine years have elapsed without meaningful action from Hassan on Lyme and tick-borne diseases, causing undue hardship for many Granite Staters. Additionally, physician education initiatives have fallen short of providing comprehensive training on the complexities of Lyme disease testing and treatment.

In the U.S., suicide is the leading cause of death from Lyme disease. How many lives have been lost in New Hampshire and across the country waiting for the right time to fulfill promises?

I applaud Sen. Collins for her dedication and commitment to working very hard to help the citizens of Maine. Collins does not wait until someone else has done the work so she can simply sign her name on a bill. She engages with Maine’s communities, meets with physicians, advocates and gathers citizens’ insights. She listens attentively to their concerns. She is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Maine citizens affected by Lyme disease.

New Hampshire urgently requires a representative who embodies professionalism, utilizes unbiased scientific research and exhibits civility, calmness and compassion. It is Sen. Hassan’s duty to honor her promise and act on Lyme disease.