WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that he has joined the Senate Cystic Fibrosis Caucus after meeting with family members of 17-year-old Kate Marshall, a rising senior at York High School who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when she was 8 months old.

“Kate Marshall is one of hundreds of people in Maine who confront the challenges of Cystic Fibrosis on a daily basis,” said Senator King. “And while listening to her brother and father today, I was struck by her strength and that of her entire family. I am proud to announce today that I am joining the Senate Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, and I look forward to joining the Marshalls and many others across Maine in raising awareness and supporting funding to ultimately beat this disease.”

Kate Marshall’s 13-year-old brother, Chase, as well as her father, Patrick, met with Senator King today to advocate on her behalf as part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2016 Teen Advocacy Day. After hearing about the Marshall family’s struggle with the disease, which affects over 33,000 children and adults across the country, Senator King told Chase and Patrick that he will join the Senate Cystic Fibrosis Caucus.

Despite having Cystic Fibrosis, Kate Marshall is a standout athlete at York High School. She will be Captain of the soccer team this coming fall, and was named Sports Illustrated & Marine Corps High School Student Athlete of the Month in December of 2014. She is a National Honor Society Member and Honor Roll student.

The Senate Cystic Fibrosis Caucus works with the House of Representatives’ Cystic Fibrosis Caucus to improve quality of life for people with Cystic Fibrosis by raising awareness of the disease, supporting research, drug discovery and development, encouraging collaboration between the public sector and private organizations, and supporting access to quality, affordable Cystic Fibrosis care.   

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