News/Legislation

Olympic Champion Lochte Visits Hill to Push Muscular Dystrophy Bill

Olympic swimming champion Ryan Lochte toured the Capitol Tuesday to meet with some of the most powerful members of Congress to push a bill on muscular dystrophy.

He effused a manner of cool and calm about the power of the lawmakers with whom he was meeting. “Should be painless and fun,” he said Tuesday morning of his upcoming meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Having just emerged from meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), he was asked how it went.

“Oh, really good,” the 24-year-old said. “I just liked being in the presence of him.”

The bill Lochte is helping to push is the Paul Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Care Act. It is part of a reauthorization bill that is expected to be marked up tomorrow in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill is then expected to be voted on as part of a suspension package next week. In Lochte