Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced that she will attend tonight’s address to a Joint Session of Congress by President Joe Biden, who is expected to outline the progress made by his Administration ahead of his 100^th day in office. Rep. Castor - who serves as Chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis – also announced that she has invited a young Florida climate activist, Chere’ Erickson, as her virtual guest to witness the historic speech.

“With passage of the American Rescue Plan and President Biden’s leadership, Americans are getting vaccinated at record rates and help is on the way to workers and families. We know we have a historic opportunity to build back better, as our economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. With his American Jobs Plan, President Biden is ready to put thousands of Americans to work in good-paying jobs to conserve our public lands and waters here in the Sunshine State, clean up polluted wells and mines, and expand and upgrade the electricity grid across America. I applaud President Biden’s commitment to clean energy and a healthier, more resilient and just America,” said Rep. Castor.

The congresswoman’s virtual guest is Chere’ Erickson, a campus ambassador for the climate non-profit Defend Our Future at the University of Central Florida. Chere’ will represent the voices of Floridians and young Americans who are optimistic about President Biden’s efforts to solve the climate crisis. A photo of Chere’ can be found here.

"I am pleased to have Chere’ join me virtually for tonight’s speech, as President Biden outlines the path forward for our nation. Chere’ is one of the young leaders who are fighting for solutions and who make me optimistic for the future. With the leadership of President Biden, Chere’ and I are hopeful about solving the climate crisis, which is one of our most urgent imperatives. His early actions on clean energy have provided hope to young Americans who have been calling for the United States to retake the mantle of global leadership,” Castor continued.

“Thank you to Congresswoman Castor for having me join as your virtual guest for President Biden’s address,” said Chere’ Erickson. “I am appreciative of the tone President Biden has set in regard to climate change. He began his presidency by rejoining the Paris Agreement and setting ambitious goals such as the American Jobs Plan. It is refreshing to see someone in office who has an idea of how to fight climate change and will keep up the drumbeat by passing climate-focused legislation, including the American Jobs Plan.”

At the guidance of the Office of the Attending Physician (OAP) and due to safety measures related to COVID-19, tonight’s Joint Session of Congress will be a seated, invitation-only event following social distancing guidelines.