I truly appreciate all your phone calls, social media comments and letters regarding the troubling actions of Trump Administration. Whether it's Elon Musk’s incursion into American private taxpayer data, the purge of law enforcement officials, or the unlawful dismantling of health and education initiatives, I share your alarm.

Almost 11,000 Tampa Bay area neighbors joined our Telephone Town Hall last night to ask questions and share concerns. Thanks to DemocracyForward.org for joining us to discuss the numerous lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s overreach.  The U.S. Constitution and our system of checks and balances matter.  No single branch of government can call all the shots.  That’s the basis of living free with the ability to choose our path in life. You can listen the entire conversation here.

This week, House Republicans passed their budget proposal out of committee, and it’s a recipe for going deeper into debt while benefiting the wealthy and well-connected – at the expense of American families.

The foundation of this budget plan is tax cuts for the wealthiest 1%, paid for by cuts to health coverage and food assistance that hard-working American families depend on. At a time when inflation is getting worse, Congress should be working in a bipartisan way to keep money in your pockets, not make billionaires wealthier. I do not support this plan and will fight to protect my Tampa Bay area neighbors and their pocketbooks.

Here are two explainers: 

• House Republican Budget Would Mean Higher Costs, Less Help for Families, More Tax Windfalls for Wealthy
• Taking a Closer Look at the House Budget’s Reconciliation Instructions

H.R. 77: Midnight Rules Relief Act - This bill would supercharge the rollback of rules and regulations that keep us safe, healthy and well. It could reverse critical protections for clean air and water, safe and effective medications, control of hazardous substances, and more and prevent future Administrations from considering those same protections ever again. I voted NO.

H.R. 35: Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act – I strongly support current law that makes fleeing border patrol a deportable offense, but this bill goes too far and could subject people who reside here legally to being deported for simply being accused. Instead, Congress should work to strengthen border enforcement and provide resources for law enforcement, which this bill did not provide.

The celebration of our neighbors continues in Ruskin at The Fish House! Owner Julie Cockerham and her family collected supplies to donate to their neighbors while cooking hot meals to distribute, all for free! The Fish House became a central location for my Ruskin neighbors to get the help they needed. 

I am so grateful for the selfless work of Julie and her family.

Join me in celebrating Imam Askia Aquil, Carla Bristol, Bob Devin Jones and Dr. Hildegarde Shirley for their trailblazing legacies and selfless work to better our St. Petersburg neighbors.

One of the reasons I came to Congress is to fight to protect our beautiful coastline, economy and way of life.  After many years of advocacy, President Biden permanently banned oil drilling off of Florida’s Gulf coast. 

Unfortunately, President  Trump signed an executive order to rescind this much-needed protection on his first day in office. If allowed to stand, Trump’s order could leave our coastal waters vulnerable once again to future oil drilling and pollution. This decision doesn’t just put at risk our coastal communities, businesses, and national security —it flies in the face of well-documented opposition to offshore drilling in this state. The risk and harm from offshore drilling will never outweigh Florida’s economic interest in clean water, clean beaches and our national defense. And we must be proactive to prevent future disasters from happening.

Read my full op-ed here with Robin Miller from the Bay Beaches Chamber that have spoken out loud and clear for year for coastal protection.

If you are having issues with Social Security, Medicare, Disaster Assistance, Veterans Affairs, Immigration or need assistance with a passport renewal, contact my offices for help by calling (813) 871-2817 or (727) 369-0201.

I pledge to always fight for you and your family, not self-interested billionaires.