Dear friend, 

Democrats successfully pressed to improve the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act that passed the House this week in a big bipartisan vote of 357-70. The bill will put more money in the pockets of families with children by expanding the Child Tax Credit (“CTC”), spurring new affordable housing, and providing disaster victims with a tax deduction.  The CTC would help approximately 33,000 children in our Tampa Bay congressional district alone in its first year - mostly from families with income under $40,000 a year – while nearly 16 million children across America stand to benefit. Please read my full statement here. The bill goes to the Senate next for action.

Social Security became a reality 84 years ago when the first check was issued. It has served Americans well over the generations, keeping people out of poverty, especially in their retirement years. Without Social Security, many would not be able to afford necessities like rent, groceries, or their prescription medications.  While some Republicans in Congress want to privatize social security or raise the retirement age, you can count on me to “keep the promise” that if you work all of your life, you can retire in dignity and work to enhance retirement security instead of chip away at it.

During National Gun Violence Survivors Week, I held a virtual Town Hall with Florida State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell and two fathers who have tragically lost their sons to senseless gun violence as the Florida Legislature advances legislation to roll back critical gun safety measures.

Among the gun measures introduced for the 2024 legislative session is a bill that seeks to take us backward by reversing legislation passed after the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that raised the age to purchase a rifle or other long gun from 18 to 21. It’s troubling to see the Florida Legislature advance proposals like this that roll back meaningful policies that have made our communities safer and saved lives.

Our children deserve to grow up and live in safe communities. Republicans in Florida and in the Congress must prioritize our neighbors’ lives over their unquestioning loyalty to the NRA. Read more about the town hall here.

Did you hear the news? 4.2 million Floridians took advantage of high-quality, affordable health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. This is excellent news for my neighbors; it makes health care services more accessible and puts money back into their pocketbooks. 

Americans nationwide signed up in droves for these high-quality health care plans, with a record-high 21.3 million enrolled! Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Americans can find health care plans for as little as $10, and those on Medicare can save money on their prescription drugs, like insulin, which is now capped at $35/month. For the first time ever, Medicare can now negotiate the price of 10 life-saving prescription drugs to make these critical medications more affordable and accessible for our older neighbors. Read more here.

My Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party met to discuss the current cyber threats to the American homeland and national security from the Chinese Community Party.

The cyber domain has become a critical arena for international conflict, with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) being a prominent player. Since the early 2000s, the PRC has been systematically involved in cyber espionage campaigns against the United States, targeting government agencies, defense contractors, technology firms, and critical infrastructure. These operations are part of a broader strategy to elevate the PRC’s economic and military position on the global stage. We must have strong cyber infrastructure in the evolving technological landscape.  

In my Energy and Commerce Committee Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, we discussed how businesses are experiencing transformative cost-saving measures thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act is a patriotic law. It creates good-paying jobs for the middle class, saves our families their hard-earned money and provides solutions for our planet so our children can live in a healthy, safe community. 

This law also helps businesses and our homes become more resilient to storms and extreme weather that our neighbors are no strangers to. We must continue to finance cleaner, cheaper energy for our planet and our pocketbooks.

I also joined my colleagues on the House Rules Committee to speak out against a MAGA GOP resolution written in the middle of the night that bypassed critical Committee steps, breaking their own rules and their promise to return to ‘regular order.’ Their shoddily written resolution is chock-full of misinformation and untruths that attempt to undercut the incredible success of the Biden Administration’s initiatives to combat climate change and protect our environment. Instead of leading the world in the clean energy transition, creating good-paying American jobs and lowering costs, Republicans are trying to wreck U.S. energy independence and cede our leadership to China.

February 1^st marks the beginning of Black History Month. Black History Month is a time to celebrate the Black community's contributions in every aspect of our lives - past, present, and future. The month is also a stark reminder that there is no American history without Black history, and no one can erase that.

On February 12th and 27th, we will celebrate local trailblazers in the Tampa and St. Petersburg communities. Check out the details below.

As always, you can call my office at (813) 871-2817 or (727) 369-0201.

I hope to see you soon!