Dear friend,
Congress broke for a much-needed timeout for Thanksgiving after Democrats saved the day again and voted to avoid a shutdown and save paychecks, critical services like Meals on Wheels, small business loans, and more. Most Republicans voted no.
Over the course of just the last two months, extreme MAGA Republicans ousted their Speaker—plunging the House into chaos for a 22-day fight—and brought our country to the brink of a government shutdown, not once, but twice. Through it all, House Democrats consistently showed the country that we are here to put People Over Politics, and are always ready and willing to find common ground. And as a result of our unity, we delivered for the American people by securing a continuing resolution devoid of any harmful cuts or partisan poison pills.
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What a contrast to two years ago when Democrats delivered a bipartisan Infrastructure Law with over 389 specific projects funded in Florida so far – investing in roads, bridges, public transit, ports, airports, clean water, water infrastructure, Superfund cleanup, and reliable high-speed internet.
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More than 1.5M Florida households already are saving on their monthly internet bill due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Tampa Airport, Port Tampa Bay and our cities are upgrading our infrastructure. Many more projects will be added in the coming months to improve our lives. Check out just a few of the major investments in FL-14:
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The Biden Administration released the Fifth National Climate Assessment that shows that we must continue to cut pollution from burning fossil fuels. Dangerous heatwaves, catastrophic hurricanes, severe droughts and floods are costing us more than $165B per year, and impacting lives and livelihoods.
In Florida, we regularly break heat records, property insurance is sky-high, coastlines are shrinking, and stronger storms are upending communities. It is more important than ever to continue investing in cleaner, cheaper energy to lower costs and slash carbon pollution. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, cleaner, cheaper energy is on the way as the country is enjoying a manufaturing boom in solar, wind, and batteries. Solar energy costs have decreased by 90% in the last ten years! Politicians at the state level and utilities should be doing more and I will continue to press them to do so.
Read the full report here.
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DO YOU SUPPORT INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA’S CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM
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Submit survey to sign up for updates on my work in Congress.*
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Arts benefit students and their academic, social and emotional focus so I was thrilled to announce a $2 million grant for the Tampa Museum of Art’s Hillsborough County Transformation Network, which will expand to serve over 15,000 more students next year. Our kids deserve quality, creative community programs to foster growth and opportunity. I am proud to deliver resources for even our youngest neighbors.
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The first cohort of amazing entrepreneurs launched last night for Tampa Bay Wave’s LatinTech Accelerator. A $500,000 Small Business community funding grant that I championed is making this possible with the help of the Tampa Bay Latin Chamber! By fostering innovation and ensuring diverse leadership, this new initiative will build a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem across the Tampa Bay area. Together, we will ensure that every Tampa Bay neighbor has the opportunity to grow and thrive while creating high-paying jobs across our community.
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For decades, women have been left behind in critical health care research. Thanks to the Biden Administration, this will no longer be the harsh reality faced by over half the population. The new White House Initiative on Women's Health Research will galvanize the federal government, the private sector, and philanthropy to improve women’s health. By bolstering our efforts to advance women’s health, we can improve women's health care through legislation like my Advancing Safe Medications for Moms & Babies Act, which will increase research for vaccines and therapies in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
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November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and I am working with my colleagues in the Congress to pass my Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act to increase early detection of this deadly disease.
Thanks to my partners back home, like Moffitt Cancer Center, we can work to reduce lung cancer deaths nationwide.
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As always, you can call my office at (813) 871-2817 or (727) 369-0201. I hope to see you soon!
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Sincerely,
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Kathy Castor Member of Congress
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