Representative Kathy Castor

Dear friend,

Last week, Pinellas County Urban League and I visited a St. Pete neighbor who was able to cut his electric bill by 30% thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and “Weatherization Assistance”. Home energy efficiency upgrades, a new air conditioning unit, sealed ducts, a smoke detector, door sweeps, a water heater, energy-efficient light bulbs and an air filtration unit are a godsend to working class homeowners like him. Plus, they cut pollution and create jobs through the hiring of local contractors.

Learn more here!

Floridians are being gouged by electric utilities in Florida, and Governor DeSantis’s veto of energy rebates has made it even more expensive for Florida families. Floridians could enjoy lower energy bills if we can unlock the resources to weatherize homes and purchase energy-efficient appliances as the residents of other states are enjoying right now.

To put money back into the pockets of our neighbors, the REBATE Act enables local governments to receive and implement energy rebates and discounts in their communities. Democrats in Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act to provide energy cost savings to our neighbors. The REBATE Act would deliver those savings and avoid the higher costs imposed by Gov. DeSantis. Lower electric bills, new energy-efficient appliances and less pollution in the Sunshine State – a win, win, win.

Read more here.

MY COMMITTEE WORK

This week was busy as we considered 44 bills related to energy, health and consumer protection, including my bill to outlaw surprise fees in hotel, motel and short-term rental bookings. Hidden junk fees added to hotel room bookings often confuse or deceive consumers and take a bite out of the family vacation budget.

My No Hidden FEES Act passed with unanimous support and was endorsed by the Florida Hotel and Motel Association. Excessive junk fees have driven up costs and left millions of Americans on the hook for tens of billions of dollars each year. The No Hidden FEES Act will improve transparency to ensure travelers can make fully informed decisions without being deceived by surprise junk fees.

We also advanced the bipartisan TICKET ACT to transform the experience of buying event tickets online. It ends practices that frustrate people who simply want to enjoy a concert, show, or sporting event and will restore fairness and transparency to the ticketing marketplace.

In the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security, I examined the importance access to affordable and reliable clean energy and historic investments I championed in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act that are lowering energy costs and boosting new American electric vehicle and battery plants. We can’t afford to cede our leadership in rapidly growing clean energy technology to competitors like China.

ON THE FLOOR

H.R. 4468 – House Republicans forced through a partisan bill to roll back an EPA rule to improve fuel economy for consumers and in doing so gave polluters a greenlight to spew more pollution into the air. Republicans routinely side with polluters over people even at a time of huge new investment by American automakers and workers in clean electric vehicles.

H.J. Res. 88 – Student debt is weighing down too many Americans and Republicans do not like President Biden’s action to provide some relief through income-based repayment plans. House Republicans passed a resolution to wipe out the 40% of the savings in the President’s new plan, which would double student loan payments for many borrowers.

OPEN ENROLLMENT NOW THROUGH JANUARY 15TH!

Open Enrollment for affordable, reliable health care coverage runs now through January 15. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, many neighbors can find plans for less than $10 a month, with an average savings of $800 or more per year!

Floridians have many choices from popular plans. Click here to shop for the right plan for you.

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

I hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

Kathy Castor
Member of Congress