Dear Friend,

The aim of the Inflation Reduction Act was to lower costs - and almost one year after I stood with President Biden at the historic bill signing - it is working. We capped the price of insulin in Medicare and lowered the costs of ACA health coverage for millions of Floridians. Plus, huge new discounts for clean energy and energy efficient appliances and upgrades are boosting people’s wallets. Inflation is down, wages are up, and the unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in fifty years.

Congress needs to keep working for the people, but the House GOP keeps taking us off on extreme detours. Such political games were on full display in my Energy and Commerce Committee this week as Republicans blocked efforts to tackle critical drug and device shortages and elevated political culture war topics over the health of children and families.

It is time for Congress to put people over politics by passing life-saving legislation to get ahead of the drug and device shortages before they become a crisis.

The Energy and Commerce Committee marked up 15 health-related bills. Unfortunately, my colleagues in the GOP made a circus of our hearing by prioritizing their extremist policies over the American people.

But there is good news, my Preventing Maternal Deaths Act passed through committee with a bipartisan vote of 50-0! This critical legislation would reauthorize Maternal Mortality Review Committees that convene at the state or local level to comprehensively review data on deaths that occur during or within a year of pregnancy. They work with the CDC to improve policies and make recommendations for preventing future deaths. This bill will help states preserve maternal health throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes and identify solutions to enhance health care quality for moms. 

Additionally, the Committee passed a legislative package that would tackle the nation's substance use disorder crisis, expanding resources for evidence-based treatment and other wrap-around services to support families and communities in need. The package included my bipartisan bill to improve access to health care for foster youth, which I worked on with Florida providers and my friend Congressman Bilirakis. 

Energy and Commerce Democrats also focused on boosting our clean energy future. I am a leader in Congress on strengthening our electrical grid to lower costs for consumers and build resiliency against extreme weather events.

Thanks to the historic PACT Act, millions of Veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances are now eligible for VA health care and benefits.

Most Veterans and survivors who apply for benefits or submit an “Intent to File” by August 9, if granted, will have their benefits backdated to August 10th of last year – the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. If you have any questions regarding your veterans’ benefits, my office is here to help by calling (813) 871-2817.

As always, my office is here to help by calling (727) 369-0201 or (813) 871-2817 to receive assistance with casework or other concerns. People over Politics, always!