Dear Friend,

Congress ended the session with a whimper as the Republican majority failed to advance important appropriations bills to ensure that the economy keeps rolling and the U.S. government functions to serve the people. Extreme MAGA Republicans are threatening a government shutdown when we return in September. The last time the GOP forced a shutdown, everyone suffered, the economy retracted, and people lost jobs. Instead, Republicans ended the session with votes to eliminate endangered species protections for the lesser prairie chicken and the long-eared bat. (I am not making this up!) They did manage to pass one appropriations bill out of twelve but loaded it up with extreme measures.

In the midst of higher electric bills and an overheating planer, I called out Gov. DeSantis for his sneaky veto of federal energy-efficient discounts and rebates that would lower costs for Florida families and small businesses. Read my letter urging DeSantis to stop pickpocketing Floridians and prioritize the people’s interests instead of his culture wars. High electric bills, soaring insurance rates (for those who can even get insurance), and out-of-sight rents are hammering Floridians—so every dollar counts for Florida families. Watch my personal message.

This week, I reintroduced my bipartisan legislation, the SHINE for Autumn Act! This legislation addresses the serious maternal and infant health crisis that is tearing families apart and causing significant pain and trauma. Long-standing disparities among racial and ethnic groups persist, with Black women more than twice as likely to experience stillbirth as White women. With nearly one out of every four stillbirths estimated to be preventable, we need real change that will lead to measurable improvements in outcomes for mothers and babies.

Energy and Commerce Democrats were busy again fighting to advance cleaner, cheaper energy and combat the climate crisis. 

My Republican colleagues have shown time after time they are pro-pollution, anti-innovation – and often act in ways that would give China the upper hand over American industry. Thanks to the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, we are creating good-paying jobs, enhancing our supply chains, and building critical batteries to strengthen our Electric Vehicle production. 

Many of these historic announcements are in GOP districts that provide workers with good wages that help grow the middle class. I want to thank my Democratic colleagues for believing in America, believing in innovation, trusting American consumers, and trusting our automobile workers. We can't go backward; we must go forward because we are the United States of America.

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!