Dear friend,

The rights and freedoms we value as Americans instill great pride in each of us and provide the basis for our ability to succeed in life. Unfortunately, the pathway for Florida women, families and doctors is more dangerous and costly today due to the cruel Trump-DeSantis six-week abortion ban.

In the Energy Subcommittee, Secretary Jennifer Granholm reviewed the proposed FY25 Department of Energy (DOE) budget. The Tampa Bay Times highlighted skyrocketing electric bills due to the overreliance on natural gas rather than lower-cost renewables like solar: “Last year, Florida’s energy bills were the fourth-highest in the nation … up from 13th a decade before. Customers paid an average of about $168 a month. ... Two decades ago, natural gas surpassed coal as the No. 1 fuel burned to create electricity in Florida, and its use has taken off since. Now, 74% of the state’s electricity is generated from natural gas — nearly twice the national average. As a result, Florida produces less electricity from coal and renewable sources than many other states.”  Florida utilities like Tampa Electric and Duke Energy and the GOP Legislature even rolled back energy efficiency goals, and together with Gov. DeSantis, are slow-walking consumer cost savings and rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

In August 2022, I was proud to stand next to President Biden as he signed the IRA – Democrats’ historic clean energy law that I helped craft as the Chair of the Climate Committee. Since that day, our nation has seen unprecedented growth in public and private investments and new manufacturing, especially in rural America and struggling towns that haven’t seen new manufacturing jobs in years. American ingenuity and the IRA have spurred 500 clean energy projects and at least 270,000 new jobs so far.

In my Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee, we pressed the UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty on the cyberattack and weaknesses in their computer system. UnitedHealth is a mammoth in the U.S. healthcare system as a payer, provider and owner of the largest clearinghouse for health care claims. The cyberattack has had severe consequences for patients, providers, and pharmacists - and we intend to hold the company accountable and work to undo the massive consolidation that leads to unfairness.

In the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce, we discussed the importance of AM radio broadcasting in vehicles. AM radio is a top, trusted choice for local news, weather alerts, traffic updates and community opportunities—and it is the backbone of emergency communications during and after hurricanes and disasters. I am a proud sponsor of the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution that reaffirms Congress's support for local radio stations and opposes new fees or taxes on local, free broadcast radio.

The GOP MAGA majority offered partisan messaging bills on guns, oil and polluters rather than solutions to lower costs and keep our communities safe. I voted no on the GOP pro-polluter bills:

H.R. 3195 - would destroy the Boundary Waters watershed by opening it up to mining operations that would harm the environment and local economy.

H.R. 764 - would end Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for the gray wolf by reinstating a reckless Trump-era rule that nearly drove America’s gray wolves to extinction. America’s gray wolves are vital to ecosystem health and are sacred and culturally significant to indigenous communities.

H.R. 615 - would prevent efforts to reduce lead contamination and exposure in our most fragile ecosystems.

H.R. 3397 - the “Kill Our Public Lands Act” does Big Oil’s dirty work by rescinding the commonsense Public Lands Rule and opening up widespread oil drilling and air, ground and water pollution.

H.R. 2925 - an egregious giveaway to the mining industry that puts polluter profits over public health, our environment and tribal sovereignty. Instead of updating our outdated mining laws, this bill would further open our public lands to mining and encourage the dumping of toxic mining waste on public lands.

H.R. 6285 - The Arctic is warming at a rate four times faster than the rest of the planet. This bill would upend the crucial progress made under the Biden administration to protect the Arctic from reckless leasing practices and unchecked drilling by Big Oil and Gas.

I proposed an amendment to this bill to protect Florida’s coasts and ban offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico so we can protect jobs, clean water and enjoy our coastal way of life for generations to come. Every Republican voted against my amendment.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I am proud to advance the work of the Tampa Centre for Women Counseling and Wellness Centre and their behavioral health and free counseling services. The Centre helps prevent problems from turning into crises. It can be difficult juggling work, family responsibilities and emergencies. The Kathy Castor for Centre for Counseling and Wellness is located in Seminole Heights and can be reached at 813-210-9719.

Last week, I had a great time spending time with my neighbors and local partners, spreading the good news that Democrats continue to lower costs, create good-paying jobs and create safer, healthier communities.

Check out some of my favorite pictures from my time in the Tampa Bay area.

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