Dear friend,
It was a busy week on the Hill fending off the House GOP's costly political maneuvers. The extreme MAGA Members are holding Americans hostage per their default ransom note, while their costly Child Deportation Act does nothing to fix America’s broken immigration laws or deter arrivals at the border. Plus, the bill is estimated to increase the deficit by $6 Billion. Americans deserve so much better, like real solutions to lower costs and keep communities safe.
Additionally, five committee hearings kept me busy this week along with headlining a meeting with the Diplomatic Corps, featuring 50 countries, at Blair House with Special Climate Envoy John Kerry and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi to discuss clean energy collaboration and the climate crisis. |
My Energy and Commerce Committee was busy with committee hearings on public health and pandemic preparedness, broadband expansion, clean water, and drug shortages.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, I am working to bring resources home to help neighborhoods with clean water and clean energy, as I discussed with EPA Administer Regan here.
I was thrilled to meet Laura Bray, a Tampa-area mom who founded Angels for Change to help families and medical providers across the country locate hard-to-find drugs. After her daughter’s cancer diagnosis at a local hospital was complicated due to a drug shortage, she used her business experience and downright determination to tackle the problem for her daughter and other families.
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Have you been impacted by a drug shortage over the past 5 years?
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Submit survey to sign up for updates on my work in Congress.*
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H.R. 2 – “Child Deportation Act” Instead of working with Democrats to effectively fix our broken immigration laws, Republicans have instead put together a wish list of ineffective and cruel policies like outlawing new parole for Cubans, Venezuelans, and Haitians to immigrate through legal pathways to work rather than arrive at the border. The GOP bill also fails to address a pathway for Dreamers. I voted NO.
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H.R. 1163 – “Surprise Billing Our Workers Act“ repeals funding for unemployment insurance fraud to pay for a bill that the CBO has estimated would only result in a small amount of recovered funds. To add insult to injury, Rep. George Santos, who was just charged with unemployment insurance fraud, cosponsored the bill. I voted NO.
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Last week I visited with incredible community partners working to lift our neighbors, lower costs, build safer, healthier communities and create better-paying jobs.
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I had a chance to deliver $3M federal dollars to the new 55K sq ft youth opportunity Skills Center Collaborative, which will generate over 180 jobs and $25M in economic impact in East Tampa. Every young person in the Tampa Bay area deserves a pathway to success in life, no matter their zip code. View more here.
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In South St. Pete, I announced over $10M in federal funding requests for three projects for neighbors in the City of St. Petersburg! If funded, these projects would lower housing costs, create a modernized Enoch Davis community hub, and create more resilient stormwater drainage to prevent costly flooding. View more here.
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I also was honored to visit with the Teacher of the Year at Hillsborough County’s Oak Park Elementary School! Ms. Barone is a shining light for our young students and an admirable example of local educators who are lifting our students and public schools. View more here.
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Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new proposed standards for cutting climate pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants. These historic standards will avoid 600M tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to reducing the annual emissions of half the cars in the U.S.! Read more here. This will create healthier communities, reduce asthma attacks, provide cleaner air, and lead to a more efficient economy.
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On Monday, May 15th, my office will host another Centro de Bienvenida from 10 AM – Noon at Egypt Lake Recreation Center, 3126 Lambright St., Tampa, FL 33614.
Tampa and Hillsborough County have seen an influx of migrants, mainly Cuban and Venezuelan, among other nationalities, and numerous local partners have come together to establish this Centro de Bienvenida to assist these newcomers with navigating school placement, skills training, health care, the job hunt and other services.
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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! |
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Sincerely,
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Kathy Castor
Member of Congress
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