Dear Friend:
I can’t wait to cheer on the Buccaneers this Sunday in our hometown Super Bowl! Please stay safe while we root on the Bucs to victory.
Wednesday, I paid respects to US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick on behalf of our community. President Biden and Vice President Harris honored Officer Sicknick as well. I felt the weight of the pall that remains over the Capitol and the country as I prayed for Officer Sicknick in the Capitol Rotunda a few weeks after the violent attack at the heart of our democracy. He and the other officers who stood in the breach that day are true heroes.
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, I am focused on working with President Biden to accelerate vaccine distribution and deliver aid home to support our neighbors in need. We must use every tool at our disposal to crush COVID-19, keep families afloat and help children return to school safely. The Congress will pass a budget resolution this week to clear a path for President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. We must come together to deliver emergency aid to carry us through both the health and related economic crises. Read more about the American Rescue Plan here.
I am particularly concerned that Florida failed to plan ahead for vaccine distribution in an equitable way especially for hard-hit communities of color and those without access to a Publix or appointments. This week, I wrote President Biden regarding my concerns with Gov. DeSantis’ disjointed rollout. I am thankful that the Biden Administration has a national strategy – it’s critical that we leave no one behind.
My team is working hard to compile the most up-to-date information on vaccines in Tampa and Hillsborough County, and you can access that information here.