Representative Kathy Castor

Dear friend,

In the face of the painful rising cost of living, I am doing all I can to ease the strain for families and small business owners. The House took action this week to ensure that infant formula is available and affordable, and to tackle sky-high prices at the gas pump.

After the deaths of two babies from tainted baby formula and the closure of a major manufacturing plant for safety reasons, President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to increase supply. The House also passed two bills to ensure that baby formula is safe, available and affordable.

On gas prices, the House passed the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, which includes my amendment with Rep. Val Demings (FL10) to investigate price manipulation and ways to stabilize oil and gas prices during national crises. Gas prices surged after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and Big Oil is taking advantage as well.

Big Oil CEOs and shareholders are raking in record profits, and not passing along savings to consumers. Meanwhile, companies are sitting on 9,000 unused permits and have advised that they do not intend to increase supply for fear of a precipitous price drop. So the House is taking critical steps to crack down on price gouging and excessive price increases by Big Oil companies.

Are you able to find infant formula on the shelves in Tampa?

Yes

No

Not relevant

HONORING FLORIDA JUDGE JOSEPH HATCHETT

The House recognized Judge Joseph Hatchett for his trailblazing life of integrity, fairness and service by naming the federal courthouse in Tallahassee for him.

Judge Hatchett hailed from Pinellas County and was the first African American Judge on the Florida Supreme Court and Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in the Deep South. While I am disappointed that Republicans largely opposed honoring one of the Sunshine State’s historic leaders, I look forward to the Senate taking up this legislation and sending it to President Biden’s desk.

MY COMMITTEES

My Energy and Commerce Committee marked up six bills to improve the mental and physical health of our neighbors, including kids-specific legislation related to pediatric cancers and birth defects. These important bills will now head to the House Floor for consideration.

VOTES THIS WEEK

H.R. 7309 – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022: Workers need new skills to compete in the modern economy. That’s why I voted for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 that will help #Tampa jobseekers gain the skills they need to access better-paying jobs in high-demand occupations, increasing production and lowering costs for families.

H.R. 6531 – Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022: This bipartisan legislation seeks to create smarter, more targeted federal investments in communities that need help the most. If enacted, this bill will assist high-poverty communities with the foundational elements of high-impact, inclusive development.

S. 2938 – To designate the United States Courthouse and Federal Building located at 111 North Adams Street in Tallahassee, Florida, as the “Joseph Woodrow Hatchett United States Courthouse and Federal Building”, and for other purposes: By passing this legislation, we are one step closer to honoring one of Florida’s late, great leaders.

H.R. 350 – the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act: Last weekend’s horrific shooting in Buffalo is the latest in the string of racial violence, and this bipartisan bill will provide law enforcement and our communities the resources and tools needed to combat threats from domestic violent extremists.

H.R. 7688 – Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act: This legislation I supported will help protect the pocketbooks of Americans by uncovering price gouging practices rooted in corporate greed, while also taking away the ability of oil and gas executives to profiteer during a time of crisis and importantly lowering prices at the pump.

H.R. 7790 – the Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations provides $28 million in emergency funding to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), providing FDA the resources it needs to address the current urgent infant formula shortage and to help prevent it from ever happening again.

H.R. 7791 – the Access to Baby Formula Act will help improve access to infant formula for vulnerable families during the infant formula shortage crisis.

GREEK PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES CONGRESS

Thank you to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic for his inspiring address to Congress and reaffirming your friendship with the United States and your commitment to Ukrainian refugees and upholding democratic ideals in the fight for freedom.

I enjoyed having my friend Spiro Verras as my guest representing the vibrant Greek community in the Tampa Bay area.

My office is always here to help, 813-871-2817.

Sincerely,

Kathy Castor
Member of Congress

Thank you to everyone who answered the survey in my last HouseWatch Alert on whether or not the United States should raise the cap on Ukrainian refugees. 58.9 percent of respondents said yes, 35.1 percent said no, and 6 percent do not know. Check back for the results to this week's survey.