Representative Kathy Castor

Dear friend,

In Tampa, I was thrilled to announce over $2M to support the University Area CDC's Cultural Campus in North Tampa where neighbors can come together and build a more cohesive community. I am very proud of the collaboration. I also enjoyed providing helpful info to lower costs and listening to neighbors during my “Co$tBusters” telephone town hall on lower internet bills and help for renters.

After years of advocacy for the new generation of refueling tankers at MacDill, local Chamber leaders and I toured the new KC-46 and spoke to pilots and operators about the modern aircraft. MacDill Commander Bill Jonsson spoke about the national security benefits – and the importance of the basing decision for the long-term mission of the base.

In Washington, the House passed bills to cap the price of insulin, provide for a more secure retirement for Americans, and decriminalize marijuana. The Departments of State and Defense also provided a classified briefing on the war in Ukraine and the importance of military and humanitarian aid provided by Congress and President Biden.

Finally, President Biden released his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year on Monday. It proposes making critical investments to help build a better America—cutting costs for families, keeping our communities safe, combatting the climate crisis, and strengthening our national security. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Congress to provide funding for a stronger, more equitable future for all Americans.

MY COMMITTEES

The Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled, "FDA User Fee Reauthorization: Ensuring Safe and Effective Medical Devices."

The Select Committee on the Climate Crisis is holding a hearing entitled, "America’s Natural Solutions: The Climate Benefits of Investing in Healthy Ecosystems." During this important hearing, we will explore the climate benefits of the investments made in ecosystem restoration and conservation through the Great American Outdoors Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and hear from experts on how the Congress can further invest to create healthy, resilient habitats and communities.

VOTES THIS WEEK

H.R. 6833 – The Affordable Insulin Now Act would cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at no more than $35 per month for Medicare Part D and commercial health insurance. Currently, Americans pay more than 10 times for insulin than other similar high income countries and 1 in 4 Americans have reported having to cut back or skip doses due to rising costs. It’s truly life or death for many of our neighbors.

H.R. 3617 – I am cosponsoring the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, reassess marijuana convictions, and invest in local communities. Federal marijuana laws have been unfairly and unevenly enforced for too long, disproportionately

impacting communities of color with convictions that damage job prospects, access to housing, and the ability to vote. The bill would uses taxes on the cannabis industry to fund key services for those who are adversely impacted by the federal criminalization of marijuana.

H.R. 2954 – Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022: After a lifetime of hard work, our neighbors deserve confidence and security in their retirement. This legislation builds on our bipartisan work in the Congress to improve American workers’ long-term financial wellbeing by providing more savings options and expanding access to retirement coverage.

Do you support efforts in Congress to federally decriminalize marijuana?

Yes

No

I don't know

SICKLES HS STUDENT ARTWORK TO BE SHOWCASED IN U.S. CAPITOL

This past weekend, I announced the winners of my annual Congressional Art Competition at the Tampa Museum of Art where high school students from across Hillsborough County competed for a spot to showcase their work in the U.S. Capitol. This year, Sraddha Karthik, a Sickles High School junior, claimed the top prize with her graphite drawing "Pensive Gaze" created with intricacy and precision.

Stay safe and know my office is here to help, 813-871-2817.

Sincerely,

Kathy Castor
Member of Congress

Thank you to everyone who answered last week's survey on your support for Congress' work to pass a government funding bill. 59.1 percent of respondents support Congress' actions to lower costs and expand child care, 34.8 percent do not and 6.1 percent are unsure. Check back next week for the results to today's survey.