Representative Kathy Castor

I hope you had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend. As Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, I was proud to unveil a comprehensive plan titled “Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America.” It is described by a leading expert as “the most detailed and well-thought-out plan for addressing climate change that has ever been a part of US politics — an extraordinary synthesis of expertise from social and scientific fields, written by people deeply familiar with government, the levers of power, and existing policy.”

The Climate Crisis Action Plan is full of detailed, ambitious and actionable climate solutions that Congress should enact to benefit American families and businesses. Our plan comes at a critical time and will put people back to work and rebuild in a way that benefits all of us. That means environmental justice and communities of color are at the center of the solutions we propose. The health of our families and the air we breathe also are at the heart of our plan. We chart the course to good-paying jobs in solar and wind energy, in manufacturing American-made electric vehicles, and in strengthening communities so they are more resilient to flooding, extreme heat, intense hurricanes and wildfires. Two days later, the House passed a number of the recommendations in the transportation and infrastructure package.

Legislation

The House passed major legislation last week including a major bill to lower the costs of health care, including prescription drug prices, and to safeguard the protections of the Affordable Care Act. Here are the details:

H.R. 1425 – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act will reduce health care costs and lower prescription drug prices and provide a renewed path for the State of Florida to expand Medicaid - so important as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many from their jobs and health insurance. This bill authorizes negotiation of prescription drug prices and stops drug companies from ripping off American families and seniors. This is an all-American proposition that makes sure everyone can afford the cost of their prescription drugs and have access to the care they need.

While Pres. Trump, Gov. DeSantis and AG Ashley Moody continue their all-out war on health care and seek to have courts rip coverage away from millions even in the midst of a pandemic, House Democrats are working to provide our neighbors, especially people with pre-existing conditions, the security they deserve. In addition to fighting to preserve protections for those with pre-existing conditions, click here to see ACA benefits and protections we are saving from the Republican onslaught.

H.R. 2 – Moving Forward Act: Floridians understand transportation gridlock and crumbling infrastructure and know that we can create millions of jobs when we invest in fixing both. This week, I was proud to vote for a transformational forward-leaning, climate resilient plan for our country to create more good-paying American jobs, unleash a 21st century infrastructure and fix many of our infrastructure problems. As we address systemic racism in our country I am proud that this legislation also addresses environmental justice such as investing in affordable housing, expanding affordable high-speed Internet to underserved communities, and ensuring that all have access to clean water. Improving education also can boost opportunity and the bill invests in schools with $130 billion in school infrastructure investments targeted to get students back to school and 2 million workers back to work. The bill also delivers desperately needed road and bridge improvements faster with more than $300 billion of investment that prioritizes fixing challenges we already have.

Many of the investments in the Moving Forward Act were recommended in the Solving the Climate Crisis Congressional Action Plan. Environmental justice is racial justice, and the Moving Forward Act invests in rural and urban low-income communities to increase access to jobs and improve transportation. We know that the impacts of pollution and congestion fall disproportionately on low-income communities and communities of color, and this package supports environmental justice communities with major funding initiatives.

H.R. 7301 – Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020 will help protect Americans from foreclosures, evictions, and unsafe housing conditions resulting from COVID-19. With many newly out-of-work Americans struggling to pay rent and mortgages, Congress must take action. This week, after we pressed Governor DeSantis, he finally agree at the 11^th hour, to expand the moratorium on evictions through August 1.

H.R.5332 – Protecting Your Credit Score Act of 2020 creates a new one-stop-shop online portal for American consumers to strengthen and repair their credit and better protect and inform consumers. It will also importantly increase consumer data protection guidelines that the Big 3 credit reporting agencies (CRAs) – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – must follow.

As COVID-19 cases continue to spike here in Florida, I urge you to stay home when possible and wear a mask and follow the latest guidance from our public health experts when you go out. Stay safe out there!

Sincerely,