Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, on June 23, 2021, I missed Roll Call vote 180. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on H.R. 2062.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, we are in a climate crisis, and it is going to take American leadership and ingenuity to solve it. But we think we can create jobs and a lot of opportunity when we solve the climate crisis. But what we are seeing right now are devastating health and economic consequences of climate change here all across America, whether it is wildfires out West, flooding in the midsection. We are approaching hurricane season with great trepidation. Extreme heat. We have got to act urgently, guided by the science, working in concert with our allies across the globe to provide a livable climate for all Americans, especially for future generations. We have got to harness the technological innovation of the Moon Shot. We have got to harness the creativity of our entrepreneurs, the strength of our workers, and the moral force of this great Nation that is working to establish justice for all. Because I believe that, working together, we will be able to avert the worst impacts of this climate emergency and build a stronger, healthier, fairer America. But let's look at what is happening right now. People know this. The last 7 years were the hottest on record. You don't have to tell that to the folks out West right now. They are living through some of the hottest days--the hottest, driest days. This is a departure from the 20th century average temperature. It just seems like these hotter days, the longer, hotter summers, are more frequent. And the science tells us that is true. Why is this happening? Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at record levels. People thought that, during the pandemic, greenhouse gases would dip and that might provide some salvation from the worst impacts of climate. But, see, these gases build up in the atmosphere. You don't get a bonus for any year. In fact, NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has said no, despite the pandemic, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at a record high. This creates enormous costs on families and businesses here in America but also all across the planet. It impacts the air we breathe. It creates very severe health consequences. Think about the folks who have to work outside in the extreme heat and more polluted air while coming out of a pandemic. Then, there is the cost, not just to the bottom line of the Federal budget, but the cost to all of us. In fact, last year alone, we suffered through about $100 billion, $96 billion, in damages from weather and climate disasters. That is just 1 year. This is an enormous wake-up call for our great country and people all across the planet. We have waited too long to take ambitious action. The time is now. The time is urgent. We don't have any more time for half measures, so we intend now to hammer out the most ambitious climate legislation that we have ever seen in order to answer the moral call that we have to future generations to make sure we give them a livable planet. Mr. Speaker, we are joined tonight by a number of colleagues, who are going to speak from the heart and speak with great intelligence to provide a little science, a little know-how. I am really proud to stand with them on the floor of the House tonight. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Congressman Casten, for bringing his intellect and his passion for solving the climate crisis to this Congress. It is needed now more than ever.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, hearing my colleague speak with such passion and such intellect really does give me hope that we have the tools necessary to tackle the climate crisis. But I think we also need to think about climate as a climate opportunity, and there are a few of these. Our newest colleague, Congresswoman Stansbury from New Mexico kind of hit on it. And it goes back to--I want to thank Mr. Casten--last year before the pandemic hit, Mr. Casten was kind enough to invite me to Chicago where we heard from environmental justice leaders. I also had the opportunity to travel to Detroit. I have listened to folks who are demanding greater equity all across America. Back home in Tampa, Florida, I see it; I understand that now the climate crisis presents us with a generational opportunity to rebuild our country and our infrastructure, so we are not leaving communities behind and we are not leaving any American behind. We can hammer out these investments that will help us rebuild the economy. Mr. Casten knows these examples quite well. Decades ago, unfortunately, the Federal Government put interstate highways right through the center of many communities. The harms from the pollution still linger today. In fact, Black Americans are exposed to 21 percent more fine, particulate matter pollution than the average American. I just don't think we can pass an infrastructure package that ignores these injustices. We are going to have to create these new opportunities in solving the climate crisis, creating good paying jobs, but also lifting up Americans and American communities that have carried the burden of pollution.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I think that is one of the reasons why President Biden's American Jobs Plan targets 40 percent of the benefits of our clean energy and clean infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities. I think that is smart policy. I think the gentleman is right. Right now, as we move into our clean energy future, President Biden has the goal of really helping communities that need revitalization. When you think about the hard work in a coal mine or out in the field, we owe such a debt of gratitude to our coal miners and the energy workers who have powered America. They have made it what it is over the last century. They ushered in the economic progress that we enjoy today. But we now know, according to the science, that our overdependence on coal and fossil fuels and fracked gas has led to a crisis that now threatens our way of life. I wish it weren't so, but we have to now, at this fork in the road, decide that our moral obligation to future generations comes first. With all of the opportunities that clean energy and greater and stronger and healthier communities can provide, we have got to hammer this out through the American Jobs Plan and make sure that we protect our economy, we protect our national security, our health, our beautiful natural resources from sea to shining sea, and the air that we breathe. But we have some choices to make. We can double down on the status quo, even as these climate-fueled disasters claim more lives and they hurt the pocketbooks of folks. I think of my neighbors back home in Florida now, the so-called Sunshine State. Boy, we have a lot of work to do to capture the power of the sun through solar energy, but we are paying more now because we have longer and hotter summers, it means AC bills are going up. We have these intense flood events, so we are paying more for flood insurance and stormwater costs. Meanwhile a lot of these energy companies have kind of gotten off the hook over time. What does the gentleman say about that?

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, well, what has been so fascinating is there are so many people in the room because they understand the opportunities, the job-creating opportunities through the American Jobs Plan. Here we go. The American Jobs Plan will create 2.7 million new jobs. So let's talk about some of those jobs. I think about some of our colleagues who represent communities that have seen jobs go overseas over time, our industrial base. We know what President Biden has proposed will help revitalize those communities; plug those abandoned coal mines; plug the abandoned wells; just plain plug the leaks of methane gas that are so damaging to the climate. We think we can create millions and millions of jobs through a new CCC, a Climate Conservation Corps. We can strengthen our communities at home. I know we have got a lot of seawalls that need repair, a lot of replanting of trees and mangroves to help protect us from these very costly events. We know we need to modernize the electric grid across America. Representative Casten, that is going to create an enormous amount of jobs in the Midwest because a lot of the renewable resources, your solar power, wind power, it is largely in the Midwest. We have got to build the modern electric grid. Look at this horrendous catastrophe in Texas just a few months ago because the electric grid there was not connected. It wasn't modernized. It wasn't resilient. People lost their lives because of the strange, climate-fueled winter storm in Texas. We are going to create a lot of jobs just modernizing and making the grid more resilient. And I haven't even gotten to the wind power, offshore wind, wind in the Midwest. This is our future. This is why I like to think of it not just in the terms of a climate crisis, but a climate opportunity. And I think that is why President Biden says that every time he hears people talk climate, he hears jobs, jobs, jobs.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Casten is right. You know, listing off all the job opportunities, the transportation sector, he is right. And this is a global competitiveness issue. We have got to win this race with China and the Europeans. They are building those electric vehicles. But how exciting was it to see the announcement from Ford and GM? I can't wait to see this electrified F-150 truck, the Lightning. This is an enormous opportunity, especially in the industrial Midwest that has really seen a lot of job loss over the years to China. We are going to get back on this, and the only way we can do it is through making these targeted investments. We want to build the electric vehicles that the world drives. We want to make sure that that charging infrastructure goes coast to coast in every community. But it is going to take the focus of America. And the good news is, all Americans--I don't care if you are a Democrat or Republican or Independent, or what, they understand that clean energy is the future; and that if we do it right, we can lift communities that need it; and we can create millions and millions of jobs. Now, I started with the science. And we heard from some outstanding colleagues, and we are going to hear a lot more from them in the coming weeks as we hammer out the American Jobs Plan. But there was one witness at one of our early hearings, Dr. Abdelhadi, who is an expert, who has been focused on climate for many years, and I want to just remind what he said. He said: The limited actions to address this climate crisis have resulted in lost opportunity and have produced a challenge that is even greater than it was even a few years ago. With political and society will, and with strategic and scientifically informed action that considers all of the dimensions of climate change, the dangerous trajectory we are on can be altered, such that our generation's story can be one of success and not failure.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Florida for yielding. It is with great sadness that I rise on behalf of the Florida delegation, and you can see we have many new Floridians in our delegation today because we had such great love, respect, and admiration for our colleague Congressman Hastings. Congressman Hastings was a towering figure who always stood up for the little guy. He fought for civil rights. He fought for voting rights. He fought for affordable healthcare. He was tireless. Now, Alcee did not suffer fools or malarky, and he was unafraid to point it out. And he did so with relish. And let that be a great example to all of us who have this tremendous responsibility to stand up every day for the people who send us here, especially the voiceless and the vulnerable. But Alcee served with great intellect, with passion, with flare. He loved the House of Representatives. He loved the State of Florida. He wanted it to be better, and he worked on that every single day. But I think we are all better for his service and his example. Madam Speaker, I think Alcee would have appreciated the fact that you are in bright orange today, the color of his beloved Florida A&M University. Go Rattlers. On behalf of the great State of Florida, we also send our love, prayers, and condolences to Lale, his chief of staff, his entire team, his family, his devoted friends, and I would respectfully ask that we recognize his life with a moment of silence, but ask and invite you all to join us in a celebration of his life that we intend to hold next week.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I am celebrating Tampa's health care heroes. Today I rise in immense gratitude for the life of service of retired pastor, Dr. Patrick Emmanuel Vincent, who because of his vision and leadership, approximately 1,500 of our neighbors of the East Tampa community have a medical home and access to free health care through the Calvary Community Clinic. Born in 1948 in the southeasterly Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, our community is fortunate that for the past nearly 20 years he has called Tampa Bay his home and for his pastoral service leading the congregation of Mount Calvary Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church since 2001 until his retirement in 2016. Dr. Vincent always wanted to be a minister of the gospel as far back as he could recall. He started his preparation for ministry at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Maracas Valley, a few miles northeast of his childhood home. He then moved to Mandeville, Jamaica to complete his bachelor's degree at the Northern Caribbean University. He graduated with a master's degree in Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Michigan. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. His pastoral ministry took him to Nashville and Chattanooga, TN, as well as Birmingham, AL and Orlando, FL. He became a renowned church builder and church growth specialist. As the senior pastor of Mount Calvary SDA Church in Tampa, Dr. Vincent led his congregation into their beautiful new sanctuary and reconstructed the church's school. But Dr. Vincent's vision went beyond serving the congregation of his church. He led a survey within the East Tampa community where his church is located to determine the most critical need. In response to the growing uninsured population in this area, the Calvary Community Clinic was established in 2015 to provide quality, compassionate health care. Dr. Vincent raised funding through Mount Calvary Church endowments and membership contributions, community initiatives, donations from corporations as well as grants. Today, Dr. Vincent serves as the chair of the Board of Directors for the clinic and a volunteer staff of certified physicians, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, counselors, social workers, and clerical and support personnel provide free healthcare and health education services to the uninsured, underserved and working poor individuals and families of East Tampa and Hillsborough County. Dr. Vincent is happily married to Judy Williams and together, they have committed their lives in service to God and their neighbors. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation and Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize Dr. Patrick Emmanuel Vincent, and his lifetime of servant leadership, spiritual guidance and his entrepreneurial spirit to uplift and grow his congregations and beyond that, his community at large.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I am celebrating Tampa's health care heroes. I rise today in admiration and respect for the service and leadership of Dr. Kevin Sneed, a tenured professor and the founding dean of the University of South Florida (USF) College of Pharmacy. Born in 1968, he was raised in Orlando, FL. His parents were both public school teachers and were part of the initial wave of educators to desegregate Orange County public schools. As a student at Edgewater High School, he was a shining star-- senior class vice president, a member of the National Honor Society and a football and track athlete. He attended the University of Central Florida to earn his bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in microbiology. While it is apparent that he was drawn to the sciences, it was a significant illness while in college that furthered his appreciation for health care and inspired him to enter this field. Dr. Sneed then received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, where he received numerous clinical and leadership awards. He returned to Florida to complete an Ambulatory Care/Primary Care Pharmacy Practice Specialty Residency at Bay Pines Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Prior to joining USF, Dr. Sneed was a faculty member at Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy. He joined USF Health as assistant dean and then founded its College of Pharmacy, which this year will celebrate its 10-year anniversary since welcoming its first charter class. In 2019, the College of Pharmacy received a $10 million donation from the Taneja Family Foundation, marking a transformational milestone for the young school and validating the innovative education experience that centers around the Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist, which trains pharmacists and physicians together. USF is a pioneer of this in Florida. One of Dr. Sneed's research and clinical interests is examining health care disparities. He regularly partners with organizations, such as the American Heart Association and REACHUP, Inc., to shine a light on these disparities and improve health outcomes, and his efforts were more critical than ever this past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Dr. Sneed has been dedicated to educating African American and Latino communities on how to understand the coronavirus and prepare for the vaccine, while working with the medical research community to help ensure equitable distribution among communities of color. Black and Hispanic populations that contract COVID-19 have a higher death rate by 2.8 times their white counterparts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The same dataset also demonstrates even higher hospitalization rates for Black and Hispanic populations. Dr. Sneed's efforts surely will save lives. Dr. Sneed is active in national and state organizations, among which include the American Heart Association, Association of Black Cardiologists, National Pharmaceutical Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Florida Pharmacy Association, Florida Society of Health- System Pharmacists, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. His work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, abstracts, poster presentations, and he has participated in multiple federal and industry sponsored grant projects. Notably, Dr. Sneed served as a site principal investigator and co- investigator on medication clinical trials. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation in the midst of a public health crisis and the Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize the service and leadership of Dr. Kevin Sneed, and his audacious, inspiring vision to transform health care in a way that empowers the clinician, but more importantly, the patient.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I am celebrating Tampa's health care heroes. Today I rise in admiration and respect for the public service and leadership of Dr. Dana Darien Glenn, who proudly serves our Veterans as Women's Center Medical Director at the James A. Haley Veterans (VA) Hospitals and Clinics in Tampa, FL. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1966, she relocated to Tampa in 1972 with her family. Her own father, Dr. Glinton Darien, served as a full-time staff dentist at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. Dr. Glenn has followed in his footsteps to serve our Veterans. Dr. Glenn was also influenced by her mother, who is a retired registered nurse. While Dr. Glenn has always had a passion for science and math, building a sense of community for her patients started at a young age when she would accompany her father, a deacon, as he visited the ill and shut-ins. The youngest of three children, she attended Hillsborough County Public Schools, graduating with honors from Leto High School. She then earned her associate's degree and graduated with honors from Hillsborough Community College. She completed her bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Florida in 1988 and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine in 1993. She returned to Florida to complete the Bayfront Medical Center Family Practice Program. In Tampa, she met and married the love of her life, Vernon Glenn, where they live with their two children, Alana and Theodore. Prior to joining James A. Haley VA Hospital, Dr. Glenn was a private practitioner for 10 years in Tampa. Part of that time she ran a practice, Glenn Family Health Center, with her husband. Her sense of community transitioned her from private practice to joining the James A. Haley VA Hospital as a full-time staff physician in 2005. She was inspired by the hospital's patient-aligned care team and less than 10 years later, she would become part of the planning team to open a center solely dedicated to women veterans healthcare, including equipment, supplies and space to ensure gender-specific care. The United States has more than 2 million women veterans, and the number of women using VA health services has more than tripled over the last 20 years. VA hospitals across the nation are adapting to serve the changing demographic--Dr. Glenn is part of this history of transition. The James A. Haley VA Hospital currently serves approximately 12,000 female Veterans. Dr. Glenn is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and she is a member of the American Medical Association. Her list of past awards and honors include Finalist for VA Woman of the Year Award, Young Leader Award by the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, Charles Aucremann Art of Medicine Award, M.A. Barton Award for Best Medical Paper, Outstanding Presentation, Research Day, and Commonwealth Fund/ Bristol-Myers Squibb Fellowship in Academic Research. Her professional and community services include: VA National Women's Health Services Mini-Residency Faculty participating in national and local lectures to train women's health staff as well as Affiliate Assistant Professor at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine teaching internal medicine residents. She has been a volunteer speaker at numerous church-based community health programs focusing on women's health issues. Dr. Glenn is passionate about helping people achieve their highest level of health and wellness. She is especially encouraged about opportunities to effectuate positive changes in the African American community disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and in multiple chronic disease/health outcome measures as well as underrepresented in leadership roles in medicine. Her personal mission statement is based on her favorite Bible verse, Galatians 2:20: ``I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.'' Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation in the midst of a public health crisis and the Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize the service and leadership of Dr. Dana Glenn, as well as her eternal optimism guided by her personal faith.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I missed the vote on Roll Call No. 94 on March 18, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 94.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. I rise today to urge the impeachment of Donald Trump because the attack on the Capitol and the Congress was the single most depraved betrayal of the U.S. Constitution ever committed by a President. The traitorous incitement of an insurrection demands not just impeachment but removal from office immediately. Violence during the transfer of power, Confederate flags, anti- Semitic paraphernalia desecrated this Capitol. Accountability must come swiftly. We must act with the same resoluteness we showed in the early morning hours after the insurrection, where we ensured the will of the voters was effectuated. Donald Trump's defilement of this Capitol will not stand. It demands impeachment now.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, as we enter a new year, Americans are urging us to come together and tackle our toughest challenges, and that includes the costly climate crisis. In the previous Congress, the House directed that a Select Committee on the Climate Crisis develop a roadmap for America's clean energy future. With a broad cross section of ideas and input, the committee developed a majority staff report that was a detailed roadmap for action. It was called the Solving the Climate Crisis plan. It has been described as the most well-thought-out plan for addressing climate change that has ever been part of U.S. politics, an extraordinary synthesis of expertise from social and scientific fields. Some of our recommendations have already been adopted into law through bipartisan legislation, but we have much more work to do. This excellent rules package will allow us to continue our work in the 117th Congress. Our bipartisan committee intends to advance clean energy solutions that unleash American innovation, promote environmental justice, and create good family-sustaining jobs in all communities across the country. I urge Members to support the rules package, and I thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman McGovern, and the Committee on Rules for their work and for their vision.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in admiration and respect to honor the achievements and unselfish work of Hillsborough Commissioner Lesley ``Les'' Miller, Jr. and to congratulate him on his retirement. Les' remarkable contributions to our hometown of Tampa have had a tremendous impact on our neighbors and citizens of Florida and is worthy of recognition. Les was born in Tampa in 1951, graduated from Middleton High School and later served in the United States Air Force as an administrative specialist. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in public administration from the University of South Florida (USF) and received an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters from Florida A&M University in 2005. During his academic career, Les served as the First African American President of the Student Government Association and President of the Black Student Union. Before making a switch to political science, Les was a music major and rose to be drum major at Middleton High. Les' involvement and willingness to serve did not stop after his college career. He also served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1992 to 2000 and as a member in the Florida Senate from 2000/ 2006. Commissioner Miller was the first Democrat in Florida to serve as both Florida House and Senate Minority Leader. His hard work and dedication towards public policy and passion for giving back to his community, has granted him several awards including the Florida Education Association President's Award; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Memorial Service Robert W. Saunders Award for Efforts to Promote Civil Rights; the University of South Florida Presidents' Distinguished Citizen Award; the Early Learning Coalition Legislative Excellence Award; Florida League of Cities Legislative Award; and the Florida Housing Coalition Legislative Award. Les has been an integral part of the growth and development of Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida's only National Cancer Institute- designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Les was already a cancer survivor before Moffitt opened, but throughout his life, he and his loved ones still needed Moffitt more than he might have imagined. Les has survived three bouts of cancer, and both his wife, Gwen and daughter LeJeane, have twice survived cancer. Through his career in the Florida Legislature, Les made funding Moffitt one of his priority issues. His many accomplishments there, include, a measure he authored to earmark a percentage of Florida's tobacco sales taxes for Moffitt research and patient care. Les continues to give back through Moffitt's annual Men's Health Forum which encourages men regardless race, religion and socioeconomic background to get information and guidance on prostate and men health. Les credits Moffitt for being alive today and has made it a life mission to help the center in any capacity. Les' relentlessness to fight for what is right inspired him to lead efforts throughout his career, both at the state and local level, for tough laws to stop gun violence and keep guns out of the hands of people like the men who shot his son, Trey. Les' tough and collaborative approach has allowed him success despite strong opposition from special interests and even the Florida Legislature. It passed a law to try to take gun violence efforts from local governments. Les' strength and passion can be seen in his continuing efforts to fight to stop gun violence even in the face of rules that threaten local officials personally who try to protect their communities. During his tenure as a Commissioner for Hillsborough County, Les has continued to improve the lives of many by continuously fighting for affordable housing, better transportation and protection of the environment. He also served on several Boards and Councils including Aviation Authority, Committee of Six, Expressway Authority, Florida State Fair Authority, HART, Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Visit Tampa Bay, Tourist Development Council and Election Canvassing Board. Outside of his role as Commissioner, Les continues to be an active voice in civic affairs including being a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. a member of Harram Temple No. 23, Prince Hall Shriners; a member of the United Supreme Council, 33rd Degree Mason, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliate; Life Member and Past Master of Landmark Lodge No. 93 of Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons; Life Member of the Tampa Branch of the NAACP; and a Deacon of the New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Tampa, Inc. He also continues to uplift and highlight the history and contributions of the African American community to Hillsborough County. Madam Speaker, Les Miller, Jr. embodies what it is to be a public servant and citizen. He has shown the way for generations to come, always giving his very best, leading by example and always working to make lives better for those he serves. On behalf of the citizens of Florida and my neighbors across Tampa Bay, I am proud to honor Les Miller, Jr. for his formidable efforts and selfless devotion to the people in our community and congratulate him one more time, on his retirement.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the memory of an unwavering environmental advocate, W. Kent Bailey. On any decision or issue that touched the natural environment of our beautiful Tampa Bay and surrounding area, Mr. Bailey was always there--steadfast. He came armed with science-based facts with an eye to the future. He understood how to convey his message in unconventional ways to directly convey the urgency, such as carrying a cardboard wave cutout to show how high water might rise by the end of the century. Mr. Bailey was a leader and a supporter of all causes big and small that impacted our environment. Born in Paris, Kentucky, Mr. Bailey moved to Tampa Bay in his early adulthood. By the time of his passing on Sept. 22, 2020 at age 69, he had spent more than 30 years in Florida. His love for sailing brought sea-level rise in Tampa Bay to his attention as he documented that the actual tide level was usually higher than the projected tide level. He became an expert on sea-level rise as well as outspoken about it to elected officials and its impact in the near future if left unabated. In 2010, after fighting for the preservation of nearly 13,000 acres of land in northeastern Hillsborough formerly known as Cone Ranch, he became a full-fledged member and leader of the Sierra Club, the largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Thanks to Mr. Bailey and the work of others, developers were forever blocked from acquiring Cone Ranch, which has become the largest undeveloped tract of land and has since been under restoration, slowly opening to the public for families and neighbors to enjoy for passive activities, such as hiking and horseback riding. Mr. Bailey owned and operated Bailey & Son Woodworking since 1972 but his calling was all-things environment. Mr. Bailey served as chair of the Tampa Bay Sierra Club for the past eight years, engaging and mobilizing thousands of members to protect our region and state's fragile, sensitive enviromnental lands. He overwhelmingly poured his time and energy in deeply studying climate science and preparing for the next public presentation or protest about it, building his ethos and all for the purpose of sustaining a more prosperous and equitable future for his 22 grandchildren and ours. He was an inspirational speaker and motivator, always leading by example and always giving credit to others and being a cheerleader for their contributions. He developed a strategy of using all angles to fight for our environment and affect state policies to promote preservation, whether it was organizing protests, writing letters to the editor or creative antics, such as purchasing stock from the local power company, Emera Inc., and traveling from Florida to Nova Scotia so he can vote at the shareholders meeting and in protest of expansion plans of a fracked gas facility in Tampa Bay. Mr. Bailey's legacy will live through his six children, grandchildren and wife, Cathy, who stood by him in his activism. Madam Speaker, our grateful and saddened Tampa Bay community also pledges to carry forward the work of Mr. Bailey. His formidable efforts and selfless devotion to making Tampa Bay and the rest of the United States a better place to live are unmatched and are worthy of recognition. On behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay, Florida, and citizens across the United States, I am proud to honor W. Kent Bailey for his lifelong dedication to the protection of the environment. His legacy as a tireless advocate will live on and inspire others in the community for many years to come.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone for yielding me the time. We are in the grips of a climate crisis, a climate emergency, and time is running out. Time is running out to avoid the worst consequences of a heating planet. Time is running out to avoid the escalating costs that are weighing down families and businesses across America. So this Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act is an important step. It brings us a little bit closer to the major ambitious steps that we must take towards a 100 percent clean energy economy. Here are a few things that are important about this package. It follows the science. The scientists and experts tell us that we truly are running out of time to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. We must do it as soon as possible, but no later than 2050. That means we have to get going right away. This package also puts money back in the pockets of consumers and businesses and it will create thousands of jobs. These are the jobs that the younger generation are hungry for, in manufacturing and science, and building resilience among communities all across this country. This bill also empowers environmental justice communities to address pollution and to protect their health. Very importantly, on a bipartisan basis, bicameral basis, we have to address hydrofluorocarbons. A hydrofluorocarbon is a very damaging greenhouse gas, much more damaging than carbon dioxide. We have an opportunity in this Congress to address those hydrofluorocarbons and bring them under control. If we don't do this now, it is going to be much more difficult to do it in the future. So I thank Chairman Pallone, Chairwoman Johnson, and I thank my colleagues for doing what they can. Next up are the ambitious policies to truly solve the climate crisis.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in admiration to honor the life and unselfish work of a ``Happy Warrior'' Roy Weatherford. Roy's dedication to justice, equality, peace and worker rights is worthy of recognition. Roy's significant contributions to society are rooted in his humble background. Raised in rural Arkansas with no electricity, education was always a top value for his family. While studying at Arkansas Technical University, he not only met his partner for life, Doris, but he found his causes for life--standing up for working people and against injustice. Roy saw firsthand the injustices of the Jim Crow era and was inspired by his professors to forgo his studies in math and physics in favor of philosophy. And, when the administration fired those professors, in a scene that would be repeated often in Roy's career, Roy and his friends rallied and circulated petitions to show support for their beloved professors. Roy was not as successful as he would be later in life in this first foray challenging the powers that be, but he never quit fighting from those days forward. Roy graduated at the top of his class in 1964 and he took a fellowship at Harvard University. A year later, he joined the army as a cryptanalyst just as the war in Vietnam was escalating. While still in the Army, on assignment near the Pentagon, he and Doris were married. Roy returned to Harvard. Always a brilliant student, his master's thesis won the Bechtel Prize in philosophy and he graduated with his doctorate in 1972. Roy decided to move to Tampa and join the faculty of the emerging University of South Florida (USF). Though he of course had other options, Roy felt that he could make a bigger impact on people's lives at a small upstart school like USF than at a more established school in the Northeast. Roy observed that in Massachusetts and even Arkansas, community leaders typically come from families that have long been dominant. Roy said, ``in Florida, anybody who's willing to work can make a difference.'' New England's loss was certainly Florida and Tampa's gain, and through his hard work and the differences that he made, he proved his adage. Just two years after landing in Tampa, Roy was named the chair for the USF chapter of United Faculty Florida (UFF). A perfect fit for his energy, ability and conscience. He fought tirelessly to get more local control for unions and more resources for faculty and students. It has been said that he put a face on the faculty and made their needs real. After being elected union president in 2001, Roy worked until the union was saved. Typically, he went against the grain of the political landscape of the day, which was seeking to decertify unions. His efforts pressed those at the top to continue to recognize the faculty's right to come together. And, when bargaining began locally for the first time, Roy's astuteness, passion and commitment resulted in not only a contract but one including raises for faculty. He lobbied the state government to pass sweeping transformational laws, including Florida's exceptional Government-in-the-Sunshine law and often worked on local and state committees focused on education and workers' rights. Roy set the precedent for how USF and other university administrators work with educators, professors and organized labor. By the time of his retirement, union membership had doubled. Indeed, it has been said that many of UFF's, USF's and organized labor's successes in Florida exist because of Roy's advocacy. As a scholar, he wrote enthusiastically and intelligibility on world peace. As a person, Roy was a loving and tireless advocate for the same. Roy and Doris protested the Vietnam War and were active in many campaigns and causes--spending countless hours marching in support of civil and women's rights. In Doris' words, he was ``concerned and passionate and principled.'' Madam Speaker, on behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay, Florida and citizens across the United States, I am proud to honor Roy Weatherford for his lifelong dedication to justice, working people and giving a voice to those who often were not allowed to have one. Roy showed us what service above self, passion, empathy, and action look like.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Justice. Justice. I have heard my Tampa neighbors and their calls for justice. Black lives matter, and I dedicate my vote on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act today to the generations of Tampa neighbors who have suffered the unfair burdens of discrimination, disrespect, and violence due to the color of their skin. Too many lives over too many years in America cut short at the hands of officers who were supposed to protect them, so House Democrats will act decisively today to ensure that police officers are held accountable for misconduct and that lives are saved. We will end harmful policing practices, including racial profiling, no-knock warrants, and chokeholds. The time for change is now. In fact, a new paradigm for policing in America is overdue. I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Karen Bass of California, for bringing us closer to justice today.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a jurist who has served our Tampa neighbors for decades--and continues his dedication to this day. Through his work spanning more than 40 years and as the second African American appointed to the bench in Hillsborough County, which is the longest tenure for an African American judge in the county's history, Judge Perry A. Little has helped shape our community forever. Judge Little is husband to Sonjia Latson Little and father of three: Matthew (Nandie), Marissa and Josie. He is also the proud grandfather of four girls, Reigan, Ivy, Gabrielle and Eden, and a member of Beulah Baptist Church. Judge Little was born and educated in Georgia. He received his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College and his law degree from Emory University. After completing law school, he took a position at a legal clinic where he could have a larger community impact over a federal position he was offered in Washington, D.C. At a time when windows and doors were just beginning to open for African Americans in the legal profession, Judge Little was appointed to the bench in Hillsborough County in 1977 by Governor Rubin Askew, where he presided for more than 12 years. He was the second African American in the county's history to be appointed, standing on the shoulders of Judge George Edgecomb, who only served three years as a county judge due to illness, but set the highest of standards for his colleagues to follow. The 1970s were a transformative time for communities as desegregation orders blanketed the nation while raising the profile of diversity at all levels of government. With the vital role our courts play in our democracy, economy and daily lives, a more diverse judiciary brings greater confidence in our justice system and is an important step toward a more just and equal America. In 1993, Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Judge Little to the Circuit Court where he served in the Juvenile and Circuit Civil Divisions until his retirement in 2007. Much of Judge Little's Circuit experience was dedicated to positively impacting the lives of juveniles and young adults through his legal decisions, who he continues to serve as an inspiration. Judge Little retired to care for his aging father in Georgia but continues to lend his judicial expertise as a Senior Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and assists other judges to ensure each case is given the time and care it deserves. He has been recognized for his extensive commitment to service through various awards, including the 2018 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Black Law Students Association at WMU-Cooley Law School's Tampa Bay campus. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay community, it gives me immense pride to honor a great public servant this Black History Month. Judge Little is a man faithful to his family and community, and is unparalleled in service to his neighbors.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true ``Man of Vision,'' Mr. Ross Anderson. He was born and raised in Tampa, Florida and has left an indelible mark in our hometown. Mr. Anderson graduated from Hillsborough High School and the University of South Florida. He received his graduate degrees from Columbia Southern University and Waldorf College, respectively. While Mr. Anderson takes great pride in his distinguished education and vocation, he is most proud to be the father of James Elaissaint-Anderson and Henry Tillman Jr., and the grandfather of Jasmine Tillman. Mr. Anderson saw a profound need in our community for mentorship directed towards young men whom he often refers as ``our boys.'' His vision for mentorship led him to leave his career as a successful corporate executive. In 2006, one year into his tenure as a teacher, Mr. Anderson helped found Men of Vision at Sligh Middle School. In 2010, Men of Vision, Inc. was established with the concept of ``Action & Vision can change the World.'' The effort starts at the commnunity level but knows no limits in its outreach. In Mr. Anderson's world, ``our boys'' enhance their personal development, and by doing so, address the physical and social needs of their communities. It also follows that they then promote better relations among all people through a framework of friendship and service, and provide an overall vision for the future. Men of Vision is open to young boys and men from ages 10 to 19, fifth grade through post-secondary school. The group is organized into elementary, middle and high schools throughout the community. Membership is open to young men regardless of race, color, ability, creed, gender, national origin or religion, reflecting the diversity of Tampa Bay, the community it serves. The impact has been tremendous. Mr. Anderson serves as a guide, mentor and advocate for ``our boys,'' some who may be on the brink of hopelessness. By boosting these individuals and turning them instead into confident contributors and leaders, Mr. Anderson lifts our community one Man of Vision at a time. He has dedicated his life to ensuring that Tampa's future generations believe they can make a difference in the community in which they live by focusing on serving others and respecting themselves as vital members of our community. Nearly 100 percent of Men of Vision complete high school and many continue higher education. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Florida and my neighbors across Tampa Bay I am proud to honor Ross Anderson this Black History Month. Mr. Anderson's untiring efforts and selfless devotion are a shining beacon to all of us, especially the young people in our community. The time and energy he has invested into developing our youth and making Tampa Bay a better place to live are unmatched. His legacy will live on in history through the hundreds of young men and the community at large that he has inspired and impacted.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate one of Florida's most distinguished jurists--and one of the highest integrity. Judge Marva L. Crenshaw was born in 1951 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, one of seven children. A child of faith, naturally reflective in her calm demeanor, she would epitomize a commitment to justice and the judicial temperament that would distinguish her service on the bench. She is married to Norman Campbell and together they raised their two daughters, Kalinda and Kamaria. Growing up in the segregated south, Judge Crenshaw attended segregated schools during her formative years. She excelled in language arts and became inspired by the impact of the rule of law, an appreciation she acquired spending time with her grandfather as he attended his affairs in her small town's courthouse. She earned her bachelor's degree with honors in 1973 from Tuskegee Institute, where she pledged as a Delta Sigma Theta and also became active in voter rights. She then achieved her childhood dream by earning her law degree from the University of Florida in 1975. Judge Crenshaw began her dedication to public service as a prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office under Richard Gerstein in Miami-Dade County, Florida. She was hired by Janet Reno, who would later become the U.S. Attorney General. She served in that capacity until arriving to the Tampa Bay community in 1978 to join Bay Area Legal Services. She put her skills and legal acumen to work for families who often faced financial barriers to the courthouse and the legal system. She provided important legal services to disadvantaged neighbors across Tampa Bay and was named the organization's Deputy Director a decade later. In 1989, Governor Bob Martinez appointed her to the Hillsborough County Court. In 2000, Governor Jeb Bush appointed her as the first African American woman to serve on the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court. There she was assigned to civil, family, criminal and juvenile divisions--furthering her lifelong dream to serve the public and her community. In 2009, Governor Charlie Crist appointed her to the Second District Court of Appeal, where she presided until retirement in 2018. Judge Crenshaw broke barriers and charted a course for others who are committed to equal justice to follow. She set the highest of standards in her courtroom and in service to our community to ensure fairness. While retirement marks the end of one chapter in her life, she continues to explore other opportunities to impact people's lives through service. Judge Crenshaw has been extensively involved in bar activities and was recognized as recently as 2019 with both the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Robert W. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award and the Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers' Trailblazer Award. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I am humbled to honor Judge Marva L. Crenshaw during this Black History Month for her many years of selfless service and leadership, and for being a trailblazer and a shining light for justice for all.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2339, the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019 and the efforts by the House to curb the youth e- cigarette and vaping epidemic. Congress must take strong action to stop the marketing of tobacco products to children and end the e-cigarette epidemic among our youth. In 2009, Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act), which provided the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with authority to regulate certain tobacco products marketed towards children. And today, the House is passing the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act introduced by Representatives Pallone and Shalala, which will strengthen the FDA's authority to regulate tobacco products marketed towards children, particularly the insidious e-cigarettes that have swept the country in the decade since we passed the Tobacco Control Act. The legislative intent is rooted in the important objective of preventing youth access to tobacco products and stopping big tobacco and others from preying on our children by developing a new generation of nicotine-addicted smokers. For years, many of my colleagues and I have worked with FDA and stakeholders to ensure that traditional, handcrafted premium cigars that are not used by or marketed to children are not swept up in an overbroad regulation. We introduced bipartisan legislation this Congress, as we have in last four Congresses, that reinforces the legislative intent of the Tobacco Control Act and narrowly defines traditional non-flavored handcrafted premium cigars not marketed to children. Our bill currently has 78 bipartisan cosponsors, and last Congress, our legislation H.R. 564 had 149 bipartisan cosponsors. I would like to thank Chairman Pallone for working with me and others to address what I believe could have been unintended consequences of H.R. 2339 of subjecting traditional large and premium cigars not marketed to children to overbroad regulation. The bill as amended in the Energy and Commerce Committee correctly exempts from certain regulations this small subset of traditional, handcrafted cigars that are not marketed to children. The FDA would continue to have the authority to subject traditional and large premium cigars to important FDA regulations like minimum age requirements; prohibition of adulterated and misbranded products; requirements to register and report products and ingredients; FDA inspections every two years; good manufacturing practices and tobacco product standards; user fees; and the FDA should have enforcement powers for these. While it was appropriate to provide exemption from certain provisions for traditional large and premium cigars in the bill, the definition of traditional large and premium cigars contained in H.R. 2339 should be updated to conform with the definition in H.R. 1854, to wit: A traditional large and premium cigar should be defined as any roll of tobacco that is wrapped in 100 percent leaf tobacco, bunched with 100 percent tobacco filler, contains no filter, tip, flavor additive, or non-tobacco mouthpiece, and weighs at least 6 pounds per 1,000 count. It also must either have a 100 percent leaf tobacco binder and be handrolled, or have a homogenized tobacco leaf binder and be made in the United States using human hands to lay the 100 percent leaf tobacco wrapper onto only one machine that bunches, wraps, and caps each individual cigar. And, it should explicitly exclude cigarettes or little cigars, as defined by the FDA. The above definition is essentially the definition from H.R. 2339 but without the single cigar retail price provision. The price point included in the bill has no rational basis for inclusion and a cigar made consistent with the definition above meets the test of the type of cigar not consumed by our youth. Had I had the opportunity to offer an amendment, I would have proposed striking this arbitrary provision from the legislation to ensure that the family cigar producers in my district, across Florida and small business owners across the country including the many mom and pop retail shops are not subjected to this unnecessary job-killing arbitrary price that lacks a rational basis. I look forward to continuing to work with the Senate, the FDA and to press my own bill in the House, H.R. 1854, to ensure that any laws or regulations that deal with traditional large and premium cigars are consistent with our shared goals of preventing youth tobacco use, stopping arbitrary or unintended regulation and protecting American jobs.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone for yielding the time. Affordable healthcare is fundamental to the well-being of American families, but the Trump administration doesn't believe that. Now, they are proposing again to shrink, block, or eliminate health services under Medicaid. For over 50 years, Medicaid has provided a coverage guarantee. It is guaranteed that if you fall on hard times or if you have a disability or you are a senior in skilled nursing, care will be there if you need it. But this proposal out of the administration will severely chip away at that coverage guarantee. It is particularly harmful to my home State of Florida, and it will complicate our ability to expand Medicaid health services to families who need it. Don't just take it from me. Patient advocates, doctors, and hospitals overwhelmingly oppose block grant waivers because they will weaken access to care. Groups like AARP, the American Cancer Society Action Network, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Federation of American Hospitals, the Children's Hospital Association, and many others have spoken out against block grants and waivers. Unfortunately, this is part of the administration's broader antihealthcare agenda. They have tried to weaken affordable care through budgets; we have rejected it. Through legislation, we have defeated it. Now, they are in the courts to take away that coverage for preexisting conditions. The Trump antihealthcare agenda is cruel. It is wrong. And I urge my colleagues to reject it today by passing this resolution.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, the President abused his power. He violated his oath of office. He sought to elevate himself as a dictator or king. But we are not a monarchy. We are the United States of America. We are a republic, a democracy, where the executive does not have absolute power. America was founded on a system of checks and balances. When the President withheld military aid to vulnerable Ukraine and pressed for a personal favor to manufacture dirt against a political opponent, he went too far. He undermined America's national security. He sought to sabotage our elections. He elevated his personal interests over the interests of America. Then, he tried to cover up his scandalous behavior, and he obstructed the investigation. He violated his oath of office, but I intend to uphold mine to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. The President must be impeached today.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Florida (Ms. Shalala) for yielding time and, also, for her leadership throughout the years in fighting to keep drug costs low. It really matters to families all across this country. I feel like shouting this from the top of the Capitol dome: We are going to pass a bill that will allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices in America. This is kind of an all-American concept, isn't it, negotiate fair prices? But for too long, Big Pharma, these drug companies, have gouged American families and consumers, and they have taken advantage of it, haven't they? I mean, these prices are astronomical. Families across America are often paying 4, 5, 10 times more the amount for their prescriptions than families in other countries. That is not right, and it is especially not right in this country where it is the U.S. taxpayer who is often providing the funding for the basic research to develop these drugs. So let's all shout it from the Capitol dome, the very top: We are going to allow--we are going to direct Medicare to negotiate prices to bring the cost of prescription drugs down. We are going to not just contain that in Medicare, but make sure that it is spread, and those cost savings are realized for all of the families who rely on private insurance. And then, with the billions of dollars in savings, we are going to improve Medicare. For a long time, Medicare has not provided comprehensive benefits for vision, for hearing, for dental care. These are fundamental health services. So what a winning proposition for American families. And I am so proud that it is the Democrats and our new majority that can deliver on this promise for the people. Lower drug costs now.