This is from Kathy Castor/Florida, US Representative

Dear friend,   Democracy and freedom won today as a bipartisan majority – 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans – voted to provide emergency security and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Despite months of delay at the hands of MAGA Republicans, America and our allies now will be better equipped to stand strong and united against authoritarian Vladimir Putin, his brutal war of aggression and his aims to weaken America. The security package provides support for the people of Ukraine and Israel while also providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by conflicts – including millions of Palestinians who continue to face an urgent humanitarian crisis as water and food supplies dwindle.   This package will help Israel defend itself from Hamas and Iran by replenishing the Iron Dome missile defense system that has protected the people of Israel and was pivotal in minimizing the impact of Iran’s recent attack. The package also provides crucial resources for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and the operations in the Middle East area of responsibility so that our military can respond to attacks on American interests by Iranian proxies. I am thankful Speaker Johnson finally scheduled the vote, but the harm inflicted on civilians, our allies, our global standing and our national security at the hands of MAGA Republicans will not be forgotten. Democrats again proved to be the governing majority with devotion to our democratic values and commitment to freedom at home and abroad. MY COMMITTEE WORK It was a busy week in my Energy and Commerce Committee!   The Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee held an important hearing on “Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights”, and my legislation to protect kids from online harm. The witnesses encouraged Congress to act to strengthen data privacy protections and adopt a design code that protects kids and teens online.   Americans value their privacy, and we need to rebalance the scales so they do not favor Big Tech over our children. Kids are lucrative targets for a wide range of online actors, and parents and kids need help. My landmark data privacy and design code legislation to protect Americans online is a top priority in the coming months. Read about my Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection 2.0 Act (COPPA 2.0) and Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) here. In the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I highlighted how the State of Florida and Gov. DeSantis are ripping health coverage away from children, including those with special needs. Of the over 1.35 million Floridians who have lost their life-saving Medicaid coverage during the “unwinding,” an estimated 70% were stripped of vital coverage due to procedural reasons, not because the individuals are no longer eligible for care. I’m glad the HHS Inspector General is examining state procedures during the redetermination because the overly aggressive approach we are seeing in states like Florida is causing undue hardship for vulnerable families.   In the Health Subcommittee, I spoke with HHS Secretary Becerra about the importance of children having access to consistent health coverage. Governor DeSantis is throwing Florida kids off the children’s health care program (“CHIP” or “Florida Kidcare”) and erecting barriers that keep kids from the doctor’s office in violation of federal law. On January 1, 2024, a new federal protection for children went into effect nationwide: continuous eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children for 12 months. This means that once children are determined eligible for Medicaid or CHIP anywhere across the nation, they keep their health coverage for an entire year. It is a vital reform that is being celebrated across America – except by Florida’s governor.   It’s unacceptable and shameful. Read my full statement here.