Janelle Irwin Taylor
Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist of Pinellas County, hot on the heels of drawing a fourth Republican challenger, is reminding constituents of all he’s accomplished in the two and a half years he’s been in office.
“This year, we’ve had some significant wins on issues impacting Pinellas families — from lowering prescription drug prices, to preventing offshore drilling, to supporting our veterans, and ending the scourge of spam calls,” Crist wrote Wednesday.
Crist’s update includes the following policy actions.
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Medicare and Social Security – “As Vice-Chair of the Seniors Task Force, I am committed to protecting seniors’ financial security and quality of life. Medicare and Social Security are EARNED benefits after a lifetime of hard work and paying into the system – yet some politicians don’t seem to understand that they are a lifeline to so many. I was deeply disappointed that the administration’s budget would have cut Medicare by nearly $1 trillion. This is unacceptable. Protecting Social Security and Medicare should be a priority for anyone in an office of public trust. That is why my first bill, the Save Social Security Act (H.R.567), would scrap the income cap so those earning the most pay into Social Security just like the rest of us. My bill would raise enough revenue to preserve Social Security for another generation with enough left over to end the double taxation on Social Security benefits. A win-win!”
Prescription Drug Prices – “Over the past two decades, prescription drugs and other healthcare costs have been skyrocketing. The prices for vital medications and routine procedures have become unaffordable for many Floridians, especially our seniors and those with diabetes and other chronic conditions. Recently, I was proud to join my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass H.R.987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that will expand production of lower cost generic drugs and close loopholes pharmaceutical companies use to gouge consumers. But we need to do more to lower drug costs. Under H.R.1046, the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act, if drug companies fail to negotiate in good faith, Medicare would be allowed to end their exclusive right to produce that drug. Drug company lobbyists hate it, but I don’t care. It’s the right thing to do for the people. That’s whose side I’m on.”
Environment – “One thing all Pinellas residents share is a deep appreciation for our beautiful environment. As a lifelong Floridian and avid boater, I will always work to protect and preserve our natural ecosystem. This means advocating for clean water and clean air, supporting Everglades restoration, and tackling the existential threat of climate change. As a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I am taking the fight to the oil and gas companies that want to drill off our coasts. Not on my watch! With the privilege of serving on the powerful Appropriations Committee, I was able to secure $10 million to fight red tide and other harmful algae blooms. We both know that natural beauty is what makes our community a wonderful place to live, and I am happy to be in that fight with you.”
Veterans – “Our district is blessed to be home to 70,000 veterans. I can think of no greater call than serving those who served. This means working across the aisle on a bipartisan basis to improve the VA, expand benefits, and get Pinellas County veterans the care they deserve. I introduced the Veterans Treatment Court Coordination Act (H.R.886), with over 100 bipartisan cosponsors, to help veterans caught in the criminal justice system get access to care instead of jail, and the Expedite Agent Orange Coverage Act (H.R.1482) to deliver benefits more quickly to our Vietnam Veterans. We should never be afraid to fight for those who fought for our freedom.”
Flood Insurance – “Pinellas County is surrounded by water, underscoring just how important flood insurance is to our community. That is why I am fighting for a strong and affordable National Flood Insurance Program, along with a new, innovative program to mitigate flooding before disaster strikes. My bill, the State Flood Mitigation Revolving Fund Act (H.R.1610), would help cities and towns build more resiliency to floods and rising sea levels. I am optimistic that we will be able to get flood insurance done right for the people!”
Spam Calls – “How many times per day do you get harassed by unwanted spam calls? This has got to stop! It’s more than an annoyance – it’s an invasion of privacy used to deceive and take advantage of unsuspecting victims. That’s why I was proud to work across the aisle to introduce the Spam Calls Task Force Act (H.R.721). The scourge of spam calls is a multi-faceted problem that requires all hands on deck. This bill establishes an interagency working group to solve the scourge of spam calls once and for all and is currently moving through committee.”
One comment
Mike Yates
July 17, 2019 at 4:53 pm
While passing HR299 it is a good thing and it will help many Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans, In is a sad state of affairs when something becomes Political when it shouldn’t. The latest example is the passing of HR299, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.
Here we have a Bill that is suppose to help Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange. Yes it has been signed into law and will take effect on January 1, 2020 and it will help some Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans but it won’t help others that were going to be helped after the Procopio Ruling was handed down.
We have the Leadership of Congress and the large VSO running around patting themselves on their backs for passing of the Bill. However there are some groups missing, both Military Veterans Advocacy and Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association are missing from all of the Media dealing with HR299. These are two of the groups that have worked the hardest and always stayed on course with the Bill, yet the Leadership in Congress and the large VSOs are ignoring them. Could this be because of the fact that they are the two groups pointing out the major problem with HR299, that will limit the Procopio Ruling just because of the word “Offshore” in HR299.
We are the ones that haven’t changed the way we feel about this issue. In the last session of Congress we were pushing HR299 and the Big VSOs had a problem with the funding, well until it appeared that there was no stopping the Bill. They were fighting against it, if you don’t believe it check last year. They were against the Pay For. They fought it for the longest time until it appeared it was going to pass the House, then they came out for it. Why would they do that? Was it so they could take credit for it, or is it something else?
Then this session of Congress after the Procopio Ruling was announced, the VSOs decides to start supporting HR299 when in fact HR299 was no longer needed. But the VSOs decided that they need to “PROTECT” the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans by putting in the Geographic Points. It doesn’t take a Legal Expert to see that by defining the Geographic Points and calling them “Offshore” will limit the Procopio Ruling. My question is, didn’t they have their Lawyers read the Bill and the Procopio Ruling, I don’t think so. They just wanted to show they are going to “PROTECT” the Blue Water Navy Vietnams and now it is going to hurt those that are covered under the Procopio Ruling. The Procopio Ruling states that “Offshore” is farther out than the Geographical Points known as the Territorial Seas.
Could the actually reasons why they would not change the wording be due to money. Are Congress and the large VSO working together to make sure that the cost of the Bill doesn’t go any higher. Or are the two groups working together for other reasons, like I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.
Now it gets even worse. On July 1, 2019 Secretary Wilkie of the VeteransAdministration decided to issue a Stay. In the VA statement, Secretary Wilkie states “VA is dedicated to ensuring that all veterans receive the benefits they have earned,” Wilkie said in a statement. “We are working to ensure that we have the proper resources in place to meet the needs of our Blue Water veteran community and MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON ALL VETERANS FILING FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION.” To me he is saying, just so we don’t impact other Veterans we are just going to delay The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans, AFTER ALL THEY ARE USED TO IT.
My feeling is if it that important for the Leadership of Congress and the Big VSOs to leave Blue Water Navy Association out of everything, then fine, I hope they remember to take the credit when early next year when Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans find out that just because their ship was just outside by a couple of miles the Geographical Points that they are no longer covered but they would of been covered if Procopio Ruling, had S1195 passed or just changed the word “Offshore” in HR299.
If they think we are going to give up they are wrong. We will Continue the fight for veterans rights.
The leadership of both Blue Water Navy Association and Military Veterans Advocacy will be Washington DC the week of July 29, 2019
Mike Yates
National Commander
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association
[email protected]
702-769-4973
Continuing the fight for veterans rights
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