U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) released the following statement applauding legislation introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) to strengthen safety requirements on school buses, including provisions from the Best to Use Safety (BUS) Belts Act introduced last year by Rep. Crist requiring all new buses be equipped with three-point belts and providing grants to upgrade existing buses with safety belts. Improving school bus safety has bee...
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Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) issued the following statement regarding the announced leadership changes at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. Earlier this year, Crist publicly called for an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection after receiving dozens of troubling claims of abuse from Bay Pines employees. Crist first shared his concerns and allegations with the Whistleblower office last year for investigation. Cl...
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Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) released the following statement applauding the unanimous decision by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) blocking tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration on newspapers. In July, Crist submitted testimony to the USITC during its hearings on these new tariffs. He also introduced the bipartisan PRINT Act to block newspaper tariffs and joined fellow members of the Florida Congressional Delegation in calling on the U.S. Department...
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Today, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) announced the introduction of the Fairness in Federal Drug Testing Under State Laws Act (H.R.6589) with Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-GA) to protect veterans' treatment options and federal employment opportunities (bill details below). A recent American Legion poll found broad support for cannabis treatment among veterans and caregivers as well as that one in five veterans use marijuana to alleviate a medical condition. Crist made the announceme...
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Today, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) held his fourth town hall for Pinellas constituents. Originally scheduled to end at noon, Crist stayed for over three hours to answer questions and hear community concerns firsthand from constituents who filled the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg. (Please click here to view videos of the town hall, which was live-streamed on the Congressman's Facebook page). "It was an honor to spend the day with my Pinellas neighbors, discussing the issues...
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The United States-Israel Joint Drone Detection Cooperation Act, introduced by U.S. Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL) and Mike Johnson (R-LA), was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report passed by the House today. Following the President's signature, the Crist-Johnson proposal, which establishes a strategic partnership between the United States and Israel to combat drone attacks from Iran and other adversaries, will become law as part of the NDAA for f...
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Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist (D-FL), Jeff Denham (R-CA), Ann Kuster (D-NH), and Mike Bost (R-IL). The VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act enacts common-sense reforms making the VA's hazardous medical waste procedures safer and more efficient, saving the department millions of dollars annually that can be redirected to improve care for veterans. "This is how Congress should work – coming together to pass common-sen...
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Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) released the following statement on House passage of a four-month extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. The program is set to expire on July 31st, which would leave the policies for over 100,000 Pinellas County residents in limbo during hurricane season. "This bill keeps flood insurance strong and clean through hurricane season for Pinellas families and I urge my colleagues in the ...
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Today, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) wrote to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sharing community concerns over redevelopment plans for Jordan Park and their impact on senior residents. Crist is inviting HUD Secretary Ben Carson to visit the community to better understand the ongoing situation. Please find a copy of the letter attached and below: July 20, 2018 The Honorable Ben Carson, Secretary United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Dea...
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Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) submitted testimony to the United States International Trade Commission, which held a hearing yesterday on the negative impact new tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration will have on the newspaper industry. Crist recently introduced the bipartisan PRINT Act to block newspaper tariffs and joined fellow members of the Florida Congressional Delegation in calling on the U.S. Department of Commerce to prevent this harmful action. "An unnecessary trade...
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