With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Sam Bell, husband of Betty Castor and stepfather of Congresswoman Kathy Castor, last night after an unexpected health complication. Samuel P. Bell III founded the University of South Florida College of Public Health and was considered the “father” of the institution. He served in the Florida Legislature for fourteen years and mad... Read More »
Every year during Black History Month, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) pays tribute to community leaders and during this year’s ceremony, she recognized champions in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. Rep. Castor’s written tributes to these community leaders will be memorialized in the Congressional Record and can be read here: Tampa: Celeste Gibbons-Peoples Fred Hearns Dr. Davina Jones Dr. John L. Smit... Read More »
Florida public schools and their students are at serious risk under the radical tax giveaway scheme being fast-tracked by the Florida Legislature. House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 202 would divert public money for unchecked education “vouchers.” They could cost up to $4 billion in the first year alone. In Hillsborough County, schools would lose an estimated $291 million in the 2023-2024 school year; i... Read More »
Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) reintroduced her bipartisan Florida Coastal Protection Act with Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL16) to make permanent the moratorium on oil drilling off Florida’s coast. “We must do all we can to protect and improve the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and our oceans. In the Sunshine State, clean water and our beautiful beaches are central to our way of life and the cornerst... Read More »
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Celeste Gibbons-Peoples for her nearly four decades of public service to the Tampa Bay community. Her influence in our community follows a tradition of excellence pioneered by her late father, Walter Lee “Dirk” Gibbons, who was a well-known Negro League Baseball player locally and nationally. She has committed her life to telling the stories of Black pioneers... Read More »
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true Tampa Bay historian who has served this community with great distinction for many decades. Mr. Charles “Fred” Hearns is one of the foremost historians of Tampa Bay and Florida history. And, since 2021, he has served as the first Curator of Black History for the Tampa Bay History Center (TBHC). Mr. Hearns was born in the Bronx, NY and grew up in East Tampa,... Read More »
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great educator and leader in the Tampa Bay community, Dr. Davina Arleen Jones. Dr. Jones is one of six children, born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. Her mother worked for the county library as a book processor and her father was a city bus operator while also serving as a full-time pastor. Dr. Jones’ parents instilled in her and her siblings the importance o... Read More »
Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month with immense gratitude for the life of service of veteran and retired educator, Dr. John L. Smith, Jr. Because of Dr. Smith’s long-standing commitment and dedication to education and leadership, higher learning institutions throughout the United States are advancing diversity and inclusion at the highest levels. He charted a course through music... Read More »
Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month to celebrate a change agent and one of Tampa Bay’s most accomplished businesswomen, Ms. Bridgette Heller. Ms. Heller was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Fla. She attended segregated schools through elementary school, but credits success during her formative years to being raised by a village of love that had very high standards for her. She a... Read More »
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense gratitude for Bishop Preston D.H. Leonard, who inspires us all through his lifetime of public service deeply rooted in his faith. For more than 60 years, he has served as pastor at Christ Gospel Church of St. Petersburg! Bishop Leonard is the only living pastor in the church’s history and has the longest tenure of any pastor in the St. Petersburg area. He ser... Read More »
Mr. Speaker, I rise during Black History month to honor the life of an extraordinary leader, educator and pillar of the St. Petersburg community, Mr. Mordecai Walker. Mr. Walker was born in Citrus Park in rural Hillsborough County on July 4, 1924, to Charlie and Pearl Walker. He attended segregated schools in Hillsborough County – Citrus Park School for colored children, Booker T. Washington Junio... Read More »
Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor led all Florida Congressional Democrats in urging Governor Ron DeSantis to take action to keep costs down and keep Floridians covered during the Medicaid redetermination period. Congress acted during the Covid19 pandemic to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries would not lose health coverage, but beginning on April 1, the state must redetermine eligibility for over 5.6 m... Read More »
This week, Representatives Kathy Castor (FL14), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA01), and Lauren Underwood (IL14) reintroduced H.R. 1117, the Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2023. This bipartisan bill would build upon prior legislation to better our understanding of the effect of medications on pregnant and lactating women and their infants. By updating FDA regulations, establishing a na... Read More »
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the second wave of approximately $1 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to start new cleanup projects at 22 Superfund sites and expedite over 100 other ongoing cleanups across the country. On Friday, Rep. Castor joined EPA Administrator Michael Regan and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) virtually to an... Read More »
Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL14) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO03) reintroduced H.R. 900, the Continuous Coverage for Flood Insurance Act, which would lower costs by ensuring that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allows consumers to exercise their right to maintain flood insurance outside of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). “Families, homeowners, and small business owner... Read More »
