U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-09) and Kathy Castor (FL-11) are working together to keep a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (CST) based in the Tampa Bay area. The Department of Defense has proposed a plan to eliminate just two teams in the United States, one in Clearwater and one in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced today that the University of South Florida’s Upward Bound initiative has won a federal grant of nearly $700,000 from the U.S. Department of Education. Upward Bound at USF helps high school students prepare for the rigors of a college education and successful careers. Read more »

On the second anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, Congresswoman Kathy Castor is renewing her call for the Justice Department to enter a legal settlement with the oil company that would put the environmental and economic needs of the Gulf Coast at the forefront. Castor has been advocating for 80 percent of the federal Clean Water Act settlement proceeds to be directed toward the Gulf of Mexico. Castor serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Gulf Coast Caucus. Read more »

At Hillsborough Community College today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor criticized the cuts to Pell Grants, work-study and other education investments under the Republican budget passed by the U.S. House. Castor, HCC President Ken Atwater and an HCC student explained the devastating impact of harsh Republican cuts to students, schools and colleges. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and the AARP highlighted the harsh and negative impacts of the proposed privatization of Medicare and enormous rollbacks of nursing home and home-based care today at the Busansky Senior Center in Tampa. Castor and Jack McRay, state advocacy manager of AARP, noted the severe impact of the GOP plan on the Tampa Bay area and Florida families. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor criticized the proposed House Republican budget today because of the dangerous repercussions it would have on older Americans and middle-class families. The budget, which is slated for a House vote this afternoon, would dismantle Medicare as we know it, shift substantial costs to seniors and slash current benefits. Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor proposed an amendment to the Republican Budget to protect Medicare benefits for seniors. Castor sought to preserve improvements in Medicare benefits that have been in place for two years under the Affordable Care Act, including closure of the prescription drug coverage gap (donut hole), coverage of key preventive services and annual wellness visits with no co-pays or deductibles. Read more »

U.S. Representative filed a letter of support with the Florida Supreme Court today on behalf of Jose Manuel Godinez- Samperio's application for membership in the Florida Bar. Castor's letter of support was filed in conjunction with the amicus brief of the Past American Bar Association Presidents. Read more »

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor announced another boost to jobs at the Port of Tampa under a $1 million grant from the Department of Transportation shipyard initiative to Gulf Marine Repair. The funds will be used for a drydock modernization and upgrade Read more »

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor and local transportation leaders urged adoption today of the Senate-passed transportation reauthorization bill when the U.S. House convenes next week. Nationwide transportation funding and initiatives expire on March 31 without House action. Read more »