Congresswoman Kathy Castor voted today to establish strict and extensive new accountability measures on the release of any new economic recovery funds. The bill also provides direct help to homeowners and communities. The first TARP bill’s lack of these provisions was among the reasons Castor voted against it twice in September. A Castor amendment enacts a holiday on foreclosures. Also, working with Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, she secured language in the bill to improve outreach to homeowners. The bill contains guidelines on executive compensation and increased oversight. Read more »

"President Barack Obama’s inauguration renews the promise of a more perfect America. Today we turn a page of American history and start a new chapter – a chapter full of hope, engagement, and shared responsibility." Read more »

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Kathy Castor successfully amended the new TARP Reform and Accountability Act by providing extensive new conditions on the future use of the next $350 billion in recovery funds and tackling the housing crisis. The amendment calls for enacting a holiday on foreclosures until the Obama Administration’s new housing and community stabilization plan is in place. Castor also secured language in the bill that will improve outreach to homeowners. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, an early leader on affordable children’s health legislation, moved the SCHIP reauthorization bill out of the Rules Committee last night and onto the House floor, where she spoke this morning and championed the importance of affordable health care. The bill includes several provisions from the first bill she filed as a member of Congress that were later blocked by President Bush. President-elect Obama has pledged to sign this bill. Read more »

As Congress works on renewing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor and state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink proposed a plan today that will expand health insurance coverage to more of Florida’s and the nation’s children. The plan was outlined in a letter to President-Elect Obama. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor was appointed last night to the exclusive House Energy and Commerce Committee. The committee directly focuses on issues vital to Tampa Bay area families, including providing access to quality, affordable health care, new energy solutions and consumer protection. Castor and the Energy and Commerce Committee will work with President-Elect Barack Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Health and Human Services Secretary-Designate Tom Daschle to shape policy and expand access to quality, affordable health care for families, veterans, seniors and children. Read more »

Congresswoman Kathy Castor and hard-working community residents who long pushed for the Town ‘N Country Commons celebrated the opening today of the facility that was years in the making. Town ‘N Country Commons brings together a Head Start center, a library, a senior center and the Shimberg Gardens. Read more »

With today’s news that Florida’s unemployment rate hit 7 percent, U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor welcomes the approval of legislation that extends unemployment benefits. The House took the lead in passing the legislation, approving it nearly two months ago. The Senate approved it on Thursday. “With the holidays around the corner and with unemployment rates in the state of Florida rising, this means more money in the pockets of those who need it most,” Castor said. “We’re all in this together.” The law provides an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to states with unemployment rates above 6 percent. The benefits go directly to workers who have lost their jobs. Read more »

Tampa, Fla. – U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced the details of the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program today, joined in Sulphur Springs by Mayor Pam Iorio. “This is exactly what Congress intended,” Castor said of money being spent in the neighborhoods. “This is absolutely vital.” Earlier this year, Congress approved the $3.92 billion Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Tampa is set to receive $13.6 million; Hillsborough County, $19.1 million. This program will help everyone in the area because it is designed to safeguard the values of nearby properties. Read more »

A new nursing academy will help alleviate the state’s nursing shortage, offer care to wounded veterans and create high-paying jobs in the Tampa Bay area, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said today. Read more »