Legislation to ban oil drilling off the coast of Florida passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee this week and is now headed to the House floor. H.R. 205, the Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act sponsored by U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa, Fla.) and Francis Rooney (R-Naples, Fla.), is now headed to the House floor thanks to their bipartisan leadership to unite the Florida congressional delegation – Democrats and Republicans – to protect Florida’s coasts from oil and gas development. Earlier this year, the entire bipartisan Florida congressional delegation demanded that the Department of the Interior take formal action to prohibit drilling off Florida’s coast. And, the Florida congressional delegation prevailed again last night when the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan appropriations amendment to block oil and gas pre-leasing, leasing and related activities in the outer continental shelf planning areas around Florida. Read more »
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement after Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Eakins announced that he will step down on June 30, 2020: Read more »
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today two federal grants awarded to the University area, continuing her work to lift up the families, students and businesses who live and work in this growing area of innovation. These grants, awarded to University Area Community Development Corporation Inc. ($300,000) and the University of South Florida ($7.5 million), will bolster the region’s economy and continue investment in research and innovation burgeoning from the USF area. Read more »
Today’s announcement does nothing to hurt the Cuban government, rather Cuban entrepreneurs, American businesses and the American public will be the ones to suffer. Americans should be able to travel freely and remain our best ambassadors to promote democracy and human rights. Read more »
Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) continued her work championing neighbors who seek the American Dream through passage of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, in the U.S. House. U.S. Rep. Castor is an original cosponsor of the legislation that offers a tough but fair pathway to citizenship for neighbors who meet the standards of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) – up to 2.5 million immigrants, many who know no other country but the United States. Read more »
Tomorrow will mark two years since Donald Trump announced his intent to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. However, the Trump Administration cannot formally withdraw until November 4, 2020. Earlier this month, the House passed H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which would prevent Trump from leaving the agreement. Read more »
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) issued the following statement on the passing of Talbot “Sandy” D'Alemberte. This statement has been entered into the official proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Congressional Record. Read more »
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) and House Democrats are continuing their work For The People by voting to pass H.R 987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, a major piece of legislation that addresses the top concerns of the American people – defending affordable health care and protections for our neighbors with preexisting conditions while also lowering prescription drug prices. The package included three Castor-led bills to lower health care costs and protect families. Read more »
Today, in passage of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which ensures LGBTQ Americans are guaranteed the full protections of federal civil rights laws, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) continued her career-long effort to achieve equality for the LGBTQ community. Read more »
Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) led her U.S. House colleagues in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler, calling on him to oppose any action that could undermine or weaken the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Read more »