Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced a $600,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant to Gulfcoast Legal Services in Pinellas County to bolster assistance to human trafficking victims in the Tampa Bay area. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, a budget agreement that breaks the gridlock that has gripped Congress and averts a government default. Read more »

Like the Select Committee on Benghazi, which has squandered a total of more than $4.5 million since it was established 72 weeks ago, House Republicans are once again abusing power and taxpayer money on another witch-hunt. This time their target is Planned Parenthood and women’s health care. A resolution to create this select committee is under consideration today. Read more »

With 151 House Republicans who voted to shut down the government yesterday and opposed the short-term budget, or Continuing Resolution, uncertainty and unease are building across America’s armed services as a new deadline of December 11 looms over vital national security funding. Republicans in Congress also have ignored calls from Defense Secretary Ash Carter and military leaders on the troubling direction of the Republican defense bill. Secretary Carter is recommending a veto of the typically bipartisan national defense bill over Republican budget gimmicks that would weaken America’s national security. Such uncertainty directly impacts all military services and missions, including the vital operations of U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command that are headquartered at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fla. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the statement below following today’s address by Pope Francis to a joint session of Congress: Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) sent the attached letter today to U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell calling for her department’s oversight and enforcement authority to ensure Florida children receive the health services required under law. Despite a court’s ruling in December 2014 that determined that the State of Florida is in violation of federal law for systemic denial of medical services to children under the Medicaid and Social Security, the state has done nothing to address the shortcomings. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement today regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon: Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) announced that the University of South Florida will once again receive the largest “navigator” grant in the nation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assist families and consumers shop and enroll in the health insurance marketplace. USF was awarded $5,912,400, an increase of more than $500,000 over last year’s grant amount. U.S. Rep. Castor released the following statement regarding this grant award: Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa Bay, FL) announced that long-time community servant, Sister Anne Dougherty, OSF, will be her special guest to the U.S. Capitol for Pope Francis’ address to a Joint Meeting of Congress on Thursday, Sept. 24. Pope Francis will be the first leader of the Catholic Church to address Congress. Read more »

U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL14) and Tom Emmer (R-MN06) today introduced the Cuba Trade Act of 2015 (HR3238). This legislation would lift the Cuban embargo and allow for businesses in the private sector to trade freely with Cuba, while prohibiting taxpayer funds to be used on promotion or development of these new markets. “The United States and Cuba have taken historic actions this year… Read more »