Press Release

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the below statement following the passage of the bipartisan, bicameral FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report today in the U.S. House of Representatives: “Every year, the holiday season presents another reminder of the sacrifice and selflessness of our service members, but nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers must ensure that our military personnel and their families have the tools they need to remain safe and hea... Read more

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today that her longtime chief of staff, Clay Phillips, will take on a Tampa-based senior advisory role at the start of the 117th Congress and Lara Hopkins, Castor’s deputy chief of staff, will be elevated to Castor’s chief of staff. Phillips has been on Castor’s team from day one, starting on her campaign and then being appointed as her first and only chief of staff after being elected to Congress in 2006. Phillips has served the State of Florida th... Read more

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced 24 students representing more than a dozen local high schools received nominations for admission into our nation’s military academies: Air Force (USAFA), Navy (USNA), Army (USMA) and Merchant Marine (USMMA). “Every year I am proud to nominate a diverse group of high school seniors from the Tampa Bay area to attend our nation’s prestigious service academies,” Castor said. “These impressive students are tomorrow’s leaders, and I’m encouraged that our ... Read more

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) voted in support of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 246-140. The proposal invests more than $3.5 billion over five years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships and would create nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system. “In order to mitigate the economic ... Read more

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) wrote University of South Florida (USF) President Steven Currall and the USF Board of Trustees urging them to preserve the College of Education’s undergraduate program, which serves as the largest single provider of teachers to the Tampa Bay area. USF’s College of Education has benefited from over $34 million in federal grants throughout Rep. Castor’s time serving in Congress. “As local school superintendents, education professionals and many in the business ... Read more

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s (FL14) bipartisan measure to study the impacts of COVID-19 on the bedrock tourism, travel and hospitality industries and provide immediate and long-term assistance for industry workers and small businesses passed the House of Representatives by voice vote as part of H.R. 8121 – Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act. “The bedrock tourism, travel and hospitality industries here in Tampa Bay and our neighbors who rely on those jobs need help from the devast... Read more

Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa-FL14) and David McKinley (R-WV-01) introduced the Preventing Pill Mills Through Data Sharing Act to require drug wholesalers that ship opioid to drug stores and clinics to take greater responsibility for reporting suspicious quantities to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). This legislation builds on the work of Castor’s Using Data to Prevent Opioid Diversion Act, which was signed into law in 2018. “Far too many families in Florida and across the country co... Read more

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the below statement following the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting detailing the ongoing allocation of local Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to serve the community. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package for states and local communities passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. “Hillsborough families, small businesses, first responders and frontline workers are s... Read more

“The House just passed the updated Heroes Act - emergency aid for children, families, frontline workers, small businesses, restaurants, schools, health care workers and more. “I urge my Senate colleagues to pass the Heroes Act and help us provide emergency home aid to those who are in need.” To address needs that have arisen since the House first acted, the updated $2.2 trillion legislation includes: Strong support for small businesses, by improving the Paycheck Protection Program to serve the s... Read more

“Following months of Senate inaction, House Democrats have released an updated proffer to ensure that needed federal emergency aid will again be made available for children, families, frontline workers, small businesses, restaurants, schools, health care workers and more. Our schools, neighbors, small businesses, airport and restaurant workers need help now. I will continue to fight every day to speed relief home as I did with the CARES Act. “Democrats are making good on our promise to compromis... Read more