Without a direct threat to the national security of the United States, I oppose an overt military strike against Syria. As I have visited with my neighbors across my district this month I have heard from many of them who are extremely wary of military action that could lead to greater entanglement in a region where fighting factions are not aligned with the United States and our allies or our national interests. I urge you to be cautious and conservative and fully analyze the strategic aftermath. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) held an Affordable Care Act question-and-answer session today for small businesses at the University of South Florida Small Business Development Center. Attendees learned from experts about the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), a marketplace where employers will be able to choose from a range of affordable plans to offer their employees. With the ability to join a large pool through SHOP, small businesses will now have access to the same types of quality, affordable coverage that only large firms have today. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) and Tampa Bay’s tourism leaders today rallied at Busch Gardens around the pro-travel provisions of comprehensive immigration reform. The JOLT Act (Jobs Originated through Launching Travel) is part of the Senate-passed comprehensive immigration reform bill and the JOLT Act’s provisions are estimated to facilitate the arrival of nearly 100 million visitors by 2020 and support 1.3 million new domestic jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) released the statement below following U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius’ announcement in Tampa today of a major grant to the University of South Florida (USF) as part of the $67 million awarded across the country to “navigators,” who will help consumers and small businesses shop for and enroll in the health insurance marketplace beginning Oct. 1: Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) today highlighted the often-overlooked but critical boost that comprehensive immigration reform would provide to Social Security. Read more »

Today, Rep. Castor announced she signed on to a letter to President Obama addressing her concerns about NSA’s ability to collect bulk telecommunications records. July 25, 2013 President Obama The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: Thank you for your leadership in honoring our responsibility to protect and defend the American people.  As you know, our… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D- Tampa/St. Petersburg) released new statistics demonstrating sustained progress of the Affordable Care Act for Tampa Bay area families. Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor joined with Pat Mabe, CEO of the Community Health Centers of Pinellas to announce that community health centers across the state of Florida received a total of $8.1 million to help enroll Floridians in the new health insurance marketplace and spread the word about other insurance options available to our neighbors. The Tampa Bay community received over $930,000 to assist our neighbors. Nationwide, $150 million was awarded to over 1,000 health centers. Read more »

Olin Mott was a man who loved the Tampa Bay community and devoted his life to helping people. As generous as he was caring, Olin Mott supported Joshua House and other initiatives for children. He was a booster of USF, particularly teachers in training for our public schools. Our community has lost a great leader and friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family as we all continue to work to honor his legacy Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) announced today a $1 million grant for the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope. The grant will fund the Academy’s NOW (No Offender Without a Second Chance) initiative that offers support services, training and skills development to help participants ages 16-24 obtain employment. Read more »