Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, who also represents portions of Manatee County, agreed. "We need a budget that will help families, not hurt them . . . The proposed Bush 2009 budget is dead on arrival due to its misguided priorities." Read more »

"We're here to celebrate the progress that has been made through the HOPE VI program, and to celebrate the passage of landmark legislation to reauthorize it," Castor told a gathering of about 30 local leaders and Bradenton Village residents. Later she added, "Talk to senators (Mel) Martinez and (Bill) Nelson and encourage them to move this along." Read more »

This afternoon, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Manatee counties, explained the College Cost Reduction Act to about 40 students on the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College. Read more »

Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL) announced a $121,000 grant for The Tampa Metropolitan YMCA, Tuesday. The grant will allow the YMCA to start offering educational enhancements to its after-school programs to children from low-income families that are served in its Palm River location. Read more »

This afternoon in East Tampa, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Mayor Pam Iorio and other officials announced a new program aimed at increasing skills and opportunities for low-income families. Read more »

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a landmark energy bill that could increase vehicle fuel efficiency standards and require that 15 percent of electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2020. But the Senate is expected to pass a version of the bill that is much weaker on renewable energy standards. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor voted for the energy bill. Today she visited the Clean Energy Research Center on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus to learn about their renewable energy research. Read more »

"There are so many dangerous toys on the shelves this year," Castor said. "Our safety standards in the U.S. are not what they should be." Castor is one of 150 co-sponsors of a bill to crack down on unsafe toys. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor called the rates at which Tampa Bay veterans hospitals turn away sick patients "unbelievable" Thursday, and urged the man slated to take over the Department of Veterans Affairs to address the problem. Read more »

"The term of the acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida will expire in only a few days," wrote Castor in her letter to Bush. "A permanent replacement is vital to the safety and security of my community and neighbors." Read more »

U.S. Rep. George Miller, one of the chief architects of the No Child Left Behind Act, visited Tampa on Monday to hear what local educators think as the federal law is up for reauthorization. Read more »