U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is raising the prospect of physician shortages to the attention of Congress. Castor, along with Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, has introduced the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2007, which would expand the number of Medicare-funded training positions in states facing a shortage of doctors. Sen. Bill Nelson and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have introduced a companion measure in the Senate. Read more »

Most people blame the decline in Florida tourism last year on a fear of hurricanes, rising gas prices, insurance-spiked hotel rates and the security obstacles facing international visitors since Sept. 11, 2001. Red tide's an economic killer, too. One estimate puts the toll of its harmful blooms at $82 million a year. Read more »

In an opinion piece written for the Tampa Tribune, Representative Castor explains how President Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq threatens future missions. Read more »