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Protecting Consumers

Key to Lower Electric Bills for Floridians: Keep and Expand Low Cost Solar Power in the Sunshine State

| Posted in Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor urged Florida legislators not to raise costs on Florida families and business through legislation that would make it harder for homeowners and small businesses to install rooftop solar. Solar power is a cost-saver for Floridians and generates almost $3.2 billion in household income across the “Sunshine State." State legislators should not be in the business…

Reps. Castor, Schakowsky Request Answers from COPPA’s Safe Harbor Programs

| Posted in Press Release

U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (FL14) and Jan Schakowsky (IL09) wrote to all of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Safe Harbor programs, requesting information to ensure that they are fulfilling their legal obligations to provide “substantially the same or greater protections for children” as those detailed in the COPPA Rule as well as soliciting feedback on how best…

Rep. Castor, Bicameral Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Children and Teens From Online Manipulation and Harm

| Posted in Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), along with Reps. Jennifer Wexton (VA10), Lori Trahan (MA03) and Yvette Clarke (NY09) reintroduced the Kids Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act, legislation to stop online practices such as manipulative marketing, amplification of harmful content, and…

Rep. Castor Statement on U.S. Dept. of Labor Finding Gopher Resource ‘Willfully Exposed Workers to Unsafe Environment’

| Posted in Press Release

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released citations against Gopher Resource LLC with a willful violation – the highest violation possible -  for exposing workers to serious workplace hazards. OSHA has proposed $319K in penalties to address violations. “Today’s…

Rep. Castor: Local Emergency Rental Assistance Remains Available Under the American Rescue Plan for Hillsborough County Residents

| Posted in Press Release

Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today that she spoke directly with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to encourage greater flexibility for Hillsborough County to disburse federal Covid19 emergency funds to help neighbors facing eviction stay in their homes. An important area of help for both small businesses and families is rent relief. To date, Hillsborough County and the City…

Rep. Castor Reintroduces Landmark Kids PRIVCY Act to Strengthen COPPA, Keep Children Safe Online

| Posted in Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) introduced an updated “Protecting the Information of our Vulnerable Children and Youth Act” or the “Kids PRIVCY Act” to strengthen the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The bill builds on COPPA's strengths and expands privacy protections for children and teenagers, and incorporates key elements of the UK's Age-Appropriate Design…

Rep. Castor Votes to Pass Major Investments for Students, Health Care, Veterans and Nearly $11M in Funding for Tampa-Based Projects

| Posted in Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) voted to pass H.R. 4502, a package of seven government funding bills, with investments to create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. The package also includes nearly $11M in funding that Rep. Castor championed for local projects. “As our economy recovers…

Reps. Castor, Luetkemeyer Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Consumer Choice, Lower Flood Insurance Costs

| Posted in Press Release

Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL14) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO03) reintroduced H.R. 4699, the Continuous Coverage for Flood Insurance Act, which would stop the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from penalizing consumers who elect to exercise their right to maintain flood insurance outside of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). “Families, homeowners, and small business…

Rep. Castor Introduces 21st Century FTC Act

| Posted in Press Release

Today U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) introduced the 21st Century FTC Act, legislation that would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking authority and first offense civil penalty authority. “For too long, the FTC has been hamstrung in its ability to promulgate effective rules of the road for consumers and penalize companies that harm our friends and…

Rep. Castor Statement on President Biden’s Budget Proposal

| Posted in Press Release

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the below statement following the release of President Joe Biden’s proposed budget: “President Biden’s budget meets this urgent moment and provides the resources needed to help communities, families, schools and businesses recover and thrive in the days ahead. Following an infusion of federal Covid-19 aid that served as a bridge for struggling…