Health Care

“With no time to lose, the American Rescue Plan released by President-elect Joe Biden holds great promise for Tampa Bay area families, students and small businesses to accelerate vaccinations, crush the coronavirus, and deliver direct, immediate relief to those hardest hit. “America is in the midst of a national emergency with both health and economic crises. We must act right away on the urgent threats of COVID-19 and its economic fallout. I pledge to work to dramatically expand vaccination and... Read more

Hillsborough County’s first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination distribution is targeted to frontline health care workers and senior citizens. Read more

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today her office worked to deliver nearly $1.6 million to veterans, seniors, small businesses and families in 2020; almost $1.5 billion in federal grants to create jobs, invest in education and infrastructure, mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and support the important work of local partners; and $2.7 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for Tampa businesses. “Every day, my Tampa constituent services team, Tery Sanchez, Steven Angott... Read more

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the following statement as the bipartisan FY21 omnibus and $900B in COVID-19 relief head to the president’s desk: “In addition to the immediate relief provided by the COVID-19 emergency aid in this package, the FY21 omnibus contains priorities that will support our economy and military, lower health care costs, strengthen our fight for clean energy and more. I’m pleased that we came to a bipartisan solution that meets the needs of our community and more. Several p... Read more

“Help is on the way for American families and small businesses as the House just passed a fifth Covid-19 emergency aid bill. The landmark package will provide relief to individuals, small businesses, schools and hospitals - and a bridge to a day when the coronavirus vaccine is widely administered. Workers and families have been hurting for months and the bill will provide assistance for day-to-day realities like paying rent, taking care of children, and putting food on the table. This bill will ... 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

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) voted in support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, House Democrats’ comprehensive legislation to invest more than $1.5 trillion in modern, sustainable infrastructure while creating millions of good-paying jobs, combatting the climate crisis and addressing disparities in communities of color in Tampa and throughout the country. “Floridians understand transportation gridlock and crumbling infrastructure and know that we can create millions of jobs when we inve... Read more

U.S. Rep Kathy Castor (FL14) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $9,881,961 million from the recently passed CARES Act to the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County to bolster local relief efforts as our community responds to the coronavirus. The funding was authorized by recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and funding awarded is divided between Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Emergency Shelter Grants... Read more

"In times of challenge and adversity, America responds to support each other. That is what I intend to do today to ensure that American families and workers have the help they need to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. "In Florida, we are used to the chaos and harm that a hurricane brings. Well, this coronavirus is a monster storm that is wreaking havoc, especially on our most vulnerable neighbors. We must respond in an resolute way. "This is the third bipartisan emergency aid package and it contai... Read more