In a step forward to improve mental health services, the U.S. House today passed the bipartisan Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016, supported by U.S. Rep. Castor, who serves on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee as well as its Health Subcommittee. Read more »
Today U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion today for Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt: Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With Florida leading the country in the number of reported Zika virus cases, today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa Bay) criticized the Republican leadership in Congress for not only delaying support to fight the spread of the virus that causes severe birth defects, but also for falling short of the needed funding for CDC and NIH prevention and treatments. Read more »
Today, U.S. Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced the Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act, legislation that will increase safety for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding and must take medication. This bipartisan solution will identify major research gaps involving pregnant and lactating women who take prescription medication, and detail ways to promote safer medications for them to use. Read more »
Please view letter sent today by members of the Florida’s Congressional Delegation to Gov. Rick Scott regarding the State of Florida’s Department of Health (FDOH) data on new HIV infections in the state. Read more »
Today U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) was joined by local public health experts, Hillsborough County Mosquito Control and Hillsborough County Healthy Start to rally the community to prepare and fight the Zika virus. U.S. Rep. Castor emphasized, “fighting Zika starts at home" as all speakers urged the public to take action now to prepare for the virus known to cause birth defects. U.S. Rep. Castor also highlighted a study earlier this year that found that Florida and other Gulf coast states are some of the most vulnerable parts of the continental United States for year-round incursion by the Zika. The virus is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito which can be found in warm weather climates. Read more »
Scientific discoveries and inventions in America’s college campus labs are accelerating modern technological progress at an astounding rate. Look at the advancements in 3-D printing, environmentally-friendly manufacturing, genomics and more. Universities and non-profit research institutions are the bedrock for our nation’s innovative work and progress. In 2014 alone, nearly 6,500 U.S. Utility Patents were granted to academic inventors around the world, according to a report by the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Read more »
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) today called for a federal review of the Florida Department of Health’s significant downward revision to its reported HIV cases for 2014. After much public discussion over the noteworthy increase in Florida of HIV infections, FDOH recently reduced the number of reported cases from 6,147 to 4,613. Read more »