U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced today that she will file a bill to shield the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from future sequester cuts and make America's commitment to medical research permanent. NIH grants the majority of the federal research funding to universities and other research institutions. U.S. Rep. Castor made the announcement at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa during Research Excellence in Tampa Bay, a discussion with the local congressional delegation and nearly 100 USF and Moffitt research faculty. Read more »

Nearly a million Floridians signed up for health care plans sold through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, the most of any state that used the federal marketplace rather than create one of its own. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced today that Florida led the nation in Affordable Care Act enrollment among states using the federal marketplace, according to a report released today by the U.S. Health & Human Services Department. Read more »

Today, during the House Budget Committee, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) criticized the FY2015 Republican budget for protecting special interests rather than supporting investments in infrastructure, education and research initiatives that would spur the economy, especially in Tampa Bay. “The balance here in Washington is tilted towards special interests,” Rep. Castor… Read more »

“Time is running out to enroll in a health care plan if you and your family do not have health coverage. The deadline is March 31 – five short days from now,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said. “If you and your family need one-on-one assistance to review the options, there are many opportunities in Tampa Bay from Friday, March 28, through the weekend to Monday, March 31. Affordable health care options have been a godsend for Floridians -- many of whom were barred from coverage before the law or had no affordable option.” Read more »

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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL14) filed legislation today to tackle the doctor shortage in Florida by expanding medical residency positions in the state and other states with a low number of medical residents. Hospitals and medical schools say a physician shortage looms over Florida as demand for health care services is expected to increase. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Castor highlights State of Florida’s hypocritical request for new federal Medicaid dollars, while Legislature appears ready to block expansion again Please see the attached letter sent today from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) to the Senate President and House Speaker of the Florida Legislature.   Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) and several members of the Florida Congressional Delegation sent the attached letter to Florida Gov. Rick Scott for abandoning his expressed support of Medicaid expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act. Read more »

Gov. Rick Scott made national headlines and disappointed his tea party base last year when he expressed support for using federal Medicaid expansion dollars to help uninsured Floridians get coverage. He supported the plan created by Senate Republicans to use the $51 billion in federal funding, but it was blocked by House Republicans at the end of the 2013 session. Read more »