– U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor will introduce a bill in the U.S. Congress this week to simplify access to health care and the doctor’s office for children and tap the over $450 million of federal funds left unspent by Florida Kidcare (under the Medicaid program and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (“SCHIP”)). Read more »

Now comes U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, who is leading the charge for a $50 billion, five-year reauthorization of the federal program that pays 71 percent of the cost of caring for children whose families meet a certain income test. The state pays the rest. Read more »

NY TIMES EDITORIAL The House has acted swiftly to deal with some of the shameful conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center... worthy provisions would mandate more physicians for the system and a moratorium on outsourcing medical needs to private contractors. Read more »

Castor said it ought to be "an express lane to that doctor's office visit that is so vital to the health of our kids, when we say kids we're talking babies all the way to age 19". Read more »

“Supporting our troops does not mean that you simply salute as you send them off to war,” said Kathy Castor, D-Fla. “It also means that they are supported when they come home, their families are respected, and our wounded warriors receive superior health care for their physical injuries and mental scars.” - Alex Wayne, CQ Staff Read more »

As a member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor today plans to amend the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, to improve the health care for area veterans. Read more »

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 »

The President’s FY2008 budget released today makes the wrong choices for the children, hard working families and veterans in Tampa Bay. Read more »

As a member of the powerful Rules Committee, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor joined with Chair Louise Slaughter yesterday to quickly move the Continuing Resolution out of the committee and onto the House floor. Read more »

On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor urged her colleagues to work to reauthorize the children’s health insurance program. She also sounded the alarm for the need to break down the barriers to access for Florida’s kids and families. Read more »