Gulf Coast states and the Gulf of Mexico achieved a major victory today when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the RESTORE Act, which directs 80 percent of the fines and penalties collected under the Clean Water Act directly to the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor set this as a top priority for this congressional term following the BP oil disaster, which wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast about two years ago. Read more »

On the second anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, Congresswoman Kathy Castor is renewing her call for the Justice Department to enter a legal settlement with the oil company that would put the environmental and economic needs of the Gulf Coast at the forefront. Castor has been advocating for 80 percent of the federal Clean Water Act settlement proceeds to be directed toward the Gulf of Mexico. Castor serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Gulf Coast Caucus. Read more »

Today U.S. House Rules Committee will consider an amendment filed by U.S. Representative Kathy Castor to stop the harmful expansion of offshore oil drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Castor is joined by a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers in opposition to the Republican leadership proposal to bring rigs close to Florida beaches. Read more »

The marine research conducted by the University of South Florida and other Florida universities is critical to understanding the scope of the damage caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. Read more »

Rep. Kathy Castor has proposed an amendment today to the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011 that would direct 80 percent of the fines and penalties collected under the Act as a result of the Deepwater Horizon disaster to Gulf Coast recovery and restoration efforts. Read more »

The vitally important findings of Florida university researchers provide a window into the environmental damage caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout. The research would not have been possible without these hard-fought, expedited research funds. Read more »

Congresswoman Kathy Castor released the following statement today regarding Gov. Scott’s decision not to file against Transocean: “I urge Gov. Scott to aggressively fight to protect Florida taxpayers. Other states and communities appear to be more proactive in their approaches to recoup tax dollars and damages. As the Alabama Attorney General said when he filed suit last August, ‘based… Read more »

Congresswoman Kathy Castor pressed Gov. Rick Scott in person to aggressively fight for Florida taxpayers – relating to the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster – at a Florida congressional delegation meeting this morning. Read more »

Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced today that she and Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise have created the bipartisan Gulf Coast Caucus to help address emergencies, and discuss legislation and policy affecting the Gulf Coast. Caucus members – Democrats and Republicans – will work together to find ways to boost the Gulf Coast economy and environment, which were severely affected by last year’s BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. The group’s work will focus on issues including oil-related restoration and recovery, hurricane response efforts, tourism and seafood marketing. Read more »

“Today, Gov. Scott turned his back on Floridians and sent our $2.4 billion in high-speed rail money, and the tens of thousands of jobs associated with it, to other states. Read more »