Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) led Florida Congressional Democrats in urging Governor Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to expeditiously distribute the $4.7 billion in federal COVID-19 aid to K-12 schools that they have had since March. The state has finally submitted its application for the remainder of American Rescue Plan ESSER, some $2.5 billion in funding today, though it was due to the Department of Education on June 7. Florida is the last state in the nation t...
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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released citations against Gopher Resource LLC with a willful violation – the highest violation possible - for exposing workers to serious workplace hazards. OSHA has proposed $319K in penalties to address violations. “Today’s damning OSHA report and penalties confirm that Gopher lead smelting plant sacrificed the health and lives of Tampa workers...
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“As the State of Florida is at the epicenter of the Covid19 public health crisis, and our heroic health care workers are working tirelessly to aid patients filling up our hospitals, I’m calling on Governor DeSantis to once again issue a Coronavirus emergency order to allow more flexibility for a surge of nurses and medical professionals from out-of-state to treat patients and stabilize costs for our overburdened hospitals. “There are health professionals ready and willing to come to Florida and ...
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Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today that she spoke directly with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to encourage greater flexibility for Hillsborough County to disburse federal Covid19 emergency funds to help neighbors facing eviction stay in their homes. An important area of help for both small businesses and families is rent relief. To date, Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa have combined to distribute $49 million in rental and utilities assistance through Hillsborough County’s Rapid...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) voted to pass H.R. 4502, a package of seven government funding bills, with investments to create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. The package also includes nearly $11M in funding that Rep. Castor championed for local projects. “As our economy recovers from the Covid19 pandemic, House Democrats have crafted a government funding package that will lift families, su...
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Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Scott Franklin (FL-15) announced that the entire bipartisan Florida Congressional Delegation is urging Acting Air Force Secretary John P. Roth to select MacDill Air Force Base as the next Main Operating Base (MOB) for 24 KC-46 Pegasus Tankers. MacDill and Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington State are the top two candidates for the new KC-46s. Later this year, the Air Force will share its top choice – the other base will be designated as the preferred...
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Today, U.S. Rep Kathy Castor (FL14) celebrated bipartisan House passage of H.R.2062 – the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 (POWADA), which would safeguard older Americans from age discrimination in the workplace. “Federal law does not currently protect the 4.8 million 46-64 year-olds in Florida’s workforce in cases of age discrimination, and today the House took action to level the playing field for older workers and restore their rights to fight back against age discr...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced a $6,122,491 Head Start Emergency Supplemental grant for Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding is provided through the American Rescue Plan that was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden and is intended to help Head Start students and educators prevent and respond to COVID-19. “Here in Tampa, Head Start has equipped countless children with the skills needed to succeed in scho...
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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the below statement following the release of President Joe Biden’s proposed budget: “President Biden’s budget meets this urgent moment and provides the resources needed to help communities, families, schools and businesses recover and thrive in the days ahead. Following an infusion of federal Covid-19 aid that served as a bridge for struggling communities, the President’s request aims to invest in working families and get our neighbors back to work, create ...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) urged Governor Ron DeSantis to veto anti-consumer and anti-clean energy H.B. 919, legislation that is awaiting his signature. Castor, who serves as Chair of the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, highlighted numerous concerns in her correspondence to the Governor. Earlier this month, Rep. Castor was joined by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, the Climate Leadership Engagement Opportunities (CLEO) Institute and Florida Conservat...
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