, Senate Republicans blocked a raise for Americans that would put more money in their pockets to spend on basic needs, stimulating the country’s economy. Read more »

Citizens, organizations and elected officials gathered today on the St. Petersburg waterfront to mark four years since the beginning of the BP drilling disaster, which began on April 20th, 2010. The St. Petersburg gathering was one of three concurrent events across the Gulf, including events in New Orleans, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi. Around the Gulf, the groups demanded that BP and other oil and gas companies be held accountable for their actions, called for transparency and genuine public participation as restoration efforts begin to move forward in the Gulf. Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) voted against the destructive Republican budget that raises taxes on middle-class families, substantially shifts Medicare and long-term care costs to seniors, cripples job creation by eliminating smart investments, and pushes quality education further out of reach for many students. The Republican budget passed the House 219-205. Read more »

Today on Equal Pay Day, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) joined President Obama and Lilly Ledbetter at the White House to announce new executive actions to remove barriers to ensure equal pay for equal work. 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 »

After months of urging, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act today. U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL), who pressured House Republican leadership for months to address the problem, hailed the measure as an important step to bring relief to families and businesses across the Tampa Bay area and across the country. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) announced her support today for an increase in the minimum wage, which would boost the economic security of women across America. Castor is a cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010), which would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s guest to the 2014 State of the Union is Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, Director of Urban Affairs for the City of St. Petersburg, who is responsible for economic development and progress in St. Petersburg’s most challenged neighborhoods. “The State of the Union address will focus everyone across the Tampa Bay area on concrete, practical proposals to grow the… Read more »

The Tampa Bay area is moving now. That’s right — the Interstate 4/Selmon Expressway Connector will open soon to the delight of commuters, port businesses and Ybor City enthusiasts. The massive infrastructure project failed to get off the ground until the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gave the project new life. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) today visited an independent bookshop in Tampa to champion local Small Businesses at the start of the holiday shopping season. Since 2010, Small Business Saturday has been promoted as a day to support local businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Read more »