Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Moffitt director William S. Dalton said today that the cancer and research institute is well-poised to bring hundreds of much-needed construction and health care jobs to the Tampa Bay area from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday. Read more »

“Responsible homeowners will have an opportunity to refinance. The thousands of Tampa Bay area families I have served at my foreclosure workshops have been looking for breathing room to stay in their homes and had trouble merely getting a lender on the phone. President Obama’s plan gives these responsible homeowners a fighting chance. Read more »

In the midst of the most significant economic collapse since the Great Depression, Congresswoman Kathy Castor hailed passage of the economic recovery plan. “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a dramatic lifeline to families and businesses across Florida and the struggling Tampa Bay area,” Castor said. “President Barack Obama initiated a bold recovery plan of action upon taking office just as Franklin Delano Roosevelt did seventy years ago. Our neighbors and community now have better opportunities to stop the downward spiral of shrinking jobs, health care and savings.” Read more »

“With today's news about hundreds of thousands more Americans losing their jobs, we must redouble our efforts to pass the economic recovery package by President’s Day,” Congresswoman Kathy Castor said. “We must do everything we can to put people back to work as quickly as possible. Parents must be able to afford food for their children and health care for their families.” Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has written a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, outlining her recommendations to combat the housing crisis. Castor has held three foreclosure assistance workshops and has heard from more than 1,000 families about how the economic crisis is affecting them. Based on those conversations, Castor is urging more direct help to homeowners. Read more »

In the midst of the most serious economic downturn since the Great Depression, Congresswoman Kathy Castor voted to pass the $825 billion American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act one week after President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address to the nation and call for urgent action. The Recovery Plan creates and preserves much-needed jobs through infrastructure improvements, new energy technology, and health care and education initiatives. Read more »

Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced today that the economic recovery plan will direct at least $4.3 billion in health care investments to Florida. Castor is a member of the Energy & Commerce Committee which is marking up the economic recovery plan today. The $4.3 billion investment comes from an increased federal match for Medicaid which is one of the largest boosts in the country. Castor has been pushing for this increase in health care investments since last year. Read more »

Congresswoman Kathy Castor voted today to establish strict and extensive new accountability measures on the release of any new economic recovery funds. The bill also provides direct help to homeowners and communities. The first TARP bill’s lack of these provisions was among the reasons Castor voted against it twice in September. A Castor amendment enacts a holiday on foreclosures. Also, working with Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, she secured language in the bill to improve outreach to homeowners. The bill contains guidelines on executive compensation and increased oversight. Read more »

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Kathy Castor successfully amended the new TARP Reform and Accountability Act by providing extensive new conditions on the future use of the next $350 billion in recovery funds and tackling the housing crisis. The amendment calls for enacting a holiday on foreclosures until the Obama Administration’s new housing and community stabilization plan is in place. Castor also secured language in the bill that will improve outreach to homeowners. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor was appointed last night to the exclusive House Energy and Commerce Committee. The committee directly focuses on issues vital to Tampa Bay area families, including providing access to quality, affordable health care, new energy solutions and consumer protection. Castor and the Energy and Commerce Committee will work with President-Elect Barack Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Health and Human Services Secretary-Designate Tom Daschle to shape policy and expand access to quality, affordable health care for families, veterans, seniors and children. Read more »