This Memorial Day we salute — to paraphrase President Lincoln — all who hath borne the battle. This includes America's female service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement about last night’s U.S. strike against Syria: "The Tomahawk missile strike on the Syrian air base was an important and targeted response to Bashar Assad's use of chemical weapons. Russia and Iran should be held accountable as well for their support of Assad and his war on the Syrian people. Read more »

Thirty years ago, Congressional and military leaders envisioned a Special Operations Command, an elite fighting force drawn from all of the branches of the Armed Forces. This elite force was needed as America faced an increasing need for rapid response to emerging threats that often required unconventional warfare. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14), who represents MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla where the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is headquartered, today introduced a bipartisan resolution, with her fellow co-chairs of the Special Operations Forces Caucus, honoring the incredible work of USSOCOM over the past 30 years, which has evolved into an essential strategy for our national security. Read more »

Please see the attached bipartisan letter to the U.S. Air Force in support of bringing to MacDill AFB an additional 12 KC-135 tanker jets. The letter is led by U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL14) and Thomas J. Rooney (FL17) and includes U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, and the Tampa Bay congressional delegation. The 12 tankers would join the existing 16 plus the eight KC-135s that will be moving to MacDill later this year. Read more »

Representatives Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) reintroduced the MISSION Zero Act (H.R. 880), to assist the Department of Defense (DoD) in assigning trauma surgeons to civilian trauma centers filling a gap in care recently examined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) is accompanying President Barack Obama on Air Force One to travel to Tampa, FL in support of his visit with active duty members at MacDill Air Force Base, home of the U.S. Special Operations Command, the 6th Air Mobility Wing and U.S. Central Command. Rep. Castor is also traveling with the President in support of the counterterrorism campaign he has directed as Commander-in-Chief. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement regarding the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. “I am pleased that a number of provisions in the bill passed today could benefit the Airmen and their families who serve at MacDill Air Force Base, including a 2.1 percent pay raise for our troops and their families and an authorization for an Army Reserve… Read more »

Memorial Day is a day to remember Americans who lost their lives on the battlefield in service to our great nation. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement regarding today’s change of command ceremonies (CENTCOM and SOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, which she represents as part of her congressional district: Read more »

MacDill Air Force Base is on a short list of bases to be considered for the next base selection round of next generation of air refueling tankers, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today. If selected, MacDill could become home to 36 new KC-46 tankers in the spring of 2020. A final basing decision could come as early as the end of 2016. Read more »