The defense spending bill passed by the House of Representatives today authorizes a 10 percent budget increase for U.S. Special Operations Command, extended authority for it to carry out its missions and more money to keep its troops healthy. But it also includes reductions in benefits for troops and their families. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced that the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today, includes a pay increase for servicemembers, important new investments for special operations, authorizes replacement of the Air Force’s KC-135 tankers with new KC-46 aerial refueling tankers, and provides significant polices for MacDill Air Force… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) released the following statement on President Obama’s address to the nation: Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor hosted a bipartisan meeting today to continue discussions about what the future will bring for MacDill Air Force Base with members of the Tampa Bay delegation and Kathleen Ferguson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics and related Department of Defense officials. Read more »

Ray Dever’s father, Ray Dever Senior, passed away when he was in high school and he said father his didn’t talk much about his military service. Read more »

“The Tampa Bay community is committed to men and women in uniform and their families,” Castor said. “The NDAA passed today not only supports our troops, but continues our commitment to the missions and personnel at MacDill.” Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Defense’s proposed 2015 budget provides the first glimpse of success from the "MacDill Means Mobility" effort launched in 2012 as the Air Force plans to add eight refueling tanker aircraft, attendant jobs and infrastructure to MacDill Air Force Base. Read more »

During an event hosted today by the local chapter for Women in Defense, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) outlined the harm that sequestration continues to have on the defense industry and other economic engines across the country and in Tampa Bay. Many members present at the event knew all too well the negative impacts of sequester cuts and expressed their experiences… Read more »

“You will become part of the 1 percent if you decide to pursue this,” MacDill Airforce Base Commander Colonel Scott DeThomas said to encourage a crowd of more than 100 students as he kicked off the program for Academy Day 2013. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor hosts Academy Day every year to give local students an opportunity to learn more about the service academies as they prepare their… Read more »

Without a direct threat to the national security of the United States, I oppose an overt military strike against Syria. As I have visited with my neighbors across my district this month I have heard from many of them who are extremely wary of military action that could lead to greater entanglement in a region where fighting factions are not aligned with the United States and our allies or our national interests. I urge you to be cautious and conservative and fully analyze the strategic aftermath. Read more »