Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor provided a Congressional COVID-19 update to Tampa Bay health care, policy and elected leaders regarding health care coverage, testing and resources included in the four federal COVID-19 aid packages passed by Congress since early March. “Congress directed that testing be provided at no cost and that the Trump Administration work in partnership with states and local communities on a widespread testing framework to save lives as Governor DeSantis allows businesses to ...
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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement after the Hillsborough County Commission voted today to allocate the $256,847,065 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding provided by Congress. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. “It is crucial that Hillsborough County develop and implement a sound plan to allocate the $257 million in emergency aid provided by Congress throu...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Castor (FL14) announced a $420k Small Business Administration grant for the Tampa Bay Women’s Business Centre at the Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women. The grant will fund the Centre’s CARES Project which is designed to help female entrepreneurs and business owners with training, education, and counseling as they navigate the impact of the COVID-19 virus. “The Centre for Women provides crucial assistance to small business owners. Its services are especially vital during the CO...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced two grants for the Tampa Housing Authority totaling over $1.7 million. These grants were provided by Congress through the CARES Act’s Public Housing Operating Fund and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance provisions. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package for states and local communities passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, our neighbors who rely on public housing need peace of mind th...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced an additional $41.4 million in Health Provider Relief Funds provided by the CARES Act to help Tampa hospitals and other providers continue to serve our neighbors, combat the spread of COVID-19 and keep health care professionals on the job and safe. To date, Florida health providers received over $2.6b from Congress’ third coronavirus package, the CARES Act, that was signed into law on March 27, 2020. This week’s newly released funds total over $389....
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“Today, the House of Representatives passed a fourth bipartisan coronavirus aid package to speed significant emergency resources to small businesses, provide critical resources for brave frontline health workers including personal protective equipment and boost hospitals and health providers like Tampa General, BayCare and Tampa Family Health Centers that are serving the Tampa community during this critical time. The package also provides a national framework for widespread COVID-19 testing. “Th...
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Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL14), Stephanie Murphy (FL07) and Donna Shalala (FL27) wrote Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to implement the free coronavirus testing that Congress provided in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which was signed into law on March 18, 2020. This law authorized governors to amend state Medicaid plans to cover COVID-19 testing and testing-related services for uninsured individuals, with the federal government paying 100 percent of the cost. “Over a month ...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Gulf Marine Repair a $692,100 Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant. The Maritime Administration's Small Shipyard Grant Program is designed to support small shipyard projects that make capital and related improvements or provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries. "Our Port Tampa Bay shipyards, including Gulf Marine Repair, keep ...
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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor led the Florida Congressional Democratic delegation in calling for Governor Ron DeSantis to take immediate steps to protect the health and wellbeing of Floridians during the COVID-19 crisis. These steps include ensuring congressionally passed aid gets to states and localities, expanding Medicaid, reinstating Medicaid retroactive eligibility, boosting resources to enroll Floridians in Medicaid and CHIP, maintenance of effort for 6.2 percent FMAP increase, and withdrawing fr...
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Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced over $81 million in emergency CARES Act funds to Tampa International Airport. The CARES Act was passed by Congress three weeks ago to speed emergency aid back home for coronavirus emergency relief. These funds were appropriated to eligible U.S. airports to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Tampa International Airport is the pride of the Tampa Bay area and its employees are critical to our economic well-being. I’m proud to ...
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