Congresswoman Kathy Castor joined the Democratic female members of the U.S. House of Representatives today to press the U.S. Senate to stop blocking vital jobs legislation, which the House passed last month. The American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act, among other bills stalled in the Senate, will drive job growth through significant investments in infrastructure, summer jobs and small business lending.

“Jobs and the economic recovery are my top priorities,” Castor said. “The Senate gridlock must end so that our small businesses and economy can get the boost they need.”

Castor also circulated an updated American Recovery and Reinvestment Act report to Tampa Bay area community leaders.

Florida has received about $18 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as of mid-May, including more than $2.5 billion for transportation, energy and other investments. The Council of Economic Advisers estimates that more than 153,000 jobs were created or saved in Florida through the end of March.

“We have witnessed the Recovery Act putting people to work at Tampa International Airport, Moffitt Cancer Center, USF, the Port of Tampa, new and expanded community health centers, high speed rail and the Lee Roy Selmon I-4 Connector, just to name a few,” Castor said. “And the good news is we are only part-way through the implementation of the Recovery Act. Throughout the next several months, we will see even more jobs created and more shovels in the ground at our community health centers, on our roads and throughout our community.”

Castor advised local leaders to check out our community’s Tampa Bay Recovery Act jobs report and project map for details.

“The Recovery Act is making a significant difference in the lives of Floridians by putting on neighbors back to work and building a new foundation for long-term economic growth.” Castor said. “While the unemployment rate is improving in the Tampa Bay region, I am not satisfied. We must continue to prime the small-business pump so we keep the recovery alive.”