Congresswoman Kathy Castor has been tapped to serve on the Armed Services Committee and the Budget Committee in the new 112th Congress. Castor sought the Armed Services assignment to focus on local jobs related to MacDill Air Force Base and the brave men and women who serve our nation, veterans and their families. Castor also sought a seat on the Budget Committee to work on cutting our nation’s deficit, which many economists say is among the biggest threats facing our nation.
“Returning to the Armed Services Committee is a natural fit for me,” Castor said. “I will be able to continue working to create jobs and on behalf of the mission of MacDill Air Force Base, our troops and our veterans. I will fight to make sure our active duty personnel and their families have the resources and tools they need to fully protect our country and provide for their families.”
MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, is home to U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and the 6th Air Mobility Wing. MacDill Air Force Base is one of the most important economic engines in our region, having roughly a $6 billion economic impact annually. Approximately 12,000 military and 1,300 civilian personnel are assigned to MacDill, making it one of the largest employers in our area.
“The Tampa Bay area has great pride in being the home of MacDill Air Force base and its partners. For decades, our local small business owners and community have reaped the benefits of MacDill Air Force base and its personnel, and I will work to bolster the relationship,” Castor said.
This is Castor’s second stint on the Armed Service Committee. She worked on the committee during her first term, from 2007-2009. The Armed Services Committee’s work centers on defense policy, ongoing military operations, military personnel, readiness, strategic forces, terrorism, and issues pertaining to the Department of Defense and Department of Energy.
Serving on this committee will put Castor in an even better position to work on behalf of veterans and with the Veterans Administration. She is currently working to transform the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in West Tampa into a veterans’ health clinic.
In addition to the Armed Services Committee, Castor was appointed to the Budget Committee. The committee will be the focal point for the debate over how to reduce the federal deficit, one of Castor’s main concerns.
Castor will have a role in identifying the priorities of our nation, while focusing on job creation and the economy as a whole. From this position, Castor will fight to preserve Social Security and tax cuts for the middle class.
“The exploding deficit is a one of the most significant issues for us, and many economists say it is among the biggest threats facing our nation,” Castor said. “President Obama’s bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform has provided a report that will serve as a good starting point for debate. We have to confront this issue head on, while fighting for the priorities of the Tampa Bay area.”
