The Republican budget resolution working its way through Congress would jeopardize improvements to Interstate 275 through Tampa and bridge repair and other safety projects, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said Thursday.

The bill, which would transfer financial responsibility for transportation to state and local governments, would cost Florida $624 million in highway funding and 22,000 construction and other jobs, the Democratic congresswoman from Tampa said.

"I do have confidence that the public understands it's all about jobs," Castor said. "It's vitally important we fight for jobs that infrastructure improvements can provide."

The Republican budget resolution anticipates a $633 billion decline in U.S. transportation funding over 10 years.

When the House passed the budget last week, transportation cuts got little attention in news, which focused instead on transforming Medicaid and Medicare. Republicans cast all 235 "yes" votes, with four Republicans and 189 Democrats voting "no."

The "Path to Prosperity," crafted by Republican chairman of the House Committee on the Budget Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, serves as a blueprint for upcoming budgets other House committees including transportation.

That could put Transportation and Infrastructure committee chairman John Mica, a Republican from Winter Park, in a bind between his conservative constituents' emphasis on trimming the budget to constituents in central Florida's construction industry where unemployment stands at 20 percent.

Mica had no statement on the so-called Ryan budget, aide Justin Harclerode said Thursday.