Today in the U.S. House Budget Committee, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor highlighted the benefits that would come to the Tampa Bay area in President Obama’s FY13 Budget proposal. 

“I wanted a seat on the Budget committee to make the right choices and priorities for the Tampa Bay area and fight for jobs– and I am pleased to see the President’s budget gives our community a boost,” Castor said.  “Investments in infrastructure, education and innovation will spur job creation while maintaining a balanced approach to deficit reduction.”

“One of the most important ways to reduce the deficit is to create jobs.  The President’s budget recognizes the value of our local economic drivers. Our universities, community colleges, the Port of Tampa and MacDill Air Force Base will see significant boosts.”

The President’s Budget recommends that the Port of Tampa and Tampa Harbour receive $8.305M for Construction (navigation) and $8.15 M for Operation and Maintenance.  Following through on the country’s commitment to special forces, MacDill AFB will see $34.409M for a Joint Special Ops University (JSOU) Facility and $15.2M for a Special Operations Force Acquisition Center.

“This budget focuses on job creation right here in the Tampa Bay area,” Castor said.  “The President puts an emphasis on investments in education, research, and infrastructure for economic growth in the short-term and gets our nation on a long-term, responsible path to fiscal sustainability.”

The budget provides $60 billion for education jobs: $25 billion to help states prevent teacher layoffs while the economy is still recovering; $5 billion to support reforms in the teaching profession; and $30 billion to create jobs upgrading at least 35,000 public schools, including elementary and secondary schools and community colleges.  Students will also have access to Pell Grants at higher levels to help them afford to go to college.

The budget increases investment in research and development (R&D) and clean energy to help create the jobs of the future. The budget provides $140.8 billion for R&D overall, including 5 percent more than the 2012 level for non-defense R&D.

“At a time when University of South Florida is under attack in the State Legislature, it is encouraging to know that this budget recognizes the importance of education and innovation research to our local economy,” Castor said.

The budget also includes $50 billion for immediate infrastructure investments and $10 billion for an infrastructure bank. It also includes a $476 billion six-year highway bill that represents a $135 billion increase in investments to modernize our transportation infrastructure.  In contrast to the President’s transportation plan, the Republicans in the U.S. Congress appear to be in disarray over their controversial transportation package, dimming the chances for passage of the important jobs bill.

“We have a clear need for infrastructure improvements throughout the Tampa Bay area,” Castor said.  “It's vitally important we fight for jobs that infrastructure investments can provide.”

The budget also maintains tax cuts for middle class families and extends the middle class payroll tax cut. Through spending cuts and closing tax loopholes, the President’s budget reduces the deficit by $5 trillion through 2022. 

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