U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today she and her office worked to deliver $2.6 million to veterans, seniors, small businesses and families across Tampa Bay. She also worked to secure more than $340 million in federal grants this year to create jobs, invest in education and infrastructure, and support the important work of local partners.
“Every day, my Tampa constituent services team, Tery Sanchez, Dee Gonzalez and Tania Fernandez (with help from all of Team Castor) work hard to cut through red tape and bureaucracy on behalf of families and all of our neighbors. They use their experience and expertise to advocate for the benefits and services our neighbors have earned, whether it’s for veterans, Social Security and Medicare for seniors and people with disabilities, and more,” U.S. Rep. Castor said.
In 2018, U.S. Rep. Castor’s office assisted with more than 2,900 cases to help her neighbors get the assistance they have earned and deserve. More than half of the $2.6 million in federal benefits recovered by U.S. Rep. Castor and Team Castor were for veterans/military and their families. With more than 98,000 veterans in Hillsborough County, the highest veteran population in Florida according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, every year U.S. Rep. Castor assists with cases related to benefit adjustments, disability claims and appeals, debt waivers, as well as expedited benefits decisions and record requests.
“My team tackles complex cases and works persistently with federal agencies to remove barriers. My neighbors often turn to us as a last resort or when they are on the brink and the dollars and benefits returned to them can be a critical lifeline,” U.S. Rep. Castor continued.
Grants – $340 million
“Grants bolster vital education and job training resources for students and families who need it the most. They can grow our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and lead to expanding small businesses and boosting jobs,” U.S. Rep. Castor said, commenting on the large amount of new and continued federal grants for our community.
Among the federal grants that U.S. Rep. Castor championed this year, most recently was $300,000 to Tampa Bay Wave to help launch a regional investor collaborative. Bay Area Legal Services, the Spring of Tampa Bay and Sunrise of Pasco County also received a $600,000 federal grant to provide ”seamless” assistance – legal aid for our neighbors experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and other help that the individuals and families that turn to the Spring and Sunrise need. The University of South Florida (USF) received a $2.7 million grant to conduct trials on Alzheimer’s disease prevention through cognitive training. Small and large grants make a meaningful impact – from a $5,365 grant awarded to the Agency for Community Treatment Services (ACTS) by the Department of Veterans Affairs to a $2.7 million grant to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Castor met with researchers and scientists from the USF and Moffitt Cancer Center about how these grants are advancing their research and creating job.
“USF, Moffitt Cancer Center, nonprofits and the many growing businesses in our Tampa Bay community have made our region a hotbed for economic growth and I am proud to team up with my neighbors to bring our tax dollars back to Tampa to create high wage jobs for us,” U.S. Rep. Castor continued.
“We are concerned for these important community investments and focus every year on turning back President Trump’s budget that proposes massive cuts to the resources of agencies like the National Institutes of Health, NOAA and others that have a direct impact on research, economic expansion and high wage job growth here in Tampa and across the country,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “My colleagues and I in Congress have pushed back against Trump’s preposterous cuts and I will continue standing up for these important federal investments that boost innovation and lift our Tampa Bay economy.”
Residents in Florida Congressional District 14 can call U.S. Rep. Castor’s Tampa office at 813-871-2817 or visit www.castor.house.gov for assistance. Happy Holidays!
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