Representative Kathy Castor

Dear friend,

I was thrilled to cut the ribbon on the new James A. Haley Veterans Hospital Bed Tower on Saturday. I have worked tirelessly for many years on the veterans hospital across from USF. The modern hospital will significantly improve the quality of care veterans receive and amenities for medical staff and families.

The bed tower will feature 96 new single patient rooms and 40 intensive care unit beds. Learn more about the decade-long process to build the bed tower here.

THE GOP'S BIG OIL GIVEAWAY AND OTHER VOTES THIS WEEK

Republicans passed a giveaway to Big Oil that would lead to higher prices for consumers, more pollution and put public lands and offshore waters at risk, including the coast of Florida.

Almost all Florida Republicans voted down my amendment to permanently ban oil drilling off the coast of Florida.

I voted “no” on the bill to protect Florida, our economy, marine life, our coasts, and future generations. Read more about it here.

H. Res. 7 - A bipartisan resolution commending the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran demonstrating in more than 133 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, as amended.

FEDERAL GRANT ASSISTANCE

We’re in an 'Implementation Year' for many historic new laws that lower costs, invest in clean energy and support our local communities. Stay up to date on the latest federal grant opportunities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act by signing up for email announcements here.

My office is here to help you find federal grants and assist you in the application process. More information on assistance can be found here.

Check out the newest $100 million in environmental justice grant funding! This is the largest amount of environmental justice grant funding ever offered by the EPA. Applications are due by April 10th. More information about the grant can be found here.

The Department of Energy just launched the Community Power Accelerator initiative & $10M prize competition, providing tools to get more community solar projects financed & deployed & increasing equitable access to solar energy! More information about the grant can be found here.

RECORD 3.2M FLORIDIANS TAP LOWER HEALTH COSTS

The results are in - and thanks to the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and University of South Florida-led Navigators, Florida saw a record enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplace sign-ups for 2023!

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Floridians will save an average of $590/year, spending no more than 8.5% of their income on premiums, while receiving all the benefits of the Affordable Care Act including coverage for preexisting conditions like cancer and diabetes.

I came to Congress to fight for affordable health care for Floridians and end discrimination for pre-existing conditions, so it is gratifying to see so many Florida families find quality, affordable care. Connecting families with the health care they need at costs they can afford remains one of my top priorities in Congress. I am proud of the work that we’ve done to expand access to affordable care and lower drug prices through federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and American Rescue Plan.

MY OFFICE IS HERE TO HELP YOU

It was great to be back in St. Petersburg last week for our Open House to listen to the community priorities from my new constituency. I am excited to continue my work to lower costs, build safer communities and create better-paying jobs for District 14.

In case you missed it: while our congressional district may look a bit different, my team is here to get results on federal matters including veterans benefits, Medicare, and Social Security.

The St. Petersburg district office is located at 136 Fourth St. N., Suite 201, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Meetings are currently appointment only, and you can set a time by calling (727) 369-0201.

If you are in Hillsborough County and would like to visit the Tampa district office, it is located at 4144 N Armenia Ave., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33607. Constituents can also call the office at (813) 871-2817 to receive assistance with casework or other concerns.

Sincerely,

Kathy Castor
Member of Congress