Dear friend,This week, the House is working on legislation to boost jobs, lower taxes and lower costs on hard-working families as we Build Back Better. The House passed a strong National Defense Authorization Act that provides a pay increase for our soldiers and bolsters operations at MacDill Air Force Base, while also taking steps to tackle a deepening climate emergency. Republicans are creating unnecessary turmoil again by voting against a bill to keep government open and working. The House also approved a bill to provide a lifeline to those suffering from recent natural disasters and support Afghan refugees.  On Monday, local education advocates, parents and teachers joined me for a Hillsborough Education Town Hall to address deep concerns over the failure Governor DeSantis to support our local public school students and schools. Florida ranks 43rd out of 50 states in per pupil support, and is the ONLY state not to apply for certain federal emergency aid for our public schools. He is leaving hundreds of millions of federal K-12 aid on the table. Thanks to the steady voices of Florida advocates, there is good news: our neighbors helped flip the decision of Gov DeSantis not to apply for emergency food aid for our kids - welcome news to 2 million Florida children, their families & all who care about a strong healthy community.If you missed the town hall, you can watch it here.
Representative Kathy Castor
 

Dear friend,


This week, the House is working on legislation to boost jobs, lower taxes and lower costs on hard-working families as we Build Back Better. The House passed a strong National Defense Authorization Act that provides a pay increase for our soldiers and bolsters operations at MacDill Air Force Base, while also taking steps to tackle a deepening climate emergency. 

Republicans are creating unnecessary turmoil again by voting against a bill to keep government open and working. The House also approved a bill to provide a lifeline to those suffering from recent natural disasters and support Afghan refugees.

 

On Monday, local education advocates, parents and teachers joined me for a Hillsborough Education Town Hall to address deep concerns over the failure Governor DeSantis to support our local public school students and schools. Florida ranks 43rd out of 50 states in per pupil support, and is the ONLY state not to apply for certain federal emergency aid for our public schools. He is leaving hundreds of millions of federal K-12 aid on the table. Thanks to the steady voices of Florida advocates, there is good news: our neighbors helped flip the decision of Gov DeSantis not to apply for emergency food aid for our kids - welcome news to 2 million Florida children, their families & all who care about a strong healthy community.


If you missed the town hall, you can watch it here.
 
 

LATEST COVID19 RESOURCES
 
 

 The FDA announced the approval of Covid19 vaccination booster shots for individuals 65 years of age and older, and individuals 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19. The vaccine is safe, effective and greatly reduces risk of hospitalization. In the Tampa Bay Area, it’s easier than ever to find convenient locations to get your vaccine, and you can visit www.vaccines.gov to find the site closest to you.

 

Due to an increased demand for Covid19 testing among our neighbors, free sites have now reopened to the public.

 

The following Covid19 testing sites are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

  • Cordelia B Hunt Center at Al Lopez Park (4602 N Himes Ave, Tampa, FL 33614)
    • Pre-register: https://mdc.nomihealth.com/signup/fl/COT
  • Al Barnes Park (3101 E 21st Ave Parking Lot)
    • Pre-register: https://www.impacthealth.com/cityoftampa/
  • Palm River Park Community Center (725 S. 58th St., Tampa, FL 33619)
  • Code Enforcement Complex (1101 E. 139th Ave., Tampa, FL 33613)
 
 
 
 

VOTES THIS WEEK
 
 
NDAA

H.R. 4350 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022: This year’s NDAA ensures that our service men and women – and their families – have the tools they need to keep our country safe.


My statement on passage of the NDAA here.
 
WHPA

H.R. 3755 – Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021: This bill creates federal protections in response to states that fail to protect women’s health and intrude upon personal decision-making. It promotes and protects a woman’s individual constitutional rights, no matter where she lives. The recent extreme Texas law that effectively bans abortion and allows anyone to sue doctors is a radical and dangerous step. Our bill will codify Roe v. Wade and ensure that health care professionals can provide abortion care free from medically unnecessary restrictions.
 
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H.R. 5305 – Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act: The House passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through December and avoid a government shutdown, which would be catastrophic for families and the economy as we recover from the Covid pandemic.  This bill includes emergency supplemental funding to meet our commitment to our Afghan allies, and address damage from recent storms.

 
haley


S. 189 – Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021: Congress is committed to serving our veterans as well as they’ve served us – this bipartisan bill will help provide peace of mind and increased compensation to veterans with service-connected disabilities living here in Tampa.

 

Stay safe and know my office is always here to help at 813-871-2817.
 
Sincerely,
Kathy Castor Signature
 
Kathy Castor
Member of Congress
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