Representative Kathy Castor

The House is poised to pass a second coronavirus emergency response package today. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is focused on working families, seniors and kids and provides resources for:

Free testing for coronavirus under private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, Tricare, CHIP, FEHBP and for the uninsured; paid sick leave for workers so that those who take leave to avoid spreading the virus or due to illness or caregiving can pay their bills; strengthened food assistance for home-delivered meals to seniors, local food banks, low income pregnant women and kids; enhanced unemployment aid; and protections to keep front-line health care workers safe.

This package follows last week’s $8.3 billion emergency package for small business emergency loans, resources for public health departments, more robust testing, and vaccine development.

Visit the Florida Department of Health’s website here for more updates and resources. If you are in need of any additional assistance related to travel restrictions or with a federal agency, contact my Tampa office at 813-871-2817. Your well-being is my top priority, so please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

My Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health considered 13 bills related to public health , including the reauthorization of Healthy Start that reduces infant mortality and improves perinatal outcomes. Tampa/Hillsborough has one of the top Healthy Start initiatives in the country. Thanks to Lo Berry and REACHUP, Inc.!

H.R. 6172 - USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020: This bipartisan agreement reauthorizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and keeps the American people safe by placing new limitations on surveillance authorities while ensuring that our intelligence and law enforcement have necessary tools, strengthening the integrity of the FISA process by increasing transparency and accountability, and increasing oversight power to better to protect Americans.

S.J. Res. 68 – War Powers Resolution: Congress must take responsibility for sending men and women to war. This resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces for hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a congressional declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.

Thanks to the Floridians who visited my office last week to discuss issues that impact all of us. I’m proud to partner with FloridaMakes and manufacturers across our state to grow good-paying jobs, expand skills training & trade schools, and strengthen our economy!

Here in Florida, we know that our environment is central to our way of life and economy, and I had an important conversation with the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition on ways we can protect our environment while sustaining good-paying jobs!

I also enjoyed speaking with officials from Florida and across the nation at the League of Cities Conference in Washington. Let’s unleash American ingenuity to transition our communities to clean energy and build more resilient cities!

My Committee

Votes This Week