U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor

My first item of business was to lead the Florida Democratic congressional delegation in reminding Governor DeSantis and Florida lawmakers that Florida is one of the last of a handful of states to expand health services under Medicaid. If Florida expanded Medicaid, almost one million Floridians would gain coverage and the state would drawdown $13.8 billion for 2020-2024 alone. Florida would make significant ‘fiscal gains’ by replacing state spending with expansion funds. Florida also would enjoy sharp reductions in the uninsured, improved access to care, improved quality of care and an overall improvement in people’s health. It would be a win-win all around, but instead Floridians are subsidizing the health and budgets of other states.

You can read our letter here.

My Committees

Today, my Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled “A Public Health Emergency: State Efforts to Curb the Opioid Crisis” with health officials from five states. Over the past couple of years over 5,000 Floridians per year have died from opioid-related causes. While Congress has appropriated significant funds for states and local communities, Medicaid expansion would help tackle the crisis and save lives. See the video here.

Votes This Week

H.J.Res.76 - Thousands of our neighbors in Tampa and across Florida were left on the hook for crushing debt and without degrees due to malfeasance and fraud by Argosy University and other private, for-profit colleges. My office has worked with these students, many of them veterans, and I wrote Secretary DeVos last year to request immediate assistance for them. Since then, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration have proposed a rule that intentionally makes it difficult for students to get relief. This resolution that I cosponsor protects defrauded students by immediately blocking the DeVos rule.

H.R. 1230 - Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act: This bipartisan legislation that I cosponsor would ensure there are no barriers for older Americans when making discrimination claims.

Tomorrow, the House will vote to send impeachment articles against President Donald Trump to the Senate. It is incumbent on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to hold a fair trial, including requesting documents and hearing from witnesses. During the Clinton impeachment, the White House had released reams of documents and provided numerous witnesses via depositions and grand jury testimony. In contrast, Trump has blocked witnesses and withheld documents. McConnell appears to be acting in concert to cover up the facts. The American people deserve to know the full story. Both chambers of Congress must act with a sense of urgency and integrity to protect our elections and defend our constitution.

Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and I look forward to seeing many of our neighbors at community events celebrating King Holiday. This weekend is a great opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and recommit ourselves to denouncing racism and hatred in all forms and loving our neighbors as well.