Kathy Castor

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today expressed strong opposition to data centers in Hillsborough County in a letter to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

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Kathy Castor will continue to fight for a diverse and strong Tampa Bay economy that keeps costs for families in check, keeps health care and energy affordable, and protects our way of life.

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She stands up to grow the middle class and boost small business owners, guaranteeing that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. She has successfully fought to bring new, good-paying job opportunities to the region by supporting both small businesses and large economic engines, including Port Tampa Bay, the University of South Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa International Airport, and federally-qualified community health centers.

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So that no U.S. region or territory ever again experiences 100 percent power loss, as a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Castor has pressed for robust electric generation, grid modernization and resiliency policies.

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Kathy Castor will continue to fight for a diverse and strong Tampa Bay economy that keeps costs for families in check, keeps health care and energy affordable, and protects our way of life.

castorforcongress.com · Sources

The Tampa Bay Area is transforming thanks to historic legislation, federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act and Community Project Funding I champion in the Congress.

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No Drilling U.S. Rep. Castor has introduced legislation to keep oil drilling away from Florida throughout her tenure in Congress, including the bipartisan Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act. She is also the author of the Florida Coastal Protection Act to make the 235-mile drilling ban off of Florida’s west coast permanent, which has previously passed through the House of Representatives. The Gulf of Mexico BP Horizon disaster was a wake-up call for many who urged “drill, baby, drill.” Castor was active and outspoken against BP during the Deepwater Horizon oil blowout disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, which impacted Florida’s beaches, economy and small businesses. That year, she secured $10 million from BP to support Florida college and university marine research, including the University of South Florida and Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory. Castor introduced the Gulf of Mexico Economic and Environmental Restoration Act to fund long-term economic recovery, environmental restoration and research with the fines and penalties to be paid by BP for its pollution under the Clean Water Act.

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Throughout her early legal career and as a Hillsborough County Commissioner, Castor has worked to enforce environmental and growth management laws that protect wetlands, Florida’s coastline, and sensitive lands.

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As Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, Castor is dedicated to solutions that protect our communities from the climate crisis, while we cut the carbon pollution that is causing the climate to change in the first place.

castor.house.gov · Sources

No Drilling U.S. Rep. Castor has introduced legislation to keep oil drilling away from Florida throughout her tenure in Congress, including the bipartisan Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act. She is also the author of the Florida Coastal Protection Act to make the 235-mile drilling ban off of Florida’s west coast permanent, which has previously passed through the House of Representatives. The Gulf of Mexico BP Horizon disaster was a wake-up call for many who urged “drill, baby, drill.” Castor was active and outspoken against BP during the Deepwater Horizon oil blowout disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, which impacted Florida’s beaches, economy and small businesses. That year, she secured $10 million from BP to support Florida college and university marine research, including the University of South Florida and Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory. Castor introduced the Gulf of Mexico Economic and Environmental Restoration Act to fund long-term economic recovery, environmental restoration and research with the fines and penalties to be paid by BP for its pollution under the Clean Water Act.

castor.house.gov · Sources

In 2022, Castor cosponsored the Honoring Our PACT Act to authorize VA health care to more than 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and establish a presumption of service connection for over 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers. This legislation will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

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Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, people with Medicare Part D drug coverage now pay nothing out-of-pocket for even more vaccines and will experience a price cap of $35/month on insulin. For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate directly with manufacturers for the price of certain high-spending brand-name Medicare Part B and Part D drugs that don’t have competition.

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“Every trip to the grocery store and every monthly bill is increasingly painful for my older neighbors. The added strain of higher prescription drug costs is the last thing they need, so I will fight to reverse a recent HHS scheme to increase Medicare prescription drug costs for seniors and people with disabilities,”

castor.house.gov · Sources

“The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act will reverse the HHS scheme, keep premiums down and provide greater certainty on health care costs. Seniors worked hard for their earned Medicare benefits, and I am fighting to keep those benefits affordable and dependable.”

castor.house.gov · Sources

She worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and led bipartisan bills to improve healthcare for our nation’s sickest kids, including by expanding access to life-saving treatments for cancer and other rare diseases.

castorforcongress.com · Sources

Kathy Castor will continue to fight for a diverse and strong Tampa Bay economy that keeps costs for families in check, keeps health care and energy affordable, and protects our way of life.

castorforcongress.com · Sources

She helped to draft the landmark Affordable Care Act that passed in 2010, and she has worked tirelessly against weakening new patient protections, especially for neighbors with pre-existing conditions, and educating neighbors about health insurance enrollment in the new marketplace exchange. Castor has authored legislation to improve children’s health care of the nation’s sickest kids through a “health home” model that launched in her hometown of Tampa, Fla., as well as a bipartisan bill to address the opioid epidemic. Castor remains focused on lowering the cost of prescription drugs; protecting Medicare for seniors; supports expanding Medicaid in the State of Florida; and has authored provisions to remedy the doctor shortage and bring new medical residencies to the state and expand scholarships for medical professions at Florida colleges and universities.

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In addition, over the years, Castor has united Tampa Bay behind immigration solutions, including the American Dream and Promise Act. She has held town halls, public meetings and roundtables to bring together legal experts and community resources to highlight the contributions of immigrants to Tampa Bay’s history and the region’s economic success.

castor.house.gov · Sources

So that no U.S. region or territory ever again experiences 100 percent power loss, as a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Castor has pressed for robust electric generation, grid modernization and resiliency policies.

castor.house.gov · Sources

She worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and led bipartisan bills to improve healthcare for our nation’s sickest kids, including by expanding access to life-saving treatments for cancer and other rare diseases.

castorforcongress.com · Sources

The Tampa Bay Area is transforming thanks to historic legislation, federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act and Community Project Funding I champion in the Congress.

castor.house.gov · Sources

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today expressed strong opposition to data centers in Hillsborough County in a letter to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

castor.house.gov · Sources

She is a co-chair of the bipartisan Cuba Working Group and the lead Democrat on a bill to end the embargo.

castor.house.gov · Sources

She is a champion for veterans, co-chairing the Congressional Air Force and Congressional Special Operations Forces Caucus and consistently fighting to improve veteran services. She worked to improve healthcare outcomes for veterans exposed to toxins during their service, supported investments to expand the Tinker PreK-8 school on MacDill Air Force Base, and voted for the largest pay increase for service members in 20 years.

castorforcongress.com · Sources

In 2020, provisions Castor championed for our service members were included in the year’s National Defense Authorization Act, including a 3 percent pay raise for our troops and a continued commitment to upgrade base housing for military families.

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Castor continues to work on improving human rights and fostering better economic opportunities in Cuba and in the United States.

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Castor is also dedicated to improving the lives of Cuban Americans. She successfully advocated to ease travel and spending restrictions on Cuban-Americans visiting relatives in Cuba.

castor.house.gov · Sources

“Every trip to the grocery store and every monthly bill is increasingly painful for my older neighbors. The added strain of higher prescription drug costs is the last thing they need, so I will fight to reverse a recent HHS scheme to increase Medicare prescription drug costs for seniors and people with disabilities,”

castor.house.gov · Sources

“The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act will reverse the HHS scheme, keep premiums down and provide greater certainty on health care costs. Seniors worked hard for their earned Medicare benefits, and I am fighting to keep those benefits affordable and dependable.”

castor.house.gov · Sources

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today expressed strong opposition to data centers in Hillsborough County in a letter to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

castor.house.gov · Sources

In 2022, Castor cosponsored the Honoring Our PACT Act to authorize VA health care to more than 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and establish a presumption of service connection for over 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers. This legislation will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

castor.house.gov · Sources

I am proud to have voted for the Historic PACT Act to ensure our service members get the critical health care benefits they have earned and deserve.

castor.house.gov · Sources

She is a champion for veterans, co-chairing the Congressional Air Force and Congressional Special Operations Forces Caucus and consistently fighting to improve veteran services. She worked to improve healthcare outcomes for veterans exposed to toxins during their service, supported investments to expand the Tinker PreK-8 school on MacDill Air Force Base, and voted for the largest pay increase for service members in 20 years.

castorforcongress.com · Sources

In 2020, provisions Castor championed for our service members were included in the year’s National Defense Authorization Act, including a 3 percent pay raise for our troops and a continued commitment to upgrade base housing for military families.

castor.house.gov · Sources

Veterans whose post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits have been delayed can receive emergency payments, up to $3,000, at the St. Petersburg VA Regional Office. Veterans visiting the St. Petersburg VA Regional Office should bring a government-issued photo ID and a course schedule. Veterans in need of transportation to the regional office can request free van service by calling their nearest VA medical center.

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To help ensure the veterans in her district receive the benefits and care they have earned, Rep. Castor regularly holds roundtable discussions with veterans and veterans-related nonprofits to address challenges and maximize collaboration.

castor.house.gov · Sources