如果佛罗里达州众议员凯西·卡斯特在她竞争激烈的选区成功连任，据两位了解她想法、获准匿名坦率发言的人士透露，她的下一步可能是执掌能源和商业委员会中民主党的医疗保健议程。这两位人士表示，卡斯特目前领导该委员会下属的能源小组，她已将医疗小组列为明年工作的首要目标之一。能源和商业委员会是国会在医疗保健领域管辖权最广的机构，而众议院少数党领袖哈基姆·杰弗里斯认为，如果民主党赢得多数席位，医疗保健问题对民主党下一届国会的计划至关重要。卫生小组委员会可以在全美医疗保健系统范围内立法，就药物研发、健康研究、联邦医疗保险、医疗补助以及卫生部的各项计划制定法律。卡斯特是该委员会中资历最深的民主党人之一。按排名，卡斯特仅次于四位民主党同僚：新泽西州的弗兰克·帕隆、两位即将退休的议员以及加利福尼亚州众议员多丽丝·松井。凭借她的资历，卡斯特很可能在挑选希望领导的小组委员会时获得第一或第二优先权。卡斯特的发言人杰伊·罗登在一份声明中表示：“卡斯特众议员专注于为坦帕湾家庭办实事，让医疗保健更可负担、降低电费并保护消费者。”“至于下一届国会的委员会领导层，我们将在11月之后看情况如何发展。”卡斯特曾敦促国会恢复现已到期的奥巴马医改税收抵免，支持旨在降低老年人医疗保费的各项政策，并共同提出了一项扩大联邦医疗保险居家住院计划的法案。她还共同提出了一项法案，要求公开白宫在“最惠国”药品定价计划中与制药商达成的协议。卡斯特并非唯一觊觎这一职位的民主党人。加利福尼亚州众议员劳尔·鲁伊斯出身急诊医生，他已表示有兴趣领导卫生小组委员会，但卡斯特的排名在他之上。
If Florida Rep. Kathy Castor wins reelection in her competitive race, her next step might be leading the Democrats’ health care agenda on the Energy and Commerce Committee, according to two people familiar with her thinking granted anonymity to speak candidly. Castor, who currently leads the committee’s energy panel, has moved the health panel toward the top of her list for next year, the two people said. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the congressional body with the widest jurisdiction on health care, an issue House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries considers paramount to his party’s plans for next Congress if it wins a majority. The Health Subcommittee can legislate across the U.S. health care system, writing laws on drug development, health research, Medicare, Medicaid and the Health Department’s programs. Castor is among the most senior Democrats on the committee. Castor follows only four Democratic colleagues by rank: Frank Pallone of New Jersey, two retiring members and California Rep. Doris Matsui. Because of her seniority, Castor would likely get first or second dibs on which subcommittee she would like to lead. “Rep. Castor is focused on delivering for Tampa Bay families by making health care more affordable, lowering electric bills and protecting consumers,” said Jay Rhoden, Castor’s spokesperson, in a statement. “As for committee leadership next Congress, we’ll see where things stand after November.” Castor has urged Congress to restore the now-expired Obamacare tax credits, supported policies aimed at lowering seniors’ health care premiums and co-sponsored a bill to expand the Medicare hospital-at-home program. She has also co-sponsored a bill to make public the White House’s deals with drugmakers in its most-favored-nation drug pricing program. Castor isn’t the only Democrat who is eyeing the job. California Rep. Raul Ruiz, an emergency physician by training, has expressed interest in leading the Health Subcommittee, but Castor outranks him. During the committee leadership selection process, Democrats are typically deferential to more senior members. Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith, the current chair of the subcommittee, is expected to maintain his spot as the panel’s top Republican. Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, the subcommittee’s current top Democrat, is leaving Congress at the end of the year after losing her primary. If Castor succeeds DeGette on the subcommittee, she would have to relinquish her post leading the Energy Subcommittee.
在委员会领导层的遴选过程中，民主党人通常会对资深成员表现出尊重。现任该小组委员会主席、弗吉尼亚州众议员摩根·格里菲斯预计将保留其作为该委员会最高共和党人的职位。科罗拉多州众议员黛安娜·德盖特是该小组委员会现任的最高民主党人，她在初选中失利后将于今年年底离开国会。如果卡斯托接替德盖特进入该小组委员会，她将不得不放弃其能源小组委员会的领导职务。
If Florida Rep. Kathy Castor wins reelection in her competitive race, her next step might be leading the Democrats’ health care agenda on the Energy and Commerce Committee, according to two people familiar with her thinking granted anonymity to speak candidly. Castor, who currently leads the committee’s energy panel, has moved the health panel toward the top of her list for next year, the two people said. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the congressional body with the widest jurisdiction on health care, an issue House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries considers paramount to his party’s plans for next Congress if it wins a majority. The Health Subcommittee can legislate across the U.S. health care system, writing laws on drug development, health research, Medicare, Medicaid and the Health Department’s programs. Castor is among the most senior Democrats on the committee. Castor follows only four Democratic colleagues by rank: Frank Pallone of New Jersey, two retiring members and California Rep. Doris Matsui. Because of her seniority, Castor would likely get first or second dibs on which subcommittee she would like to lead. “Rep. Castor is focused on delivering for Tampa Bay families by making health care more affordable, lowering electric bills and protecting consumers,” said Jay Rhoden, Castor’s spokesperson, in a statement. “As for committee leadership next Congress, we’ll see where things stand after November.” Castor has urged Congress to restore the now-expired Obamacare tax credits, supported policies aimed at lowering seniors’ health care premiums and co-sponsored a bill to expand the Medicare hospital-at-home program. She has also co-sponsored a bill to make public the White House’s deals with drugmakers in its most-favored-nation drug pricing program. Castor isn’t the only Democrat who is eyeing the job. California Rep. Raul Ruiz, an emergency physician by training, has expressed interest in leading the Health Subcommittee, but Castor outranks him. During the committee leadership selection process, Democrats are typically deferential to more senior members. Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith, the current chair of the subcommittee, is expected to maintain his spot as the panel’s top Republican. Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, the subcommittee’s current top Democrat, is leaving Congress at the end of the year after losing her primary. If Castor succeeds DeGette on the subcommittee, she would have to relinquish her post leading the Energy Subcommittee.