Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-04-21

HONORING SENATOR DARRYL ROUSON

HealthcareTaxesForeign PolicyAgricultureCivil Rights

Context

On 2026-04-21, Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING SENATOR DARRYL ROUSON" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered taxes, foreign policy.

Full Text

HONORING SENATOR DARRYL ROUSON

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E348] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING SENATOR DARRYL ROUSON ______ HON. KATHY CASTOR of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and contributions of Senator Darryl Rouson, who is a fierce leader and public servant. He has continued to save the Tampa Bay area and State of Florida with such devotion and invaluable contributions. Having weathered personal adversity, Senator Rouson's experiences have shaped his long-standing advocacy and legislative priorities for addiction treatment and mental health services. Today, on behalf of our neighbors, I congratulate and thank Senator Rouson for his continued impact on the Tampa Bay community. Darryl Rouson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 20, 1955, and moved to St. Petersburg at the age of three. He lived in Cromwell Heights and attended Bishop Barry High School, later known as St. Petersburg Catholic High School. He returned to New Orleans to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier University in 1977. In 1980, Rouson earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Spessard Holland Law Center. After finishing his education, Rouson returned to St. Petersburg and began working at Gulfcoast Legal Services before opening his own practice. He went on to become an active leader in the community as chairman of the St. Petersburg Area Black Chamber of Commerce and served on St. Petersburg's Charter Review Commission. Rouson has been recognized as a pioneer for civil rights, health care access, and addiction recovery and social services. He has continuously supported a substance abuse ministry at Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Rouson continued his advocacy efforts as the first African American prosecutor in Pinellas County and later served as President of the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP for five years. Beginning his legislative service, Senator Rouson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008 and served until his election to the Florida Senate in 2016. In the Senate, Rouson currently serves as vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, one of the chamber's most influential panels responsible for shaping the state budget. He also serves on several committees, including Agriculture, Appropriations on Health and Human Services, Children, Families and Elder Affairs, Ethics and Elections, Finance and Tax and Rules, along with the Joint Legislative Budget Commission. He was a commissioner on both the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission in 2007 as Gubernatorial appointee and the Constitutional Revision Commission in 2017 as an appointee of the Speaker of the Florida House. He will leave the Florida legislature as not only one of the most effective and powerful voices in the chamber, but as a beacon of knowledge and passion. Senator Rouson's extreme personal hardships and experiences have molded his continued advocacy and legislative priorities for addiction treatment and mental health services. In 2025, the University of South Florida named its substance abuse research institute in Rouson's honor. His courage and total commitment to improving the lives of all of us have helped not only the Tampa community, but the State of Florida as well. Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo commented that, ``there are moments in this chamber that are a reminder that our work is not merely the crafting of our policy but the expression of our shared humanity. Today we bid farewell to a man who embodies that truth more fully than perhaps anyone who has served among us.'' Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the neighbors of our Tampa Bay community, I am proud to honor my friend Senator Rouson for his time serving the Tampa Bay area, and thank his wife, Angela, for her support. Senator Rouson's knowledge, passion and leadership made him a trusted public servant who knew how to get things done for his state and his neighbors. ____________________

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HONORING SENATOR DARRYL ROUSON Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E348] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING SENATOR DARRYL ROUSON ______ HON. KATHY CASTOR of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and contributions of Senator Darryl Rouson, who is a fierce leader and public servant. He has continued to save the Tampa Bay area and State of Florida with such devotion and invaluable contributions. Having weathered personal adversity, Senator Rouson's experiences have shaped his long-standing advocacy and legislative priorities for addiction treatment and mental health services. Today, on behalf of our neighbors, I congratulate and thank Senator Rouson for his continued impact on the Tampa Bay community. Darryl Rouson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 20, 1955, and moved to St. Petersburg at the age of three. He lived in Cromwell Heights and attended Bishop Barry High School, later known as St. Petersburg Catholic High School. He returned to New Orleans to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier University in 1977. In 1980, Rouson earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Spessard Holland Law Center. After finishing his education, Rouson returned to St. Petersburg and began working at Gulfcoast Legal Services before opening his own practice. He went on to become an active leader in the community as chairman of the St. Petersburg Area Black Chamber of Commerce and served on St. Petersburg's Charter Review Commission. Rouson has been recognized as a pioneer for civil rights, health care access, and addiction recovery and social services. He has continuously supported a substance abuse ministry at Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Rouson continued his advocacy efforts as the first African American prosecutor in Pinellas County and later served as President of the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP for five years. Beginning his legislative service, Senator Rouson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008 and served until his election to the Florida Senate in 2016. In the Senate, Rouson currently serves as vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, one of the chamber's most influential panels responsible for shaping the state budget. He also serves on several committees, including Agriculture, Appropriations on Health and Human Services, Children, Families and Elder Affairs, Ethics and Elections, Finance and Tax and Rules, along with the Joint Legislative Budget Commission. He was a commissioner on both the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission in 2007 as Gubernatorial appointee and the Constitutional Revision Commission in 2017 as an appointee of the Speaker of the Florida House. He will leave the Florida legislature as not only one of the most effective and powerful voices in the chamber, but as a beacon of knowledge and passion. Senator Rouson's extreme personal hardships and experiences have molded his continued advocacy and legislative priorities for addiction treatment and mental health services. In 2025, the University of South Florida named its substance abuse research institute in Rouson's honor. His courage and total commitment to improving the lives of all of us have helped not only the Tampa community, but the State of Florida as well. Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo commented that, ``there are moments in this chamber that are a reminder that our work is not merely the crafting of our policy but the expression of our shared humanity. Today we bid farewell to a man who embodies that truth more fully than perhaps anyone who has served among us.'' Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the neighbors of our Tampa Bay community, I am proud to honor my friend Senator Rouson for his time serving the Tampa Bay area, and thank his wife, Angela, for her support. Senator Rouson's knowledge, passion and leadership made him a trusted public servant who knew how to get things done for his state and his neighbors. ____________________