{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"FL\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/looking-back", "Looking Back", "2016-12-31", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "2016 is quickly coming to a close and it is time to reflect on the year that was. \u00a0Looking back, I am encouraged that 2016 was also a year of many bipartisan accomplishments. From the 21st Century Cures Act to facing the Zika threat, to the NICA Act, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in Congress to help advance the interests of our South Florida community and our nation.\n\u00a0\nWith my support, the 21st Century Cures Act, finally passed through Congress and was signed into law by the President. \u00a0This important bipartisan law will help hasten the pace of development of treatments, cut bureaucratic barriers in the delivery of cures, and allow for more cooperation between researchers; all of which will help improve the lives of patients. \u00a0In South Florida, the 21st Century Cures Act will directly benefit cancer patients by shielding cancer hospitals like Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center from Medicare cuts. This bill also includes the Anna Westin Act, a measure I introduced which will help men and women with eating disorders, and which marks the first time the federal government directly addresses eating disorders and its resultant harms. \u00a0\n\u00a0\nThis year, our community was forced to face the grave threat posed by the Zika virus to local families, businesses, visitors and our economy. The work of emergency responders and the efforts of an informed public, successfully limited the spread and impact of this epidemic. In fact, earlier this month, Gov. Scott terminated the travel warning over South Beach, ending the last active local transmission zone for the mosquito-borne disease in Miami-Dade County. At the national level, I was proud to lead our South Florida Congressional delegation\u2019s relentless and months-long campaign to bring about federal aid and ensure that our community had all the needed resources to combat this threat. \u00a0I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that South Florida receives the federal support it requires to reimburse local governments for their Zika costs, support local small businesses impacted by travel warnings, and to further augment Zika detection and healthcare resources in Miami-Dade County.\n\u00a0\nImportant progress in the fight for the advancement of human rights and democracy worldwide was also achieved in 2016. \u00a0This year, the House unanimously approved my NICA Act, a bill which will hold Ortega and his regime accountable for violating human rights and manipulating the electoral process for his own political gain. \u00a0By passing this bill, the House has taken action to prevent Ortega from accessing international funds until reforms are implemented that promote democracy, strengthen the rule of law, and respect human rights in Nicaragua. \u00a0We have shown that we will continue to support the people of Nicaragua and assist civil society in democracy and governance programs, and will not allow Ortega to continue down this dangerous path without any serious repercussions. \u00a0I also worked to ensure the extension of the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act. \u00a0This law helps the embattled people of Venezuela and addresses the lack of human rights and democracy in the country by penalizing human rights violators, while also demonstrating that the U.S. will continue to stand firm in solidarity with those who seek freedom and justice. \u00a0\n\u00a0\n2016 finally brought the end of the infamous life of Fidel Castro, whose half century of bloody rule destroyed the lives and prospects of generations of Cubans. \u00a0Although the island remains prisoner of the Castros, the message for the tyrant is now clearer than ever: No regime, regardless of its leader, will have any legitimacy if it has not been freely and democratically chosen by the people of Cuba. Now more than ever, I am committed to stand with and serve as a voice for those who yearn for freedom until the gulags are closed, elections are held, political prisoners are freed, and liberty is restored in Cuba. \u00a0\n\u00a0\nDespite the many challenges, in 2016 Republicans and Democrats were able to come together, find common ground, and provide much needed solutions to many pressing issues. \u00a0We were able to reform the way we develop and deliver treatments and cures to Americans, while also helping cancer patients in South Florida and addressing the needs of those suffering from eating disorders. \u00a0We were able to combat the Zika virus and stand for freedom and democracy around the world. \u00a0Next year, I am committed to work in Congress and with the new administration to help South Florida families and improve our economy. \u00a02016 was a testament that when people of good will come together, even if they have sharp political differences, they can still work for the good of all Americans. \u00a0I look forward to building on the successes and challenges of the year that was to make South Florida an even better place to live in 2017. My best wishes to all South Floridians in the coming year!seD", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398539", "Ross Introduces Resolution to Condemn President Obama, U.N. for Anti-Israel Actions", "2016-12-30", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Dennis Ross", "R000593", "dennisross.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 30, 2016 \u2013 U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross (FL-15), Senior Deputy Majority Whip,\u00a0made the following statement after introducing a resolution today disapproving of President Obama and his administration\u2019s refusal to veto the anti-Israel resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council on December 23, 2016:\r\n\"President Obama's constant disdain and hostility toward our closest ally is completely unacceptable. The administration's recent refusal to veto the U.N.'s anti-Israel resolution is utterly shameful and flies in the face of the United States' longstanding relationship with Israel.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe United States has historically opposed and vetoed U.N. resolutions that are one-sided and anti-Israel. However, when the U.N. Security Council adopted an anti-Israel resolution that threatens peace in the Middle East, the U.S. sat idly by and turned its back on Israel. Instead of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our closest ally and vetoing this dangerous resolution, the U.S., under the direction of President Obama, broke its strong and well-established commitment to Israel.\u00a0\r\n\u201cIsrael does not need another lecture and verbal assault from an administration that shows no evidence of comprehending the reality Israelis live in every day. I will continue to hold President Obama and the U.N. accountable for their anti-Israel actions. As Republicans and Democrats alike have expressed their contempt for this gross deviation from our foreign policy, I look forward to working with President-elect Trump in correcting President Obama\u2019s anti-Israel tactics, forming a stronger-than-ever friendship with Israel, and promoting peace overseas.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1346", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Obama Administration's Actions against Russia", "2016-12-30", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Obama Administration\u2019s Actions against Russia\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced its response to Russian interference in the 2016 election:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cRussia\u2019s unprecedented assault on our democratic process demanded a strong response, and the sanctions announced by the Obama Administration have sent a much-needed message to Moscow that we will punish anyone who meddles in our elections.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThat response was backed by a joint F.B.I. and Department of Homeland Security report that concluded Russian intelligence services were involved in 'an ongoing campaign of cyber-enabled operations directed at the U.S. government and its citizens.'\r\n\r\n\t\u201cNow Congress must take up its responsibility, and immediately launch a bipartisan, public investigation into these cyberattacks. Not only will it more fully uncover how the Kremlin hacked their way into our democratic process, but just as importantly it will show us how to stop this from ever happening again.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cAmericans deserve to feel confident that a foreign power isn\u2019t interfering with how we elect our most powerful leaders. Only a bipartisan, public Congressional investigation into this historic cyberattack on our democracy can help restore that faith.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tDavid Damron, David.Damron@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=999", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Obama Administration's Actions against Russia", "2016-12-30", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Americans deserve to feel confident that a foreign power isn't interfering with how we elect our most powerful leaders. Only a bipartisan, public Congressional investigation into this historic cyberattack on our democracy can help restore that faith.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on Obama Administration's Actions against Russia U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced its response to Russian interference in the 2016 election: Russia's unprecedented assault on our democratic process demanded a strong response, and the sanctions announced by the Obama Administration have sent a much-needed message to Moscow that we will punish anyone who meddles in our elections. That response was backed by a joint F.B.I. and Department of Homeland Security report that concluded Russian intelligence services were involved in 'an ongoing campaign of cyber-enabled operations directed at the U.S. government and its citizens.' Now Congress must take up its responsibility, and immediately launch a bipartisan, public investigation into these cyberattacks. Not only will it more fully uncover how the Kremlin hacked their way into our democratic process, but just as importantly it will show us how to stop this from ever happening again. Americans deserve to feel confident that a foreign power isn't interfering with how we elect our most powerful leaders. Only a bipartisan, public Congressional investigation into this historic cyberattack on our democracy can help restore that faith. ### Contact: David Damron, David.Damron@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931 Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BCA96D94-550F-46C2-BD5F-59D1F61600D9", "Rubio Welcomes New Sanctions Against Russia", "2016-12-29", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FL \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration imposing new sanctions against Russian officials and the regime of Vladimir Putin:\r\n\u201cAfter years of weakness that have invited and encouraged Russian aggression, today\u2019s actions by President Obama are long overdue. Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear he is not an ally or partner of the United States, and that his interests are fundamentally not our interests.\r\n\u201cFrom his repression of the Russian people and the assassination of his critics, to his dangerous invasion of Ukraine and occupation of Crimea, to his threats against our NATO allies in Central and Eastern Europe, to the war crimes committed by Russian forces and their Syrian and Iranian allies in Aleppo, Putin\u2019s Russia is a threat to global stability.\r\n\u201c\u2018Resets\u2019 and engagement with Moscow by two administrations have clearly failed. Putin has become so emboldened that he authorized the harassment of U.S. personnel in Russia and attempted to undermine American democracy by meddling in our election.\r\n\u201cI welcome the measures taken today to check Russian aggression and look forward to working with congressional leaders from both parties in the months ahead to strengthen these penalties, thoroughly investigate Russian efforts to undermine the U.S., and ensure that Putin and his cronies are held accountable for their actions.\u201d\r\nEarlier this month, Rubio and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Preventing Destabilization of Iraq and Syria Act, legislation mandating sanctions targeting Russian and Iranian officials who threaten the stability of Iraq or Syria.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398851", "Rep. Deutch Responds to Secretary Kerry's Middle East Speech", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Deutch Responds to Secretary Kerry's Middle East Speech \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 28, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), Ranking Member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, issued the following statement following Secretary of State John Kerry's speech on the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians:\u201cSecretary Kerry spoke with specificity during a small part of his speech today about the impediments to peace caused by Palestinian incitement, the glorification of murder on Fatah websites, the naming of streets and squares after terrorists, and Palestinian efforts to delegitimize Israel. Unfortunately, the \u2018all sides must fight terrorism\u2019 language in the one-sided UNSC Resolution he defended did no such thing, which is why the United States should have vetoed it. Peace and the hope for a two state solution will only come with both parties at the negotiating table. That was true Friday at the Security Council, and it is still true today.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buchanan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/buchanan-outlines-2017-priorities", "Buchanan Outlines 2017 Priorities", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Vern Buchanan", "B001260", "buchanan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cWe Stand at a Critical Crossroad\u201d\nWASHINGTON\u00a0\u2014\u00a0U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan today outlined his key legislative priorities for 2017, with job creation, protecting Medicare and Social Security and safeguarding America from terrorists topping the list.As Congress prepares to go back into session next week, Buchanan said reducing taxes for ordinary Americans, simplifying the tax code and eliminating unnecessary regulations will spur economic growth and create jobs. He said strengthening Social Security and Medicare will help current and future seniors live with dignity and independence.\u201cWe stand at a critical crossroad that will shape our nation for decades to come,\u201d Buchanan said, adding, \u201cI\u2019m optimistic we will embrace this challenge and take the steps necessary to fortify the economy, restore the American dream and safeguard our people against the threat of radical Islamic terrorism.\u201dBuchanan, entering his sixth term as a senior member of the powerful tax-cutting Ways and Means Committee, will play a central role in the critical debate over tax reform.He is focused on fixing the tax code by lowering individual tax rates, making it easier for businesses and individuals to file taxes and making sure that small businesses don\u2019t pay more in taxes than large corporations. The world\u2019s largest corporations face a maximum tax rate of 35 percent, while Florida\u2019s 2.3 million small businesses can pay more than 42 percent of their income in taxes.The Ways and Means Committee will also be key in protecting Social Security and Medicare.\u00a0Unless Congress acts, the trust funds from which these benefits are paid will be insolvent in fewer than 20 years. Rather than allowing massive benefits cuts to take effect, Buchanan has committed to protecting both Medicare and Social Security. In 2016, the President signed into law Buchanan\u2019s proposal to preserve Medicare Advantage plans.\u201cMedicare and Social Security are two of the most successful government programs and I\u2019m committed to preserving them,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cSo many people depend on these programs. Medicare beneficiaries make up 17 percent of the U.S. population \u2013 and roughly 220,000 Americans rely on Medicare in just Sarasota and Manatee counties alone.\u201dBuchanan also pointed to the recent terror attack by an asylum-seeker in Berlin as evidence that Congress needs to act swiftly to protect Americans.\u201cI'm very concerned about ineffective screening of foreigners trying to enter the country,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cOther countries with loose border security are seeing attacks by radical Islamic terrorists and we need to do everything we can to keep another tragedy from happening on our soil.\u201dBuchanan will also continue his efforts to help veterans by pushing the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement his Veterans Identification Card Act, which was signed into law by President Obama.\u00a0These cards will help reduce the threat of identity theft that veterans currently face.The Congressman, who serves as co-chair of the Florida congressional delegation, will introduce a package of legislative proposals\u00a0in January, when the 115th Congress convenes, which includes: \n The Main Street Fairness Act, which ensures\u00a0that small businesses \u2013 which employ more than 3 million Floridians \u2013 never pay a higher tax rate than large corporations.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tThe Social Media Screening for Terrorists Act, which\u00a0directs the secretary of Homeland Security to vet all public records, including Facebook and other forms of social media, before admitting foreign travelers and visa applicants into the country.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tThe Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act, which aids Florida orange growers in their battle against the predatory citrus greening disease. The legislation provides tax incentives for farmers who cannot afford to replace trees affected by citrus greening. The bill passed the House in 2016, but did not pass the Senate before Congress adjourned.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tThe Retirement Security for American Workers Act, which makes it less costly for small businesses to offer retirement benefits, and could help the more than 76 million Americans who work for companies that do not offer the opportunity to save for a secure retirement. \n\t\t\u00a0\n\tAn amendment to the Constitution of the United States that requires Congress to balance the federal budget. Balancing the budget is an urgent priority as the U.S. is nearing $20 trillion in federal debt.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tThe Thin Blue Line Act, which toughens penalties against anyone who murders police and other first responders. The bill would make the murder or attempted murder of a first responder\u00a0an \u201caggravating\u201d factor in death penalty determinations.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tThe SAFE Act, which permanently bans the killing of horses for human consumption in America. The bill also bans the export of live horses to Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses where the animals are killed and then shipped overseas.\n \u201cMy job is to be a voice in Washington for the people of the Suncoast,\u201d Buchanan said, adding his legislation would help seniors, veterans, taxpayers, among other people.Buchanan said he is looking forward to the new session of Congress after just completing his most successful term yet when it comes to passing legislation he wrote and introduced. He recently scored his fourth major legislative win of this past session with the adoption of his bill to save Medicare Advantage plans.Other Buchanan accomplishments passed in previous sessions of Congress included citrus greening research, job training for veterans, funding for Sarasota National Cemetery and veterans\u2019 health care.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F20B00C3-7840-4127-85BB-03DF7492F96B", "Rubio: Secretary Kerry's Anti-Israel Speech Undermines America's Moral Standing", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FL \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement today regarding Secretary of State John Kerry\u2019s speech on the Middle East peace process:\u00a0\r\n\u201cSecretary Kerry today once again decided to cater to the demands of freedom\u2019s enemies and devote an entire speech to disparaging a country that is one of our closest allies. This administration\u2019s shameful undermining of our moral standing in the world should be a warning to administrations for decades to come about the consequences of America abandoning our values. When we fail to take a stand against those that seek to deny Israel\u2019s right to exist or try to question the Jewish history of Jerusalem, we hurt not just Israel but our own credibility.\r\n\u201cThe greatest immediate threat to the future of Israel is not a stalled peace process, or settlements, but the abandonment of the Jewish state by the current U.S. administration at a time when it needs America\u2019s support more than ever.\r\n\u201cI look forward to working with President-elect Trump and his incoming team to restore our relationship with Israel to its proper place. I intend to continue to work with my colleagues to fight alarming efforts by those in the United States and internationally to promote modern day anti-Semitism through the boycott and divestment movement. I will also work to ensure that if the United Nations wants to continue to promote anti-Semitism and anti-Israel views, it will do so without U.S. taxpayer funding.\r\n\u201cThis shameful episode in American foreign policy cannot end soon enough.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0583D442-9A7E-4651-BD76-AFF9CC46F456", "Rubio: President Obama Cements Legacy as Most Anti-Israel U.S. President in History", "2016-12-24", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FL \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration\u2019s decision to abstain from the U.N. Security Council\u2019s vote on an anti-Israel resolution and thereby allow it to pass:\r\n\u201cWith today's abstention, President Obama has aided and abetted radical, anti-Semitic forces at the U.N. and cemented his legacy as the most anti-Israel U.S. president in history.\r\n\"Israel is our closest ally in the region and the only free market democracy in the Middle East, and we should not abandon them. I intend to work with the incoming administration to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars do not continue to fund efforts to isolate the Jewish state of Israel.\u200e\"\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398717", "Hastings Statement on the U.S. Abstention from U.N. Resolution Vote on Israel", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement on the United States\u2019 abstention from a U.N. resolution vote on Israel:\r\n\u201cThe Obama administration\u2019s abstention at the United Nations today is extremely troubling.\u00a0 It is irresponsible and reckless for the United States to have gone against its longstanding policy to veto one-sided, biased resolutions that undermine efforts to bring us closer to a two-state solution. \r\n\u201cWe can only achieve a lasting and permanent solution with two-states by direct and bilateral negotiations between the parties. Unfortunately, this dangerous resolution will only encourage the Palestinians to avoid dialogue with Israel in the future.\r\n\u201cJust hours before this resolution\u2019s adoption, an Israeli man was stabbed in an act of terrorism \u2013 just one of hundreds of recent acts of terror carried out in Israel over the past year. And, just like it has so many times before, the international community remained silent. Staying silent only encourages further terror, which is why I introduced resolutions earlier this year condemning Palestinian terrorism and calling on the United States\u2019 representative to the United Nations to veto absurd resolutions like the one adopted tonight. \r\n\u201cWith the adoption of this destructive and irresponsible resolution, the United Nations has once again acted to isolate and delegitimize Israel.\u00a0 The United States\u2019 actions were completely unacceptable, and I stand in strong opposition to the administration\u2019s reckless decision.\u201d \r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=524", "Frankel Celebrates Hanukkah", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Lois Frankel", "F000462", "frankel.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Frankel Celebrates Hanukkah \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 23, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) today released the following statement on Hanukkah, which begins tomorrow at sundown:\r\nJewish families across South Florida and the world will gather to light the Menorah and celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah. During this joyous holiday, we retell the story of the Maccabees who liberated the Jewish people from persecution and rededicated the Jewish Temple. The Festival of Lights reminds us to appreciate the blessings in our life while keeping in mind those still suffering at the hands of oppression. Wishing all who celebrate a very happy Hanukkah.\r\n\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1345", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of Anti-Israel UN Security Council Resolution", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of Anti-Israel UN Security Council Resolution\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today after the United Nations Security Council\u2019s passage of an anti-Israel resolution:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI condemn in the strongest of terms the United Nations Security Council's passage of\u00a0this one-sided, anti-Israel resolution, as well as the United States' reckless\u00a0abstention.\u00a0As\u00a0a Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I opposed this resolution\u00a0because our nation has consistently supported direct, bilateral negotiations as the only viable method to achieve a lasting peace. In fact, this irresponsible\u00a0action moves us further away from peace and hastens the likelihood that we lose the trust of our allies around the world.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cLet me be clear: the only way to resolve this conflict is - and will always be - through direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. \u00a0It is baffling and unacceptable that\u00a0the Obama Administration would abstain on this blatant attempt to internationalize this conflict and perpetuate the UN's atrocious\u00a0and biased\u00a0record\u00a0against our only true and dependable ally in the Middle East, the State of\u00a0Israel.\u00a0Simply put, today's vote did nothing to bring us any closer to a lasting peace. Instead, it has accomplished just the opposite.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1007", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of Anti-Israel UN Security Council Resolution", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I condemn in the strongest of terms the United Nations Security Council's passage of this one-sided, anti-Israel resolution, as well as the United States' reckless abstention. As a Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I opposed this resolution because our nation has consistently supported direct, bilateral negotiations as the only viable method to achieve a lasting peace. In fact, this irresponsible action moves us further away from peace and hastens the likelihood that we lose the trust of our allies around the world.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of Anti-Israel UN Security Council Resolution U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today after the United Nations Security Council's passage of an anti-Israel resolution: I condemn in the strongest of terms the United Nations Security Council's passage ofthis one-sided, anti-Israel resolution, as well as the United States' recklessabstention.Asa Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I opposed this resolutionbecause our nation has consistently supported direct, bilateral negotiations as the only viable method to achieve a lasting peace. In fact, this irresponsibleaction moves us further away from peace and hastens the likelihood that we lose the trust of our allies around the world. Let me be clear: the only way to resolve this conflict is - and will always be - through direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. It is baffling and unacceptable thatthe Obama Administration would abstain on this blatant attempt to internationalize this conflict and perpetuate the UN's atrociousand biasedrecordagainst our only true and dependable ally in the Middle East, the State ofIsrael.Simply put, today's vote did nothing to bring us any closer to a lasting peace. Instead, it has accomplished just the opposite. ### Contact: Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F219A27D-B1C0-4B47-8E4F-24C399C71E68", "Rubio: Obama Administration Must Veto Anti-Israel U.N. Resolution", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FL \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today regarding the U.N. Security Council\u2019s upcoming vote on an anti-Israel resolution:\r\n\"Once again, opponents of the Jewish state are pushing yet another anti-Israel initiative that will further set back prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace. A peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be resolved through direct bilateral negotiations, not through biased resolutions passed in international bodies. Reports that the Obama Administration may have colluded with the resolution's sponsors to push for a vote are alarming and, if true, shameful. The Obama Administration must follow long-standing U.S. policy and veto this harmful resolution.\"\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-congratulates-palmetto-ridge-high-school-marching-pride", "Diaz-Balart Congratulates Palmetto Ridge High School Marching Pride", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Mario Diaz-Balart", "D000600", "mariodiazbalart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NAPLES \u2013 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) released the following statement after it was announced the Palmetto Ridge High School Marching Pride was selected to participate in the 2017 Presidential Inauguration Parade. Diaz-Balart sent a letter in support in November that was included as part of the Marching Pride\u2019s application.\"I congratulate the Palmetto Ridge High School Marching Pride on their invitation to participate in the Inaugural Parade. I was proud to have supported the Marching Pride through the application process, and was impressed by their performance and lengthy list of awards. I look forward to welcoming them to Washington as they showcase their talents for the American people to enjoy.\"\n  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-leads-bipartisan-letter-state-department-express-serious-concerns", "Ros-Lehtinen Leads Bipartisan Letter to the State Department to Express Serious Concerns Regarding Weak FARC Deal", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ros-Lehtinen Leads Bipartisan Letter to the State Department to Express Serious Concerns Regarding Weak FARC Deal \n\u201cThe State Department must ensure that the FARC continues to be designated as a foreign terrorist organization, extraditions from Colombia continue, and FARC leader Simon Trinidad remains in prison where he belongs.\u201d\n(Miami, FL) \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, sent a letter to Secretary John Kerry with a bipartisan group of five of her colleagues, including Albio Sires (D-NJ), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Ted Yoho (R-FL), and Ron DeSantis (R-FL), outlining concerns with the deal concluded between Colombia\u2019s government and the FARC, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cLike many Colombians in my South Florida community, I have been extremely worried about this weak deal with the FARC. Colombia\u2019s cocaine production has increased significantly and FARC members will be allowed to run for office, giving them even more opportunity to undermine both U.S. and Colombian security interests. My colleagues and I are very concerned that much of the joint progress made in Colombia over the past few decades will be rolled back as the FARC attempts to expand its narcoterrorist network. The State Department must ensure that the FARC continues to be designated as a foreign terrorist organization, extraditions from Colombia continue, and FARC leader Simon Trinidad remains in prison where he belongs.\u201d\nNOTE: Please click here to view a copy of the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/while-vote-has-been-postponed-administration-must-veto-any-additional-anti-israel", "While Vote Has Been Postponed, Administration Must Veto Any Additional Anti-Israel Resolutions at Security Council, Says Ros-Lehtinen", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "While Vote Has Been Postponed, Administration Must Veto Any Additional Anti-Israel Resolutions at Security Council, Says Ros-Lehtinen                                           \n              Dec 22, 2016      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    While Vote Has Been Postponed, Administration Must Veto Any Additional Anti-Israel Resolutions at Security Council, Says Ros-Lehtinen\n\u201cAllowing this resolution to pass would only serve to embolden the Palestinian Authority\u2019s attempts to achieve unilateral statehood and will damage any prospects for a negotiated peace\u201d\n(Miami, FL) \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement in response to a postponed anti-Israel resolution that was offered at the United Nations Security Council. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cWhile this destructive and discriminatory anti-Israel resolution should have never been offered in the first place, I am glad to see that Egypt did the right thing and postponed the vote. If a similar measure is offered again, the Obama administration must stick with longstanding U.S. policy and veto any UN Security Council resolution that isolates and undermines our partner and ally, the democratic Jewish State of Israel. Allowing this resolution to pass would only serve to embolden the Palestinian Authority\u2019s attempts to achieve unilateral statehood and will damage any prospects for a negotiated peace. Congress has made it abundantly clear that the only way forward is through direct negotiations, and any action that the Security Council may take against Israel will be met with an appropriate response.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398840", "Rep. Deutch Opposes UN Security Council Resolution", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington) Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, issued the following statement on a possible vote in the United Nations Security Council on Israeli settlement activity:\"Once again, I urge the Administration to veto this one-sided resolution that will do nothing to further peace efforts. As 393 of my colleagues and I stated unambiguously in a letter to President Obama in April, the UN Security Council is not the venue for advancing conditions for peace. Achieving a lasting and permanent solution with two states for two peoples will only come through direct, bilateral negotiations between the parties.\"In April, Congressman Deutch led a letter to President Obama, urging him \"to continue to insist that it is only at the negotiating table \u2013 and not at the UN \u2013 that the parties can resolve their complicated differences. Your continued commitment to longstanding U.S. policy to veto one-sided UN Security Council resolutions remains fundamentally critical.\"Following the vote, Congressman Deutch issued the following statement:\"This resolution passed by the UN Security Council does not take us closer to peace between Israel and the Palestinians nor does it make two states for two peoples more likely. That's why I am so disappointed that the United States did not veto it today.\"You can find Congressman Deutch's Facebook posts before and after the resolution\u00a0here and here.12/28/2016 Update:  \r\nRep. Deutch released a statement following Secretary Kerry's Middle East speech. You can read his statement here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1344", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on One-Sided UN Security Council Resolution", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on One-Sided UN Security Council Resolution\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement regarding the decision to delay a vote in the United Nations Security Council on Israeli settlement activity:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cAs a Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I strongly oppose this one-sided resolution, which obstructs the road to peace, and welcome the decision to pull it from consideration today. One-sided, anti-Israel resolutions thwart the peace process, and have no place at an international forum such as the UN. The only way to resolve the conflict is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and the United States should oppose any efforts short of that, which will only delay us and move us further away from a lasting peace.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1002", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on One-Sided UN Security Council Resolution", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on One-Sided UN Security Council Resolution \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, DC,\r\n        December 22, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n        As a Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I strongly oppose this one-sided resolution, which obstructs the road to peace, and welcome the decision to pull it from consideration today. One-sided, anti-Israel resolutions thwart the peace process, and have no place at an international forum such as the UN. The only way to resolve the conflict is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and the United States should oppose any efforts short of that, which will only delay us and move us further away from a lasting peace.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on One-Sided UN Security Council Resolution U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement regarding the decision to delay a vote in the United Nations Security Council on Israeli settlement activity: As a Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I strongly oppose this one-sided resolution, which obstructs the road to peace, and welcome the decision to pull it from consideration today. One-sided, anti-Israel resolutions thwart the peace process, and have no place at an international forum such as the UN. The only way to resolve the conflict is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and the United States should oppose any efforts short of that, which will only delay us and move us further away from a lasting peace. ### Contact: Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/putting-results-and-economic-growth-at-the-center-of-us-development", "Putting results and economic growth at the center of U.S. development assistance", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ted Yoho", "Y000065", "yoho.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As I noted in this same space earlier this year, I have long been skeptical of how U.S. taxpayer dollars are spent overseas, having heard countless stories of America\u2019s generosity being rewarded by wasteful projects and corrupt foreign bureaucrats enriching themselves at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer and robbing their own citizens of those intended benefits.\u00a0\nAs a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have developed a deeper understanding of how this aid can also be an important tool in maintaining American leadership while creating strong allies\u00a0in a complicated and unpredictable world. Over the past 15 years, there has been movement toward a more accountable, results-based approach to aid that places the ingenuity of the private sector and American values front and center.\nTwenty-first century programs like President George W. Bush's Millennium Challenge Corporation, which sets benchmarks to be achieved by aid recipients in areas such as economic freedom and control of corruption, and the Power Africa initiative Congress passed last year which empowers the private sector to do the heavy-lifting in efforts to provide the people of Africa with electricity\u2014a basic necessity for economic development.\nThese programs are part of a paradigm shift in the way the United States provides foreign aid. USAID, our government\u2019s lead development agency, also has undergone a significant and much-needed modernization in recent years, substantially improving the transparency, accountability and learning efforts that are necessary to achieve lasting development results.\u00a0 Lastly, the United States is making critical new strides to build capacity in aid-recipient countries to transition from aid-dependent to trading partners.\u00a0\nThese programs recognize the important role the private sector must play in creating the economic growth necessary to elevate people out of poverty and to embrace the unique tools such as development finance. But more must be done. At the time of USAID's founding in 1961, aid accounted for over 70 percent of resources flowing into the developing world. Today that figure is dwarfed by the private sources of capital that now make up over 80 percent of the resources flowing into the region.\nThe developing world's decreased reliance on foreign aid is encouraging, but the role for smart U.S. government investment still remains. Global competitors-- sometimes in the form of rival governments and the industries they own-- are not governed by the same rules and standards that\u00a0guide\u00a0the U.S. private sector.\u00a0 American companies offer the highest\u00a0quality\u00a0products and\u00a0services in the world, but can encounter\u00a0difficulties\u00a0when negotiating with a foreign government official asking for a kickback or operating in a country without a financial services sector.\u00a0\nU.S. development programs targeted at addressing these difficulties can encourage the type of economic growth that the developing world\u00a0needs in\u00a0order\u00a0to thrive.\u00a0\nThat is why I am introducing the Economic Growth and Development Act. This legislation is aimed at unleashing the power of the private sector by connecting American businesses with the federal development agencies and ensuring that U.S. development policy takes into account the constraints facing U.S. companies in the developing world.\u00a0 This bill is a first step in a series that will help foster the paradigm shift that is needed in U.S. foreign aid. \u00a0\nToday, in South Korea, one is hard-pressed to find signs of the country that was left in ruins by the Korean War. With the assistance of the United States in the years following the war, South Korea embraced democratic and free market principles and has transformed from a recipient of U.S. poverty-focused development assistance to a strong ally and trading partner of the United States-- and a foreign assistance donor itself.\u00a0\nThe case of South Korea represents a high mark in modern development policy, and there are certainly many additional factors that contributed to South Korea's astonishing transformation. \u00a0South Korea\u2019s example should be one that U.S. development advocates and professionals strive for as they articulate a vision for a modern development agenda-- an agenda driven by the economic freedom and growth that is essential to lifting people all over the world out of poverty.\u00a0\nRep. Yoho serves as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as the new co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Effective Foreign Assistance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rooney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rooney-to-weather-channel-lake-okeechobee-isn-t-toxic", "Rooney to Weather Channel  Lake Okeechobee Isnt Toxic", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Tom Rooney", "R000583", "rooney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-17) sent a letter to The Weather Channel, Inc. CEO Mr. Cameron Clayton today in regards to the Weather Channel\u2019s recently-released article and documentary \u201cToxic Lake.\u201d\n\u201cWhile I\u2019m pleased that the Weather Channel is drawing more attention to the struggles surrounding the Lake, I strongly disagree with their one-sided reporting on this complicated and years-long issue,\u201d Rooney said. \u201cLake Okeechobee has been at the center of environmental struggles for all of south Florida, and while we have made great progress at both the state and federal level to restore the Everglades, more needs to be done. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to build upon the increased visibility the Weather Channel has brought to this issue, and I hope that we can all work toward a positive solution for everyone.\u201d\nHere you can read the full text of the letter:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1342", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia\u2019s Cyber Attacks\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement on the need for a bipartisan Congressional investigation into Russia\u2019s cyber attacks:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI join President Obama and senior leaders of both parties in calling for a bipartisan, public congressional investigation into apparent Russian cyber attacks, potentially approved by President Vladimir Putin personally, designed to affect the outcome of U.S. elections. To uncover the truth, we must hold public hearings similar in scope to those we saw after the Watergate break-in and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It is also crucial that any public inquiry look at the full scope of this Russian cyber espionage. That must include addressing what awareness or involvement, if any, President-Elect Trump had in it, given his supportive statements regarding Putin, his direct calls during the campaign appealing to Russia to\u00a0 attack the network of his opponent and steal data, and most recently, his selection of a nominee for Secretary of State with close ties to Putin. This cyberthreat is not going away. Any bipartisan investigation must not only uncover what happened in the 2016 Election, it also must include recommendations for how to fight this new form of modern warfare. Only then can we restore the public's faith in our democratic process, and seriously deter any future cybertreachery.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=882", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, DC,\r\n        December 20, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n        I join President Obama and senior leaders of both parties in calling for a bipartisan, public congressional investigation into apparent Russian cyber attacks, potentially approved by President Vladimir Putin personally, designed to affect the outcome of U.S. elections. To uncover the truth, we must hold public hearings similar in scope to those we saw after the Watergate break-in and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It is also crucial that any public inquiry look at the full scope of this Russian cyber espionage. That must include addressing what awareness or involvement, if any, President-Elect Trump had in it, given his supportive statements regarding Putin, his direct calls during the campaign appealing to Russia to  attack the network of his opponent and steal data, and most recently, his selection of a nominee for Secretary of State with close ties to Putin. This cyberthreat is not going away. Any bipartisan investigation must not only uncover what happened in the 2016 Election, it also must include recommendations for how to fight this new form of modern warfare. Only then can we restore the public's faith in our democratic process, and seriously deter any future cybertreachery.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement on the need for a bipartisan Congressional investigation into Russia's cyber attacks: I join President Obama and senior leaders of both parties in calling for a bipartisan, public congressional investigation into apparent Russian cyber attacks, potentially approved by President Vladimir Putin personally, designed to affect the outcome of U.S. elections. To uncover the truth, we must hold public hearings similar in scope to those we saw after the Watergate break-in and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It is also crucial that any public inquiry look at the full scope of this Russian cyber espionage. That must include addressing what awareness or involvement, if any, President-Elect Trump had in it, given his supportive statements regarding Putin, his direct calls during the campaign appealing to Russia to attack the network of his opponent and steal data, and most recently, his selection of a nominee for Secretary of State with close ties to Putin. This cyberthreat is not going away. Any bipartisan investigation must not only uncover what happened in the 2016 Election, it also must include recommendations for how to fight this new form of modern warfare. Only then can we restore the public's faith in our democratic process, and seriously deter any future cybertreachery. ### Contact: Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=22FC8240-8F7C-4EA5-8118-54C3639C20CC", "Rubio Announces Legislative Staff Additions", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FL \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today announced a promotion within his legislative staff, as well as three new additions.\r\nLauren Reamy, a member of Rubio\u2019s staff since 2015, has been promoted to deputy legislative director. In addition, Ansley Rhyne joins the office as legislative assistant for health and education, Samantha Roberts as general counsel, and Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Zarate as a senior foreign policy advisor.\r\n\u201cLauren\u2019s promotion and the addition of these new members to our team will help us serve our constituents as we continue to pursue an ambitious and impactful legislative agenda in my second term,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cI\u2019m excited about getting our second term started, and what these professionals will bring to the table as we work on national security issues, repealing and replacing ObamaCare, nominating qualified individuals to the federal bench and the many unique Florida issues that have a federal dimension to them, including our constituent service program.\r\n\u201cThese individuals will join an existing legislative team that\u2019s coming off our most successful Congress yet, when we passed more bills into law than our first four years,\u201d added Rubio. \u201cWith Republicans in control of the White House, Senate and House, I\u2019m hopeful we will be able to get even more things done that help move our state and nation forward.\u201d\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\r\nBACKGROUND ON TODAY\u2019S STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS\r\nLauren Reamy \u2013 Deputy Legislative Director: Reamy is being promoted to deputy legislative director. Since 2015, she has served as Rubio\u2019s professional staff member on the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard as well as advising on energy, environment, agriculture, and trade issues. Prior to that, she was director of government affairs at the Motion Picture Association of America, managing a portfolio that included international trade and economic issues. Earlier in her career, she served six years as a professional staff member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, serving under former Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA), and former Ranking Members Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Reamy is a 2004 graduate from the University of Florida and a native of Davie, Florida.\r\nAnsley Rhyne \u2013 Legislative Assistant (Health and Education): Rhyne previously worked for U.S. Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) on the Joint Economic Committee where she handled health care, the senator\u2019s appropriations work and \u201cWaste of the Week\u201d initiative.\u00a0 Rhyne began her career on Capitol Hill with Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA) and later served as legislative director for Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC). While there, she worked closely with Rubio\u2019s office to successfully pass Rubio\u2019s Hezbollah sanctions legislation into law. Rhyne is from Savannah, Georgia and is a graduate of the University of Georgia.\r\nSamantha Roberts \u2013 General Counsel:\u00a0For the past six years, Roberts has worked for U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), primarily handling homeland security, judiciary and aviation issues.\u00a0In addition, Roberts led Ayotte\u2019s efforts to combat the growing opioid abuse crisis confronting that state and the entire nation.\u00a0She is a native of Farmington, New Mexico and is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Tulsa College of Law.\u00a0\r\nRobert \u201cBobby\u201d Zarate \u2013 Senior Foreign Policy Advisor:\u00a0Zarate will serve as Rubio's senior foreign policy advisor, joining Jamie Fly, who continues in his role as Rubio\u2019s Counselor for Foreign and National Security Affairs. Zarate previously served as national security advisor to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), overseeing efforts on the Menendez-Kirk-Lieberman Iran sanctions laws, persuading Congress to appropriate and authorize full funding for IRON DOME and other U.S.-Israel missile defense programs, and to advance the bipartisan Combating BDS Act of 2016.\u00a0Prior to the Senate, he served as policy director of the Foreign Policy Initiative (2011-2014), legislative assistant for foreign affairs to U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska (2009-2011), legislative fellow on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade (2009), and research fellow at the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (2006-2009).\u00a0 Bobby earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Chicago.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AE0EE465-6E02-499C-9A4B-BF188370791E", "Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico Releases Final Report", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u00ad\u00ad \u2013 The bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico today released its final report with policy recommendations that aim to promote economic growth and long-term prosperity in the territory.\u00a0 The report, issued to comply with section 409 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), lays out a number of potential policies that could be implemented to enhance the territory\u2019s economic prospects.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe Task Force is of the view that Puerto Rico\u2019s best days lie before it, not behind it.\u201d the Task Force members wrote. \u201cThe members of the Task Force have worked across party lines to identify steps that can be taken to help Puerto Rico\u2019s economy stabilize and grow.\u00a0 The Task Force hopes that its work will serve as a platform for continued bipartisan efforts to support the American citizens in Puerto Rico.\u201d\r\nIn drafting the report, the Task Force sought input from a variety of stakeholders and received 450 submissions from the public.\u00a0 Submissions to the Task Force can be found in Appendix 1.\u00a0\r\nThe final report can found here. \u00a0\r\nBackground:\r\nEstablished by Section 409 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), Public Law 114-187, the Task Force is chaired by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and is comprised of U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL); Bill Nelson (D-FL); and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) as well as U.S. Representatives Sean Duffy (R-WI); Tom MacArthur (R-NJ); Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY); and Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR).\r\nUnder the law, the Task Force was charged with writing a report by December 31, 2016, that identifies impediments to growth and recommends changes to: promote long-term economic growth and stability; spur new job creation; reduce child poverty; and attract investment in the territory.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=38665CBE-EB11-4193-A5DE-6D542041BF06", "Senator Marco Rubio Announces Staff Changes", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FL \u2013\u00a0U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today announced staff changes in his Senate office.\r\nAlberto Martinez, who has served as Rubio\u2019s chief of staff since 2014, will assume the role of senior advisor to Rubio. Clint Reed, who served as campaign manager for Rubio\u2019s re-election campaign this year, will succeed Martinez as chief of staff.\r\n\u201cI\u2019m excited about my second term in the Senate and the team we are putting together to work hard every day for the people of Florida and get results on their behalf,\u201d\u00a0said Rubio. \u201cFor the past ten years, going back to my time in the state house, Albert has been a trusted and loyal advisor on policy, politics and communications. I am extremely grateful to him for his loyal service and the outstanding job he did managing my Senate office over the past two and a half years, a period where we passed more bills into law than any other during my term. Albert will continue to play a key role in shaping our office for the new challenges and opportunities which lie ahead.\r\n\u201cFor over a year, I\u2019ve gotten to know and work closely with Clint on my campaigns, including two in Florida. He\u2019s a superb manager who loves Florida, has earned my trust, and relishes the challenge of solving tough problems,\u201d Rubio added. \u201cThe next six years will undoubtedly present many challenges but also incredible opportunities to make an even bigger difference in the lives of Floridians and people throughout the country, and I\u2019m excited to be surrounded with a team of devoted professionals who are passionate about public service.\u201d\r\nADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON TODAY\u2019S STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS\r\nAlberto Martinez:\u00a0In 2013, Martinez became the first Cuban-American to serve as a chief of staff in the U.S. Senate, and has been a long-serving adviser to Rubio. Prior to being chief of staff, he served as deputy chief of staff in the Senate office and was a senior advisor to Rubio\u2019s Reclaim America PAC and the 2012 Romney for President campaign. Previously, Martinez served as communications director for the Republican majority during Rubio's term as speaker of the Florida House. In 2009, he stepped down as chief of staff to the majority whip in the Florida House to work as a senior adviser to Rubio\u2019s 2010 Senate campaign. Prior to his work with Rubio, Martinez served as deputy speechwriter for Governor Jeb Bush and Florida communications director for President George W. Bush\u2019s reelection campaign in 2004.\r\nClint Reed:\u00a0Reed most recently managed Rubio's successful U.S. Senate re-election campaign, which earned the most total votes of any candidate, at any level, in Florida's history. Prior to that he managed Rubio's presidential primary campaigns in Iowa and Florida. A native of Arkansas, Reed has been a\u00a0partner at Impact Management Group (IMG), a public affairs firm headquartered in Little Rock with clients that have included federal, state and local political campaigns; the Republican Governors Association; trade associations; and businesses. Earlier in his career, Reed served as Southeast\u00a0Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2007-2009, a multi-state portfolio that included Florida. During this period, Reed led the get-out-the-vote program that re-elected Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss in a special election and played a key\u00a0role in re-electing Republican governors in Mississippi and Louisiana. He has also served as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Arkansas and successfully managed grassroots operations for the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election in Arkansas.\u00a0Clint earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, where he has been inducted in the school's Basketball Hall of Fame.\u00a0He received his Masters of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-obama-s-appeasement-policy-hurts-not-helps-cuban-people", "Diaz-Balart: Obamas Appeasement Policy Hurts, Not Helps Cuban People", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Mario Diaz-Balart", "D000600", "mariodiazbalart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MIAMI \u2013 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) released the following statement to mark two years since President Obama began his policy of appeasement toward the Castro regime. Since his policy began, oppression on the island has increased significantly, and thousands of Cubans are risking their lives to escape.\"Two years since President Obama's full appeasement policy toward the Castro dictatorship began, conditions on the island have only worsened. Political arrests have reached a staggering 9,484 this year, while thousands more have risked their lives to escape. President Obama's policy encourages U.S. currency to the nearly exclusive benefit of state-run industries including those run by the Cuban military, and has done nothing to help the Cuban people. To the contrary, his policy has further emboldened the regime to intensify its oppression and continue its anti-American activities. I look forward to working with the incoming President to reverse this failed approach and pursue a policy that furthers American interests and respects the democratic aspirations of the Cuban people.\"\n  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/two-years-president-obama%E2%80%99s-failed-cuba-policy-has-only-seen-increase-repression", "Two Years of President Obamas Failed Cuba Policy Has Only Seen An Increase In Repression By The Castro Regime, Says Ros-Lehtinen", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Two Years of President Obama\u2019s Failed Cuba Policy Has Only Seen An Increase In Repression By The Castro Regime, Says Ros-Lehtinen\nMiami, FL \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) made the following statement prior to the second anniversary of President Obama\u2019s unilateral policy of failed concessions to the Castro regime. Since the president\u2019s announcement on December 17, 2014, repression has continued unabated in Cuba as there have been more than 16,000 arrests in 2015 and 2016. Additionally, data indicates that many have rushed to leave the oppressive island as Pew Research has reported more than 89,000 Cubans arrived in the United States in the past two years.\nStatement by Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cAfter two years, President Obama\u2019s failed and disastrous Cuba policy has only resulted in increased levels of repression and the flight of record numbers of Cubans desperate to escape the Castro regime. Rather than seeing an improvement in their day to day lives, ordinary citizens on the island have only seen an increase in the dictatorship\u2019s fierce oppression against them and the continual denial of their most basic human rights.\u00a0\u00a0Two years later, none of President Obama\u2019s unilateral concessions \u2013 an embassy, increased commercial ties, and working to undermine the embargo \u2013 have led to one iota of positive results for those who must live with the horrific consequences of living under the yoke of Castro\u2019s oppression. Rather than continuing this misguided policy, I urge the new administration to focus on promoting democracy in Cuba and work for the day when the Cuban people can determine their own future.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398296", "U.S. Rep. Castor's statement on Russian cyberattacks", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Castor's statement on Russian cyberattacks  \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 15, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n        U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) issued the following statement on Russian cyberattacks against the United States:\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) issued the following statement on Russian cyberattacks against the United States:\r\n \u201cThe United States must hold Russia accountable for cyberattacks against our country, our electoral system and the private intellectual property of American businesses. These Russian cyberattacks were not a move against any one party, they were a move against our nation and all Americans. The United States also should consider broader sanctions against the Russian government following a robust, bipartisan investigation to confirm the extent and identities of responsible individuals, including Vladimir Putin himself. \u00a0\r\n\u201cAmerica must strike back at any foreign country or non-state actor that interferes in America\u2019s most sacred exercise of democracy. Cyberwarfare against the United States demands retaliatory measures and defensive steps to protect computer systems from malevolent hacking.\r\n\u201cFinally, President-Elect Trump should reassess his knowledge and rhetoric towards Russia and be more circumspect in maintaining the dignity of the office upon which he is about to enter.\u00a0America must stand strong and not capitulate to Russia and President Putin and their often malicious ends.\u201d\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-condemns-arrest-of-cuban-pro-democracy-activists", "Diaz-Balart Condemns Arrest of Cuban Pro-Democracy Activists", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Mario Diaz-Balart", "D000600", "mariodiazbalart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representatives Diaz-Balart, Sires, Connolly, and Harper, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, along with 147 congressional colleagues, sent a letter to President Donald Trump ahead of his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rooney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-to-un-urge-arms-embargo-against-south-sudan", "Lawmakers to UN: Urge Arms Embargo Against South Sudan", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Tom Rooney", "R000583", "rooney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C - Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-17) was joined by a bipartisan group of 19 lawmakers calling for the United Nations Security Council to immediately impose an arms embargo against South Sudan to halt the escalating ethnic violence and avert the risk of genocide in the county. Letters were sent to each of the 15 members of the UN Security Council urging their support of a resolution imposing an arms embargo before the end of the year.\nToday marks three years since fighting in Juba, South Sudan\u2019s capital, ignited a brutal conflict that has since displaced three million people, including nearly 1.9 million who are internally displaced and more than 1.3 million fleeing as refugees to neighboring countries. Recent reports describe how government forces have for months been carrying out a brutal campaign of systematic rape of women and children, extrajudicial killings, abductions, torture, looting and burning of homes, and violence against humanitarian personnel. In Juba alone, 70 percent of women have experienced sexual assault, with rape being used as a \u201ctool for ethnic cleansing.\u201d Three quarters of the nation\u2019s 11 million people are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of food insecurity and acute malnutrition, with some areas of the country increasingly reaching emergency and catastrophe levels due the deepening economic crisis, ongoing violence, and insufficient agricultural production. There are no up-to-date reliable statistics on the death toll since the start of the conflict, with the most recent estimate of at least 50 thousand dead, because those charged with monitoring the scale and impact of the conflict are impeded from doing so, kicked out of the country, or killed.\n\u201cCongress has been calling for the Administration and the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan for over two years now. What I cannot grasp is why that has not happened yet,\u201d Rooney said. \u201cWhat I do not understand is why \u2013 when we know that the government is spending whatever money it can scrounge up not to feed its starving people \u2013 but to purchase attack helicopters, armored vehicles and arms to kill its own people. The people of South Sudan need the leadership of the international community to help bring peace to their country and stop the senseless and brutal violence being carried out by their own government.\u201d\nA UN embargo would send a clear signal to the government of South Sudan that the systematic murder of its own citizens is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the international community. Currently, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and Spain have vocally supported the embargo. The remaining ten nations on the Security Council \u2013 Senegal, Ukraine, Japan, Malaysia, China, Russia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Angola and Egypt \u2013 have yet to offer their public support for an embargo, despite findings from the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan that \u201cthere is already a steady process of ethnic cleansing underway in several areas of South Sudan using starvation, gang rape and the burning of villages. The stage is being set for a repeat of what happened in Rwanda, and the international community is under an obligation to prevent it.\u201d Of the fifteen members of the UN Security Council, a vote of nine is needed to approve the resolution.\n\u201cGiven the undeniable evidence of a catastrophe unfolding, I implore those members of the Security Council to be on the right side of history, and humanity, and publicly commit to support an arms embargo. Words will not stop South Sudan\u2019s leaders from starving, raping, brutalizing and murdering thousands upon thousands of its own people.\u201d\nBelow you can read full text of each letter sent to Security Council members:\n-Angola\u00a0\n-China\n-Egypt\n-France\n-Japan\n-Malaysia\n-New Zealand\n-Russia\n-Senegal\n-Spain\n-United Kingdom\n-Ukraine\n-United States\n-Uruguay\n-Venezuela", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1343", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia\u2019s Cyber Attacks\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement on the need for a bipartisan Congressional investigation into Russia\u2019s cyber attacks:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI join President Obama and senior leaders of both parties in calling for a bipartisan, public congressional investigation into apparent Russian cyber attacks, potentially approved by President Vladimir Putin personally, designed to affect the outcome of U.S. elections. To uncover the truth, we must hold public hearings similar in scope to those we saw after the Watergate break-in and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It is also crucial that any public inquiry look at the full scope of this Russian cyber espionage. That must include addressing what awareness or involvement, if any, President-Elect Trump had in it, given his supportive statements regarding Putin, his direct calls during the campaign appealing to Russia to\u00a0 attack the network of his opponent and steal data, and most recently, his selection of a nominee for Secretary of State with close ties to Putin. This cyberthreat is not going away. Any bipartisan investigation must not only uncover what happened in the 2016 Election, it also must include recommendations for how to fight this new form of modern warfare. Only then can we restore the public's faith in our democratic process, and seriously deter any future cybertreachery.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=883", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, DC,\r\n        December 15, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n        I join President Obama and senior leaders of both parties in calling for a bipartisan, public congressional investigation into apparent Russian cyber attacks, potentially approved by President Vladimir Putin personally, designed to affect the outcome of U.S. elections. To uncover the truth, we must hold public hearings similar in scope to those we saw after the Watergate break-in and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It is also crucial that any public inquiry look at the full scope of this Russian cyber espionage. That must include addressing what awareness or involvement, if any, President-Elect Trump had in it, given his supportive statements regarding Putin, his direct calls during the campaign appealing to Russia to  attack the network of his opponent and steal data, and most recently, his selection of a nominee for Secretary of State with close ties to Putin. This cyberthreat is not going away. Any bipartisan investigation must not only uncover what happened in the 2016 Election, it also must include recommendations for how to fight this new form of modern warfare. Only then can we restore the public's faith in our democratic process, and seriously deter any future cybertreachery.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Investigation into Russia's Cyber Attacks U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement on the need for a bipartisan Congressional investigation into Russia's cyber attacks: I join President Obama and senior leaders of both parties in calling for a bipartisan, public congressional investigation into apparent Russian cyber attacks, potentially approved by President Vladimir Putin personally, designed to affect the outcome of U.S. elections. To uncover the truth, we must hold public hearings similar in scope to those we saw after the Watergate break-in and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It is also crucial that any public inquiry look at the full scope of this Russian cyber espionage. That must include addressing what awareness or involvement, if any, President-Elect Trump had in it, given his supportive statements regarding Putin, his direct calls during the campaign appealing to Russia to attack the network of his opponent and steal data, and most recently, his selection of a nominee for Secretary of State with close ties to Putin. This cyberthreat is not going away. Any bipartisan investigation must not only uncover what happened in the 2016 Election, it also must include recommendations for how to fight this new form of modern warfare. Only then can we restore the public's faith in our democratic process, and seriously deter any future cybertreachery. ### Contact: Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/fighting-for-florida?ContentRecord_id=9A6921E8-461F-48B4-8CCF-E6B0FA2E037D", "225th Anniversary of Bill of Rights Ratification", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today is the 225th anniversary of a historic and pivotal moment for America. On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified and became part of the U.S. Constitution. For over two centuries, the Bill of Rights has helped promote the stability and prosperity of our nation.\r\nAs America\u2019s torch of liberty shines throughout the globe, the Bill of Rights is a reminder that our nation is exceptional. Over 225 years ago, the Founding Fathers set in motion a great experiment in democracy. They could not possibly know all of the potential consequences of their courage, or whether future generations would ultimately enjoy the fruits of the liberty they secured. But they did their best to ensure a more perfect union, and when they disagreed on how to do it, they crafted these pivotal amendments and reached a historic and lasting compromise. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nThe Bill of Rights is not just a document we read about in our textbooks\u2013 it has tangible and direct impacts on the lives of all Americans. It has served as a vanguard of the Preamble\u2019s mission to \u201cestablish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Poserity.\u201d\r\nWhen I was sworn into office as a U.S. Senator and placed my hand on the Bible, I promised to \u201csupport and defend the Constitution of the United States.\u201d Unfortunately, too many in Washington have deviated from their oaths to protect it. Unelected bureaucrats and out-of-touch politicians have infringed on the Constitution by dramatically expanding the size and scope of the federal government far beyond the vision of the Founding Fathers. Some have even sought to roll back parts of the Bill of Rights they don\u2019t like.\r\nAs we celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, let us be thankful for the opportunities the Constitution has afforded us, and remember that our cherished freedoms came at a terribly high price. At times when our very existence was threatened by war at home and abroad, blood was shed and lives were lost. Around the world, millions have suffered and continue to suffer under the yoke of tyranny and oppression, as they fight to have the same liberties we often take for granted.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://curbelo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1242", "Curbelo Comments on Unimaginable Suffering of the Syrian People In Aleppo", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Carlos Curbelo", "C001107", "curbelo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following news reports of the deteriorating human rights situation in Aleppo, Syria since President Bashar Assad's forces recaptured the city, Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) issued the following statement condemning the Assad regime's brutality and the Obama Administration's lack of action to prevent it:\r\n            \u201cWhat's happening to the Syrian people in Aleppo is a devastating consequence of weak American leadership. The focus today is, and should continue to be, on finding relief for the unimaginable suffering of the people being brutalized by Assad's forces. We also need to be cognizant of the serious implications Assad's power has on U.S. national security. With the backing of Russia and Iran, an Assad-led Syria will continue to undermine American interests in the Middle East and around the world. I am committed to working with the incoming Administration as they seek to alleviate the suffering of Aleppo\u2019s victims, one of the great blights on human history.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-senate-report-raises-privacy-concerns-associated-with-use-of-smart-toys", "New Senate report raises privacy concerns associated with use of smart toys", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Bill Nelson", "N000032", "www.billnelson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 With the holiday shopping season in full swing, a new Senate report unveiled today by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) is cautioning parents about the privacy risk associated with so-called smart toys.\nSmart toys, which can interact with a child by connecting to the internet, can become a target for hackers and identity thieves looking to steal a parent or child\u2019s personal information often stored by the toymaker.\nThese toys, and the companies that make them, often collect and store a wide range of personal information about the consumers who use them, including names, addresses, birthdates, physical locations, credit card information and Wi-Fi passwords to name a few.\nThe report noted that, if improperly secured, criminals can use the information stored on these devices in a variety of ways. For example: a child's Social Security number can be used by identity thieves to apply for government benefits, open bank and credit card accounts or apply for a loan. Additionally, a child\u2019s name, home address, online contact information or physical location can be used to contact or even abduct that child.\nThe report cites three incidents in which smart toy manufacturers failed to adequately secure a child\u2019s personal information.\u00a0\nOne such incident involved a data breach at VTech Electronics, a leading manufacturer of electronic learning toys and baby monitors. The breach, which occurred last year, reportedly exposed the personal information of more than six million children around the globe, including their names, genders and birthdates, as well as photographs and account passwords. \u00a0\nThe report went on to cite security flaws found in two other popular children\u2019s toys \u2013 Fisher-Price\u2019s Smart Toy Bear and hereO\u2019s GPS watch \u2013 which could have exposed not only a child\u2019s personal information, but in the case of the GPS watch, a child\u2019s real-time physical location as well.\u00a0\n\u201cIt\u2019s frightening to think that our children\u2019s toys can be used against them in this way,\u201d said Nelson, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee. \u201cThe companies that make these toys have to do more to safeguard the parents and children who use them.\u201d \u00a0\nThe report recommends several measures parents can take both before and after purchasing a smart toy to help secure their child\u2019s information, including:\nBefore purchasing a toy:\n Learn what personal information the toy will collect, how that information will be used, whether it will be shared and how long it will be retained.\u00a0This information can usually be found in the device\u2019s privacy policy. If a toy\u2019s privacy policy is too long and confusing, parents may want to reconsider giving that product to their child.\n\tCheck whether the manufacturer of a particular toy has been the subject of a previous data breach and how the company handled that breach.\n After purchasing a toy:\n Change the default passwords that come with the toy and install any available updates to the toy\u2019s software.\n\tIf possible, change the toy\u2019s default privacy settings to limit the amount of personal information it provides to the manufacturer. Parents should allow a toy to collect only the information that is necessary for it to properly function.\n A copy of the report is available here: https://www.billnelson.senate.gov/sites/default/files/12.14.16_Ranking_Member_Nelson_Report_on_Connected_Toys.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bilirakis-demands-answers-from-va-on-bay-pines-incident", "Bilirakis Demands Answers from VA on Bay Pines Incident", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) has written a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald demanding further details on the termination of Bay Pines VA staff members responsible for leaving the body of a Veteran in a shower room for over nine hours then attempting to cover it up. Please click here to read the full letter.\u00a0\n\u201cWhile the VA is now acknowledging that two individuals have been fired as a result of this incident, I remain concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the matter,\u201d said Bilirakis. \u201cThat is why I am requesting the VA provide more information on the terminated employees, and others involved, to ensure all those responsible are held fully accountable. Our Veterans have already sacrificed so much on behalf of the nation, we must see that they are provided proper\u00a0care and treatment.\u201d\u00a0\nBilirakis, Vice Chairman of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, has consistently pushed for legislation to reform the VA and overhaul the culture of mediocrity that persists at the agency. A\u00a0study\u00a0from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that it can take up to a year or more to dismiss a federal employee. Bilirakis strongly supported House passage of the\u00a0VA Accountability Act, legislation to make it easier for the VA Secretary to fire employees for misconduct or poor performance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-demands-answers-va-bay-pines-incident", "Bilirakis Demands Answers from VA on Bay Pines Incident", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) has written a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald demanding further details on the termination of Bay Pines VA staff members responsible for leaving the body of a Veteran in a shower room for over nine hours then attempting to cover it up. Please click here to read the full letter.\nWhile the VA is now acknowledging that two individuals have been fired as a result of this incident, I remain concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the matter, said Bilirakis. That is why I am requesting the VA provide more information on the terminated employees, and others involved, to ensure all those responsible are held fully accountable. Our Veterans have already sacrificed so much on behalf of the nation, we must see that they are provided propercare and treatment.\nBilirakis, Vice Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, has consistently pushed for legislation to reform the VA and overhaul the culture of mediocrity that persists at the agency. Astudyfrom the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that it can take up to a year or more to dismiss a federal employee. Bilirakis strongly supported House passage of theVA Accountability Act, legislation to make it easier for the VA Secretary to fire employees for misconduct or poor performance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/engel-ros-lehtinen-legislation-strengthen-caribbean-engagement-heads-president-obama%E2%80%99s", "ENGEL, ROS-LEHTINEN LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN CARIBBEAN ENGAGEMENT HEADS TO PRESIDENT OBAMAS DESK", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ENGEL, ROS-LEHTINEN LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN CARIBBEAN ENGAGEMENT HEADS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA\u2019S DESK\nWASHINGTON\u2014Representative Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), a former Chair of the Committee, today announced that their legislation to enhance U.S. engagement with the Caribbean has passed the House and Senate and is headed to the President for signature into law. The United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act (H.R. 4939) calls for a new, long-term strategy to strengthen ties between the United States and its Caribbean neighbors.\n\u201cAt a time when our friends in the Caribbean need us more than ever, this bill will prioritize our partnership with the subregion for many years to come. It is long past time to have a multi-year strategy that will allow us to increase engagement with the Caribbean, especially when it comes to energy and security. \u00a0The countries of the Caribbean are profoundly important to the United States, and particularly to the many Caribbean-American citizens in our country. I look forward to working with the Caribbean-American diaspora to ensure that they can provide input to the State Department and USAID on U.S. relations with the Caribbean in the years ahead. With constant crises around the globe that demand U.S. attention, we must not lose sight of our long-term interests close to home,\u201d said Rep. Engel.\n\u201cI am honored to work alongside my friend and colleague Eliot Engel in order to send this important legislation aimed at prioritizing our bilateral relationships with allies in the Caribbean to the President\u2019s desk. We must strengthen our relationship with Caribbean nations so that they view the U.S. as a reliable partner and push back against the negative influence of Maduro\u2019s corrupt regime in the region. It is vital to work proactively and collaboratively with Caribbean nations to promote close cooperation in the areas of security, trade, illicit trafficking, and energy and I look forward to seeing this important legislation implemented in order to advance our own national security interests,\u201d said Rep. Ros-Lehtinen.\nThe United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act (H.R. 4939) will strengthen relations with the Caribbean by requiring the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to submit to Congress a multiyear strategy focused on enhancing engagement with the countries of the Caribbean. The legislation puts particular emphasis on energy security, countering violence, expanding diplomacy and providing educational exchange opportunities for citizens of the Caribbean.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-discusses-plans-new-va-outpatient-clinic-leaders-homestead-air-reserve", "Ros-Lehtinen Discusses Plans For New VA Outpatient Clinic With Leaders Of Homestead Air Reserve Base And The Miami VA Medical Center", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ros-Lehtinen Discusses Plans For New VA Outpatient Clinic With Leaders Of Homestead Air Reserve Base And The Miami VA Medical Center\n\u201cI am thankful for today\u2019s constructive discussion and look forward to continuing my work to serve our South Florida community and our heroes.\u201d\n(Miami, FL) \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) made the following statement following her meeting with leaders of Homestead Air Reserve Base and the Miami VA Medical Center to discuss proposed plans for a new Miami VA outpatient clinic.\u00a0 Present in the meeting were Colonel David P. Garfield, Chief Master Sergeant Frederick A. Becking, Colonel Alan C. Teauseau, as well as Paul Russo, Director of the Miami VA Medical Center.\u00a0 Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:\u00a0\n\u201cI appreciated the opportunity to sit down with the leadership at the Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB), \u00a0Department of Veterans Affairs(VA) officials, and interested local parties to discuss proposed plans for a new Miami VA outpatient clinic.\u00a0 It is of the highest importance to ensure effective cooperation between local, state, and federal officials, as well as between civilians and our military in order to guarantee that our veterans can access essential and life-saving treatments, while also advancing the interests of our community, and fulfilling HARB\u2019s mission.\u00a0 I am thankful for today\u2019s constructive discussion and look forward to continuing my work to serve our South Florida community and our heroes.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bilirakis-21st-century-cures-is-about-the-patients", "Bilirakis: \u201c21st Century Cures is about the patients\u201d", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Major legislation supporting medical research for finding new treatments and cures for deadly diseases now signed into law\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- A major bipartisan medical research bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, has been signed into law today by the President. U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), a strong supporter of 21st Century Cures, worked with local patients, doctors, and advocates from Florida to ensure their input is reflected in the final version of the legislation.\n\u201cThe 21st Century Cures Act has been three years in the making, and I am so proud that it is now finally law,\u201d said Bilirakis. \u201cThis legislation will have an incredible impact on millions of Americans who are affected by deadly diseases like cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s, ALS, and others. I especially want to thank all of the people in Florida who attended my roundtable discussions on boosting the discovery, development, and delivery of new treatments and cures. 21st Century Cures is about the patients, and their voices are certainly heard in this bill.\u201d\nOverall, the 21st Century Cures Act provides the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with a fully offset $4.8 billion to help advance the Precision Medicine Initiative, bolster the \u201cCancer Moonshot,\u201d and invest in the BRAIN initiative.\nSee below for a list of key provisions in 21st Century Cures that were introduced or cosponsored by Bilirakis, or visit Bilirakis\u2019 website here for a full list:  \n\t\u00a0\n Section 2061 \u2013 National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System. Bilirakis was a lead cosponsor on this provision to\u00a0create a national data collection system for neurological diseases, like Parkinson\u2019s and Alzheimer\u2019s, which would help develop better treatments.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tSection 3013 \u2013 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis. This provision, also cosponsored by Bilirakis, would\u00a0reform the nation\u2019s mental health system\u00a0by improving federal mental health programs and expanding access to treatment.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tSection 3088 \u2013 Clarifying Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization. Bilirakis worked closely on this provision to allow the FDA to allow the emergency use of animal drug products to\u00a0fight public health emergencies such as Zika\u00a0or new strains of animal-based pandemic flu.\n Please click here for more details on Bilirakis\u2019 roundtable discussions in Florida, and here to learn more about Cures.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-21st-century-cures-about-patients", "Bilirakis: 21st Century Cures is about the patients", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Major legislation supporting medical research for finding new treatments and cures for deadly diseases now signed into law\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- A major bipartisan medical research bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, has been signed into law today by the President. U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), a strong supporter of 21st Century Cures, worked with local patients, doctors, and advocates from Florida to ensure their input is reflected in the final version of the legislation.\nThe 21st Century Cures Act has been three years in the making, and I am so proud that it is now finally law, said Bilirakis. This legislation will have an incredible impact on millions of Americans who are affected by deadly diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, and others. I especially want to thank all of the people in Florida who attended my roundtable discussions on boosting the discovery, development, and delivery of new treatments and cures. 21st Century Cures is about the patients, and their voices are certainly heard in this bill.\nOverall, the 21st Century Cures Act provides the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with a fully offset $4.8 billion to help advance the Precision Medicine Initiative, bolster the Cancer Moonshot, and invest in the BRAIN initiative.\nSee below for a list of key provisions in 21st Century Cures that were introduced or cosponsored by Bilirakis, or visit Bilirakis' website here for a full list:  \n\t\n \nSection 2061  National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System. Bilirakis was a lead cosponsor on this provision tocreate a national data collection system for neurological diseases, like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, which would help develop better treatments.\n\t\t\n\tSection 3013  Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis. This provision, also cosponsored by Bilirakis, wouldreform the nation's mental health systemby improving federal mental health programs and expanding access to treatment.\n\t\t\n\tSection 3088  Clarifying Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization. Bilirakis worked closely on this provision to allow the FDA to allow the emergency use of animal drug products tofight public health emergencies such as Zikaor new strains of animal-based pandemic flu.\n \nPlease click here for more details on Bilirakis' roundtable discussions in Florida, and here to learn more about Cures.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1341", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of WRDA", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of WRDA\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC \u2013\u00a0U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement after the passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThe passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for The Nation Act (previously known as the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, or \u201cWRDA\u201d) is a critical step forward in protecting and restoring our state\u2019s environmental treasures and key resources. In particular, I am proud that with our South Florida congressional delegation's advocacy, WRDA contains $1.9 billion for the Central Everglades Project (CEP), which will improve water flow in and around the Everglades and help restore the health of our \u201cRiver of Grass.\u201d Port Everglades, which is in my congressional district, is the centerpiece of economic activity in Broward and South Florida. I'm proud to have helped secure, after nearly 18 years of teamwork, funding of more than $335 million for the Port Everglades Harbor Dredging Project, which will help South Florida\u2019s economy maintain and expand its position as a hub of international trade and commerce.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cIn addition, WRDA and the Continuing Resolution contain more than $145 million for programs to address the Flint water crisis. I visited Flint earlier this year to hear firsthand from its residents how this tragic crisis has impacted them. I was devastated to hear from the mothers of Flint, who had to worry about bathing and washing their children in lead-contaminated water. I am glad that the families of Flint will finally receive the funding they need, but I am appalled that this aid is coming many months later than it should have. The people of Flint did not deserve to wait this long, or any longer, for programs that will help their community rebuild from a tragedy of epic proportions.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan,\u00a0Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov,\u00a0202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1011", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of WRDA", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for The Nation Act (previously known as the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, or \"WRDA\") is a critical step forward in protecting and restoring our state's environmental treasures and key resources. In particular, I am proud that with our South Florida congressional delegation's advocacy, WRDA contains $1.9 billion for the Central Everglades Project (CEP), which will improve water flow in and around the Everglades and help restore the health of our \"River of Grass.\" Port Everglades, which is in my congressional district, is the centerpiece of economic activity in Broward and South Florida. I'm proud to have helped secure, after nearly 18 years of teamwork, funding of more than $335 million for the Port Everglades Harbor Dredging Project, which will help South Florida's economy maintain and expand its position as a hub of international trade and commerce. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of WRDA U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement after the passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act: The passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for The Nation Act (previously known as the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, or WRDA) is a critical step forward in protecting and restoring our state's environmental treasures and key resources. In particular, I am proud that with our South Florida congressional delegation's advocacy, WRDA contains $1.9 billion for the Central Everglades Project (CEP), which will improve water flow in and around the Everglades and help restore the health of our River of Grass. Port Everglades, which is in my congressional district, is the centerpiece of economic activity in Broward and South Florida. I'm proud to have helped secure, after nearly 18 years of teamwork, funding of more than $335 million for the Port Everglades Harbor Dredging Project, which will help South Florida's economy maintain and expand its position as a hub of international trade and commerce. In addition, WRDA and the Continuing Resolution contain more than $145 million for programs to address the Flint water crisis. I visited Flint earlier this year to hear firsthand from its residents how this tragic crisis has impacted them. I was devastated to hear from the mothers of Flint, who had to worry about bathing and washing their children in lead-contaminated water. I am glad that the families of Flint will finally receive the funding they need, but I am appalled that this aid is coming many months later than it should have. The people of Flint did not deserve to wait this long, or any longer, for programs that will help their community rebuild from a tragedy of epic proportions. ### Contact: Geoff Burgan,Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov,202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4EEFC4F1-9E97-4A0F-9480-A7AC2B17DAEC", "Rubio Statement on President-Elect Trump's Selection of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FL \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s intention to nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state:\r\n\u201cWhile Rex Tillerson is a respected businessman, I have serious concerns about his nomination. The next secretary of state must be someone who views the world with moral clarity, is free of potential conflicts of interest, has\u00a0a clear sense of America's interests, and will be a forceful advocate for America's foreign policy goals to the president, within the administration, and on the world stage. I look forward to learning more about his record and his views.\u200e\u00a0I\u00a0will do my part to ensure he receives a full and fair but also thorough hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=629CFEBD-835E-4984-A188-DBF1E556E69D", "Rubio's International Religious Freedom Bill Heads to President's Desk", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (H.R. 1150):\r\n\u201cAmerica was founded in part by people fleeing religious persecution, and the U.S. has a moral responsibility to be a champion for oppressed people around the world. When it comes to universal human rights that must be respected, few are more fundamental to the human spirit than the freedom to live out your faith according to your conscience, without fear of persecution, violence or imprisonment. But this right is under assault in every corner of the globe, and we must do more to defend it and counter the vicious attacks on religious minorities. Every day, the headlines speak to the necessity of this legislation\u2014a bombing targeting peaceful worshippers at a Cairo church over the weekend, another deadly self-immolation in Tibet last week, and a mob attack against a mosque belonging to Pakistan\u2019s beleaguered Ahmadiyya community just yesterday. So I\u2019m glad we were able to get this bill done this year, and I commend Congressman Chris Smith for his leadership in passing this legislation. I urge President Obama to sign it without delay.\u201d\r\nThe Senate passed the bill unanimously last week, and the House passed it today in a pro forma session. The bill strengthens and modernizes the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, providing the State Department with new tools to counter the spread of violent extremism and promote and advance the universal human right of religious freedom around the world. In April, Rubio introduced the companion legislation to H.R. 1150 in the Senate with Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and John Cornyn (R-TX). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed an amended version unanimously last week.\r\nRubio has been a leading advocate of international religious freedom issues in the Senate, and played a central role in the reauthorization of the bipartisan, independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom last year. In May, he visited Iraq and discussed the plight of the Christian community in Iraq and Syria with the Archbishop of Erbil, Iraq, and the Archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Mosul, Iraq.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398714", "Hastings Statement on Trump Rejection of CIA Assessment", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings\u2019 Statement on Trump Rejection of CIA Assessment \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Fort Lauderdale, FL,\r\n        December 12, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement in response to President-Elect Trump\u2019s rejection of the Central Intelligence Agency\u2019s (CIA) assessment that Russia interfered with the U.S. election:  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cLast weeks\u2019 CIA assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 Presidential Election is extremely alarming. Equally alarming is President-Elect Trump\u2019s rejection of these findings and continuous denigration of the American intelligence community. Whether it is due to naivety or arrogance, the leader of the free world cannot afford to neglect facts for fiction.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cFor President-Elect Trump to question the competence of the CIA and then appear on Fox News to boast that he declines daily intelligence briefings, because he is \u2018like, a smart person\u2019 is disgraceful. These intelligence briefings keep Americans safe, both here at home and abroad, and flippantly ignoring them is a callous dereliction of duty. President-Elect Trump has not even taken office, yet he is already playing games with American security and the safety of our citizens.\u201d  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cAs Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and the former Vice Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I am deeply disturbed by the incoming administrations\u2019 admonition of the intelligence community. Congress must prioritize investigating and responding to Russia\u2019s actions, and ensure that the incoming Commander-in-Chief has the best interests of America in mind.\u201d  \r\n\u00a0  \r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n\r\n\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398290", "U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announces $1.6 million in recovered federal benefits for Tampa Bay families", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With the help of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14), hundreds of veterans, seniors, troops, families and neighbors in the Tampa Bay area recovered more than $1.6 million in unpaid federal benefits in 2016. Nearly half\u2014$773,132\u2014was owed to our local veterans for benefits they have earned. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      With the help of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14), hundreds of veterans, seniors, troops, families and neighbors in the Tampa Bay area recovered more than $1.6 million in unpaid federal benefits in 2016. Nearly half\u2014$773,132\u2014was owed to our local veterans for benefits they have earned.  \r\n\u201cMy team and I are here to cut the red tape. Families and neighbors can count on me to assist with matters regarding Social Security, IRS, passports, immigration, VA, Medicare, military or any other federal agency. I am here to help,\u201d U.S. Rep. Castor said.  \r\nU.S. Rep. Castor also worked to secure more than $300 million in federal grants this year to create jobs, invest in education and infrastructure, and bolster the important work of local partners. Among the federals grants won this year are $6 million to boost STEM education opportunities for Hispanic students at Hillsborough Community College, nearly $10 million for upgrades at Tampa International Airport and HART, and $5.8 million to the University of South Florida as part of the largest HHS navigator grant in Florida to support 2017 enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplace.  \r\n\u201cI intend to be just as determined in 2017 to stand up for our community and fight for the benefits veterans and others have earned.\u00a0My hard-working neighbors and students are my top priority,\u201d\u00a0U.S. Rep. Castor added. \r\nResidents in Florida Congressional District 14 can call U.S. Rep. Castor\u2019s Tampa office at 813-871-2817 or visit www.Castor.house.gov for assistance. \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398292", "U.S. Rep. Kathy Castors statement on first regular commercial flight today between Tampa and Cuba", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cNew commercial airline service between Tampa and Cuba marks another important milestone for families on both sides of the Florida Straits. I am proud that the Tampa community has been at the forefront of positive change in America\u2019s relationship with the Cuban people. We must turn the page on the Cold War policies of the past and build new bridges to jobs and economic opportunities for Tampa residents and the Cuba people. The regular Southwest Airline flight from Tampa International Airport is the culmination of years of advocacy with the Obama Administration. The flight is affordable and will connect families, students, cultural institutions at a pivotal time in the history of U.S./Cuba relations.\u201d\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      \u201cNew commercial airline service between Tampa and Cuba marks another important milestone for families on both sides of the Florida Straits. I am proud that the Tampa community has been at the forefront of positive change in America\u2019s relationship with the Cuban people. We must turn the page on the Cold War policies of the past and build new bridges to jobs and economic opportunities for Tampa residents and the Cuba people. The regular Southwest Airline flight from Tampa International Airport is the culmination of years of advocacy with the Obama Administration. The flight is affordable and will connect families, students, cultural institutions at a pivotal time in the history of U.S./Cuba relations.\u201d\r\nCuba Travel Timeline \r\n12/16/2008 \u2013 Castor letter to President-elect Barack Obama\r\n \r\n    Requesting a fresh look at U.S.-Cuban relations, call to expand family travel opportunities\r\n \r\n2/3/2009 \u2013 Castor letter to Mr. Tom Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner of United States Customs & Border Protection \r\n \r\n    Requesting that he consider adding Tampa to the list of designated cities so that it can act as a port of entry/exit in U.S.-Cuba air charter flights\r\n \r\n04/13/2009 \u2013 President Obama lifts travel restrictions for families\r\n4/14/2009 - Letters to Secretary Locke, Secretary Clinton, Secretary Geithner \r\n \r\n    Requesting addition of Tampa Airport to the current list of cities designated under Title 19 CFR, Chapter 1, Part 122, Section 122.153 as authorized port of entry/exit for U.S.-Cuba air charter flights.\r\n \r\n7/20/2010 \u2013 Castor signs on to bill to lift travel ban for all Americans (first in Florida delegation to do so)\r\n1/14/2011 \u2013 President Obama expands airports and travel opportunities\r\n2/3/2011 \u2013 Castor letter of support for Tampa International Airport\u2019s application for permission to accept Cuba charter flights \r\n3/7/2011 \u2013 Tampa International Airport Gets Federal OK for Charter Flights to Cuba \r\n7/27/2011 \u2013 ABC Charter receives landing rights from TIA to Havana\r\n9/8/2011 \u2013 First charter flight from Tampa to Havana\r\n3/9/2016 \u2013 Castor letter to Secretary Foxx supporting applications for direct commercial flights from Tampa International Airport to Cuba\r\n8/31/2016 \u2013 Final selection of U.S. airlines, cities for new service to Havana, including Southwest Airlines direct service from Tampa to Havana\r\n12/12/2016 \u2013 Inaugural Southwest Airlines flight from Tampa to Havana\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-recognizes-winners-of-2016-congressional-app-challenge", "Diaz-Balart Recognizes Winners of 2016 Congressional App Challenge", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Mario Diaz-Balart", "D000600", "mariodiazbalart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MIAMI \u2013 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) announced the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the 2016 Congressional App Challenge for Florida\u2019s 25th District. The winners were selected by an independent panel of local technology and STEM leaders who served as judges. From the 25th District, twenty-one students from three schools submitted seven original student-created apps.\n\u00a0\n1st Place: \u201cDeepstone\u201d created by Blake Anderson and William Pembleton from Gulf Coast High School in Naples. (Pictured with Congressman Diaz-Balart and Miami-Dade County School Board Member Susie V. Castillo)  \n2nd Place: \u201cHW Tracker\u201d created by Carolina Aguilar, Juancruz Gamero, and Nicholas Schnoor\u00a0from Ronald Reagan High School in Doral. (Juancruz and Carolina pictured with Congressman Diaz-Balart)  \n\u00a0\n3rd Place: \u201cHit or Miss\u201d created by Elizabeth Berenguer, Albert Charles, and Emilio De Leon from Jose Marti MAST Academy in Hialeah. (Emilio and Elizabeth pictured with Congressman Diaz-Balart)  \nThe Congressional App Challenge is a congressional initiative, managed by the Internet Education Foundation [IEF], a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It was first established by the Congressional Internet Caucus in 2014, and Co-Chairs Rep. Bob Goodlatte and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo spearheaded the effort. In 2016, the App Challenge had 123 successful App Challenges hosted by Members of Congress, over 2100 student participants, and more than 650 original student-created apps submitted.###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-received-honorary-doctoral-degree-from", "Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Received Honorary Doctoral Degree from Bethune-Cookman University", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Frederica Wilson", "W000808", "wilson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DAYTONA BEACH, FL \u2013 Congresswoman S. Wilson was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Bethune-Cookman University (BCU) for her contributions to society and commitment to service at BCU's fall commencement ceremony on Saturday December 10, 2016, in the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center in Daytona Beach.\u00a0 The honorary doctoral degree was presented by BCU president, Dr. Edison O. Jackson, and board of trustees chairperson, Dr. Joe Petrock.\n\u201cI am so grateful to President Jackson, Dr. Petrock and the board of trustees, the faculty and students for this amazing accolade,\u201d said Congresswoman Wilson.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m beaming with pride to receive this honor from the university, which continues to uphold the same values of academic excellence as its founder, the legendary Mary McLeod Bethune.\u00a0 I am especially pleased to share this very special moment with my family \u2013 especially my grandchildren.\u201d\nCongresswoman Wilson is a voice for the voiceless who has fought for change in her community and beyond.\u00a0 Her achievements include working with Governor Jeb Bush to remove the Confederate flag from the Florida state capitol, mandating HIV/AIDS testing for newly-released prisoners, opposing high-stakes standardized testing, pushing for a ban of the term 'illegal alien' in state public records, and partnering with Governor Charlie Crist to restore voting rights for ex-felons.\u00a0 She sponsored a bill taking aim at the deadly terrorist group Boko Haram, introduced the American Jobs Act of 2013, the Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, and the Youth Corp Act of 2013. \u00a0Congresswoman Wilson is widowed and the proud mother of three children: Nicole, LaKesha, and Paul.\u00a0 She has a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Fisk University, a Master of Science degree in elementary education from the University of Miami, and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Florida Memorial University.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buchanan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bill-signed-president-confront-heroin-crisis", "Bill Signed by President to Confront Heroin Crisis", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Vern Buchanan", "B001260", "buchanan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Congressman Vern Buchanan said today that legislation signed by President Obama over the weekend will help fight drug abuse by funding $500 million in treatment, education and prevention programs.\u201cThe heroin epidemic is destroying families right here in Manatee and Sarasota counties as well as across the country,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cThese critical funds will go a long way toward supporting community action against heroin and other killer drugs.\u201dThe bill signed by the President directs $500 million to anti-drug program grants within the Department of Health and Human Services. These programs take a multi-pronged approach to tackling drug problems by beefing up drug abuse treatment and prevention, training health care practitioners in best prescribing practices, and improving prescription monitoring.The funding level was widely supported by both parties and the White House.\u00a0 Heroin-related deaths nearly quadrupled nationally between 2002 and 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Buchanan represents Manatee County, the epicenter of the heroin crisis in Florida. Manatee County recorded more heroin-related deaths per capita than any of the other 66 Florida counties in 2014 and is currently experiencing a spike in drug overdoses.The Manatee County medical examiner\u2019s office has performed a record number of autopsies this year, according to the Bradenton Herald.\u201cThe statistics and stories surrounding the death toll of the heroin epidemic are horrifying,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cWe are now putting serious resources behind fighting back against the drug epidemic.\u201dThe Congressman has been an active leader in addressing the opioid crisis in Florida. In September, Buchanan urged House and Senate leadership to provide urgently-needed funds to curb the country\u2019s deadly heroin epidemic. In May, Buchanan chaired a Congressional hearing examining the impact of addiction on kids. Earlier this year he hosted a roundtable in Bradenton, Fla. with local police officers, medical professionals and stakeholders. Buchanan also chaired a meeting of the bipartisan 29-member Florida congressional delegation in Washington, DC where members heard testimony from anti-drug experts. Buchanan serves as co-chair of the Florida delegation. In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency adopted Buchanan\u2019s proposal to make it more difficult for abusers to obtain certain highly addictive narcotics.\u00a0Earlier this month, Buchanan announced his support for a bill that will fight the next phase of the opioid epidemic \u2013 the importation of fentanyl and carfentanil from countries like China into the U.S.Fentanyl and carfentanil are synthetic drugs similar to heroin but more than 50 times more powerful.\u00a0Manatee County ranks highest in the state for the number of fentanyl-related deaths, and, in Florida, fentanyl-related deaths increased by 77.6 percent last year when compared to 2014, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement Medical Examiners Commission.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=523", "Congresswomen Frankel and Brooks Selected as Chairs of Bipartisan Congressional Womens Caucus", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Lois Frankel", "F000462", "frankel.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN) have been elected by the women of the House as Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues for the 115th Congress. Congresswomen Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) will serve as Co-Vice Chairs.I look forward to working with my colleagues on finding common ground and advocating issues important to the advancement of women and girls, Frankel said. The Congressional Women's Caucus is an important, bipartisan forum to discuss major policy issues of our day with a focus on how these issues impact women and families, Brooks said. In the past, this caucus has been a driving force for a strong Violence Against Women Act and for the Children's Health Insurance Program. There is more work to be done, and I'm proud to have been selected by my colleagues to serve as Co-Chair with my friend, Congresswoman Lois Frankel. Together, we will work with our colleagues as strong advocates for women and families in the upcoming Congress. Today, women in America still face serious obstacles in the workplace and academia, Walters said. In the House, we are working to address this by expanding opportunities, increasing flexibility, removing barriers, and empowering the next generation. I am humbled to serve as the Congressional Women's Caucus Vice Chair, and I look forward to serving with Representatives Brooks, Frankel, and Lawrence, and all of the members of our caucus to ensure that girls and women across the country have equal access to the tools they need to pursue their American dream. I am honored to be a part of this bipartisan caucus advocating on behalf of women nation-wide, Lawrence said. Working together to support the needs of women and families is a cornerstone of our country's overall success and I am committed to collaborating in creating legislation that supports the goals of this Caucus. When women succeed America succeeds, and I'm excited to be a part of this Caucus and this continued movement supporting fairness and equality for women. Founded in 1977, the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues has been a leading advocate on issues advancing the lives of women and families. Caucus members have helped pass legislation securing tougher child support enforcement, promoting women's health, helping women business owners, and protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The caucus works closely with the Women's Policy Inc., a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization whose mission is to bring women policymakers together across party lines to work on issues of importance to women and their families. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1340", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on New District Office Leadership", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on New District Office Leadership\r\n\r\n\tPembroke Pines, FL \u2013\u00a0U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today announcing the hiring of Lori Green as the Congresswoman\u2019s new District Director to serve Florida\u2019s 23rd\u00a0Congressional District and its residents:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI am proud to announce that Lori Green, a community leader and lifelong resident of Broward County, will join me in serving the people of Florida\u2019s 23rd\u00a0Congressional District as my District Director.\u00a0She is an extraordinarily active member of the South Florida community, having served on the Board of Directors and as President of the David Posnack Jewish Community Center. She became a leader in the JCC Maccabi Games in 2005 and helped grow this program tremendously. Last year, she co-chaired the JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest when it came to Greater Ft. Lauderdale. More than 10,000 people attended the Games, including more than 1,500 teens from more than 40 delegations from around the world. She has also served as the Davie / Cooper City American Cancer Society\u2019s Relay for Life Community Co-Chairperson for the past several years.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cEarly in her career, Lori had a passion to help women in childbirth and became a registered nurse. She helped many women throughout her more than 20 years in nursing, including work in a women\u2019s clinic providing birth control, reproductive counseling, pregnancy adoptions and terminations.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cLori has been married to her husband Mitch Green for 32 years and they have two adult children. She attended the University of Miami and lives in Cooper City.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI am deeply grateful to my outgoing District Director, Jodi Bock Davidson. Her service has extended far beyond office walls or district boundaries; she has become a pillar in the South Florida community in her own right and has served as a mentor and advisor to many. She has been an exemplary employee and true friend.\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=993", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on New District Office Leadership", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I am proud to announce that Lori Green, a community leader and lifelong resident of Broward County, will join me in serving the people of Florida's 23rd Congressional District as my District Director. She is an extraordinarily active member of the South Florida community, having served on the Board of Directors and as President of the David Posnack Jewish Community Center. She became a leader in the JCC Maccabi Games in 2005 and helped grow this program tremendously. Last year, she co-chaired the JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest when it came to Greater Ft. Lauderdale. More than 10,000 people attended the Games, including more than 1,500 teens from more than 40 delegations from around the world. She has also served as the Davie / Cooper City American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Community Co-Chairperson for the past several years.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on New District Office Leadership Pembroke Pines, FL U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today announcing the hiring of Lori Green as the Congresswoman's new District Director to serve Florida's 23rdCongressional District and its residents: I am proud to announce that Lori Green, a community leader and lifelong resident of Broward County, will join me in serving the people of Florida's 23rdCongressional District as my District Director.She is an extraordinarily active member of the South Florida community, having served on the Board of Directors and as President of the David Posnack Jewish Community Center. She became a leader in the JCC Maccabi Games in 2005 and helped grow this program tremendously. Last year, she co-chaired the JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest when it came to Greater Ft. Lauderdale. More than 10,000 people attended the Games, including more than 1,500 teens from more than 40 delegations from around the world. She has also served as the Davie / Cooper City American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Community Co-Chairperson for the past several years. Early in her career, Lori had a passion to help women in childbirth and became a registered nurse. She helped many women throughout her more than 20 years in nursing, including work in a women's clinic providing birth control, reproductive counseling, pregnancy adoptions and terminations. Lori has been married to her husband Mitch Green for 32 years and they have two adult children. She attended the University of Miami and lives in Cooper City. I am deeply grateful to my outgoing District Director, Jodi Bock Davidson. Her service has extended far beyond office walls or district boundaries; she has become a pillar in the South Florida community in her own right and has served as a mentor and advisor to many. She has been an exemplary employee and true friend. ### Contact: Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congress-approves-major-everglades-restoration-project", "Congress approves major Everglades-restoration project", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Bill Nelson", "N000032", "www.billnelson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The U.S. Senate today, by a vote of 78 \u2013 21, approved a new water bill that, among other things, authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin work on a $1.9 billion Everglades-restoration project known as the Central Everglades Planning Project.\nOnce complete, the nearly $2 billion series of engineering projects will help reduce the need for harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee by sending more water south into the Everglades instead of east and west into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.\nU.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a long-time supporter of restoring the Everglades, was among a handful of lawmakers who pushed to get the project included in this year\u2019s water bill.\n\u201cThe toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee are devastating our waterways and doing real damage to our local economies,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been fighting for a long time to get this project approved, and once it\u2019s complete we\u2019ll be able to send more water south as nature intended and provide more relief to the communities along the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.\u201d\nIn addition to CEPP, the broader water bill passed today also includes several other projects important to Florida, such as:\n Port Everglades dredging \u2013 the bill authorizes $337 million to deepen the main shipping channels at Port Everglades from 42 feet to 48 feet.\n\tFlagler County Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project \u2013 the bill authorizes a $31.6 million beach renourishment project that will extend an existing dune in central Flagler Beach 2.6 miles to help protect State Road A1A, which is the only north-south hurricane evacuation route for communities along the coast.\n\tPicayune Strand Restoration Project \u2013 the bill authorizes an additional $121 million for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project to fund new features and improvements to the original design. This amount is on top of the funds originally approved in 2007, bringing the project\u2019s total authorized cost to $626 million.\n\tDaytona Beach Flood Protection project \u2013 the bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study for the Daytona Beach Flood Protection project.\n The bill, which the House passed Thursday, now heads to the president for his signature.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=521", "Giant Step Forward For Everglades Restoration and Port Everglades Expansion", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Lois Frankel", "F000462", "frankel.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Giant Step Forward For Everglades Restoration and Port Everglades Expansion \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 10, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, DC  Today Congress gave the go ahead to two major South Florida infrastructure projects with passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016. The Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) and Port Everglades expansion were both authorized for federal funding after years of advocacy.  \r\n  \r\nThis legislation is a big win for South Florida. Both these projects will boost South Florida's economy and most importantly CEPP continues efforts to keep our drinking water plentiful and clean, said Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that produced the bill.  \r\n  \r\nCEPP is major step forward for the restoration of the flow of the Everglades, the home to extraordinary natural habitat and storage for the water supply of seven million Floridians and visitors. It is a $2 billion series of engineering projects that will direct water south from Lake Okeechobee into Central Everglades, keeping the drinking water in South Florida safe and plentiful, and minimizing future algae outbreaks like those in the Treasure Coast last year.   \r\n  \r\nPort Everglades, one of Florida's most important ports will be allowed to expand so that it may accept large post Panamax ships into its harbor. Expansion is expected to create thousands of new, good-paying jobs, with a half-billion dollar economic impact in South Florida.  \r\n  \r\nWIIN authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to proceed on water infrastructure projects across the country. It now goes to the President to be signed into law. CEPP and the Port Everglades expansion can obtain federal funds through future presidential budgets and the Congressional appropriations process as well as state and local financing.###  \r\nContact: Rachel Huxley-Cohen, rachel.huxley-cohen@mail.house.gov, 202-258-0743", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=522", "Frankel, Weber Provision to Protect Americans Abroad Passes Congress", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Lois Frankel", "F000462", "frankel.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congress passed the Department of State Authorities Act for Fiscal Year 2017, including a critical embassy security provision, authored by Representatives Lois Frankel (FL-22) and Randy Weber (TX-14). The measure allows the State Department to use best-value contracting, the flexibility to consider factors beyond just cost, when hiring security firms to protect our diplomats and embassy personnel abroad.In early 2013, Frankel attended her first hearing of the Foreign Affairs Committee, in which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified on the tragic attack in Benghazi that killed four brave Americans. Clinton pointed out an arcane technicality that required the State Department to award security guard contracts to the cheapest bidder. Teaming up with colleagues from across the aisle, Frankel embarked on an effort to allow the State Department to consider other factors, such as past performance, reliability, and quality of service. Protecting our diplomats and embassy personnel who serve our country overseas is a moral imperative and a national security necessity, Frankel said. In these times of violence in the world, I am proud of this bipartisan effort that will allow us to better protect Americans serving abroad. There are 15,000 Americans who selflessly serve our country overseas. Many of those places are in dangerous pockets of the world, said Weber. The least the government can do is invest in the best security possible-- ensuring these men and women can work without fear for their safety. I am pleased the House and the Senate passed this important legislation, and I encourage the President to quickly sign this bill into law. Since 2014, Frankel and Weber have successfully inserted their provision into annual spending bills. Today's passage of the Department of State Authorities Act for Fiscal Year 2017 is significant because it makes permanent law the State Department's authority to use best-value contracting for security guards at all diplomatic posts. ###\r\n\r\nContact: Rachel Huxley-Cohen, rachel.huxley-cohen@mail.house.gov, 202-258-0743", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/fighting-for-florida?ContentRecord_id=8C00AEAF-9EFA-4231-A96A-2B8D7572AC25", "Rubio Marks Human Rights Day", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Human Rights Day, we celebrate the God-given rights of every individual, and remember that millions of people around the world are still denied their fundamental rights to live peacefully with freedom and dignity.\r\nThat is why the United States must continue to champion human rights in all corners of the globe. Unfortunately, our country has shamefully looked the other way when it comes to human rights violators like Cuba, China, and Saudi Arabia. We\u2019ve also done too little to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, who have endured years of violence under the brutal Assad regime backed by two other serial human rights abusers, Russia and Iran.\r\nInstead of standing with the Cuban people against their oppressors, President Obama has showered the totalitarian Castro regime with endless one-sided concessions. I will continue to support Cuba\u2019s political prisoners, dissidents and democracy advocates struggling to realize their human rights.\r\nChinese dissident and writer Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize six years ago \u201cfor his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.\u201d Today, instead of holding this prestigious honor, he rots in jail under a harsh sentence\u2014solely for criticizing his own government.\r\nIn Saudi Arabia, Raif Badawi similarly languishes in prison, awaiting flogging simply because he encouraged political and religious debate.\r\nThese are just some of the faces of those fighting for the basic rights and freedoms we enjoy here in America. Our country must be a voice for the voiceless, and these heroes need our support. On this Human Rights Day, let us renew our commitment to championing their cause.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=845E6A94-DD37-4138-878D-5357A4B2C3EB", "Rubio Applauds Senate Passage of NASA Authorization Act", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement today after the Senate unanimously passed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Authorization Act (S. 3346), which he and five other senators introduced:\r\n\u201cA robust federal space program is critical to America\u2019s leadership and national security, and this bipartisan legislation lays the blueprint for the next generation of America\u2019s space policy and provides NASA with the resources necessary to prepare and launch exciting new missions. A world leader in the aerospace industry, Florida is home to thousands of workers who will benefit from this bill, which will ensure our state remains the launch hub for humanity\u2019s journey deeper into space. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in introducing this bill, and look forward to advancing our nation's space program in the next Congress.\u201d\r\nFollowing his visit to Florida\u2019s Space Coast in August, Rubio and others members of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation introduced the underlying bill in September.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A29013E1-4EDB-4875-8831-BB18AE2ECD51", "Rubio Applauds Final Passage of Landmark Everglades Legislation", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the final version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) and other provisions benefiting Florida:\r\n\u201cThe passage of this water projects bill is great news, because we now have the opportunity to make real progress in restoring the Everglades and combatting the toxic algae threatening the livelihoods of thousands of Florida families and businesses. The Everglades is a national treasure that belongs to all Americans, and we must preserve it for future generations to learn from and enjoy. CEPP is a key piece of that puzzle, and other Florida provisions in the bill will help protect our coastlines, assess conditions of our oyster industry in the Gulf of Mexico, modernize a key port, study flood control in Daytona Beach, and reduce hurricane and storm damage to Flagler County and Ft. Pierce. I thank all of my colleagues who have worked tirelessly to get this bill done, but especially Chairman Inhofe, whose leadership and cooperation has been immeasurable. I look forward to the president signing this bill into law. This is a big achievement for Florida\u2019s future and one of the things I\u2019m most proud of accomplishing during my first term.\r\n\u201cWhile there are many provisions in this bill benefiting Florida, I am extremely disappointed a controversial provision was added in the House to strike language dealing with the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint and Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river systems from the 2014 water bill.\u00a0 This was done despite the objections of members from two states\u200e being harmed by Georgia. These vital river systems have far-reaching environmental and economic impacts, and any changes should have waited until after Florida and Georgia\u2019s litigation before the Supreme Court is decided.\u201d\r\nSouth Florida leaders have commended Rubio\u2019s leadership and work to restore the Everglades and improve the quality of Florida\u2019s waterways. Rubio\u2019s efforts ultimately convinced Senate Environment & Public Works Chairman Jim Inhofe to support CEPP. Following the Senate\u2019s passage of WRDA in September, Rubio urged key House and Senate committee leaders of both parties to retain important Florida projects in the final version of WRDA.\r\nThe bill is expected to be signed into law by President Obama in the coming days.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-announces-winners-2016-congressional-app-challenge-0", "Ros-Lehtinen Announces Winners of the 2016 Congressional App Challenge", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ros-Lehtinen Announces Winners of the 2016 Congressional App Challenge\n\u201cI\u2019m proud of all the students who participated in our Congressional App Challenge. Their creativity, innovation, and skills were fully on display this year and it was difficult to pick a winner from all of these excellent submissions.\u201d\u00a0 \nMiami, FL \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) has announced the winner and runners up of the Congressional App Challenge for her Congressional district.\u00a0 The App challenge, which promotes education in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, is designed to spur innovation and reward creativity among young men and women in South Florida and throughout the nation. The winners and runners-up are:\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 District winner: Vicki Rios,\u00a0Simple Sig\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Second place finisher:\u00a0 Kamya Rucker,\u00a0Animal Protection\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Third place finisher: Norlen Nunez,\u00a0PTP (Periodic Table Program)\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Honorable mentions: Christian Harrison, David Gutierrez, Jorge Pla, Roberto Diaz, and Gabriela Martinez\nThe FL-27 winner and runners up were selected by an independent board of experts. Ms. Rios will have the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC, participate in an award ceremony, and present her app to Members of Congress as well as industry leaders.\nStatement by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cI\u2019m proud of all the students who participated in our Congressional App Challenge. Their creativity, innovation, and skills were fully on display this year and it was difficult to pick a winner from all of these excellent submissions.\u00a0 The quality of the entries, ability in programming, entrepreneurial leadership and technical skills revealed by our students demonstrates that our community is a place where technology will continue to flourish.\u00a0 After the resounding success of this year\u2019s competition, I look forward to hosting this contest again next year. I hope every South Florida student is inspired to join the 2017 Congressional App Challenge!\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-supports-lifting-zika-travel-warning-over-south-beach-and-welcomes-49", "Ros-Lehtinen Supports the Lifting of the Zika Travel Warning Over South Beach and Welcomes $4.9 Million in New CDC Funding for Florida", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ros-Lehtinen Supports the Lifting of the Zika Travel Warning Over South Beach and Welcomes $4.9 Million in New CDC Funding for Florida\n\u201cThere is much to celebrate in today\u2019s announcement, but we must also stay vigilant and improve the tools available to combat Zika\u2019s invasive mosquito host so that the virus does not begin to spread locally once again.\u201d\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) strongly supports the decision by Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift the Zika travel warning over South Beach, ending the last active local transmission zone for the mosquito-borne disease in Miami-Dade County.\nAdditionally, the Congresswoman is pleased with CDC\u2019s decision to announce $4.9 million in new Public Health Preparedness and Response Zika funding to the State of Florida on Monday, December 12th. This allotment for Florida represents approximately 20% of the nationwide total to be announced on Monday, a substantial increase since Rep. Ros-Lehtinen criticized the CDC\u2019s previous funding formula in an August letter that was signed by every member of the Florida delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.\nStatement by Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement that the Zika travel warning over South Beach has been lifted is welcome news for our community including for families, local businesses, and visitors. Despite some early stumbles, the work of emergency responders throughout all levels of government, in combination with the efforts of an informed public, successfully limited the spread and impact of this epidemic.\u00a0There is much to celebrate in today\u2019s announcement, but we must also stay vigilant and improve the tools available to combat Zika\u2019s invasive mosquito host so that the virus does not begin to spread locally once again. \nI also want to thank Director Frieden and the CDC for the nearly $5 million in new funds they will make available to Florida for Zika preparedness and response. As the state most impacted and threatened by Zika, Florida deserves a greater share of the federal resources available. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that South Florida receives the federal support it requires to reimburse local governments for their Zika costs, support local small businesses impacted by Zika travel warnings, and to further augment Zika detection and healthcare resources in Miami-Dade County.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congress-averts-shutdown-approves-41-billion-in-emergency-disaster-funds", "Congress averts shutdown, approves $4.1 billion in emergency disaster funds", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Bill Nelson", "N000032", "www.billnelson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The U.S. Senate today, by a vote of 63 \u2013 36, approved a short-term spending bill that funds the government through April 28 and avoids a government shutdown.\nIn addition to keeping the government funded at its current level for the next five months, the bill provides $4.1 billion in emergency funding to several states recovering from recent natural disasters, including Florida.\nAmong the lawmakers pushing to get the emergency funding provision included in the bill was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, of Florida, who sent a letter to President Obama last month urging him to request the funding before Congress adjourned this week so it could be included in the bill. \u00a0\n\u201cThere are several communities in Florida that are still recovering from Hurricane Matthew,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cThe emergency funding in this bill will help the hardest-hit communities make some much-needed repairs.\u201d\nOf the total $4.1 billion in emergency funding, $1.8 billion will go to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help low-income communities affected by the storm, $1 billion will go to the Federal Highway Administration to repair highways damaged by the storm such as State Road A1A in Flagler Beach and $1 billion will go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood prevention and beach restoration projects. \u00a0 \u00a0\nAlso included in the $4.1 billion total is $74 million for NASA to repair storm-related damage at the Kennedy Space Center.\nThe bill, which the House passed yesterday, now heads to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bilirakis-statement-on-bay-pines-va-clinic-report", "Bilirakis Statement on Bay Pines VA Clinic Report", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) released the following statement today in response to a report revealing that staff members at the Bay Pines VA hospital left the body of a Veteran in a shower room for over nine hours then tried to cover up the mistake.\n\u201cI am deeply disturbed by the incident that occurred at the Bay Pines VA hospital, and even more distressed to learn that staff attempted to cover it up. The report details a total failure on the part of the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs and an urgent need for greater accountability. Unsurprisingly, not a single VA employee has been fired following this incident, despite a clear lack of concern and respect for the Veteran. The men and women who sacrificed on behalf of our nation deserve better.\u201d\u00a0\nBilirakis has long been in favor of legislation to reform the VA and overhaul the culture of mediocrity that persists at the agency. A study from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that it can take up to a year or more to dismiss a federal employee. Bilirakis strongly supported House passage of the VA Accountability Act, legislation to make it easier for the VA Secretary to fire employees for misconduct or poor performance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-statement-bay-pines-va-clinic-report", "Bilirakis Statement on Bay Pines VA Clinic Report", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) released the following statement today in response to a report revealing that staff members at the Bay Pines VA hospital left the body of a Veteran in a shower room for over nine hours then tried to cover up the mistake.\nI am deeply disturbed by the incident that occurred at the Bay Pines VA hospital, and even more distressed to learn that staff attempted to cover it up. The report details a total failure on the part of the Department of Veterans' Affairs and an urgent need for greater accountability. Unsurprisingly, not a single VA employee has been fired following this incident, despite a clear lack of concern and respect for the Veteran. The men and women who sacrificed on behalf of our nation deserve better.\nBilirakis has long been in favor of legislation to reform the VA and overhaul the culture of mediocrity that persists at the agency. A study from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that it can take up to a year or more to dismiss a federal employee. Bilirakis strongly supported House passage of the VA Accountability Act, legislation to make it easier for the VA Secretary to fire employees for misconduct or poor performance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rooney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rooney-urges-arms-embargo-on-south-sudan", "Rooney Urges Arms Embargo on South Sudan", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Tom Rooney", "R000583", "rooney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Rooney joined the U.S. Institute of Peace\u2019s event \u201cOptions to Prevent Mass Atrocities and Genocide in the World\u2019s Newest Country\u201d, where he urged immediate action by the international community to impose an arms embargo to avert the imminent risk of genocide in South Sudan. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan, and as a Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Rooney is also leading a Congressional letter to the United Nations Security Council imploring Member States to approve an arms embargo on South Sudan before the end of the year.\n\u201cIt\u2019s unacceptable that we\u2019ve all failed to join forces and take collective action to mitigate the scale of the violence in South Sudan,\u201d Congressman Rooney stated. \u201cWords will not stop South Sudan\u2019s leaders from starving, raping, brutalizing and murdering thousands upon thousands of its own people. We have a responsibility to show the leaders of South Sudan that their behavior does not put them on equal standing with the rest of the world.\u201d\nAccording to UN human rights investigators, rape is \"one of the tools being used for ethnic cleansing\" and 70 percent of the women in Juba, South Sudan\u2019s capital, have experienced sexual assault since the onset of the civil war. Over eight million people are facing some degree of food insecurity \u2013 roughly three quarters of the population \u2013 and the situation is likely to deteriorate, potentially reaching famine-level conditions in certain areas throughout the country. Continued escalation of ethnically-motivated hate speech, targeting of civilians, and sexual violence, coupled with reports of the government mobilizing thousands of forces to conduct wide-scale attacks, prompted Adama Dieng, the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, to issue a warning last month that South Sudan is \"fertile ground\" for genocide. Rooney\u2019s draft letter is urging still-undecided Security Council members, many of which are steadfast U.S. allies, to publically announce their support of a resolution imposing an arms embargo on South Sudan.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve finally gotten to a point where this Administration and Ambassador Power are willing to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan,\u201d Rooney continued. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the new year and new Administration will bring \u2013 but I do know how this city works \u2013 and we don\u2019t have the time to wait and see. We need to use this political capital now. We have undeniable evidence of a catastrophe unfolding \u2013 and history will not excuse our inaction.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398710", "Hastings Statement on the Passing of Former Senator John Glenn", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings\u2019 Statement on the Passing of Former Senator John Glenn \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 8, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the passing of former United States Senator John Herschel Glenn, Jr. of Ohio, the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, one of the original \u201cMercury Seven\u201d astronauts, and winner of the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom:  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cIt is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing of former Senator John Glenn. Senator Glenn was an American hero: \u2018the last true national hero America has ever made,\u2019 in the words of author Tom Wolfe. He served with distinction throughout his entire life, as a decorated veteran of WWII, a pilot, one of the original \u2018Mercury Seven\u2019 astronauts, and as a United States Senator. A brave and devoted patriot, Senator Glenn represented the very best of America. I was proud to co-sponsor legislation awarding Senator Glenn with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2009, an award befitting his exemplary service to our nation.   \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cToday, I join with all Americans in honoring his life and legacy. My thoughts and my prayers are with his wife of 73 years and high school sweetheart Annie, and his children, family, and friends during this time of great sadness.\u201d  \r\n\u00a0  \r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398288", "Castor:  Short-term budget measure a fitting symbol of U.S. House Republicans failure to govern", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Castor:  Short-term budget measure a fitting symbol of U.S. House Republicans\u2019 failure to govern \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 8, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n        U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement on the short-term funding bill:\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement on the short-term funding bill:\r\n\u201cHouse Republicans end the session with a fitting symbol of their failure to govern -- a funding bill that fails to meet the needs of our hardworking neighbors and families and covers only a few months in the new year. Speaker Ryan and House Republicans adjourned the House in mid-July and spent only a few days since then doing the job to which they were elected.\u00a0The Congressional Republican funding measure creates uncertainty for communities like mine and all across the country and hamstrings agencies -- especially those established to keep our country safe.\u00a0Short-term measures do not allow an opportunity to plan for the future or to make educated, timely, tough decisions about where to cut or augment.\r\n\u201cCongressional Republicans appear ready to inflict greater economic damage to hardworking families in the new year as Republicans are poised to return to the days of trickle-down economics where the wealthy special interests receive major tax cuts, while the vast majority of Americans pay and the growing debt becomes a shell game.\u00a0President-Elect Trump\u2019s cabinet nominees certainly set the table for that to happen.\u00a0I intend to shine a bright light on the inequities driven by special interests who intend to make Washington work for them, now that the backstop of a Democrat in White House will be gone.\u201d\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://curbelo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1241", "Curbelo Welcomes House Passage of Central Everglades Planning Project", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Carlos Curbelo", "C001107", "curbelo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) welcomed today\u2019s House passage of the Central Everglades Planning Project as part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.\r\n            \u201cI was proud the House passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act today, including the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), which is crucial to the ecological and economic health of the Florida Keys and Miami,\u201d Curbelo said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to my colleagues for their bipartisan support of this bill and to Chairman Schuster for working with me to ensure it included $1.9 billion for Everglades Restoration. Today\u2019s passage is a huge win for the Florida Everglades, Florida Bay, and all of our South Florida waterways.\u201d\r\n            Curbelo expressed his support of the bill earlier this week during a speech on the House floor. Curbelo worked tirelessly withTransportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster to ensure Everglades Restoration funds would be included in today\u2019s bill. S.612, the WIIN Act, passed the House by a vote of 360-61. It is now expected to be considered by the Senate and hopefully signed into law in the next several days.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398531", "Ross Votes Against Bloated, Irresponsible Federal Funding Package", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Dennis Ross", "R000593", "dennisross.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 8, 2016 \u2013 U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross (FL-15), Senior Deputy Majority Whip, made the following statement after voting against H.R. 2028, the Continuing Resolution (CR): \r\n\u201cI voted against the Continuing Resolution today because it completely negates any real reforms to our government\u2019s out-of-control spending. This bill adds a ghastly $3 billion to our ever increasing debt. This was yet another 11th-hour funding push during a lame duck session while the American people aren\u2019t watching, and I could not in good conscience vote for it.\r\n\u201cThis bill further delays the enforcement of spending caps, allows non-defense discretionary spending to exceed its statutory limit, and would appropriate funding at higher spending levels authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which I also voted against. While non-defense spending is increased, defense spending remains low and the timing of the CR prohibits the Department of Defense from starting new important programs, entering into multi-year contracts, and increasing production rates. There was also no house-passed provision included in today\u2019s CR that would prevent thousands of refugees from terrorist hotspots from entering the U.S. without first being vetted.\r\n\u201cWe have ample time to fully evaluate and negotiate our funding bills, but we continuously stall until a fiscal cliff is reached before taking any action. There is absolutely no excuse for this crisis-to-crisis governing. I will continue fighting for regular order and conservative spending in Congress.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-supports-legislation-to-invest-in-everglades-funding-water", "Diaz-Balart Supports Legislation to Invest in Everglades Funding, Water Infrastructure", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Mario Diaz-Balart", "D000600", "mariodiazbalart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) released the following statement after the passage of S.612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.\u201cI am pleased the House passed this legislation that is vital to our water infrastructure. This bill includes the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, containing several provisions that positively impact our Southern Florida waterways and Everglades National Park. By investing in our nation\u2019s ports, dams, and drinking water services, we are not only helping the local economy, but also the families across the country that rely on having easy access to safe drinking water. The legislation also focuses on reducing the backlog of projects the Army Corps of Engineers have, saving taxpayer dollars and allowing the most important and necessary projects to be prioritized.\n\u201cI congratulate Chairman Shuster on the passage of this bill, and I look forward to continue working with him to preserve Florida\u2019s natural treasure for future generations.\u201d\nThe Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016 includes the following items that directly impact South Florida:\n $976 million for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), a part of the Central Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)\n\t$308 million for Picayune Strand restoration project water flow upgrades\n\t$220 million for Port Everglades dredging\n \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://posey.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394417", "Rep. Posey's Statement on the Passing of John Glenn", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Bill Posey", "P000599", "posey.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Posey's Statement on the Passing of John Glenn\r\n                    \r\n                    \r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    \r\n                    \r\n                    \r\n                    \r\n                        \r\n                            Washington,\r\n                            December 8, 2016\u00a0-\r\n                        Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) released the following statement on the passing of John Glenn:\r\n\"I am deeply saddened by the passing of a true national hero, John Glenn. A pioneer of the Space Program and dedicated public servant, Senator Glenn paved the way for generations of astronauts and scientists,\" said Posey.\u00a0\"His service and his courage as a Mercury astronaut enabled America to make tremendous advancements, culminating in our historic Moon landing.\"\r\n                \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n    \r\n        Print version of this document", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-applauds-measures-improve-beaches-and-boating-safety-south-florida", "Ros-Lehtinen Applauds Measures to Improve Beaches and Boating Safety in South Florida", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ros-Lehtinen Applauds Measures to Improve Beaches and Boating Safety in South Florida \n\u201cThe fatal and tragic accident that ended the promising life of Miami Marlins\u2019 star Jose Fernandez exposed a safety issue that must be studied and corrected at Government Cut.\u201d\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) made the following statement after voting for the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. This bill includes an important provision to order the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study on the feasibility, costs, benefits, and impacts of utilizing foreign sand sources in beach renourishment projects.\u00a0Ros-Lehtinen has long been a proponent of allowing Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida to utilize more affordable foreign sand sources to stretch limited beach renourishment dollars for more impact.\nThe bill also includes an authorization for a widespread assessment of the structural condition and safety of breakwaters and jetties throughout the nation, including the North Jetty at Government Cut that was the tragic scene of the accident that took the life of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and two other young men.\nStatement from Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cSouth Florida has been blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches and waterways in the world that serve as an important economic engine for our community. For years, I have been leading the charge in Congress to advance projects that are key to protecting our shoreline,\u00a0boosting tourism, and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors.\nThe sand study included in this bill is another step in the right direction towards allowing our community to increase our sand source options to more inexpensively and effectively renourish our beaches. I am also encouraged by the inclusion of the nationwide assessment of the safety of breakwaters and jetties. The fatal and tragic accident that ended the promising life of Miami Marlins\u2019 star Jose Fernandez exposed a safety issue that must be studied and corrected at Government Cut.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-helps-secure-important-everglades-restoration-projects", "Ros-Lehtinen Helps Secure Important Everglades Restoration Projects", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ros-Lehtinen Helps Secure Important Everglades Restoration Projects\n\u201cAs Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote almost seventy years ago, \u2018There are no other Everglades in the world.\u2019 I will continue to fight in Congress to restore and protect this global treasure.\u201d\n((Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) made the following statement after voting for the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. This bill includes the federal authorization to proceed with long-planned and awaited water conservation and ecosystem restoration projects, including the Central Everglades Project and the Picayune Strand Adjustment in South Florida. Both projects will help restore more, clean water in natural sheetflow to Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve and are expected to be a boon for native and endangered plants and wildlife. Additionally, by helping restore the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, the projects will also provide benefits to our community by enhancing groundwater sources for municipal wells and augmenting against saltwater intrusion along Miami-Dade\u2019s coast.\nStatement by Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cFor far too long, these important Everglades restoration projects have been put on hold.\u00a0With the passage of this bill, however, the long term benefits for the flora and fauna of the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp, as well as for Florida and Biscayne Bays, can finally be realized. These areas are part of South Florida\u2019s amazing natural heritage and serve as the backdrop for our community\u2019s unparalleled recreational opportunities.\nAs Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote almost seventy years ago, \u2018There are no other Everglades in the world.\u2019 I will continue to fight in Congress to restore and protect this global treasure.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-promotes-new-efforts-limit-impacts-sea-level-rise-south-florida", "Ros-Lehtinen Promotes New Efforts to Limit Impacts of Sea Level Rise in South Florida", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ros-Lehtinen Promotes New Efforts to Limit Impacts of Sea Level Rise in South Florida                                           \n              Dec 8, 2016      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    Ros-Lehtinen Promotes New Efforts to Limit Impacts of Sea Level Rise in South Florida\n\u201cSea level rise is a clear and present danger facing our community and today\u2019s vote signals the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 willingness to devote more focus on the issue.\u201d\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) made the following statement after voting for the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. The bill contains several important provisions to help limit the impact of projected sea level rise on our community, including:\n convening an Interagency Working Group on Resilience to Extreme Weather to coordinate research, data, and Federal investments related to sea level rise and coastal resilience;\nauthorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the South Atlantic Coastal Study to identify the risks and vulnerabilities of these areas to increased hurricane and storm surge damage as a result of sea level rise and develop a long term strategy to combat those impacts;\ngiving priority to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in communities which are threatened by rising sea levels, coastal flooding, and erosions, like South Florida;\ndeveloping and demonstrating methodologies for coastal resilience through the use of natural and nature-based infrastructure approaches, including green infrastructure and living shorelines; and\ndirecting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess and improve current federal flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration projects.\n Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cSea level rise is a clear and present danger facing our community and today\u2019s vote signals the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 willingness to devote more focus on the issue. The programs and projects approved by the House today under the WIIN Act will lay the groundwork for protecting our coasts and developing long-term strategies that will transform South Florida into a global leader and model community for climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-bill-nelson-on-the-passing-of-john-glenn", "Sen. Bill Nelson on the passing of John Glenn", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Bill Nelson", "N000032", "www.billnelson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOLLOWING IS U.S. SEN. BILL NELSON\u2019S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF JOHN GLENN\n\u201cJohn Glenn is the last of the original seven American astronauts who truly had the \u2018right stuff.\u2019 On top of paving the way for the rest of us, he was also a first-class gentleman and an unabashed patriot. He leaves his wife Annie, who always stood by him as he ventured into the unknown cosmos.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buchanan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/buchanan-scores-4th-major-legislative-win-congress", "Buchanan Scores 4th Major Legislative Win This Congress", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Vern Buchanan", "B001260", "buchanan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Vern Buchanan scored his fourth major legislative win of the 114th Congress this week with passage of his legislation to save Medicare Advantage plans used by thousands of seniors in his district and across the country. The bill is expected to be signed by President Obama as early as today.This has been Buchanan\u2019s most successful term yet when it comes to passing legislation he wrote and introduced. Other Buchanan accomplishments passed in previous sessions of Congress included citrus greening research, job training for veterans, funding for Sarasota National Cemetery and veterans\u2019 health care.\u00a0\u00a0The most recent win is Buchanan\u2019s Seniors\u2019 Health Care Plan Protection Act, which he wrote and introduced last year. His bill will save Medicare Advantage plans for thousands of seniors in Sarasota and Manatee counties. It was rolled into the 21st Century Cures Act, sweeping legislation intended to combat the opioid crisis, spur research and help end cancer.Earlier this Congress three other legislative proposals authored by Buchanan were signed into law, either as part of a larger package or as a stand-alone legislation. It is common for single bills to get incorporated into larger, more comprehensive measures passed by Congress, like the 21st Century Cures Act. There is no distinction between whether a bill is enacted as a stand-alone measure or rolled into a larger package. The other Buchanan proposals that became law this Congress include:\n Veterans Identification Card Act, H.R. 91: Buchanan\u2019s bill allowing all veterans in America to receive an official identification card was signed into law by President Obama on July 20, 2015. Several of the nation\u2019s leading veterans service organizations supported the legislation, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Concerned Veterans for America and AMVETS.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tTaxpayer Identity Protection Act, H.R. 3568: Buchanan\u2019s bill to safeguard the Social Security numbers of more than 100 million working Americans was included in a larger bill and signed into law in December 2015. \n\t\t\u00a0\n\tNo Subsidized Housing for Millionaires, H.Amdt. 909: The Congressman\u2019s legislation to end taxpayer rip-offs in federally subsidized public housing was signed into law by President Obama on July 29, 2016 as part of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act. Both the Manatee County Housing Authority and Sarasota Housing Authority supported the legislation. \n \u201cWe need to protect Medicare for today\u2019s seniors and future generations,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cThousands of seniors in Florida depend on these plans to meet their medical needs day in and day out and my bill ensures that they will not be unfairly terminated.\u201dWithout Buchanan\u2019s legislation, these plans would have been terminated due to a flawed rating system widely criticized by Democrats and Republicans, forcing thousands of seniors to find alternative coverage less suitable to their needs.The U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century Cures Act containing Buchanan\u2019s bill on Wednesday afternoon 94-5. The U.S. House approved the bill 392-26.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=520", "NDAA Advances Efforts to Protect Military Trainees from Sexual Assault", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Lois Frankel", "F000462", "frankel.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NDAA Advances Efforts to Protect Military Trainees from Sexual Assault \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 8, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, DC  Today, with passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress advanced Congresswoman Lois Frankel's efforts to protect military personnel from sexual abuse by their supervisors or commanding officers. The legislation creates a new offense in the Uniform Code of Military Justice that will prohibit a person in a training leadership position or serving as a military recruiter from engaging in prohibited sexual activity with a military recruit.  \r\n  \r\nThis law advances the fight to protect our men and women from sexual abuse while serving our country, said Frankel, a mother of a United States Marine war veteran. Those in uniform selflessly protect us and we must do everything possible to protect them.  \r\n  \r\nInspired by the traumatic story of constituent Elisha Morrow, a former Coast Guard recruit, Frankel has been advocating for a change in military law in order to better protect military personnel from abuse at the hands of their superiors. In Morrow's case, her Company Commander used boot camp tactics to sexually harass female recruits, including Morrow, and, in at least one situation, ordered a recruit to have sexual relations with him.After complaints by the recruit, a military prosecutor determined that the current sexual assault law did not apply to circumstances where physical force was not used and charged the perpetrator with minor offenses that led to a sentence of only one year confinement. Shocked by the injustice, Morrow brought the story to Frankel. The duo teamed up to amend the law, testifying in front of two different military panels and Frankel joining forces with Senator Bill Nelson and Congresswoman Jackie Speier to champion the cause. Though we still have work to do, it is encouraging to see movement in the right direction, Morrow said. I cannot thank Congresswoman Frankel and her staff enough for their efforts to fix our broken military justice system.  \r\n  \r\nNDAA 2017 now goes to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. The new legislation will give the President the authority to determine what is considered a prohibited sexual activity and the corresponding penalties.                 ###  \r\n\r\nContact: Rachel Huxley-Cohen, rachel.huxley-cohen@mail.house.gov, 202-258-0743", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rooney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/critical-everglades-funding-passes-house", "Critical Everglades Funding Passes House", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Tom Rooney", "R000583", "rooney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Thomas Rooney voted in support of legislation to authorize the Central Everglades Planning Project, which will greatly improve the water flows through the northern estuaries, Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016 is a comprehensive water bill that addresses the needs of America\u2019s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection and other water resources infrastructure critical to the Nation\u2019s economic growth and competitiveness. \nNotably for Florida, the WIIN act contains much of the language originally passed in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 which was critical to restoring the Everglades and is supported by more than 60 member organizations of the Everglades Coalition.\u00a0\u00a0WRDA passed through both the House and Senate by overwhelming margins and the WIIN Act is the product of the resulting bicameral negotiations. \n\u201cWith Congressman Tom Rooney\u2019s continued stewardship, we have seen significant progress toward restoring the Everglades,\u201d said South Florida Water Management District Chairman Daniel O\u2019Keefe. \u201cApproval of the federal water bill by the full Congress, followed by appropriating funding, is vital to complete the Central Everglades Planning Project.\u201d\nTitle one of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act authorizes important flood protection projects, hurricane damage reduction programs, shoreline protection projects and environmental restoration projects. The bill also specifically authorizes the Central Everglades Planning Project which will improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of water flows to the northern estuaries, central Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, while increasing water supply for municipalities, industry and agricultural users.\nThis legislation will return Congress to the regular order of authorizing water projects and then appropriating necessary funds, allowing lawmakers to identify and prioritize which projects need completing instead of ceding that control to the administration. This will improve congressional oversight while also increasing local participation in project selection. Also, this bill authorizes much needed investments in ports, channels, locks and dams that support our maritime transportation system, strengthening our competitiveness and ensuring our transportation system remains attractive to private sector job creation. Most importantly, this bill accomplishes these goals and many others in a fiscally responsible manner, off-setting new authorizations by allowing the authorizations of inactive projects to sunset.\nAdditionally, this legislation authorizes programs to improve drinking water infrastructure across the nation, address control of coal combustion residuals, improve water storage and delivery for drought-stricken communities and improve environmental conservation and management. \nThe bill passed the House of Representatives today.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0AB34493-58F9-4C02-92FA-19A6FDBC98CF", "Rubio Votes for Final Passage of 2017 National Defense Authorization Act", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the final version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2943), which now heads to President Obama\u2019s desk to be signed into law:\r\n\u201cAmerica faces a growing number of threats around the world, and in recent years our military has been asked to do more overseas to keep us safe here at home. At the same time, our armed forces have been deprived of an adequate, long-term budget and subjected to damaging sequestration. As a consequence, our troops are suffering from readiness shortfalls and a growing procurement gap. We must ensure our men and women in uniform have the tools and resources they need to defend our nation, and that the incoming administration is able to restore our military capabilities to the level required to confront the many challenges ahead.\r\n\u201cThe 2017 National Defense Authorization Act provides for our national defense and gives critical policy guidance to the Pentagon. For years, I\u2019ve been pushing for our troops to get a well-deserved pay raise, and I\u2019m pleased this bill provides them with the largest increase in six years. It also ensures Florida\u2019s many military bases have the construction authorities they need, reverses the drawdown in troops requested by the president, and keeps in place the ban on bringing terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay to American soil.\u201d\r\nThe Senate passed its version of the 2017 NDAA in June with Rubio\u2019s support, and the House passed its version in May.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4ABEBDA1-585C-44A8-B194-C1C76074284B", "Rubio, Menendez Introduce Bill to Reform State Department Human Trafficking Report", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today introduced The Trafficking in Persons Report Integrity Act (TIPRIA), legislation designed to comprehensively reform the State Department\u2019s annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP). The TIP process came under large international scrutiny after the 2015 report rankings were proven to have been blatantly and intentionally watered-down due to political pressures that gave favorable status to certain countries despite failures to meet minimum legal standards prescribed by Congress.\r\nAs the U.S. government\u2019s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking, the TIP report has been the world\u2019s most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-human trafficking efforts and reflects the U.S. government\u2019s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights and law enforcement issue. Today\u2019s bill introduction comes on the heels of a study published earlier this week by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealing serious flaws in the tier-ranking system for the TIP Report.\r\n\u201cIn recent years, we\u2019ve seen political agendas at the State Department interfere with America\u2019s efforts to shine a light on human trafficking around the world,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cThe Trafficking in Persons Report should be above politics and should reflect the full extent to which modern slavery exists and what governments are doing \u2013 or failing to do \u2013 about it. Passing this bill will bring greater transparency to this process of preparing the report and in doing so, it will help us hold human traffickers around the world accountable.\u201d\r\n\u201cAfter the past two reports\u2019 fiascos of unwarranted, politically-driven upgrades of countries with deplorable human trafficking records like Cuba and Malaysia, the United States\u2019 commitment and credibility in fighting the scourge of modern day slavery remains on the line,\u201d said Menendez. \u201cInformed by both leading human rights advocates and the GAO\u2019s investigative findings, this legislation charts a clear path to restore credibility and improve the TIP report ranking process through a series of bold reforms that inject transparency and make clear that it will never be subject to political manipulation again. I will work forcefully so that this important legislation is adopted and we can fully reestablish our ability to objectively evaluate countries\u2019 actions to combat human trafficking, revitalize our support for the victims of modern day slavery, and recommit to putting the fight against human trafficking above politics.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe Alliance to End Slavery & Trafficking (ATEST) has been dismayed by the State Department\u2019s unwarranted tier ranking upgrades for certain countries in recent years, including Malaysia in the 2015 report and Thailand in 2016. By our assessment, neither country\u2019s government had demonstrated significant or effective effort to combat human trafficking, particularly forced labor and sexual exploitation. The unjustifiable tier ranking upgrades for Malaysia and Thailand greatly tarnished the integrity of the TIP report, and we applaud Senators Menendez and Rubio for their efforts to ensure the report\u2019s credibility moving forward,\" added Melysa Sperber, Director of The Alliance to End Slavery & Trafficking (ATEST).\r\nThe Trafficking in Persons Report Integrity Act seeks to restore credibility to the TIP report by making sweeping reforms that strengthen the minimum standards countries must meet, clarify actions that countries must take to earn higher rankings, enhance transparency and Congressional oversight of the ranking process, and restrict certain U.S. assistance to governments that fail to combat human trafficking.\r\nThe Trafficking in Persons Report Integrity Act (TIPRIA)\r\n \r\nStrengthens Minimum Standards and Clarifies the Ranking Process:\r\n \r\n \r\nRequires any country whose government sponsors forced labor to be ranked Tier 3.\r\n \r\n \r\nMakes TIP rankings contingent on concrete actions taken by a country in the defined reporting period.\r\n \r\n \r\nRequires the State Department to specify of how the concrete actions (or lack thereof) undertaken by the country contributed to the change in ranking, including a clear linkage with the minimum standards. A recent GAO study highlighted this as a major gap in the existing TIP Report process.\r\n \r\n \r\nStrikes existing language that implies a country can be placed on Tier 2 Watch List based on promises of future action.\r\n \r\n \r\nRequires that countries must investigate and prosecute acts of trafficking without bias, instead of simply focusing on low-level prosecutions or neglecting involvement by government officials.\r\n \r\n \r\nCurrent law states that a country that has been included on Tier 2 Watch List for two consecutive years must be automatically downgraded to Tier 3 if it does not achieve enough progress to earn an upgrade to Tier 2 in the third year. However, this requirement can be waived by the President for two additional years. The bill shortens the waiver to one year, adds a requirement that a country must take concrete actions to implement the principal recommendations of the annual report in order to be eligible for the waiver, and requires the Secretary of State to publish online a justification for the waiver along with detailed evidence demonstrating the country\u2019s actions to combat trafficking.\r\n \r\n \r\nRequires that any country that is automatically downgraded to Tier 3 must subsequently meet the requirements to be ranked Tier 2 and cannot simply be upgraded back to Tier 2 Watch List.\r\n \r\nIncreases Transparency & Congressional Oversight:\r\n \r\nCurrent law states that a country that does not provide data on investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences shall be automatically deemed to be Tier 3. However, the Secretary of State may disregard that provision if the country has provided \u201csome data\u201d to the State Department and the Secretary has determined that the country is \u201cmaking a good faith effort\u201d to collect missing data. The bill adds a new requirement that before the Secretary makes such a determination, the Secretary must submit to Congress copies of the foreign government data and a description of the good faith efforts made by the country.\r\n \r\n \r\nCurrent law requires the President to make, within 90 days after the publication of the annual or interim TIP report, one of several determinations on whether to withhold non-humanitarian, nontrade-related aid for Tier 3 countries. However, there is also blanket waiver authority for the President to waive, at any time, aid restrictions that had been previously imposed. The bill modifies this waiver to require the President to report to Congress before lifting previously imposed restrictions against a Tier 3 country.\r\n \r\nRestricts Certain U.S. Assistance to Governments Failing to Meet Minimum Standards:\r\n \r\nCurrent law states \u201cit is the policy of the United States not to provide non-humanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance to any government\u201d ranked Tier 3. The bill replaces \u201cnontrade-related\u201d with \u201cnon-anti-human trafficking related\u201d in that policy statement, and in subsequent provisions that exempt trade-related aid from penalties applied to Tier 3 countries.\r\n \r\n \r\nCurrent law directs the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any loan to a Tier 3 country by a multilateral development bank (MDB), but provides a frequently exercised waiver. The bill strengthens this provision by directing the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any loan to a Tier 2 Watch List or Tier 3 country, if that loan does not include a significant anti-trafficking component and removes the waiver.\r\n \r\n \r\nRequires Treasury to report annually how the U.S. voted on each proposed MDB loan to Tier 3 and Tier 2 Watch List countries and how each MDB is implementing anti-human trafficking policies in its project safeguards and procurement policies.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9C130902-F054-4691-8818-B7C13BD3BE5F", "Rubio, Casey Introduce Bill Targeting Russian, Iranian Efforts to Destabilize Iraq, Syria", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Casey (D-PA) today introduced the Preventing Destabilization of Iraq and Syria Act, legislation that mandates sanctions against foreign persons who threaten the stability of Iraq or Syria.\r\nThis bill includes elements of H.R. 5732, which passed the House on November 15 after being introduced by House by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY).\r\n\u201cRussia and Iran have continued to bolster and prop up the brutal Assad regime in Syria, which has fueled a conflict that now threatens us here at home,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cBy enabling Assad, the Russians and Iranians are partially responsible for the utter devastation of Aleppo and other rebel-held areas, and the heartbreaking loss of thousands of innocent Syrians. The United States must punish those responsible for undermining efforts to promote peace, stability and development in Syria and Iraq.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe situation in Syria is growing worse each day, and we have to hold those responsible accountable for war crimes and human rights abuses,\u201d said Casey. \u201cThis bill sends an important signal to the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian backers. I look forward to working with Senator Rubio to advance this legislation in the new Congress.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BB685898-D880-461E-B688-8135FEAD8E78", "Rubio Mourns the Passing of American Hero John Glenn", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH):\r\n\u201cAs the first American to orbit Earth in 1962, John Glenn was a true pioneer and American hero who led the way with the Mercury Seven astronauts in launching a new era of American space exploration. He was also a devoted patriot, military veteran and statesman, and we are extremely grateful for this service to our country. He may have hailed from Ohio, but Florida will always be proud of this legend\u2019s role in our space program and his history-making launch from Cape Canaveral. Although our time in the U.S. Senate did not overlap, I wish I had had the opportunity to serve with him. As we mourn his passing today, Jeanette and I offer our condolences and prayers to the Glenn family.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-statement-on-nomination-of-general-john-kelly-as-dhs", "Diaz-Balart Statement on Nomination of General John Kelly as DHS Secretary", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Mario Diaz-Balart", "D000600", "mariodiazbalart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) released the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump nominated General John Kelly to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security in his administration.\n\"I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know General John Kelly while he was commander of SOUTHCOM. Now more than ever, we need someone at the helm of DHS who will ensure the United States is protected from any threats, whether domestic or foreign. General Kelly\u2019s extraordinary knowledge, expertise, and leadership will be critical as he continues to serve our country in this new capacity, and I commend President-elect Trump for nominating him to serve as Homeland Security Secretary.\"\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-boko-haram", "House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Boko Haram", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Frederica Wilson", "W000808", "wilson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 In a long-awaited victory, the U.S. House of Representatives today by a voice vote passed \u00a0H.R. 3833/S. 1632, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-Florida) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) to help combat Boko Haram.\nThe measure directs the U.S. secretaries of State and Defense to jointly develop a five-year strategy to aid the Nigerian government; members of the Multinational Joint Task Force created to combat Boko Haram; and international partners who\u2019ve offered their support to counter the regional threat posed by the insurgents. The strategy also would address the crushing humanitarian and education crises the terrorists have created.\n\u201cBoko Haram captured my attention and the headlines when the terrorist group kidnapped 276 Nigerian schoolgirls from their dormitory rooms 968 days ago. For most of the world, the Chibok girls symbolize the horror that is Boko Haram, but the damage its members have wrought goes far deeper,\u201d said Congresswoman Wilson.\u00a0\nIn addition to killing more than 20,000 innocent people, sexually abusing women and girls, and also sending them on suicide bomb missions, Boko Haram has turned more than 3 million Nigerians into refugees in their own homeland, tens of thousands of whom are at risk of starving to death. Two thousand schools have closed, depriving one million children of the opportunity to get an education.  \n\t\u201cBoko Haram has pledged allegiance to ISIS and continues to commit terrible acts of brutal violence against civilians in Nigeria as well as in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger,\u201d said Senator Collins, who authored and originally introduced the bill. \u00a0\u201cRep. Frederica Wilson was a willing and able partner in the effort to pass this bipartisan legislation, which requires a five-year strategy to pursue Boko Haram and will bolster U.S. efforts throughout the region.\u00a0 I urge the president to immediately sign this bill into law and send an international signal that we will never forget the girls of Nigeria who were targeted simply because they chose to pursue an education.\u201dFor more than two years, House lawmakers have stood united in raising awareness of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, demanding the safe return of the missing Chibok girls and the end of Boko Haram\u2019s carnage. Members from both parties have held policy forums and press conferences to discuss strategies to combat the terrorists.\nEvery week that Congress is in session, a bipartisan group of lawmakers participates in Wear Something Red Wednesday, during which lawmakers wear a red outfit or accessory and take group photos to share on social media. This campaign, led by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Congresswoman Wilson, is the lawmakers\u2019 way of reaffirming their commitment to find the girls and defeat Boko Haram.\n\u201cWe will continue to wear red every Wednesday until the last Chibok girl being held hostage has returned home,\u201d said Congresswoman Wilson. \u201cIf the world does not act and come to Nigeria\u2019s aid, the trickledown effect on the rest of the continent and other parts of the world could cause a level of damage that will take years to repair. More important, it is simply the right thing to do and will help save millions of lives.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/house-passes-ted-yohos-patrick-murphys-va-reforms", "House Passes Ted Yoho's, Patrick Murphy's VA Reforms", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ted Yoho", "Y000065", "yoho.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last week, the full U.S. House passed on voice vote a proposal from two Florida congressmen to increase access for congressional staffers to have access to help clear the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs\u2019 (VA) backlog.\nU.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., have been pushing the \u201cWorking to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act\u201d (WINGMAN) \u00a0throughout the year.\u00a0\nBack in February, \u00a0the two Florida congressmen and U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., sent a letter to U.S. VA Sec. Robert McDonald, urging him to give congressional staffers\u2019 read only access for VA benefit matters. The congressmen insisted this would give congressional staffers more information and would help ease frustrations from constituents and brought that proposal into the legislative arena with the WINGMAN Act. The U.S. House Veterans Affairs passed the bill back in September without opposition.\u00a0\nMore than 130 co-sponsors lined up in the House including members of the Florida delegation: Republican U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan, Ander Crenshaw, Carlos Curbelo, Ron DeSantis, \u00a0Rich Nugent and Tom Rooney and Democratic U.S. Reps. Gwen Graham and Alan Grayson.\nAfter the House passed the bill on Wednesday, Yoho offered his take on why it was needed.\u00a0\n\u201cToday is a good day for veterans across the nation,\u201d Yoho said. \u201cWe owe our veterans a great deal of gratitude for the sacrifices they made for America and for defending our cherished way of life. Today\u2019s legislative victory, on their behalf, will help provide veterans with the answers they need in what is, unfortunately, a long drawn out process. By streamlining the claims process, eliminating the burdensome step of having to use the VA as a middle-man, we can reduce the wait time for file requests that can take weeks or even months.\n\u201cI have said it before and it bears repeating, we owe our nation\u2019s veterans everything. They deserve quality care in a timely manner,\u201d Yoho added. \u201cMaking them wait months for the benefits they most desperately need is unacceptable. The passage of WINGMAN will help correct this.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"Representing approximately 65,000 veterans in Florida's 18th District, I have made it a top priority during my four years in office to help our brave men and women who fought for our nation receive the best service and care they have earned and deserve. \u00a0The WINGMAN Act would do just that by cutting through bureaucratic red tape to reduce delays in the VA's electronic claims process,\" said Murphy who is leaving Congress after losing to U.S Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., last month. \u00a0\"It is great to see this common-sense measure pass the House with strong bipartisan support. \u00a0I thank Congressman Yoho for his leadership and partnership in this effort and now call on the Senate to swiftly follow suit so this bill can be signed into law to better serve our veterans.\"\n\u201cI appreciate Rep. Murphy support and the support of our House colleagues who came together in a bipartisan effort to better the lives of all our veterans,\u201d Yoho said.\u00a0\nThe bill now heads to the Senate where it is being sponsored by Republican U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Mark Kirk of Illinois, who was defeated last month, and Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/senate-is-choosing-bureaucrats-over-veterans", "Senate is choosing bureaucrats over Veterans", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ted Yoho", "Y000065", "yoho.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Sen.\u00a0Harry Reid\u00a0(D-Nev.) are standing in the way of improving customer service for our nation\u2019s veterans.\u00a0 We introduced WINGMAN (H.R. 5166) in May of this year with broad bipartisan support - 137 of our colleagues in the House signed on as co-sponsors. The bill allows trained congressional caseworkers to check the status of a veteran\u2019s claim and view relevant files within the VA\u2019s claims system. Veterans often contact our offices as a last resort because they have already spent weeks or months waiting for the VA to respond to their request. This will streamline the claims process by eliminating the burdensome step of having to use the VA as a middle-man. WINGMAN will reduce the wait time for file requests by veterans, which can take weeks or even years. This past week the House unanimously passed WINGMAN and sent it to the Senate.\nThe Senate has the opportunity to hotline this commonsense bill so we can begin to help frustrated veterans and their families before this Congress adjourns. Unfortunately, Sen. Reid and a few Democrats in the Senate are blocking these efforts seemingly to protect the VA.\nTwo years ago, along with more than a hundred of our colleagues, we approached the VA about changing the way constituent caseworkers could expedite the claims process.\u00a0 Months later, we received a polite response explaining the VA was working to better serve veterans and looked forward to working with Congress moving forward. We continued to write the VA and they continued to make politely vague comments while veterans who have contacted our office for help continue to wait for answers.\u00a0\nThe thing about VA management is, it does not like change, it fears transparency, and it has virtually no accountability unless Congress chooses to flex its muscle and hold them accountable.\u00a0 Throughout the process of moving WINGMAN through the House, the VA has attempted to thwart the bill. They have tried to stall progress by delaying responses and sending inflated figures to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).\nSenate Democrats have reportedly said they are concerned with the cost but this bill does not create any new system nor does it authorize any additional spending. It simply grants congressional offices access to a system already in place. Additionally, the bill caps VA spending on implementation at no more than $10 million. In the long term, this bill has the potential to save the VA money by allowing congressional offices to help.\nLess than a month ago, our nation celebrated Veterans Day. For a day, the nation was unified in a moment of remembrance and gratitude.\u00a0We passed this bill thinking of the faces of each veteran whose hand we shook that day, every medal ceremony we attended since being elected, and honor flight we have greeted at the World War II monument. But most of all we are thinking of the numerous heart wrenching stories we have heard from veterans and their families who feel abandoned by the agency whose sole mission it is to care for them.\nThe term \u201ccustomer service\u201d is too often forgotten in federal bureaucracies. And in lieu of the many scandals within the VA system, one would think any relief or improvement would be welcomed. Congress owes it to those veterans we represent to do our job and hold the VA accountable.\nWINGMAN had the support of every member of the House VA Committee and received unanimous support by the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. However, Sen. Reid stands in WINGMAN\u2019s way.\u00a0Does Sen. Reid know more than the 435 members of the House or the unanimous support of the House VA Committee?\u00a0We will not forget the promises we made to our veterans.\u00a0We will fight for them every day of every year that we are in office.\u00a0 I am deeply saddened that a few of our colleagues in the Senate cannot, or will not, do the same.\nThe views expressed by authors are their own and not the views of The Hill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://desantis.house.gov/press-releases?ID=0B085E52-07A0-4C4A-A1CB-F33CDBB0F418", "DeSantis Praises Selection of General John Kelly for Secretary of Homeland of Security", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ron DeSantis", "D000621", "desantis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06) today issued the following statement praising President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s decision to nominate Marine Corps General John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security:\n\n\u201cJohn Kelly served our country with distinction for decades as a U.S. Marine and I am glad to see him selected as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. General Kelly possesses a keen understanding of national security and counterterrorism issues, and, as the former Commander of U.S. Southern Command, has virtually unrivaled experience in dealing with some of the key issues \u2013 such as border security and drug trafficking \u2013 that the next DHS Secretary will need to confront. The DHS bureaucracy has been ineffective for far too long. Naming someone of John Kelly\u2019s stature and integrity to lead the troubled agency is a giant first step towards securing our borders and improving the defense of our homeland. I commend President-Elect Donald Trump for the decision to nominate General Kelly and I look forward to working with them both to improve our security.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1339", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on 75th Anniversary of Attack on Pearl Harbor", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on 75thAnniversary of Attack on Pearl Harbor\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC \u2013\u00a0U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement in observance of the 75thanniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cToday we mark seventy-five years since our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor. We responded to that attack with a determined resolve and fierce spirit that has always marked our character, especially in turbulent times. We fought for freedom and democracy, justice and peace, and the rights of all those who could not defend themselves. Our brave men and women \u2013 our Greatest Generation \u2013 fought all across the world, and here at home so many people, including millions of women, rolled up their sleeves to fuel our nation\u2019s efforts by joining the workforce. We owe an indelible debt to that courageous generation, and I am so deeply grateful for their service and the lessons they passed onto us. We will always honor those who serve our nation in uniform, in times of both war and peace.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tContact:\r\n\r\n\tGeoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=864", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on 75th Anniversary of Attack on Pearl Harbor", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wasserman Schultz Statement on 75th Anniversary of Attack on Pearl Harbor \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, DC,\r\n        December 7, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n        Today we mark seventy-five years since our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor. We responded to that attack with a determined resolve and fierce spirit that has always marked our character, especially in turbulent times. We fought for freedom and democracy, justice and peace, and the rights of all those who could not defend themselves. Our brave men and women  our Greatest Generation  fought all across the world, and here at home so many people, including millions of women, rolled up their sleeves to fuel our nation's efforts by joining the workforce. We owe an indelible debt to that courageous generation, and I am so deeply grateful for their service and the lessons they passed onto us. We will always honor those who serve our nation in uniform, in times of both war and peace.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Wasserman Schultz Statement on 75thAnniversary of Attack on Pearl Harbor U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement in observance of the 75thanniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii: Today we mark seventy-five years since our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor. We responded to that attack with a determined resolve and fierce spirit that has always marked our character, especially in turbulent times. We fought for freedom and democracy, justice and peace, and the rights of all those who could not defend themselves. Our brave men and women  our Greatest Generation  fought all across the world, and here at home so many people, including millions of women, rolled up their sleeves to fuel our nation's efforts by joining the workforce. We owe an indelible debt to that courageous generation, and I am so deeply grateful for their service and the lessons they passed onto us. We will always honor those who serve our nation in uniform, in times of both war and peace. ### Contact: Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F04EA049-70FB-4929-B368-BE9C62D87D8F", "Rubio Applauds Final Passage of 21st Century Cures Act", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the final version of the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34), which now heads to President Obama\u2019s desk to be signed into law:\r\n\u201cThis bill makes a lot of improvements to our nation\u2019s medical research programs, but the most important thing it provides is hope \u2013 hope for patients affected by thousands of diseases, hope for people battling mental illness, and hope for families scarred by the ravages of opioid addiction. This legislation combines some of the best ideas for advancing medical treatment and research, speeding up the development of life-saving drugs, and reforming our mental health system. It also funds the fight against the heroin epidemic and overdoses sweeping through far too many communities in Florida and around the country.\r\n\u201cGetting this bill across the finish line was a truly bipartisan effort that required real compromise, but we came together and got it done and I\u2019m proud to support it. It will be welcome news in Florida where public health agencies, universities and the private sector are working every day to develop cures and treatments that will help people of all ages.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398287", "U.S. Rep. Castor travels with POTUS to Tampa", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) is accompanying President Barack Obama on Air Force One to travel to Tampa, FL in support of his visit with active duty members at MacDill Air Force Base, home of the U.S. Special Operations Command,  the 6th Air Mobility Wing and U.S. Central Command. Rep. Castor is also traveling with the President in support of the counterterrorism campaign he has directed as Commander-in-Chief. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) is accompanying President Barack Obama on Air Force One to travel to Tampa, FL in support of his visit with active duty members at MacDill Air Force Base, home of the U.S. Special Operations Command, \u00a0the 6th Air Mobility Wing and U.S. Central Command. Rep. Castor is also traveling with the President in support of the\u00a0counterterrorism campaign he has directed as Commander-in-Chief. \r\n\u201cThe security and safety of my community and our nation is paramount and President Obama has been committed to a broad framework for counterterrorism to preserve our security while upholding our country\u2019s highest ideals,\u201d U.S. Rep. Castor said. \u201cThe responsibilities of Special Operations forces at MacDill AFB have been central to counterterrorism and our ability to stay out of reckless wars. I will be vigilant in working to ensure that our Special Operations forces receive the resources they need to fulfill their critical missions and keep us safe. \r\n\u201cThe men and women in uniform who serve at MacDill are outstanding and I am enormously proud of them.\u00a0They have shouldered the weight of America's national security in a chaotic world full of threats and challenges.\u00a0President Obama remained committed throughout his presidency to the security of America. He redeployed ground troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan as promised, killed Osama bin Laden, strengthened the special operations mission, built vital international coalitions, and boosted military families along the way. I am proud to accompany him to Tampa and MacDill today.\u201d\r\nPresident Obama and U.S. Rep. Castor departed Joint Base Andrews, arrive at Tampa International Airport and will return to Washington, D.C. after the visit.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bilirakis-urges-us-house-to-pass-flooding-relief-provision", "Bilirakis Urges U.S. House to Pass Flooding Relief Provision", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) took to the House floor today to support a flooding relief provision in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act). The WIIN Act promotes public-private partnerships for dredging projects, helping the Army Corps successfully finish them at lower costs and paving the way for completing the Anclote River Dredging project in Tarpon Springs.\nDredging the Anclote River would provide relief for local residents from repeated flooding issues and support commerce in the area. Bilirakis has long fought for the completion of this project, and recently championed a letter with the Greater-Tampa Bay Congressional delegation to the Army Corps in support of it.\nThe House is expected to take up the WIIN Act this week. See below for Bilirakis\u2019s full remarks.\n\u201cMr. Speaker, later this week, the House will vote on the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act; also known as the WIIN Act. \n\u201cThis legislation includes a number of great provisions for Florida and my district, including promoting public-private partnerships for dredging projects. \n\u201cAllowing these partnerships will help clear the backlog of Army Corps projects, at or below cost, all while adhering to Federal maintenance standards. \n\u201cThis means that there will be more opportunities for projects to be completed in a reasonable timeframe, such as the federally authorized Anclote River Dredging project in my district. \n\u201cDredging the Anclote River would provide relief for local residents from chronic flooding and bring back commerce to the Tarpon Springs area. Thank you.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-urges-us-house-pass-flooding-relief-provision", "Bilirakis Urges U.S. House to Pass Flooding Relief Provision", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) took to the House floor today to support a flooding relief provision in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act). The WIIN Act promotes public-private partnerships for dredging projects, helping the Army Corps successfully finish them at lower costs and paving the way for completing the Anclote River Dredging project in Tarpon Springs.\nDredging the Anclote River would provide relief for local residents from repeated flooding issues and support commerce in the area. Bilirakis has long fought for the completion of this project, and recently championed a letter with the Greater-Tampa Bay Congressional delegation to the Army Corps in support of it.\nThe House is expected to take up the WIIN Act this week. See below for Bilirakis's full remarks.\nMr. Speaker, later this week, the House will vote on the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act; also known as the WIIN Act. \nThis legislation includes a number of great provisions for Florida and my district, including promoting public-private partnerships for dredging projects. \nAllowing these partnerships will help clear the backlog of Army Corps projects, at or below cost, all while adhering to Federal maintenance standards. \nThis means that there will be more opportunities for projects to be completed in a reasonable timeframe, such as the federally authorized Anclote River Dredging project in my district. \nDredging the Anclote River would provide relief for local residents from chronic flooding and bring back commerce to the Tarpon Springs area. Thank you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buchanan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/no-presidential-pardon-bowe-bergdahl", "No Presidential Pardon for Bowe Bergdahl", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Vern Buchanan", "B001260", "buchanan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Buchanan Tells Obama to Reject Pardon Request\nWASHINGTON \u2013\u00a0Congressman Vern Buchanan today urged President Obama to reject Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl\u2019s request for a presidential pardon, saying the search for Bergdahl may have led to the deaths of several American soldiers.Bergdahl\u2019s lawyers recently filed documents with the White House, the Justice Department and the Pentagon requesting a pardon, according to the New York Times.\u00a0\u201cIt has been seven years since Sgt. Bergdahl chose to abandon his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan during a time of war,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cHe should be court-martialed and held accountable.\u201dFormer members of Bergdahl\u2019s platoon have publicly expressed concerns about Bergdahl since his return, characterizing him as a deserter who put American lives at risk. One of his fellow soldiers, Sgt. Matt Vierkant, has called for Bergdahl to face military trial for desertion and even said that \u201chis fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him.\u201dBergdahl is facing charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy that endangered fellow soldiers.\u00a0 He was captured by the Taliban in 2009 after walking off his post in Afghanistan, sparking a massive man-hunt conducted by the military over the five-year period. During this time it was\u00a0reported that as many as six American soldiers may have died as a direct result of the search for Bergdahl.Soldiers in his platoon have also claimed that anti-U.S. attacks in the region seemed to increase in the days and weeks following Bergdahl\u2019s disappearance.\u00a0A pardon would allow Bergdahl to escape his court-martial, which is scheduled to begin April 18, 2017. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.\u00a0Eugene R. Fidell, Bergdahl\u2019s defense lawyer, said if his case is still pending on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, he will file a motion to have it dismissed, arguing that a \u201cfair military trial will be impossible after Mr. Trump becomes the commander in chief,\u201d according to the New York Times.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=736A0B2B-6A0C-45DA-B671-8F749CEEABE4", "Rubio Introduces Bill Targeting Chinese Aggression in South China Sea", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act, which would sanction Chinese individuals and entities that participate in Beijing\u2019s illegitimate operations in the South China Sea and East China Sea.\r\n\u201cChina\u2019s aggressive actions in the South China Sea are illegitimate and threaten the region\u2019s security and American commerce, with reverberations that can be felt here at home, including Florida\u2019s ports and throughout our state\u2019s shipping and cargo economy,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cThe security of our allies in the region and our own economic livelihoods cannot be endangered by Beijing\u2019s ongoing, flagrant violations of international norms in its pursuit of dominance in the South China Sea and East China Sea.\r\n\u201cBeijing\u2019s illegitimate activities in these waters need to end, and the sanctions called for in this legislation would hold violators accountable and serve as a deterrent to others,\u201d Rubio added.\u00a0\u201cConsistent with international law, China should not be allowed to interfere in any way with the free use of the waters and airspace in the South China Sea and East China Sea by civilian and military ships and aircraft of all countries.\u201d\u00a0\r\nRubio\u2019s bill would:\r\n \r\nRequire the president to impose sanctions and prohibit visas for Chinese individuals and entities who contribute to construction or development projects, and those who threaten the peace, security or stability of the South China Sea (SCS) or East China Sea (ECS);\r\n \r\n \r\nImpose sanctions on foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct or facilitate a significant financial transaction for sanctioned individuals and entities if China takes certain actions in the SCS or ECS, including declaring an air defense identification zone or increasing activities at Scarborough Shoal;\r\n \r\n \r\nMandate a report on individuals and entities involved in sanctionable activities, including some employees of certain Chinese companies;\r\n \r\n \r\nProhibit the publication of documents portraying the SCS or the ECS as part of China, investments in the SCS or the ECS, and the recognition of the annexation of the SCS or the ECS; and\r\n \r\n \r\nRestrict foreign assistance to countries that recognize China\u2019s sovereignty in the SCS or the ECS.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C2A53638-3926-4C3C-9775-6A8BDE01CDC9", "Rubio Introduces Legislation to Increase Wages, Expand Opportunity in Puerto Rico", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico, today introduced the Economic Mobility for Productive Livelihoods and Expanding Opportunity (EMPLEO) Act, which would help grow Puerto Rico\u2019s economy by making it easier for employers to hire workers and giving every American on the island an immediate pay raise. The bill extends to Puerto Rico Rubio\u2019s nationwide proposal to enact a federal wage enhancement.\r\n\u201cWith Puerto Rico\u2019s economy suffering from high unemployment and low wages, it\u2019s hard for many Americans on the island to make ends meet,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cMy legislation would help these workers and their families by immediately boosting their pay and reducing the cost of hiring so it\u2019s easier to find a job. By expanding the workforce, increasing opportunity and making work pay more, we can help Puerto Rico get back on the path to growth and prosperity. As a member of the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico, I\u2019m proud to have brought this idea to the table and encourage my colleagues to consider it as we prepare our final report.\u201d\r\nRubio\u2019s EMPLEO Act would establish an opt-in system by which participating employers disburse pay raises to all employees earning below the median hourly wage in Puerto Rico. Any worker earning less than $10 per hour would receive a raise, up to a maximum of $2.50 per hour. Employers that choose to participate in the program may reduce their share of a worker\u2019s wage to a minimum of $5 per hour, thus reducing the cost of hiring new workers.\r\nThe Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico was established by law under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). Since being named to the task force in July, Rubio and his office have held at least 55 meetings with stakeholders. In addition to the task force, PROMESA also established a separate Puerto Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board, which Rubio is not a member of, and whose work to resolve the island\u2019s debt crisis is expected to continue for several years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thud-appropriations-chairman-diaz-balart-statement-on-nomination-of-dr", "THUD Appropriations Chairman Diaz-Balart Statement on Nomination of Dr. Ben Carson as HUD Secretary", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Mario Diaz-Balart", "D000600", "mariodiazbalart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump nominated Dr. Ben Carson to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.\n\u201cI thank Dr. Ben Carson for his willingness to serve our country as HUD Secretary. He will bring an outsider\u2019s perspective, helping to shake things up so the agency can better serve families across the United States. Dr. Carson has a true passion for helping people, and I look forward to working with him to improve the quality and efficiency of our housing programs.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1663, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "FL", "p2": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 1100, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL&year=2016&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 563, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL&year=2016&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1663, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=FL&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "FL", "label": "FL", "count": 1663, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 1663, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2016-12-05,http~3A~2F~2Fmariodiazbalart~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fthud-appropriations-chairman-diaz-balart-statement-on-nomination-of-dr", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=FL&year=2016&_next=2016-12-05%2Chttp~3A~2F~2Fmariodiazbalart~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fthud-appropriations-chairman-diaz-balart-statement-on-nomination-of-dr&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 477.4748748168349, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}