{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"FL\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://demings.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-demings-supports-new-covid-relief", "Rep. Demings Supports New COVID Relief", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Val Demings", "D000627", "demings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ORLANDO, FL  Today Rep. Demings will vote for new emergency COVID-19 relief legislation for struggling Americans, small businesses and communities. A summary is below.\nSaid Rep. Demings, Today's COVID relief deal is long-overdue and much-needed. Americans are desperate for financial assistance, and hospitals and communities need immediate support. We have been fighting for additional COVID relief since March, only to see it delayed and reduced over and over by the Senate. $600 per American is important, but it won't cover rent or other major expenses. I am voting for this relief in the hopes that it can provide a short-term aid to struggling Americans, but I strongly believe that we must do more, and soon.\nSince last spring, House Democrats have offered multiple deals and compromises to get more assistance into the bank accounts of struggling families and small businesses. Our efforts have been denied at every turn, and the American people have paid the costs. Even in recent weeks, multiple bipartisan deals were torpedoed by Senate Republicans seeking to undermine President-Elect Biden's work to help our economy recover. It is impossible to justify why our Republican colleagues refused over and over to give help to people in crisis. As we move into the new year, I pray that they will remember why they are here: to help people, especially during times of crisis.\nBackground\nIn addition to the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, the spending package contains $900 billion in emergency coronavirus relief to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people. Among its provisions, the bill provides:\n Funding to distribute safe vaccines to crush the virus;\n\t$13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the COVID hunger crisis;\n\tA new round of direct payments worth up to $600 per adult and child;\n\tExtends the eviction moratorium through January 31 and provides $25 billion in rental assistance;\n\tA $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work;\n\t$82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open;\n\tAn additional $3.36 billion for GAVI, the international vaccine alliance.\n In addition, the legislation funds the ongoing operation of the federal government, including several priorities on which Rep. Demings has led:\n $386 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program\n\t$132 million for the STOP School Violence Act\n\t$85 million for grants to improve the NICS firearms background check system.\n\tItems related to MCO:\n\t\t$100 million for TSA scanning equipment\n\t\t\tFully funds the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams (VIPR); staffing at exit lanes; and the Law Enforcement Officer reimbursement program.\n\t\t\t$30 million for reimbursements to airports for legacy purchases of in-line explosive detection systems.\n\t\t\n\t$705 million for the Urban Areas Security Initiative, which has funded security projects in Orlando since 2018.\n One-page fact sheets on critical Democratic priorities included among the appropriations provisions, the coronavirus relief provisions, and the authorizing matters arehere,here, andhererespectively.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402478", "Hastings Fights to Put a Stop to Imminent Offshore Drilling Project", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Fort Lauderdale, FL) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) led a letter to Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Bahamas, Dr. Hubert Alexander Minnis and the Minister of the Environment and Housing, Romauld Sotario Ferreira, expressing opposition to theBahamas Petroleum Company's (BPC) offshore drilling project, the Perseverance No. 1 oil well, off the coast of The Bahamas, a mere 150 miles from South Florida. The letter urges the government of The Bahamas to reconsider allowing the BPC drilling project to continue, given the immediate and long-term impacts an oil spill and carbon emissions have on natural ecosystems, local economies, and the global climate crisis. This letter has been endorsed by Oceana. Joining Hastings in sending the letter include: Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Nydia M. Velzquez (D-NY), Francis Rooney (R-FL), A. Donald McEachin (D-VA), Al Lawson (D-FL), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Abigail D. Spanberger (D-VA), David Scott (D-GA), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), and Donna E. Shalala (D-FL). (Please find the letter below and attached):  \r\n\r\nDecember 17, 2020  \r\n\r\nThe Honorable Dr. Hubert Alexander Minnis, ON, M.P. \r\nPrime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas \r\nOffice of the Prime Minister\r\nSir Cecil Wallace Whitfield Centre \r\nNassau, N.P., The Bahamas \r\n\r\nThe Honorable Romauld Sotario Ferreira\r\nMinister of the Environment and Housing \r\nCharlotte House, Second Floor \r\nShirley & Charlotte St. \r\nNassau, N.P., The Bahamas\r\nVia electronic correspondence.\r\nDear Prime Minister Minnis and Minister Ferreira,\r\nWe write regarding the Bahamas Petroleum Company's (BPC) offshore drilling project, the Perseverance No. 1 oil well, off the coast of The Bahamas. We believe you should reconsider the agreement established between your government and BPC to protect the beauty and longevity of our fragile and shared ecosystems, the economies that depend on them, and the future of our planet.\r\nAs coastal and near-coastal Members of Congress, we have long fought to prevent oil spills, but the success of this work is directly dependent on the cooperation of other states, our federal government, and nearby nations. We and countless Americans remember the devastation and loss of life caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill,[1] for which Florida continues to require restoration funding.[2] That well, similar to that which BPC plans to bore, claimed 11 lives and spewed more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, destroying whole ecosystems and halting tourism and fisheries across the region. It has become clear that oil companies such as BPC have every intention to plow ahead despite red flags, which warn of the grave health, natural disaster, and environmental risks of drilling.\r\nShould BPC's project move forward, we will be justified in fearing that the Atlantic coast is at risk of severe, even catastrophic, impact from any spills that might occur  essentially undermining the recent offshore drilling ban extension from President Trump, and futureoffshore drilling restrictions. It is unclear whether BPC has the capacity to help mitigate a serious disaster, let alone prevent one in the first place. Should a calamitous event occur, the Bahamian government and BPC's clean-up efforts will undoubtedly require financial assistance from neighbors, including the United States, to address any spill that would spread throughout domestic and international waters. For perspective, Deepwater Horizon cost an estimated $65 billion to clean up and the effects have yet to be fully alleviated.[3] What's worse, the ship arriving on your shores to begin drilling has a track record of safety issues on previous jobs, including incidents in March 2016,[4] September 2016,[5] and October 2017.[6]\r\nUnfortunately, we believe the agreement reached between BPC and the Bahamian government is directly contrary to the urgent call made at the United Nations just last year.[7] In that speech, Prime Minister, you cited the contribution carbon emissions have made to the climate crisis and the devastating impacts this crisis continues to have on island nations like The Bahamas,[8] including those wrought by Hurricane Dorian, rising sea levels, and natural barrier degradation. These events are felt deeply by Americans and communities around the world, and expanding offshore drilling is fundamentally against their interests.\r\nWe stand ready to work with your government to fight the climate crisis, a looming mass-extinction event, and oil and gas interests that seek only to profit off activities that truly put our respective communities at great risk. The health of our constituencies, oceans, and planet hinges on what actions we take here and now.\r\nSincerely, \r\n\r\nAlcee L. Hastings \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nKathy Castor\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDarren Soto \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nCharlie Crist\r\nMember of Congress \r\n\r\nGerald E. Connolly \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDebbie Wasserman Schultz\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nLois Frankel \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nNydia M. Velzquez\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nTed Deutch \r\nMember of Congress \r\n\r\nFrancis Rooney\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nA. Donald McEachin\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nAl Lawson\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nAlan Lowenthal\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nChellie Pingree\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nAbigail D. Spanberger\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDavid Scott\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDebbie Mucarsel-Powell\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDonna E. Shalala\r\nMember of Congress  \r\n\r\nCC: \r\nSecretary Mike Pompeo \r\nU.S. Department of State \r\n2201 C Street, NW \r\nWashington, DC 20520\r\n\r\nMs. Stephanie Bowers \r\nCharg d'Affaires \r\nU.S. Embassy in The Bahamas \r\n42 Queen St. \r\nNassau, The Bahamas\r\n\r\n[1] Deep Water Horizon. Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Updated: August 17, 2020.\r\n[2] Florida receives additional $73 million from Deepwater Horizon settlement. Karl Schneider. Naples Daily News. Updated: October 29, 2020.\r\n[3] BP Takes $1.7 Billion Charge on Deepwater Horizon; Costs Now Top $65B. Alex Lardieri. U.S. News & World Report. January 16, 2018.\r\n[4] Shell offshore team loses Styrofoam pipe floats at sea. Brett Ruskin. CBC. March 22, 2016.\r\n[5] Shell Canada offshore drill fell within 12 metres of oil exploration well. Michal Tutton. CBC. September 29, 2016.\r\n[6] Scottish oil worker Colin Gillespie dies in Gran Canaria. BBC News. October 23, 2017.\r\n[7] Treat climate crisis with greatest urgency', Bahamas leader tells UN Assembly. The United Nations. September 27, 2019.\r\n[8] [statements.unmeetings.org/GA74/BS_EN.pdf]National Statement at the 74th Session of the United Nations' General Assembly. The Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis Prime\r\n\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Dean and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402479", "Hastings, Lee, McGovern, Frankel, and Deutch Call for an Immediate Boost to Hunger Relief for Struggling Families in COVID Relief Package", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), along with Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), and Ted Deutch (D-FL), led 62 of their colleagues in sending a letter urging House and Senate Leadership to include a funding increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other nutritional programs in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package under negotiation. As our nation faces a hunger crisis worsened by the growing toll this pandemic has taken, $5.5 billion in emergency food aid is dwindling despite the increasing number of families struggling to put food on the table. Bolstering federal nutrition programs like SNAP will provide short-term hunger relief, while preventing long-term health and economic harm to our most vulnerable. (Please find the letter below and attached).  \r\n\r\nThe letter was endorsed by: Feeding America, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Feeding South Florida, California Association of Food Banks, United Way of Palm Beach County, Alameda County Community Food Banks. \r\nDecember 17, 2020\r\nThe Honorable Nancy Pelosi  \r\nSpeaker of the House of Representatives  \r\nH-232, U.S. Capitol  \r\nWashington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Mitch McConnell  \r\nSenate Majority Leader  \r\nS-230, U.S. Capitol  \r\nWashington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Steny Hoyer  \r\nHouse Majority Leader  \r\nH-107, U.S. Capitol  \r\nWashington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Chuck Schumer  \r\nSenate Minority Leader  \r\nS-221, U.S. Capitol  \r\nWashington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy  \r\nHouse Majority Leader  \r\nH-204, U.S. Capitol  \r\nWashington, D.C. 20515 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Majority Leader Hoyer, Minority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McCarthy: As we navigate simultaneous health and economic crises, we respectfully urge you to increase the maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit by 15 percent for all participants as part of future funding and COVID19 relief legislation. Doing so will help address deep systemic inequities in access to food and other daily necessities that have been laid bare in our most vulnerable populations and it is crucial that we utilize every option available to eliminate these gaps in the near and distant future.[1] SNAP is one of the most important tools to meet the needs of our most vulnerable populations, with 85.3 percent of all benefits reaching households with children, seniors, and disabled residents.[2] An increase in the maximum SNAP benefit for all participants would provide a modest 15 percent boost in benefits. With grocery prices increasing at the fastest rate in 50 years, SNAP is the nation's greatest defense against hunger and helps stimulate local economies.[3]\r\nWe have all seen the lines of Americans waiting for hours to receive food due to the struggles imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis.[4] Even before the pandemic, 37 million American households struggled with food insecurity, lacking consistent access to nutritious meals despite residing in the richest country in the world.[5] While over 90 percent of food assistance in the U.S. comes from federal programs, charitable and community organizations on the frontlines are responding to tremendous need across the country. Additional federal relief from increasing SNAP and providing additional federal commodities for emergency food providers will feed hungry Americans and help food banks and other community partners keep pace with growing demand for nutritious meals. SNAP is proven to not only lift people out of poverty, but to deliver critically needed jobs and economic stimulus.[6]\r\nEarlier this year, Congress passed legislation to expand capacity to meet the surge in demand for food assistance caused by the COVID-19 crisis through Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Families First) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As approximately $5.5 billion in emergency food aid through food banks and other channels are winding down, the need to expand federal nutrition programs is increasingly urgent.[7] The initial response to the pandemic provided much needed temporary assistance, but many of these short-term infusions are ending as the need for food assistance is at an all-time high. Congress must act swiftly to provide additional assistance by increasing benefits for SNAP, along with additional funding for programs such as TEFAP, as well as those that address child and senior nutrition, childcare and school nutrition, and food access for Indian Reservations and U.S. territories. Puerto Rico was already recording higher rates of food insecurity and poverty than the 50 states and the economic crisis means they are relying on federal food assistance more than ever, with capped funding that is insufficient to fully meet the significant and growing needs of residents of Puerto Rico.\r\nThe need is clear, and emergency and immediate funding as well as crucial administrative flexibilities have proven to alleviate the hunger crisis on our hands. Bolstering federal nutrition programs like SNAP will provide short-term hunger relief, while preventing long-term health and economic harm to our most vulnerable. These provisions should not sunset until the national and state emergency declarations are lifted. We must address the hunger crisis, while anticipating a long-term need for nutrition aid as we combat and recover from the immense economic and social upheaval.\r\nWith the holiday season and winter upon us, we cannot neglect one of the most basic needs. We look forward to working with you to get relief to those who need it most until we can be certain of a strong recovery.\r\nSincerely, Alcee L. Hastings  \r\nBarbara Lee  \r\nJames P. McGovern  \r\nLois Frankel  \r\nTed Deutch  \r\nJan Schakowsky  \r\nJim Costa  \r\nJimmy Panetta  \r\nNanette Diaz Barragn  \r\nJuan Vargas  \r\nChellie Pingree  \r\nSalud Carbajal  \r\nBobby L. Rush  \r\nCheri Bustos  \r\nMike Thompson  \r\nDanny K. Davis  \r\nJoseph D. Morelle  \r\nDebbie Dingell  \r\nKathy Castor  \r\nSheila Jackson Lee  \r\nEleanor Holmes Norton  \r\nHenry C. Hank Johnson, Jr.  \r\nZoe Lofgren  \r\nAl Lawson  \r\nEmanuel Cleaver, II  \r\nMarcy Kaptur  \r\nJerrold Nadler  \r\nJerry McNerney  \r\nAlan Lowenthal  \r\nMark Pocan  \r\nRuben Gallego  \r\nMark DeSaulnier  \r\nRo Khanna  \r\nWm. Lacy Clay  \r\nScott H. Peters  \r\nJason Crow  \r\nDina Titus  \r\nThomas R. Suozzi  \r\nJ. Luis Correa  \r\nAdam B. Schiff  \r\nKim Schrier, M.D.  \r\nEric Swalwell  \r\nBonnie Watson Coleman  \r\nDarren Soto  \r\nPeter Welch  \r\nDebbie Wasserman Schultz  \r\nJim Langevin  \r\nDon Young  \r\nTony Crdenas  \r\nAnna G. Eshoo  \r\nJared Huffman  \r\nAdam Smith  \r\nRaja Krishnamoorthi  \r\nDwight Evans  \r\nSteve Cohen  \r\nAnthony G. Brown  \r\nFrederica S. Wilson  \r\nAbigail D. Spanberger  \r\nAndr Carson  \r\nAlma S. Adams, Ph.D.  \r\nBennie G. Thompson  \r\nEd Case  \r\nDonald M. Payne Jr.  \r\nTed Lieu  \r\nLinda T. Snchez  \r\nGrace F. Napolitano  \r\nRobin L. Kelly\r\n[1]'No end in sight': hunger surges in America amid a spiraling pandemic. Nina Lakhani and Maanvi Singh.The Guardian.November 25, 2020. Visualizing Food Insecurity. Diane Schanzenbach and Natalie Tomeh. Northwestern University Institute for Policy Research. July 14, 2020.\r\n[2]Facts | SNAP Strengths.Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). 2020.\r\n[3]Economic Linkages: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Linkages with the General Economy. USDA Economic Research Service. August 20, 2019.\r\n[4]Thousands in Texas line up in cars to receive food before Thanksgiving. Danielle Garand. CBS News. November 16, 2020.\r\n[5]Food scarcity is on the rise in America as the economy reels. Aimee Pinchee.CBS News.June 19, 2020.\r\n[6]The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Economy: New Estimates of the SNAP Multiplier. USDA Economic Research Service. July, 2019.\r\n[7]A $4.5 billion Trump food program is running out of money early, leaving families hungry and food assistance charities scrambling. Laura Reiley & Gregg Jeffe.The Washington Post. December 8, 2020.\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman 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://demings.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-demings-media-legislation-passes-house", "Rep. Demings Media Legislation Passes House", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Val Demings", "D000627", "demings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ORLANDO, FL  Today, Rep. Demings' resolution calling for increased diversity in American media was passed by the House of Representatives.The resolution is H.Res.549.\nCo-leading the resolution is Rep. Jenniffer Gonzlez-Coln (R-PR) in the U.S. House, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in the U.S. Senate.\nSaid Rep. Demings, From movies and television, to music and theater, to newspapers and the evening news, we are a stronger country when every story has a chance to shine. Our nation is made great by the people who live in it and the incredible diversity of stories that they bring to the American experience.\n50 years after the Kerner Report, America continues to struggle with ongoing disparities in housing, education, justice, and even the ongoing pandemic. Who tells the story matters, because diverse perspectives are necessary to see the whole picture. Only by capturing the full and vibrant spectrum of the American experience can we begin to build a country with true opportunity and justice in all things.\nI am proud that the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed our resolution, and I thank all of the cosponsors and supporters who helped move this bill forward. As we look towards 2021 and a new Congress and new Administration, I am eager to continue our work to support diversity in media and show the world the remarkable power of different perspectives.\nBackground\nThe resolutionreaffirms Congress' commitment to increasing media diversity. It also pledges Congress to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common-ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity. The resolution reaffirms that with increasing media experience and sophistication, it is even more important to have minority participation in local media to strengthen social cohesion among different communities and build understanding on important community issues that impact residents' daily lives.\nThe resolution expresses that an informed and engaged electorate is critical to a vibrant democracy is deeply rooted in our laws of free speech and underpins the virtues on which we established our Constitution, and that having independent, diverse, and local media that provide exposure to a broad range of viewpoints and the ability to contribute to the political debate is central to sustaining that informed engagement.\n50 years after the Kerner Report said that the painful process of readjustment that is required of the American news media must begin now, the industry continues to struggle withefforts to diversify.\nIn July 2019, Rep. Demings hosted the inauguralMedia Diversity Innovation Summiton Capitol Hill.\nIn the 115th Congress, Rep. Demings introduced H.Res. 888 to reaffirm Congress' commitment to media diversity and convened a panel discussion which solicited expert testimony from stakeholders and media professionals.\nLast year, Rep. Demings formed the Media Diversity Congressional Brain Trust to support efforts to access and expand opportunities for professionals of color in the media industry.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402892", "House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Address Libyan Conflict", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed theLibya Stabilization Act, a bipartisan bill introduced byCongressman Ted Deutch(FL-22), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism,Ranking Member Joe Wilson(SC-02),Congressman Ted Lieu(CA-33), andCongressman Tom Malinowski(NJ-07).\r\nSince April 2019, Libya has increasingly endured foreign intervention in an escalating conflict that undermines U.S. interests and regional stability. The war has provided Russia a foothold in North Africa and influence over Libya's energy industry, undermined NATO solidarity and threatened European security, destabilized Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean more broadly, and exacerbated a humanitarian and migrant crisis. The Libya Stabilization Act sanctions those who deploy mercenaries, support militias, violate the UN arms embargo, and commit human rights violations in Libya. It also calls on the United States to take a more active role in diplomacy to resolve the conflict; to support humanitarian assistance, democratic governance, civil society, and future elections; and to improve Libya's public sector financial management, specifically of the Central Bank and National Oil Corporation, which are flashpoints between the warring parties.\r\n\"Congress has not lifted its attention from Libya,\"Chairman Deutchsaid. \"In fact, with this bill's passage, a bipartisan House is notifying all parties to the conflict, including outside actors, of our support for diplomacy and our willingness to use sanctions against obstructive actors that undermine ongoing political talks and refuse to withdraw military arms and forces from Libya. We are committed to work with our partners in Europe, the UN, regional states, and the Libyan people to achieve a comprehensive political solution to finally end the conflict and help rebuild Libya. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and send it to the president's desk.\"\r\nFor nearly a decade now, Libya has been beset by civil war fueled by toxic foreign interference at the expense of the lives and future of the Libyan people. With the passage of the Libya Stabilization Act by the House of Representatives, Congress is sending a clear message in support of a sovereign Libya free of foreign intervention,\" saidRanking Member Wilson. This crucial bill will place a real cost on foreign powers who have meddled in Libya and prolonged the suffering of the Libyan people, especially the Russian Federation. I am grateful that this bill also importantly provides much-needed support for Libyan civil society to strengthen the democratic institutions of the Libyan state. \"It has been important for Congress to step in where the White House hasn't in terms of driving policy decisions around Libya,\"Rep. Lieusaid. \"As a global leader, the United States cannot allow bad actors to take advantage of regional instability and worsen the humanitarian crisis in Libya. Our bill is intended to strengthen our government's role in diplomatic efforts to bring peace to Libya and end this conflict.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402893", "US Representatives Call on Pompeo & Craft to Prioritize the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen and Warn of Consequences of Houthi Designation", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) led a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft calling for the administration to prioritize the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen and to support productive measures to expedite needed assistance to the Yemeni people.\r\n\"Years of civil conflict, together with the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have greatly increased the risk of famine and starvation to Yemeni civilians, especially women and children, a problem exacerbated by funding shortfalls in the international humanitarian response.\"\r\nThe letter warns of the consequences of designating the Yemeni Houthis as it would likely interrupt the already overstrained humanitarian response and disrupt the precarious UN-led political process in Yemen. As the Members acknowledge, \"We have no illusions about the dangerous actions of the Houthis, but a blanket designation will dramatically increase risks associated with transferring humanitarian funds to Yemen.\"\r\nSpecifically, the Members urge the Trump Administration to:\r\n \r\n    Restore the $73 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance suspended in March.\r\n    Call on donors to make up the estimated $1.77 billion deficit of the U.N. Humanitarian Appeal for Yemen fund.\r\n    Push Saudi Arabia and other countries to end the restriction on commercial and humanitarian shipments in and out of Yemen.\r\n    Work with the international community to press the Houthis to end the obstruction of aid and humanitarian assistance delivery.\r\n \r\nThe letter was co-signed by U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Tom Malinowski (NJ-07).\r\nThe letter is supported by the organizations Win Without War and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.\r\nThe text of the letter is below. Click here for a signed PDF version.\r\n\r\nDear Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Craft,\r\n  \r\nWe write to express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen. We worry that the Trump administration's actions, including the potential escalation of sanctions against the Houthis, will have a disastrous impact on the ability of aid organizations to provide relief to millions of Yemenis who depend on this assistance for survival. We urge the Administration to take immediate steps to mitigate these harmful effects and combat rising food insecurity and malnutrition in Yemen.\r\n  \r\nYears of civil conflict, together with the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have greatly increased the risk of famine and starvation to Yemeni civilians, especially women and children, a problem exacerbated by funding shortfalls in the international humanitarian response.\r\n  \r\nBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, international humanitarian assistance allowed certain regions of Yemen to avoid falling into famine. Now, as the pandemic continues to spread, the level of desperation and food insecurity is even more severe. The country now has the highest number of malnutrition cases since the war began in 2015. In 2020 alone, Yemen saw a 10 percent increase in cases of malnutrition, and a 15.5 percent rise in acute cases. More than half a million cases of acute malnutrition among children under five have been reported in southern Yemen, and the UN warns the results of a survey of the north currently underway are expected to be equally concerning. This puts hundreds of thousands of lives in immediate peril.\r\n  \r\nThe Administration's reported new designation is likely to only worsen this devastating humanitarian crisis and poses a serious obstacle for both the already overstrained humanitarian response and precarious political process in Yemen.\r\n  \r\nThe heads of top humanitarian aid organizationsOxfam America, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, CARE USA, and International Rescue Committeewarned that a designation of Ansar Allah could cause even greater suffering, given the number of people under its jurisdiction, its control over state institutions, and the already frightening levels of food insecurity and humanitarian need across Yemen. As you know, individual Houthi leaders were already subjected to U.S. and U.N. sanctions prior to the imposition of this new designation. We have no illusions about the dangerous actions of the Houthis, but a blanket designation will dramatically increase risks associated with transferring humanitarian funds to Yemen.\r\n  \r\nAmidst this unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and ongoing funding shortfalls, the chilling effect of the sanctions designation on international donors' willingness to contribute will likely put malnutrition programs that are desperately needed at risk of being curbed, and do significant harm to innocent civilians in Houthi-controlled areas.\r\n\r\nWith thousands of lives at stake, we urge the Administration to take the following steps:\r\n  \r\n1) Restore the $73 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance suspended in March and consider additional aid in response to the consequences of COVID-19.\r\n  \r\n2) Use U.S. leverage at the U.N. to press key international donorsespecially Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwaitto make up the current funding deficit for malnutrition treatment programs which, according to UNICEF, amounts to roughly $1.77 billion. These countries have contributed significantly less in 2020 to the U.N. Humanitarian Appeal for Yemen than in years pastthe UAE has provided no moneyand must bear a share of the cost of the humanitarian response if Yemenis are to avoid starvation.\r\n  \r\n3) Utilize U.S. influence on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Saudi-led coalition to press for an end to restrictions on commercial and humanitarian shipments in and out of Yemen. These restrictions have devastated the economy, which imported 90 percent of its food prior to the conflict, and exacerbated skyrocketing food prices, which are now on average 140 percent higher than pre-conflict averages.\r\n  \r\n4) Urge the international community to use its leverage to press the Houthis to end the obstruction of aid and prevent obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.\r\n  \r\nWe ask that you as representatives of our nationwhich has historically been the largest single provider of humanitarian assistance worldwideensure the U.S. and the global community come together to end the war, and urgently meet the funding need for emergency food assistance, malnutrition treatment, and restoration and sustenance of Yemen's food systems. The U.S. must be at the forefront of encouraging contributions to the international humanitarian response in Yemen, not disincentivizing aid donors with the threat of additional harmful sanctions.\r\n\r\nThe consequences are catastrophic if we fail to do so.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\nMembers of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402476", "Hastings, Hudson Mark the 25th World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC), Co-Chairs of the International Road Safety Caucus issued the following statement marking the 25th World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020:\r\nOn the 25th World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, we remember all of the people killed and seriously injured on the roads, thank first responders for their bravery, and re-dedicate ourselves to the task of preventing these tragedies. As Co-Chairs of the Global Road Safety Caucus, Congressman Hudson and I call on our colleagues in the United States Congress, Executive Branch agencies, and every community in America to remember, support, and act to prevent these avoidable tragedies and save lives, said Hastings.\r\nAs Co-Chair of the Global Road Safety Caucus in Congress, I join with my colleague Congressman Hastings to recognize the 25th World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. We must continue to promote safety practices and make improvements to our roads and infrastructure to protect people and families, said Hudson.\r\nBACKGROUND:\r\nThe World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, was initiated in 1995 as the European Day of Remembrance and quickly spread around the globe. In 2005 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 60/2, recognizing November 15th as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. \r\nThis year, the stated goals of World Day of Remembrance 2020 include remembering all people killed and seriously injured on the roads; acknowledging the crucial work of the emergency services; advocating for better support to road traffic victims and their families; and promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries.\r\nIn September 2020, the United Nations passed a resolution declaring the years 2021 to 2030 a new Decade of Action for Road Safety. Additionally, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 includes a call to address the personal, medical, and financial burdens associated with road traffic deaths and injuries.\r\nMore than one million people die from road crashes every year, and tens of millions are seriously injured. Road traffic crashes are the number one killer of young people aged 1529 and the eighth leading cause of death among all people worldwide. In Florida's 20th Congressional district and North Carolina's 8th Congressional district, road traffic crashes claimed 1,947 and 669 lives respectively between 2014 and 2018, costing an estimated combined $27 billion in medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle damages, administrative costs, and uninsured costs.\r\n Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Dean and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402889", "House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Protect Seniors from Scams", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Seniors Fraud Prevention Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate.\r\nThe Seniors Fraud Prevention Act was incorporated as Title II of Stop Senior Scams Act (H.R. 2610). One in twenty seniors in the U.S. is a target of fraud schemes, costing them at least $36.5 billion per year. Yet, the National Adult Protective Services Association has found that only 1 in 44 seniors actually report that they are victims of a fraud scheme. The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act would help protect seniors and their families from becoming the victims of fraudulent schemes designed to steal their assets. The legislation would create an office within the Federal Trade Commission charged with tracking scams, educating and alerting seniors to new scams, and establishing a more effective complaint system to ensure reports of fraud are quickly addressed by the appropriate law enforcement agency.\r\nCongressman Ted Deutch: \"Scams targeting seniors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and deceptive. To protect our seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes and could lose a life's worth of savings, we need a stronger response in tracking, targeting, and warning against new scams. I hope the Senate will move quickly on this bill that could help seniors protect their assets.\"\r\nCongressman Vern Buchanan: Scams targeting the elderly are growing at a disturbing rate and need to be addressed by Congress. I'm pleased the House has passed our bill and hope it will be signed into law before the end of the year. Passing this bill would be a big step forward to protecting seniors andcombating fraud.\r\nCongressman Peter Welch: Every day, in Vermont and across this country, vulnerable seniors are being ripped off by scam artists. It's not uncommon for their victims to lose their life's savings. I am pleased that the House has passed this important bill and hope that it will soon be signed into law so that the FTC has the resources it needs to alert seniors of fraudulent schemes and help stop these criminals in their tracks.\r\nSenator Klobuchar: We must ensure all Americans have safety and dignity in their senior years, especially as we confront the coronavirus pandemic. New schemes designed to defraud seniors appear almost daily. These aren't simply a nuisancethese scams can wipe out an entire life savings. Passing this bipartisan legislation is a critical step to combat fraud targeting seniors.\r\nSenator Collins: As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, protecting seniors from fraud and abuse is one of my top priorities. The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act will enhance fraud monitoring, increase consumer education, and strengthen the complaint tracking system. Raising awarenessparticularly among older Americans who are more likely to be targetedis key to protecting seniors' hard-earned savings.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402890", "Rep. Deutch Applauds FAA Plan to Alter Routes at FLL Airport to Reduce Noise in Local Communities", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its final Environmental Assessment report on the South-Central Florida Metroplex, which includes a plan to extend airplane take-off and landing routes at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). This move will alleviate frequent noise issues experienced by residents in the communities surrounding the airport.\r\nU.S. Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22), who represents the Fort Lauderdale community surrounding the airport, issued this statement:\r\n\"This is a really big deal for the families around the airport who have suffered from the loud, frequent noise coming from low-flying airplanes. For years I have met with these residents and business owners, heard their concerns, and pushed the FAA to make these simple, noise-reducing changes.\r\n\"This achievement is thanks to the hard work of many in the community who have spoken out and made us aware of these challenges. We're also grateful for the efforts of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport team and state and local elected officials, particularly the leadership of Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Ben Sorensen. Thank you also to the FAA for listening to our community and responding to their concerns.\r\n\"When air traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels, I'm pleased to know that the pre-pandemic noise levels will not return with it.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402475", "Hastings Statement Commemorating Veterans Day", "2020-11-11", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Fort Lauderdale, FL) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:\r\n This Veterans Day, I would like to thank each and every veteran in South Florida and across our nation for serving with bravery, selflessness, and distinction. Let us honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation and values.\r\n Today and everyday, it is important to not only salute our Veterans, but also fight for them as fiercely as they fight for us. This is why I recently introduced H.R. 8690 the Armed Forces Tax Deferred Relief Act to protect our servicemembers' pay. As a result of President Trump's reckless Social Security Tax deferral, servicemembers would be forced to pay double their Social Security tax withholding in the first four months of 2021.\r\n The State of Florida has the third highest veteran population in the nation. I proudly represent more than 25,000 veterans in Florida's 20th Congressional District. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude. This is why I will always be a vocal advocate for the needs of the veteran community. To the veterans in my district and across our nation, happy Veterans Day and thank you for your service.\r\nHastings introduced H.R. 8690 the Armed Forces Deferred Tax Relief Act on October 27, 2020 to protect servicemembers' paychecks from President Trump's politically motivated Social Security tax deferral, as detailed in the Presidential Memorandum he issued on August 8, 2020. The billdirects the Secretary of Defense to compensate members of the Armed Forces for certain taxes deferred pursuant to Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65. If such deferred taxes are withheld by the Secretary of Defense during the period beginning on January 1, 2021 and end by April 30, 2021, the Secretary shall make a payment to such a member in an amount equal to the deferred tax withheld.  \r\n  \r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Dean and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402888", "Inter-Parliamentary Task Force on Online Antisemitism Holds First Briefing with US, Canadian, and Australian Community Groups", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Tuesday, November 10, the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism held its first virtual briefing with community organizations from the United States, Canada, and Australia. The briefing covered the state of online antisemitism, how community groups are responding, and provided recommendations for what actions legislators should take to address the issue. It will be followed by a subsequent briefing with community organizations from Israel and the UK at the end of November. The event included presentations from the American Jewish Committee (Holly R. Huffnagle, US Director for Combatting Antisemitism) the Simon Wiesenthal Center (Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Director Global Social Action Agenda), the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (Richard Marceau, VP of External Affairs and General Counsel), B'nai Brith Canada (Michael Mostyn, CEO), Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (Jamie Kirzner-Roberts, Policy Director), Executive Council of Australian Jewry (Alex Ryvchin, Co-CEO), Community Security Group (Justin Kagan, CEO), and Online Hate Prevention Institute (Dr. Andre Oboler, CEO).\r\nThe organizations encouraged social media platforms to adopt a standard of what antisemitism is; called for reforming Section 230 in the United States; demanded accountability of the platforms and personal accountability of their local executives; and highlighted the need to address antisemitism in encrypted networks and alt-tech social networking platforms.\r\nLaunched in September 2020, the Task Force is focused on increasing awareness of and developing responses to growing online antisemitism. It is comprised of bipartisan legislators and parliamentarians from Israel, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.\r\nRep. Ted Deutch (US, Democratic): The strength of this historic task force comes from our geographic and political diversity. Together, we will build a global coalition to bring awareness to and combat the spread of antisemitism online.\r\nMK Michal Cotler-Wunsh (Israel, Blue and White): It is very moving to see this initiative come to fruition, of bipartisan elected officials from around the world coming together to combat online antisemitism. It speaks to the tremendous urgency and imperative that we collaborate to address the issue, and ensure that the prospective promise of 'Never Again' is fulfilled.\r\nRep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (US, Democratic): We are living though a time when hate of all kinds is rapidly increasing, especially over the Internet. While online platforms have fostered global connections and reshaped society, they can also be a magnifier of and a catalyst for antisemitism, racism, misogyny, and other forms of hate and discrimination. Amid this global pandemic, when more people are online, the urgency to act is even greater. We must expose online antisemitism and racism that goes unaddressed or inadequately addressed on social media platforms, especially as disinformation continues to rise.\r\nRep. Chris Smith (US, Republican): \"Online anti-Semitism transcends national boundaries and can reach homes exponentially in communities around the world. It is a global threat, requiring consistent and coordinated global attention. This Task Force allows us to share best practices in combatting online anti-Semitism.Together we shall prevail.\"\r\nRep. Diaz-Balart (US, Republican): I was honored to join with so many colleagues and renowned organizations from around the world in uniting against online antisemitism. We are committed to working together to fight this insidious hatred, and to ensure a safer, brighter future for generations to come.\r\nMP Anthony Housefather (Canada, Liberal): Antisemitism transcends both national borders and political movements. The Inter-Parliamentary Task Force met on the eve of Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day. As we remember those who serve and those who bravely fought for us, we remember the deep alliance between the countries represented on the task force. We continue the alliance by joining together to combat a pernicious form of hatred.\"\r\nMP Marty Morantz (Canada, Conservative): Antisemitism is an ancient and ubiquitous hate so we must be relentless in combatting it in all its manifestations,including online. That's what this task force is all about.\r\nMP Randall Garrison (Canada, NDP): There could not be a more important time for the creation of the inter-parliamentary task force to combat online antisemitism. We have seen this age-old scourge rear its ugly head during the pandemic both at home and abroad and this initiative sends a clear message to those peddling hate that they will not do so with impunity.\r\nMP Andrew Percy (UK, Conservative): \"Our taskforce's recent briefing event has highlighted the importance of colleagues working together across the globe to tackle the worrying rise of antisemitism. This is a global problem involving online platforms which have no national or geographic boundaries and that is why it is so important that legislators across the world work together to identify solutions.\r\nFormer MP Michael Levitt: There could not be a more important time for the creation of the inter-parliamentary task force to combat online antisemitism. We have seen this age-old scourge rear its ugly head during the pandemic both at home and abroad and this initiative sends a clear message to those peddling hate that they will not do so with impunity. MP Josh Burns (Australia, Labor): The fight to eradicate online antisemitism and extremism is a mammoth task, so it was a valuable first step for our Inter-Parliamentary Taskforce to hear from global experts in the field, including from Australia's ECAJ, OHPI and CSG. We have much to achieve but a strong group of Parliamentarians across international and party lines who are determined to achieve meaningful results to end online antisemitism.  \r\n\r\n\r\nMembers of the Task Force include: Congressman Ted Deutch (Democrat, United States), Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, United States), Congressman Chris Smith (Republican, United States), Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, United States), Member of Knesset Michal Cotler-Wunsh (Blue and White, Israel), Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather (Liberal, Canada), Member of Parliament Marty Morantz (Conservative, Canada), Member of Parliament Randall Garrison (NDP, Canada), Member of Parliament Josh Burns (Labour, Australia), Member of Parliament Dave Sharma (Liberal, Australia), Member of Parliament Andrew Percy (Conservative, United Kingdom), and Member of Parliament Alex Sobel (Labour and Cooperative, United Kingdom), and former Member of Parliament Michael Levitt (Liberal, Canada).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402474", "Hastings Statement on Election of President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris", "2020-11-07", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Fort Lauderdale, FL) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris:  \r\n\r\nOn the heels of one of the most tumultuous periods in recent history, the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris symbolizes the unity, diversity, and resilience of the American people, despite the hardships our nation has endured over the past four years.  \r\n\r\nI join the millions of Americans in celebrating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their victory and stand ready to work side by side with them on a transformative legislative agenda to get our nation back on track.  \r\n\r\nI am so elated by the glass ceiling that has been shattered by Kamala Harris, who has made history as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian American Vice President-elect. She has undoubtedly paved the way for women of color to make a difference for our nation for generations to come.   \r\n\r\nOver the past four years, Donald Trump has inflicted real harm upon our democracy, our planet, and the health and well-being of the American people. This year has brought with it extreme adversity, including a deadly pandemic, a stalled economy, in addition to renewed national calls for racial justice. It is our duty to come together to deliver pandemic relief, restart our economy, mend our democracy, tackle climate change, and heal our nation.  \r\n\r\nIn the 117th Congress and under the incoming Biden Administration, we have the opportunity to come together to deliver a better future for all Americans. The 2020 election represents a resounding mandate for change, and I stand ready to work with the new Administration, my colleagues in the House, and all who wish to join me from either side of the aisle, to deliver that change.  \r\n\r\n Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman 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://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wilson-roberts-statement-on-reports-of-social-media-disinformation", "Wilson, Roberts Statement on Reports of Social Media Disinformation", "2020-11-06", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Frederica Wilson", "W000808", "wilson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Miami, FLToday,Congresswoman Wilson and Miami-Dade NAACP president Ruban Roberts issued the following statementabout reports of false information circulating on social media warning of planned racially motivated attacks. \nWe are deeply alarmed by reports of disinformation being spread on social media warning of planned racially motivated violence to take place this weekend. This information is reportedly being falsely presented as an official statement by the NAACP.\nWe urge everyone in District 24 and anyone who has received these messages to remain calm and vigilant. In the wake of the still-undecided presidential election, there may be more disinformation on social media and other platforms. Please do not react in a way that may put you in harm's way and always verify questionable information and ensure that it is coming from a reputable source.\nFor information about the reported false messages circulating on social media, please contact Miami-Dade NAACP president Ruban Roberts by email at miamidadecommunications@gmail.com or call 1-877-NAACP-09.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402473", "Hastings Introduces Legislation to Protect Our Servicemembers", "2020-10-27", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings Introduces Legislation to Protect Our Servicemembers \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        Ft. Lauderdale, FL,\r\n        October 27, 2020\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      (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) introduced, theArmed Forces Deferred Tax Relief Act to protect servicemembers' paychecks from President Trump's politically motivated Social Security tax deferral, as detailed in the Presidential Memorandum he issued on August 8, 2020. Members of the Armed Forces were forced to participate in the deferral, resulting in a large tax bill coming due between January and April of 2021. This bill will require the Secretary of Defense to reimburse servicemembers for any addition taxes they will face in 2021. As a result of this rogue Presidential action, servicemembers' Social Security Income Tax Withholding will double during the first four months of 2021, rising from 6.2% to 12.4%. (Please find a copy of the legislation attached):  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Active Duty servicemembers' have selflessly put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedoms, said Hastings. This legislation will not only show our gratitude to them, but it will also correct a reckless endeavor by President Trump to use these brave men and women as political pawns in his reelection bid. BILL SUMMARY:  \r\n\r\nThe Armed Forces Deferred Tax Relief Act is to direct the Secretary of Defense to compensate members of the Armed Forces for certain taxes deferred pursuant to Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65. If such deferred taxes are withheld by the Secretary of Defense during the period beginning on January 1, 2021 and end by April 30, 2021, the Secretary shall make a payment to such a member in an amount equal to the deferred tax withheld.  \r\n\r\n Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman 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  \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://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402471", "Hastings Statement Judge Amy Coney Barretts Confirmation to the Supreme Court", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett: At a time when the coronavirus continues to surge across our country, having infected over 8,500,000 Americans, caused the deaths of over 228,000 Americans, and decimated our economy, Senator McConnell has prioritized partisan politics in the United States Senate by rushing the confirmation of a person who will destroy health care for millions of Americans when they need it most. The Republican-led Senate has treated confirmation processes, including today's vote, as sport rather than with the solemnity, dignity, and thoughtfulness such monumental decisions rightly deserve. Today's confirmation will go down in history as an egregious abuse of power and all those associated with perpetuating this fraud will be judged accordingly. I look forward to the day when the Senate is led by people who value the rule of law and who are worthy of the tremendous responsibility placed upon their respective shoulders. Until then, I pray for our nation and my fellow citizens. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.                                                                         ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402882", "Rep. Deutch Statement on Reports that Trump Admin. Plans to Label NGOs as Antisemitic", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22), founding co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism and a founding member of the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism, issued this statement on reports that the Trump Administration intends to label Amnesty International, OxFam, and Human Rights Watch as antisemitic organizations:\r\n\"Reports that the State Department may cut off cooperation with Amnesty International, OxFam and Human Rights Watch are a continuation of this Administration's sorry withdrawal from international leadership on human rights and humanitarian assistance throughout the world.\r\n\"Upholding human rights and addressing humanitarian needs have traditionally helped to guide our foreign policy, and these groups, together with many other NGOs, have a long history of partnering with the United States to help advance thesevalues.\r\n\"The United States should seek to promote the work of NGOs and civil society actors who help us address abuses by authoritarian, nondemocratic governments around the world. Misapplying the IHRA definition of antisemitism to politicize antisemitism and retreat from our historic defense of human rights throughout the world would weaken our ability to promote democracy and free speech, strengthen the rights of women, and prevent crimes against humanity. It would also damage our ability to fight antisemitism.\r\n\r\n\"Legitimate differences with any organization should never be swept aside, but we should use the IHRA definition the way it is intended - to help identify antisemitism so we can act to stop it, not to take action which would weaken vital efforts to stand up to autocrats who do not share our commitment to human rights.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402883", "Bipartisan Reps. Call for Expedited Uyghur Visa & Refugee Processing, Greater Action to Protect Population from Chinese Persecution", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism Chairman Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Ranking Member Joe Wilson (R-SC) led a bipartisan letter of 31 Members of Congress to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf urging greater action to protect Uyghurs at heightened risk from persecution by the government of China.\r\nSpecifically, the Members call on the secretaries to expedite visa applications and consideration of P-1 refugee referrals, to raise overall refugee limits, and to protect Uyghurs already in the United States. At the hand of the Chinese government, the Uyghur population is \"at risk of coercive population control, forced labor, arbitrary detention in internment camps, torture, physical and sexual abuse, mass surveillance, family separation, and repression of cultural and religious expression around the world.\"\r\nStressing the urgency of the issue, the letter advises the secretaries to \"consider the lessons of history when U.S. policymakers failed to do everything in their power to assist refugees and those facing persecution, state oppression, and concentration camps.\"\r\nThese measures \"would represent a continuation of the best traditions of U.S. foreign policy and humanitarianism and uphold America's image as a beacon of refuge, hope, and liberty to millions worldwide.\"\r\nThe text of the letter is below. Click here for a PDF copy of the letter.\r\nThe letter was co-signed by U.S. Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Donna Shalala (D-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), David Trone (D-MD), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ami Bera (D-CA), Colin Allred (D-TX), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Karen Bass (D-CA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), David Cicilline (D-RI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY).\r\n\r\nDear Secretary Pompeo and Acting Secretary Wolf:\r\nWe write to urge greater U.S. government action to assist Uyghurs at heightened risk from persecution by the government of China. We call on you to begin expedited consideration of visa applications to enter the United States, Priority One (P-1) refugee referrals for Uyghurs abroad along with raising overall refugee limitations, and actions to protect Uyghurs already in the United States. We believe these actions are urgently necessary because of both the humanitarian challenges facing Uyghurs and the foreign policy implications of assisting them in the face of Beijing's relentless crackdown.\r\nAs the United States commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the establishment of the United Nations, we must consider the lessons of history when U.S. policymakers failed to do everything in their power to assist refugees and those facing persecution, state oppression, and concentration camps. Recent reports indicate that the Chinese government has constructed or expanded at least 60 detention facilities in Xinjiang in the past year. More than one million Uyghurs are believed to be held in such facilities, characterized by many as concentration camps. The Chinese government is accused of torturing Uyghurs, implementing forced sterilization and forced abortions by Uyghur women, and destroying the unique culture of the Uyghurs, including by demolishing mosques and compelling denunciations of Islam. Moreover, the Chinese government has confiscated the passports of most Uyghurs, making it nearly impossible for them to leave China. Beijing also uses extensive surveillance technology to track Uyghurs in China and reportedly to harass and intimidate Uyghurs living outside of China.\r\nThere is a backlog of approximately 3.6 million visa applicants waiting to enter the United States. Wait times for certain visas are between five and 18 years. In response, and in light of the ongoing state persecution of the Uyghurs, we urge you to consider expedited consideration of applications for both family, educational, and employment-based visas for those deemed at risk of coercive population control, forced labor, arbitrary detention in internment camps, torture, physical and sexual abuse, mass surveillance, family separation, and repression of cultural and religious expression around the world.\r\nWe also ask you to consider aggressive use of P-1 status to prioritize refugee referrals for Uyghurs, while encouraging efforts to raise the presidential determination for refugee admittance. Under P-1, American diplomats can identify those in need and directly recommend them to U.S. refugee authorities without a referral from the United Nations. Prioritizing and accelerating embassy refugee referrals would benefit numerous Uyghurs located in southeast Asia, central Asia, and Turkey who are at heightened risk of Chinese persecution. This effort should be done in conjunction with lifting the annual cap on total refugees admitted into the United States, so other at-risk groups are not inadvertently delayed or de-prioritized.\r\nFinally, we ask you to assist Uyghurs already in the United States. We urge you to protect Uyghurs through both Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) and humanitarian parole to ensure they remain in the United States and safe from Chinese persecution.\r\nIn your conversations with foreign officials, we call on you to encourage other governments to prioritize similar relief and assistance to Uyghur populations. These forms of assistance to Uyghurs would represent a continuation of the best traditions of U.S. foreign policy and humanitarianism and uphold America's image as a beacon of refuge, hope, and liberty to millions worldwide. We stand ready to work with you to support efforts to safeguard the basic human rights of Uyghurs both in China and around the world.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://demings.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-demings-soto-applaud-nearly-4-million-federal-funding-hire-law", "Demings, Murphy, Soto Applaud Nearly $4 Million in Federal Funding to Hire Law Enforcement Officers in Central Florida", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Val Demings", "D000627", "demings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONU.S. Reps. Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy, and Darren Soto todayapplauded news that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded nearly $4 million to law enforcement agencies in Central Florida to help keep families safe. The funding is provided through the DOJ's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program, which helps state and local law enforcement agencies reduce crime by supporting community policing strategies and allowing them to hire more uniformed officers. The program will award $2.5 million to the Orange County Sheriff's Office to hire 20 officers and $1.25 million for the City of Orlando to hire 10 officers.\nAs public servants, we have an obligation to provide safe neighborhoods for all persons. As a former OPD chief, I saw a simple equation: to have safe communities, we need to devote resources to protect them, said Demings. Law enforcement agencies must have staffing and resources to put law enforcement officers where they're needed most. This federal grant, which will fund 30 new police officers in our community, is an important step to ensure that every neighborhood in Central Florida is safer.\nWe owe our law enforcement officers a debt of gratitude for putting their lives on the line to protect us. That's why I've fought to ensure federal programs that support good and hardworking law enforcement officers receive the funding they need to keep Central Florida safe,said Murphy.I'm particularly proud to have backed this successful grant application so that Central Florida can hire and train 30 new police officers who will be focused on building stronger ties to groups within our community and prioritize de-escalation techniques. I'll continue to support the brave men and women whose job it is to protect and serve all Central Floridians.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402884", "Deutch, Meng, and Boyle Lead Letter Raising Concerns with US Position in Supreme Court Case Regarding Holocaust-Era Artwork Restitution", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22), Grace Meng (NY-06), and Brendan Boyle (PA-02) led a letter to U.S. Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall urging him to amend the United States' position in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Federal Republic of Germany v. Alan Philipp, et al. \r\n\r\nThe correspondence argues that the Acting Solicitor General's brief fails to incorporate bipartisan Congressional action and understanding of the Holocaust, including when the genocide began, and what counts as permissible under expropriation.\r\n\r\nThe letter was co-signed by U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Max Rose (NY-11).\r\n\r\nCongress has acted on multiple occasions to provide clarity on Holocaust restitution issues, said Congressman Deutch. History cannot be ignored or rewritten, and I hope the Acting Solicitor General will take into consideration longstanding Congressional action and intent. We will continue to support efforts to ease the burden for the recovery of Holocaust-era property.\r\n\r\nNazi Germany committed horrendous crimes against its own Jewish citizens and European Jews through outright murder and organized thefts. While we often, and rightfully, focus on the murder of millions of Jews, Germany's economic coercion robbed Jews of the ability to keep property that was rightfully theirs, said Congresswoman Meng. This wasn't some accident; it was intentional when the Nazi's curtailed the rights of Jewish citizens in 1933 and it laid the groundwork for their murderous campaign to kill and steal from the Jews. Congress has passed many lawson a bipartisan basismaking it clear what options Jews have to right those wrongs; the Acting Solicitor General's brief before this case stands with the German government which is in contradiction to past Congressional action and intent. We urge him to amend the brief. \r\n\r\nHistorically, Congress has worked to bring justice to Holocaust survivors and their families, said Congressman Boyle. While progress has been made in reuniting many of these works of art with their rightful owners, there are currently thousands of missing pieces of art. We must continue to raise awareness about artwork that was stolen by the Nazi regime, and redouble our efforts to return these pieces to their rightful owners.\"\r\n\r\nThe Federal Republic of Germany v Alan Philipp, et al seeks to determine whether art that was owned by Jewish art dealers but was possibly taken coercively by Nazi Germany is subject to the expropriation exception of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. This exception allows those seeking redress in court against a foreign government the opportunity reclaim stolen property. \r\n\r\nThe Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on December 7, 2020.\r\n\r\nA copy of the correspondence can be viewed here, and below.\r\n\r\n-----------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nMr. Jeffrey B. Wall\r\nActing Solicitor General of the United States\r\nU.S. Department of Justice\r\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\r\nWashington, DC 20530\r\n\r\nDear Acting Solicitor General Wall,\r\n\r\nWe write to express concern about the recently filed brief of the United States regarding The Federal Republic of Germany v. Alan Philipp, et al. While we are not taking a position on this case, we write to emphasize the long held, bipartisan Congressional actions related to Holocaust-era artwork restitution, the timeline of the Holocaust, and the scope and nature of genocide. \r\n\r\nWe were concerned to read that the United States' brief for this case supports a German position that suggests that the sale of the cultural artwork collection in question was not forced based on the year of the sale. Germany has also argued that this forced sale of art to the Nazis does not count as expropriation, or as an instance in which a right of property is made illegitimate when the country in question has violated international human rights law, as was true of Germany during the Holocaust. Germany ignores the fact that, by 1933, Jews had been eliminated from German economic life and that by then Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party had complete control of Germany.This argument is at odds with facts and with decades of Congressional action.Support for this argument is antithetical to American policy and values.\r\n\r\nAccording to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, laws passed by the Nazi Party in 1933 curtailed the rights of Jewish citizens and excluded them from German life; these laws would become the foundation for the Nuremberg Race Laws of 1935. To reject the actions of the Nazi Party before 1935 is to ignore the economic and societal pressures that threatened Jewish families.\r\n\r\nIn 2017, Congress passed the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act. We applaud the Secretary of State's July 2020 report mandated by this law, where he stated: The Holocaust was also one of the largest organized thefts in human history. The Nazi regime's confiscation, seizure, and wrongful transfer of the Jewish people's property were designed not only to enrich the Nazi regime at the expense of European Jewry but also to permanently eliminate all aspects of Jewish cultural life. These conclusions have a direct bearing on the case at hand.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIn the 2017 Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act, Congress clarified the scope and nature of genocide, when it included subject[ing] the group to conditions of life that are intended to cause the physical destruction of the group in whole or in part. The United States' brief instead echoes the German position noting that genocide is understood as involving infliction of physical killing and harm, but not economic crimes. \r\n\r\nWe request that your office consider amending your brief and look forward to your response.\r\n\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402470", "Hastings and Buchanan Lead Effort to Establish the National Center for Alternatives to Animals  in Research and Testing Under NIH", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.)  Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Humane Research and Testing Act of 2020, to establish the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing (Center) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Center will be dedicated to increasing transparency and understanding regarding the use of animals in medical research and testing to ultimately reduce the number of animals utilized in such practices. The bill would allow the NIH to develop, fund, and execute a plan to record an accurate account of animals used in testing and research and to incentivize the use of non-animal methods by educating and training scientists to utilize alternative human relevant methods. Joining Hastings and Buchanan as original co-sponsors include: Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ). (Please find a copy of the legislation attached): As science and medicine advance, we have a better understanding of the relevancy and benefits of animal-based medical research and testing on human health outcomes. We are finding methods that can better predict human results without the needless suffering of animals, said Hastings. This legislation will not just reduce animal testing and research but, will ultimately improve medical treatments for humans as they are developed from beginning to end primarily with test subjects that replicate human biology and physiology. I'm excited to team up once again with my Florida delegation co-chair Rep. Alcee Hastings to introduce this important legislation, Buchanan said. We need to create better, quicker and less expensive treatments for people that don't rely on inhumane testing procedures. Establishing a National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing will help advance these goals while also avoiding subjecting animals to cruel and unnecessary experiments. Science has advanced considerably in the 21st century so that research can be performed using non-animal methods that are more relevant to human medicine. CAARE thanks Representatives Hastings and Buchanan for introducing this landmark legislation that has great promise to change the current paradigm of routine use of laboratory animals in the face of available alternatives, said Barbara Stagno, President and Executive Director, CAARE. The Humane Research and Testing Act of 2020 will give real impetus to this essential goal of reducing animals by establishing a dedicated center to fund and train scientists in cutting-edge methods that are superior to using animals. Vanda Pharmaceuticals is pleased to sponsor this proposed legislation that will reduce the unnecessary use of animals by incentivizing research for human-relevant science, states Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, M.D., President & CEO, Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. Dependence on regulatory animal testing must be modernized to reflect the current state of science and technology. We are reaching a tipping point in the field of in vitro human emulation technologies where they are able to recapitulate human physiology and disease states, as well as response to drugs, radiation, and toxins. The ability of these approaches to predict human clinical results compared with animal experiments needs to be evaluated in an objective manner to determine best practices, states Dr. Donald Ingber, MD, PhD, Chaired Professor at Harvard's Medical and Engineering Schools and Founding Director of its Wyss Institute. A new NIH Center focused on meeting this goal would benefit this field, save animal lives, and expedite the development of more effective and safer therapies. Much animal research takes place because scientists don't have the knowledge or support to pursue other methods. The new NIH center proposed by Representatives Hastings and Buchanan would overhaul the current paradigm of widespread, repetitive, and unnecessary animal experiments in a way that nothing has before, said Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace. BILL SUMMARY: Under the oversight established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-43), the NIH is directed to outline a plan for reducing the use of animals in research. The law calls for NIH to conduct or support research into methods of biomedical research and experimentation that do not require the use of animals, as well as for reducing the number of animals used in research. Unfortunately, little progress has been made since the passage of this law, and animals continue to be used extensively despite new and improved methods for conducting research and testing, along with increasing evidence that animal results often fail to produce effective data for human medicine. Further compounding the problem of reducing the number of animals used in research, we do not know the precise number of animals used by researchers and scientists, leaving us without a starting point with which our progress can be measured. This bipartisan bill will establish the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing (Center) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focused on developing, promoting and funding human-relevant, non-animal methods of research and testing. It will provide funding to incentivize non-animal methods of research, educate and train scientists to utilize these methods, and establish research collaborations to mitigate a lack of resources. Additionally, this bill mandates federally funded researchers to report to the Center how many animals they use to ensure this vital data is collected and compiled, thereby enabling the NIH to outline a plan for reducing those numbers annually. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.                                                                           ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402885", "Reps. Deutch, Mucarsel-Powell, & Castor Release Climate Report Outlining Health Benefits For Florida If US Meets Goals Of The Paris Agreement", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-22), founding co-chair of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26),Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, released a climate report prepared by the House Oversight Committee outlining the health benefits for the state of Florida if the United States meets the goals of the Paris Agreement.\r\n\r\nThe report outlines that in Florida alone, meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement could prevent 101,000 deaths and 40,000 emergency room visits and hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease over the next 50 years. The state would avoid more than 23 million lost workdays. Collectively, avoiding these health issues would save Florida over $750 billion.\r\n\r\nLives could literally be saved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We could reduce hospital visits, childhood illnesses, and lost workdays, not to mention the economic benefits across the board. Particularly in the midst of this pandemic, which has more severely impacted people with respiratory health issues, we should be doing all we can to make us healthier and better prepared, said Rep. Deutch.\r\n\r\nAs the world gets hotter, the risk of heat-related or pollutant-related illnesses and deaths increases substantiallyand communities of color are at even higher risk. At all income levels, Hispanic and African American families are significantly more likely than white families to have high rates of exposure to air pollution, water pollution, and toxic chemicals, and to suffer the resulting health effects, said Rep. Mucarsel-Powell. The Republican Senate must pass the Climate Action Now Act to ensure the U.S. remains a part of the Paris Climate Agreement and takes concrete steps to combat these disastrous health consequences of climate change.\r\n\r\nClimate action can prevent over 100,000 deaths in Florida in the coming decades, said Chair Castor. It can keep people out of the E.R. and clean up the air for workers and families. And it can make communities across Florida more resilient to extreme heat and flooding, as we create jobs in clean energy.\r\n\r\nLast week, Rep. Mucarsel-Powell led 36 of her colleagues in urging the Environmental Protection Agency to enact stronger standards for ozone, also known as smog, which causes adverse public health effects. For more information, see HERE.\r\n\r\nThe full report can be found HERE. A one-page summary can be found HERE. A recording of the press conference releasing the report can be downloaded HERE.\r\n\r\nSpeakers included:\r\n \r\n    U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26);\r\n    U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14);\r\n    U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-22);\r\n    Dr. Aileen Marty, Infectious Disease Specialist at Florida International University;\r\n    Dr. Paul Robinson, Retired Physician from Tarpon Springs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402467", "Hastings Introduces the Congress Commission Act", "2020-10-14", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement on introducing the Congress Commission Act, a bill which would establish the bipartisan Congressional Commission to Strengthen Representative Democracy. The Commission would be mandated to analyze the current size of the House of Representatives, examine alternatives to the current method by which Members are elected, and study the impacts of gerrymandering on representation in the People's House. Joining Hastings in introducing the bill include: Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Dean Philips (D-MN), and Andr Carson(D-IN). (Please find attached a copy of the bill):  \r\n  \r\nAs a Representative to almost 810,000 constituents, I value the importance of fostering a more representative body. It has been almost 110 years since the House of Representatives has increased its ranks even though the United States' population has more than tripled in size, said Hastings. We must examine how this institution is constructed today, so that we can make the necessary changes for a more equitable tomorrow. It is not only within the power of Congress to improve itself, but its our responsibility to do so. Such an effort will result in a Congress that better reflects the constituencies, states, and nation we serve.  \r\n  \r\nBILL SUMMARY The Congress Commission Act will create the Congressional Commission to Strengthen Representative Democracy, which will analyze the current size of the membership of the House of Representatives, considering the requirements for the institution to carry out its responsibilities in an effective manner as our republic faces growing domestic and international challenges. The Commission will also examine the methods of voting for House Members and the use of gerrymandering in the creation of single-member districts and their impacts on Congressional representation. Furthermore, in determining if reform would make for a more representative body and include more citizens in the electoral process, the Commission will explore alternatives to the current method of electing representatives. Finally, a report will be submitted to Congress and the President by the culmination of the 117th Congress, along with recommended legislative action to target any areas of concern discovered through the Commission's work.  \r\n  \r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.  \r\n   \r\n                                                                         ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402468", "Hastings Denounces the Reinstatement of Spanish River High School Principal William Latson", "2020-10-14", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings Denounces the Reinstatement of Spanish River High School Principal William Latson \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        Ft. Lauderdale, FL,\r\n        October 14, 2020\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      (Ft. Lauderdale, FL.) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement after the Palm Beach County School Board rehired former Principal of Spanish River High School William Latson, following his denial that the Holocaust was a factual event: The Palm Beach County School Board demonstrated a stunning lack of judgement and ignorance in its decision to reinstate Principal William Latson to the School District of Palm Beach County. For an educator to equivocate on the Holocaust is without question misconduct, deeply offensive, and must never be tolerated. At a time when anti-Semitism in our country exists at record levels and basic knowledge of the Holocaust among young Americans has been found to be profoundly lacking, it is incumbent upon our educators to push back against intolerance  not embrace the language of Holocaust deniers. This decision reflects poorly on our community and is an insult to the thousands of Holocaust survivors who have made South Florida their home, the descendants of victims, and the millions of Jews who were murdered during the genocide. Hastings said. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman 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      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402464", "Hastings, Wasserman Schultz, and Buchanan Introduce Legislation  to Expand Coverage of Breast Reconstruction", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings, Wasserman Schultz, and Buchanan Introduce Legislation  to Expand Coverage of Breast Reconstruction \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        Ft. Lauderdale, FL,\r\n        October 13, 2020\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      Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), along with Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), introduced bipartisan legislation, the Comprehensive Breast Reconstructive Act. Approximately 275,000 Americans are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. With survival rates and surgical options improving, the need for modernized and comprehensive breast reconstructive procedures have increased. The Comprehensive Breast Reconstructive Act requires the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to work with states, as well as update its own National Coverage Determination (NCD) to more closely align Medicare and Medicaid coverage guidelines with the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) to ensure full coverage of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction procedures. Additionally, it would amend the WHCRA to require coverage of nipple-areolar complex (NAC) tattooing across Medicare, Medicaid, and private/group healthcare providers. NAC is a crucial option for many as the final stage of the post-mastectomy breast reconstruction procedure to provide a more natural and symmetrical appearance, and should be covered for breast cancer patients who choose to undergo it. Joining Hastings, Wasserman Schultz, and Buchanan as original co-sponsors include: Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Susan Davis (D-CA). (Please find a copy of the bill attached):\r\nBreast cancer diagnosis has been on the rise each year,\" said Hastings. \"With increased cases and the number of those who seek reconstruction surgery. This legislation will be vital in their recovery and relief from a life altering illness. I am proud to have my colleagues join me in supporting a critically important bill to help breast cancer survivors.  \r\n\r\n\r\nAs a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand the importance of ensuring Americans have access to the full range of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction procedures. Restoring a breast cancer patient physically and mentally is critical to the healing process. I'm proud to join with my colleagues Congressmen Alcee Hastings and Vern Buchanan to introduce legislation to ensure nipple-areolar tattooing, a medically necessary surgery will become accessible to the thousands of Americans fighting breast cancer, said Wasserman Schultz.\r\n Breast cancer is a very serious issue with nearly one in eight women developing breast cancer during their lifetime, Buchanan said. I am glad to join with my Florida colleagues Reps. Alcee Hastings and Debbie Wasserman Schultz to introduce legislation to ease the recovery of women going through comprehensive reconstructive surgery.\r\n\r\n BILL SUMMARY\r\n\r\n The Comprehensive Breast Reconstructive Act amends the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for health coverage of nipple-areolar complex tattooing in connection with reconstructive surgery following mastectomy and to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend coverage of certain breast reconstructive services following mastectomy under the Medicare and Medicaid programs and adds licensed tattoo artists to the list of Medicare providers.\r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Dean and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\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://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402880", "Rep. Deutch Statement on Facebook's Decision to Prohibit Holocaust Denial", "2020-10-12", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Deutch Statement on Facebook's Decision to Prohibit Holocaust Denial \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        Boca Raton, Fla.,\r\n        October 12, 2020\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. Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22), founding co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism and a founding member of the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism, issued this statement after Facebook announced updates to its hate speech policy to \"prohibit any content that denies or distorts the Holocaust\":\"I walked through the Auschwitz Nazi death camp where more than 1 million Jews were tortured, starved, gassed, and slaughtered. I've sat with Survivors who endured the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust. Telling their stories and learning about the Holocaust is what we must do to ensure it never happens again. \"Denying the Holocaust not only disrespects the memory of the 6 million Jews murdered, but corrupts our efforts to prevent atrocities and combat antisemitism in the future. This is a positive and necessary step by Facebook to prevent their platform from serving as a forum for Holocaust deniers and other antisemites.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402460", "Hastings Calls on FL Governor to Extend Waivers for Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF Benefits", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "[1] Florida food stamp recipients may see limits to aid return this week. The Tampa Bay Times. Alison Ross. August 31, 2020. Economic Self-Sufficiency ACCESS. Department of Children & Families (DCF) COVID-19 Information. Accessed: September 9, 2020. reported the children do not have enough to eat due to economic difficulties between June 25th and July 7th. The same study cited a 36 percent increase in SNAP beneficiaries in Florida between February and May.[2] Families in Florida that have benefitted from the waiver of requirements and recertifications during the pandemic are the same families that are more likely to lose these benefits due to the reinstatement of restrictions that affect eligibility for these programs. Waiving requirements for basic safety nets like Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF can support those struggling to acquire necessities like nutritious meals, healthcare, and financial stability in a time of great uncertainty.  \r\n\r\nAs you know, our state's unemployment as reported by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) for August was 8.4 percent; double the rate of August 2019.[3] Unemployed Floridians from all sectors of our economy face immense uncertainty in the job market, in their ability to access nutritious food, and in their ability to access afford housing. The tourism industry, one of Florida's top economic contributors, illustrates these concerns. VISIT FLORIDA Research estimates a loss of visitors for the first and second quarters of 2020 of 35.2 percent, only receiving 44.8 million visitors, compared to almost 70 million visitors in 2019.[4] In addition to the concerning rates of unemployment now, as well as the uncertainty the future job market holds, far too many Floridians cannot confidently and safely go into work or send their kids to school due to the presence of COVID-19 in their communities. We must continue to thoroughly monitor the spread of COVID-19 and use guidance to develop further plans to protect communities from another spike like the one Floridians experienced this summerthis is especially important as we enter flu season.\r\nIt is unclear how quickly our economy will rebound and make up for the enormous losses experienced over the last few months. What is clear is that requiring a person to be employed before being able to access life sustaining benefits will exclude the most vulnerable who are unable to reenter the workforce due to barriers like the inability to secure safe and affordable childcare, or the need to care for elderly or ill family members. For many Floridians, meeting work requirements for these benefits amid a pandemic and economic downturn of enormous proportions is an impossibility. Further, waiving the recertification requirements until the end of the pandemic for beneficiaries will be crucial for their overall stability so they can focus their energy and time on keeping their families healthy and their heads above the water.\r\nThere is a clear need to extend waivers for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid until such time as Florida's unemployment rate reaches the statewide 2019 average of 3.1 percent;[5] the statewide rate of COVID-19 positivity cases reaches 5 percent or below for 14 days, per World Health Organization (WHO) guidance;[6] and the statewide State of Emergency Declaration originally imposed by Executive Order (E.O.) No. 2020-52-COVID is lifted for at least 60 days.[7] As Governor of Florida, it is your responsibility to ensure that all Floridians have the ability to access any and all safety net programs. We stand ready to assist you in this endeavor.\r\nThank you for your consideration of these requests, we hope to continue to work with your office to resolve these complex problems that lie ahead.\r\nSincerely,\r\nAlcee L. Hastings\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nFrederica S. Wilson\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nTed Deutch\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nAl Lawson\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nKathy Castor\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nVal B. Demings\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDarren Soto\r\nMember of Congress  \r\n\r\nCharlie Crist\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDebbie Wasserman Schultz\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nStephanie Murphy\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDonna Shalala\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nLois Frankel\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDebbie Mucarsel-Powell\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nCC: Secretary Chad Poppell\r\n Florida Department of Children & Families\r\n1317 Winewood Blvd.\r\nBuilding 1, Room 202\r\nTallahassee, Florida  \r\n\r\nState Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, M.D.\r\nFlorida Department of Health \r\n4052 Bald Cypress Way\r\nTallahassee, FL 32399\r\n[1] Florida food stamp recipients may see limits to aid return this week. The Tampa Bay Times. Alison Ross. August 31, 2020. Economic Self-Sufficiency ACCESS. Department of Children & Families (DCF) COVID-19 Information. Accessed: September 9, 2020.\r\n[2] More Relief Needed to Alleviate Hardship | Households Struggle to Afford Food, Pay Rent, Emerging Data Show. Sharon Parrott, Arloc Sherman, Joseph Llobrera, Alicia Mazzara, Jennifer Beltrn, and Michael Leachman. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). July 21, 2020.\r\n[3] Unemployment Rate Seasonally Adjusted, January 1976-August 2020. Prepared by: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). Update Released: September 18, 2020.\r\n[4] Florida Visitor Estimates: 2019 | 2020. Resources | Research. VISIT FLORIDA. Accessed September 1, 2020.\r\n[5] Regional and State Unemployment, 2019 Annual Average Summary. Economic News Release. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Published: March 4, 2020. Accessed: September 1, 2020.\r\n[6] Which U.S. States Meet WHO Recommended Testing Criteria? Coronavirus Resource Center. Johns Hopkins. Accessed: September 21, 2020.\r\n[7] #2020-52 Executive Order (E.O.) re: Emergency Management  COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Originally issued March 9, 2020. Extended by E.O. #2020-114 on May 8, 2020 for 60 days and E.O. #2020-166 on July 7, 2020 for 60 days.\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman 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"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402878", "Deutch Statement on FL Extending Voter Registration Deadline Following Website Crash", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Deutch Statement on FL Extending Voter Registration Deadline Following Website Crash \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        Boca Raton, Fla.,\r\n        October 6, 2020\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      After Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee announced an extension of the voter registration deadline due to the website crashing yesterday, U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22) issued this statement:\"The most important thing is that every eligible voter in Florida deserves the full window of time to register. We cannot let a system failure prevent Floridians from exercising their right to vote, and this surge in applications highlights the strong desire among Floridians to make their voices heard. \"Next step is to investigate what happened and make sure it doesn't happen again. Florida voters need full faith in our state's ability to execute this election smoothly and efficiently.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/florida-congress-members-call-on-desantis-to-further-extend-voter", "Florida Congress Members Call on DeSantis to Further Extend Voter Registration Deadline", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Frederica Wilson", "W000808", "wilson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Members of Florida's Congressional delegation called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to further extend a voter registration deadline to midnight Wednesday after heavy traffic crashed the state's online enrollment system Monday, potentially preventing thousands of would-be voters from signing up to cast ballots in next month's presidential election.\nAfter rampant reports of a breakdown on the state's registration system spread throughout the day Monday, DeSantis responded to those criticisms by allowing several more hours of registration to occur on Tuesday. However, it's likely many voters were unaware of the last-minute, online extension, or could make quick accommodations to register in person on such short notice.\nTherefore, an additional day of registration is needed, the federal lawmakers from Florida wrote to DeSantis. Every Florida Democrat in Congress signed the letter requesting the extension. That list included Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Val Demings (FL-10), Al Lawson (FL-05), Reps.: Alcee Hastings, (FL-20), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Darren Soto (FL-09), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Donna Shalala (FL-27).\nRead the entire letter below:\nOctober 6, 2020\nThe Honorable Laurel Lee, Secretary of State\n\tFlorida Department of State\n\tR.A. Gray Building\n\t500 South Bronough Street\n\tTallahassee, FL 32399\nThe Honorable Ron DeSantis\n\tGovernor of Florida\n\tState of Florida\n\tThe Capitol\n\t400 S. Monroe St.\n\tTallahassee, FL 32399-0001\nDear Governor DeSantis and Secretary Lee,\nWe write to respectfully request that you use your emergency authority to extend Florida's voter registration deadline until 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2020, in order to accommodate individuals unable to register on Monday due to technical problems with the online registration system. The brief deadline extension that you announced earlier today, on October 6, 2020, is welcome but inadequate: it does not provide enough time to widely publicize the newly available on-line voting sign-up period, nor does it allow eligible voters to plan accordingly if in-person registration is their only option. \nAs you are aware, beginning Monday afternoon, many Floridians who attempted to register to vote online were unable to do so because the website crashed under the weight of heavy traffic. This technological roadblock potentially disenfranchised voters, and must be remedied by a meaningful deadline extension. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage our state, more than ever, Floridians have come to rely on the online voter registration system as a safe and convenient way to ensure their voices are heard at the ballot box. Those that logged on to the website on Monday, within the legal deadline for voter registration, should not be silenced because of this breakdown. Nor should those who seek to vote in November be penalized for failing to become aware of an altruistic, though hastily-crafted remedy consisting of just several added hours of registration availability. \nWithout a robust, well-publicized extension remedy, this situation has the superficial appearance of being another example of the voter suppression tactics that Florida has sadly come to be synonomous with in recent years. An independent review of this failure could eliminate that perception. This Florida online voter registration system has experienced technical problems in previous election cycles and operational challenges should have been expected. Additionally, if this technical collapse was caused by an outside entity, voters should know that too. Therefore, we also request that an outside third-party conduct an investigation into how these recurring problems occurred, and recommend ways to avoid it happening in the future.\nNo eligible voter should be sidelined from participating in this critical election. That is why it is imperative that your office extend the voter registration deadline until 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2020, and allow all Florida voters the opportunity to have their voices heard.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402458", "Hastings Leads Florida Democrats Calling on USDA to Stabilize and Fund School Meal Programs Through Fiscal Year 2021", "2020-10-05", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.)  Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) recently led a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Pam Miller, calling on them to use the authorities provided to them in H.R.8337, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, to extend flexibilities for essential school meal programs that nourish children and to stabilize and bolster the state and local efforts to administer these programs with the funding authorized in the bill through Fiscal Year 2021. The authorities granted to the USDA would impact Florida directly, as Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) estimates that, due to COVID-19, Florida school lunch providers face $262 million in sale and reimbursement losses. Joining Hastings on the letter include: Representatives Darren Soto (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Al Lawson (D-FL) ,Val B. Demings (D-FL), Donna E. Shalala (D-FL), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL). (Please find a copy of the letter below and attached.)  \r\n\r\nAs our nation battles a dual pandemic and economic crisis, we must redouble our efforts to ensure our children and their families can access healthy meals preventing the physical, emotional, and mental harm that hunger can bring, said Hastings. Our schools, educators, and administrators are already stretched thin feeding and educating our communities' children and they are in dire need of the relief authorized by Congress. It is imperative that the USDA abide by Congressional intent and help those in need.  \r\n\r\nMillions of American families are struggling with food insecurity worsened by COVID-19, with up to 1 in 5 Floridians expected to face chronic hunger this year. For many children in these working families, school meals are the only meals on which they can rely, said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. It's critical that the USDA have the backs of our school meal providers by extending flexibilities and supporting them through financial challenges with funding approved by Congress. I thank Congressman Hastings and his fellow delegation members for making access to nutrition for our state's vulnerable children a priority.\r\n\r\nLetter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture  \r\n\r\nOctober 1, 2020  \r\n\r\nSecretary Sonny Perdue\r\nU.S. Department of Agriculture\r\n1400 Independence Avenue, SW\r\nWashington, D.C. 20250 \r\n\r\nAdministrator Pam Miller\r\nUSDA Food and Nutrition Service\r\n1320 Braddock Place\r\nAlexandria, VA 22314\r\n\r\nDear Secretary Perdue and Administrator Miller:  \r\n\r\nWe believe you should make full use of the broad authorities granted to you in Congress's comprehensive COVID-19 relief bills and the recently passed continuing resolution to extend child nutrition flexibilities through the end of Fiscal Year 21, and utilize the authority to access such sums as are necessary in order to ensure that our children have access to nutritious food. Such authorities are crucial tools in preventing school nutrition programs from becoming more financially untenable. Your use of these authorities will also assist in funding administrative, food and supplies, meal service, and delivery costs to keep pace with the increased need for such expenditures. \r\nBetween February and August of this year, an estimated 11 million jobs were lost, and a study estimates that 8 to 15 million children lived in a household that was unable to afford food resulting in these children not eating enough throughout the day.[1] Families are struggling to put food on the table, and even brief periods of food insecurity can cause long-term developmental, psychological, physical, and emotional harm. Due to massive job losses and the ongoing economic recession, schools across the nation expect a drastic increase in the need for traditional school meal programs. Notably, 70 percent of NSLP-participating schools are federally mandated to require individual enrollment. Processing the added enrollment applications will be a struggle for the already overworked, under-resourced staff at our nation's schools. Schools around the country face enormous logistical and operational challenges as they begin the school year, especially as they must also purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), increase access to pick up sites, and travel to reach more children. School staff should be able to focus on educating and feeding students as safely as possible, not worrying about processing and adjudicating school meal applications or whether they will have sufficient funds to continue to serve their communities' children.  \r\n\r\nMaintaining school meal flexibilities will alleviate the burdensome administrative paperwork and costs of these programs, allowing administrators to focus on getting healthy, nutritious food to children and allocating finite resources to those most in need. Additionally, school closures mean that these programs are also losing revenue that typically maintain their costs, such as a-la-carte options and federal reimbursements for the meals supplied. For example, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) estimates that, due to COVID-19, Florida school lunch providers face $262 million in sale and reimbursement losses.[2] This is a national challenge, as a May 2020 School Nutrition Association survey found over 90 percent of school nutrition program administrators expect or are uncertain regarding financial deficits and that their finances are a top concern.[3] We believe it is critical that the waivers and flexibilities are extended through the entire 2021 fiscal year immediately, so that schools can plan for the rest of the year.  \r\n\r\nIn order to ensure children have access to nutritious meals, we believe the USDA should immediately extend school meal program flexibilities and use authorized funds from Congress to resolve and prevent deep deficits for school districts and for state and local governments who are already experiencing serious strains on their budgets due to dwindling revenue. These are unprecedented times, and we must ensure that we protect our children from food insecurity in the immediate and long-term.  \r\n\r\nWe look forward to working with you on this important matter.  \r\n\r\nSincerely,  \r\n\r\nAlcee L. Hastings\r\nMember of Congress \r\n\r\nDarren Soto\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nTed Deutch \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nAl Lawson\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nVal B. Demings \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDonna E. Shalala\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nFrederika S. Wilson \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nKathy Castor\r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nCharlie Crist \r\nMember of Congress\r\n\r\nDebbie Mucarsel-Powell\r\nMember of Congress\r\nLois Frankel \r\nMember of Congress\r\nStephanie Murphy\r\nMember of Congress  \r\n\r\n[1] Six Signs that the Labor Market Remains in Trouble. Chad Stone. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). September 4, 2020. More Relief Needed to Alleviate Hardship | Households Struggle to Afford Food, Pay Rent, Emerging Data Show. Sharon Parrott, Arloc Sherman, Joseph Llobrera, Alicia Mazzara, Jennifer Beltrn, and Michael Leachman. CBPP. July 21, 2020. \r\n[2] FDACS Report: $262 Million in COVID-19 Losses for Florida School Lunch Providers. Press Release. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). August 21, 2020. \r\n[3] SNA Survey Reveals COVID-19 School Meal Trends, Financial Impacts. Press Release. School Nutrition Association. May 18, 2020.   \r\n\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman 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"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402876", "Bipartisan, Bicameral Letters Urge HHS to Promote Use of Community Health Workers in COVID-19 Response", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress led by U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22), Eliot Engel (NY-16), andBrian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) wrote to the Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services Alex Azar to promote the use of community health workers in local responses to COVID-19. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) led a companion letter in the Senate.A PDF of the House letter can be accessed here. The full text of the letter is below. A PDF of the Senate letter can be accessed here. Community health workers can help combat coronavirus through public health messaging and contact tracing while also addressing broader social, economic, behavioral, and preventive health needs. Furthermore, expanding the profession can help create economic opportunities for those seeking work, particularly in hard-hit disadvantaged communities. They can also help curb rising health care costs; randomized clinical trials have shown that community health workers can save $4,200 per Medicaid beneficiary. Community health workers are cost-effective workers who can help strengthen the nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and contain health care spending. As the Members of Congress explain, \"Given their potential to contribute to all aspects of a successful national recovery, we urge you to expand the utilization of community health workers within existing programs at the Department of Health and Human Services to fully leverage their expertise and skills.\" The letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Deutch, Engel, Fitzpatrick, David Cicilline (RI-01), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Val Demings (FL-10), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Bill Foster (IL-11), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Marcia Fudge (OH-11), John Garamendi (CA-03), Josh Harder (CA-10), Alcee Hastings (FL-20), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18, James McGovern (MA-02), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08). The letter is supported by the following organizations: FamiliesUSA, Penn Center for Community Health Workers, Community Health Acceleration Partnership, American Public Health Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Association of Community Health Workers, NAACP, HealthBegins, Society for General Internal Medicine, Health Leads, Partners in Health, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) PolicyLab, Ariadne Labs, National Committee for Quality Assurance, American Diabetes Association, Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island, Southern Complimentary Wellness Center, Next Wave, Community Health and Social Services Center, Inc., The Center for Inclusion Health, Allegheny Health Network, New York University, Langone Health, Advance African Development, Inc. (AAD), Siloam Health, Florida CHW Coalition, Michigan CHW Association, Chicanos Por LaCausa Supporting community health workers can improve public health, create jobs and rebuild trust in America's communities, all while saving taxpayer dollars, said Shreya Kangovi, MD, MSHP, University of Pennsylvania Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Penn Center for Community Health Workers. The Senate letter was signed by U.S. Senators Casey, Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chris Coons (D-DE). Dear Secretary Azar, Thank you for your leadership and ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Tragically, over 180,000 of our fellow Americans have lost their lives to this virus, and outbreaks are growing in several parts of the country with a disproportionate impact on communities of color. As we grapple with the unfathomable toll on Americans' health and cascading economic impacts across our country, we are committed to supporting response efforts that will help our nation progress through a period of recovery, which will restore our physical, mental, and financial health. We write today to express our support for an essential part of this recovery: community health workers. Community health workers are trusted individuals from local communities who improve the health of their neighbors every day. We encourage you to expand programs that increase the utilization of these essential frontline health care workers.  Community health workers can play many critical roles in a pandemic response, long-term improvement of public health, and lasting economic recovery. In the short term, they can form the backbone of successful contact tracing efforts, address the social determinants of health, and help address non-medical needs that too often fall on overwhelmed frontline clinicians. Beyond the immediate pandemic health crisis, they can mediate the impacts of stress, social isolation, financial strain on health, hospitalizations, and health care spending.  In addition, employment of community health workers creates economic opportunities for some of the nation's hardest hit communities, where many Americans are underemployed. Even before COVID-19, organizations across the country were hiring and training community health workers as evidence of their effectiveness grew. Randomized clinical trials have shown that community health workers improve health while reducing costly hospitalizations and readmissions, saving Medicaid $4,200 per beneficiary. If scaled to even fifteen percent of U.S. Medicaid beneficiaries, community health workers would save taxpayers $47 billion annually. National evidence-informed and community-centered standards for hiring, training, supervision, and work practice for community health workers can help ensure that a national scale-up of this workforce achieves these same high-quality outcomes. Unfortunately, current federal support for community health workers does not leverage the full value of this workforce. Historically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been a key funder of community health workers; yet much of their funding has been disease-specific. For example, many CDC programs focus only on heart disease or stroke. Yet, the evidence suggests that community health workers make the biggest impact when they are part of a comprehensive approach to public health that addresses social determinants of health across a range of health conditions and settings. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also has provided some funding for community health workers; yet this has been a patchwork through State Plan Amendments (SPAs) or 1115 waivers, which are hamstrung by a narrow definition of the preventive services that community health workers are able to deliver.  Given their potential to contribute to all aspects of a successful national recovery, we urge you to expand the utilization of community health workers within existing programs at the Department of Health and Human Services to fully leverage their expertise and skills. To facilitate that effort, we kindly request that you consider the following actions to improve the health and overall wellness of our constituents and the communities where they live: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  1. Utilize existing COVID-19 response funds, including through the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement and the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) Cooperative Agreement, to provide guidance to states on the ways that community health workers can strengthen response and recovery efforts, including recommendations to the states regarding the availability of funds to hire, train and deploy community health workers based on scientific evidence. We encourage the CDC to use these funds for the recruitment, training, and hiring of CHWs for public health response work, particularly contact tracing. 2. Provide guidance to the states to help them expand beyond disease-specific programs for community health workers toward a comprehensive approach that aligns with the best available evidence and standards. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services \r\n  \r\n1. Work with states to promote utilization of community health workers to provide a comprehensive range of social, behavioral and economic supports as allowable preventive services. CMS should build on the 2013 final rule entitled, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs: Essential Health Benefits in Alternative Benefit Plans, Eligibility Notices, Fair Hearing and Appeal Processes, and Premiums and Cost Sharing; Exchanges: Eligibility and Enrollment (CMS-2334-F) to expand the scope of Medicaid-reimbursable services that can be provided by community health workers and listing CHWs as a qualified provider type for a suite of discrete services. 2. On June 5, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) indicated that the agency is developing additional guidance on the use of social determinants of health in state Medicaid programs. We strongly encourage you to include specific guidance to affirm that Medicaid funding is available for community health worker services that address social determinants of health. Indian Health Service\r\n  \r\n1. Support community health representatives (IHS-funded community health workers serving tribal nations) in efforts to combat COVID-19 and address longstanding disparities in chronic disease, infant mortality, and other causes of premature death and disability. Thank you for your leadership throughout this crisis. We hope that the Department of Health and Human Services works quickly to identify additional opportunities to amplify the important role community health workers can play in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and improving the health of all Americans. Thank you for your attention to this request. Sincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402877", "House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Protect Seniors with Alzheimer's, Dementia", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act introduced by U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22) and Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14). The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Justice to develop best practices and training materials for assisting professionals  law enforcement, firefighters, emergency personnel, social workers, court officials, and medical professionals  who encounter and support people living with Alzheimer's and other dementia.This population is particularly vulnerable to scams as their condition makes it more difficult for them to communicate the crimes to law enforcement or to seek life-saving assistance from first responders. Particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic, having best practices will help first responders and other professionals effectively interact with people living with Alzheimer's and other dementia targeted by fraud and in need.  \"With this vote, a unified House of Representatives voted to support the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and others living with forms of dementia and their families,\" said Congressman Deutch. \"For our loved ones living with this disease, we want the first responders and professionals caring for them to be properly trained in how to interact with them. Whether it's responding to emergency calls or protecting them from predatory scammers, these best practices will help prepare these health and emergency workers to properly respond to and care for them.\" I am proud that today the House passed the Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act, which will equip our nation's first responders and caregivers with best practices to respond to incidents of elder abuse, including financial fraud, physical abuse, and neglect, said Congressman Reschenthaler. Senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia are especially vulnerable to exploitation and other harm, and H.R. 6813 will ensure we have the tools to keep these Americans safe. The Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) are truly grateful for Reps. Deutch and Reschenthaler's leadership to pass the bipartisan Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act, said Robert Egge, Alzheimer's Association chief public policy officer and AIM executive director. A lot of hard work went into ensuring our seniors, especially those with Alzheimer's and dementia, are at a decreased risk of falling victim to fraud and abuse. Our country's law enforcement, firefighters, emergency personnel, social workers, court officials, and medical professionals will now be able to better support people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. This legislation was introduced on May 13, 2020. In April, Reps. Deutch and Reschenthaler called on House and Senate Leadership to include similar language in future coronavirus stimulus plans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402873", "Announcing the Formation of an Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Anti-Semitism", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Over the last several years, there has been an alarming increase in antisemitic incidents across the globe, with many originating online. As social media posts do not stop at international borders, members of the national legislatures of the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom have come together across party lines to launch the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism. Members of the Task Force include: Congressman Ted Deutch (Democrat, United States), Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, United States), Congressman Chris Smith (Republican, United States), Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, United States), Member of Knesset Michal Cotler-Wunsh (Blue and White, Israel), Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather (Liberal, Canada), Member of Parliament Marty Mortantz (Conservative, Canada), Member of Parliament Josh Burns (Labour, Australia), Member of Parliament Dave Sharma (Liberal, Australia), Member of Parliament Andrew Percy (Conservative, United Kingdom), and Member of Parliament Alex Sobel (Labour and Cooperative, United Kingdom).  The launch of the Task Force follows campaigns working to expose online antisemitism, including the #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate campaign that served as a global call to action to combat the virulent antisemitism that goes unaddressed or inadequately addressed on social media platforms.  The Task Force has the following goals: \r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n             Establishing consistent messaging and policy from Parliaments and legislatures around the world in order to hold social media platforms, including Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and Google, accountable. The adoption and publication of transparent policies related to hate speech. Raising awareness about antisemitism on social media platforms and its consequences in order to acknowledge the tremendous responsibility that comes with the power the platforms hold.  Emphasizing that if one minority cannot be protected by hate speech policies, then none can be. This Task Force will therefore serve as a means for protecting all minority groups from online hate. Underscoring that the fight against antisemitism is a non-partisan consensus in democratic countries.\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n  \r\nTed Deutch, Member of Congress, Democrat, United States stated, It has never been easier than now for anti-Semites to connect and spread hateful propaganda using social media. These platforms have a responsibility to ensure that they are not being used freely by purveyors of hate. Online anti-Semitism is a global problem. That's why I'm pleased to be part of this Task Force, made up of legislators from different countries and political parties. Our goal is to bring greater attention and action to the critical problem of online anti-Semitism.\r\n  \r\nDebbie Wasserman Schultz, Member of Congress, Democrat, United States said, The scourge of rising anti-Semitism knows no borders, and its poisonous proliferation online fuels this infectious hatred. That is why we absolutely must have an international strategy, and truly committed global allies, to take it on. I am proud to join fellow Members of Congress and Parliamentarians who have also vowed to address this dangerous growth of online bigotry. Amid this global pandemic when more people are online, the urgency is even greater. We must demand real, global accountability and strong social media safeguards. Coming together internationally to unite against hate sends a powerful signal that acquiescence must come to an end now.Chris Smith, Member of Congress, Republican, United States, said, This Task Force is important because we are living though a time when anti-Semitism is increasingly spread over the internet and electronic media. Alt-Right groups such as The Base and the Atomwaffen Division, along with Russia's Internet Research Agency, spread anti-Semitic tropes online and via apps such as TELEGRAM. We need to be ever vigilant with regard to all forms of anti-Semitic hatred, whether it comes from the alt-Right, the political Left, or Islamist groups. Fortunately this Inter-parliamentary Task Force will allow us to share best practices across our borders, and help us combat what itself is a borderless enemy.  Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Member of Knesset from the Blue and White Party in Israel stated, Always and at this time in particular as we stand united in fighting a global pandemic, another virus rages that requires global collaboration and cooperation. By working with multi-partisan allies in Parliaments around the world, we hope to create best practices and real change in holding the social media giants accountable to the hatred that exists on their platforms. It is imperative that we work together to expose the double standards.  Michael Levitt, President and CEO Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and Former Canadian Member of Parliament (Liberal, Canada), said The growth of antisemitism that we are witnessing around the world is being accelerated by the ever-expanding opportunities online to spread hatred and recruit new members to hateful and extremist causes. As the world stands together in battling the coronavirus, we must also stand united in rejecting the virus of hatred so that it does not continue to spread. I am honoured to be part of this multi-partisan and international taskforce in which we will stand in solidarity and with a unified voice as we confront the scourge of antisemitism on the internet. Anthony Housefather, Liberal Member of Parliament from Canada said, Online hate, including antisemtic hate is growing exponentially. Posts are viewed across national borders and impact people in many jurisdictions. Social media platforms have failed to adequately address hatred on their own. But they cannot be expected to create different policies in every separate country. By working together, we can create international definitions and recommendations for regulating social media platforms that can then be reviewed and hopefully implemented by each individual country.  Marty Morantz, Conservative Member of Parliament from Canada stated, Online hate is an abhorrent reality on social media platforms. I am honoured to work on a bipartisan basis with my Canadian colleagues, as well as international colleagues, to find solutions that keep all those safe who might suffer from online hate, antisemitism and discrimination. Josh Burns, Labor Member of Parliament in Australia stated, The rise of extremism and antisemitism is happening across the world. All throughout history, in times of societal upheaval and economic stress, there have always been those who have sought to blame minorities for the supposed ills of their societies  and the Jewish people have often been the target. This task force is an important step to coalesce allies to combat the bigotry that is occurring in the dark corners of society, especially online. Dave Sharma, Liberal Member of Parliament in Australia said, Recent years have seen a disturbing trend of growing antisemitism worldwide, and this has been especially pronounced on social media platforms. This task force will allow us to share experiences and best practice for combating this disturbing trend. We will join our efforts to ensure that intolerance which has no place in our societies does not find a foothold in the digital world. Andrew Percy, Conservative Member of Parliament in United Kingdom said, In recent years we have seen a disturbing rise in antisemitic hate online. This worrying trend has been seen here in the UK and all across the globe. It is, therefore, important that we work together with allies across the world to tackle the rise in this vile bigotry. As such, I am delighted to be a part of this taskforce and look forward to working with my colleagues to send a strong message that antisemitism will not be tolerated online or anywhere else in society.  Alex Sobel Labour and Cooperative Member of Parliament in United Kingdom stated, As online hate grows, we need to make sure that all minority groups are protected. As a Jewish politician, the antisemitic hate that I have received has been wide and varied in nature. Overt slurs are easier to recognise and report, but antisemitism is often insidious and harder to root out. Antisemitic conspiracy theories are rife on social media, with many subscribers not realising the antisemitic roots and implications of QAnon and other right-wing conspiracy theories. By working together on this taskforce - across geographical and political boundaries - we can tackle the spread of misinformation and ensure that we have internationally recognised definitions of online hate, protecting all of its victims.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402874", "24 Members of Congress Urge CDC to Publish Data on COVID-19 in Schools", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Haley Stevens (MI-11) led 20 of their colleagues in a letter to Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Robert Redfield asking him to begin collecting and publishing COVID-19 data to track the spread of COVID-19 in schools and help researchers develop best safety practices to successfully continue reopening schools for in-person classes.Currently, CDC has not engaged in formal tracking of COVID-19 cases connected to elementary, secondary, or higher education. States, school districts, and individual schools have been left to grapple with difficult issues of data collection and reporting because CDC has failed to lead this core public health responsibility at the national level. As CDC even acknowledges in its report released Monday, Monitoring at the local-level could inform decision-makers about which mitigation strategies are most effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in schools and communities. This essential public health function should not be left solely in the hands of local school districts or states. In the letter, the Members of Congress state that \"Students, teachers, staff, families, and their broader communities deserve robust access to COVID-19 school data to help them understand the risks of returning to in-person instruction. Additionally, researchers and school administrators should have access to this data to better understand the epidemic's impact in their own regions and to learn from the experiences of schools across the country so they can craft successful safety policies.\" CDC should immediately begin formal tracking of COVID-19 cases in schools across the country so that every American family has the best information about the threat of this virus in schools and no school community is left in the dark. The lack of data leaves our schools less safe, our mitigation efforts less effective, and our reopening plans delayed. Beyond the safety of America's students, teachers, staff, and communities, progress toward the safe reopening of in-person schools is an important part of getting our economy back on track. The Members of Congress continue, \"We need your help to advance the strategies that will help our families and educators return to school safely.\" The letter is signed by: U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Tony Crdenas (CA-29), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Lori Trahan (MA-03). A PDF of the letter can be accessed here. The text of the letter is below. Dear Dr. Redfield: We write to request that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immediately begin tracking and sharing data regarding the spread of COVID-19 in America's schools. Safely reopening schools should be one of our top priorities. President Trump has repeatedly stressed the importance of reopening our schools. In August he said, We cannot indefinitely stop 50 million American children from going to school and harming their mental, physical, emotional, and academic development and inflicting long-term, lasting damage. Similarly, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos warned against letting fear dictate our educational choices for our children. She said, students and their families can't be held captive to other people's fears or agendas. Efforts to reopen our classrooms should not happen in the dark. If the Trump Administration is truly committed to alleviating fear, reducing the risk of harm introduced by keeping kids out of school, and protecting the safety of our students and communities, the CDC must step up to do the vital public health work necessary to understand and respond to COVID-19 transmission in our schools.  We know that the tough decisions American families are making at the start of this school year are intensely personal. They hinge on the specific strengths and vulnerabilities of their children, the health risks of their loved ones, and the resources available to them to overcome the challenges ahead. No two families are the same in these regards. That is why our constituents deserve COVID-19 school data to make well-informed choices that are best for their circumstances. The limited COVID-19 school data we do have so far is troubling. This week the CDC reported that more than 120 youth (aged 21 and younger) have died of COVID-19 between February and July. Notably, the burden of disease revealed stark disparities. Seventy-five percent of the youth deaths were students of color, despite Hispanic, Black and American Indians or Alaskan Natives making up only 41 percent of the U.S. youth population. Further, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) acquire underlying chronic medical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, at younger ages than other ethnic groups. This puts NHPI students at greater risk of severe symptoms of COVID-19. We cannot allow these disparities to continue. Data is the first step to addressing these alarming inequities. As we continue to work toward additional relief desperately needed by our educators and schools to help them reopen safely, your agency can help answer a difficult question: How do we keep our kids safe in school? As Brown University economist Emily Oster warned, Without good data that tracks cases over time  and shows how one case turns into many cases  there's just no way to answer that question. In January, we'll be in the same position that we are in now, and kids still won't be in school. Right now valiant teachers, school districts, and state officials are working to collect and publicly report this data on a volunteer basis. Unfortunately, this uneven patchwork will leave too many families without the information they need to make the best decisions for their families and reduce the quality of the data available to researchers working to advance our understanding of this virus and how to beat it. Comprehensive study of school transmission of COVID-19 by CDC will be necessary if we are to best protect our schools.  As part of CDC's mission, your agency conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health risks. The threat the novel coronavirus poses to our schools and communities fits squarely within that mission. We cannot allow the best public health scientists in our country to ignore the data necessary to understand COVID-19 outbreaks in educational settings. Students, teachers, staff, families, and their broader communities deserve robust access to COVID-19 school data to help them understand the risks of returning to in-person instruction. Additionally, researchers and school administrators should have access to this data to better understand the epidemic's impact in their own regions and to learn from the experiences of schools across the country so they can craft successful safety policies. We need your help to advance the strategies that will help our families and educators return to school safely. With these thoughts in mind, please respond by October 12, 2020 with a detailed explanation of CDC's current data collection, research, and public information efforts related to transmission of COVID-19 in our schools and communities. We ask that you immediately begin collecting school COVID-19 data if you have not done so already and to quickly work to make that information available to the public. Thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure that science drives the American response, recovery, and preparedness in this crisis. Sincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://demings.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-demings-response-disney-and-other-layoffs", "Rep. Demings Response to Disney and Other Layoffs", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Val Demings", "D000627", "demings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ORLANDO, FL  U.S. Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) issued the following statement:\nSaid Rep. Demings: Like so many others over recent months, these layoffs will be devastating for countless people. It's up to all of us to step up and help in every way we can.\nI urge anyone in the 10th District who needs help with federal services to contact my office. We will be working with government and civic partners to provide as much support as possible to these workers and their families, and to all those who are out of work through no fault of their own.\nI also once again call on Senator McConnell and Senate Republicans to stop stonewalling and allow a vote on our emergency COVID relief legislation. These layoffs show yet again how desperately that assistance is needed by American households and businesses.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402872", "House Passes Clean Energy Bill with Marine & Hydrokinetic Energy Provisions by Reps. Deutch and Bonamici", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, a comprehensive clean energy bill that includes provisions on marine and hydrokinetic energy programs from legislation introduced byCongressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01).The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act promotes marine energy programs as a clean and cost-effective energy source. Marine energy is generated from waves, tides, and currents in oceans and hydrokinetic water in rivers, lakes, and streams. To promote this alternative energy source, the legislation directs the federal government to accelerate the research, development, and ultimate introduction, of marine energy technology and the infrastructure needed to integrate it into our utility grids. This legislation was developed with the input of Florida Atlantic University's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center, an institution that \"seeks to advance the science and technology of recovering energy from the oceans' renewable resources, with special emphasis on those resources available to the southeastern US: initially focusing on ocean currents and offshore thermal resources.\" \"The United States should be leading the world in clean energy investments and innovation,\" Congressman Deutch said. \"To effectively address climate change, we will need to transition away from fossil fuels toward cleaner energy options like marine and hydrokinetic energy. This bill will help leading research centers like Florida Atlantic University's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center better understand how we can harness the significant power generated by waves, currents, and tides as an cheaper and cleaner energy source for our country.\" We are grateful for Representative Deutch's leadership in the field of marine energy and his continued support of our work to capture clean energy from ocean currents, FAU President John Kelly said. The gulf stream sits right off the coast of FAU's service area, making our university a natural pioneer in ocean current energy development to help power Florida and the nation's future. The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act reforms U.S. energy policy and authorizes major investments in the transition to a low-carbon future. You can access a fact sheet on the legislation here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402871", "Rep. Deutch, Senators Warren, Booker Demand Information on the Safety of Prisoner Transportation by the U.S. Marshals Service and Contractor 'Prisoner Transportation Services' Amid COVID-19 Pandemic", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Ted Deutch", "D000610", "teddeutch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), sent letters to the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and private prisoner transport firm, Prisoner Transportation Services (PTS), requesting information about the steps USMS and PTS are taking to manage coronavirus spread among individuals in their custody, staff, and the general public, and urging them to immediately implement COVID-19 diagnostic testing of detained individuals before transfers between facilities.Letter to USMS (PDF) | Letter to PTS (PDF)  With approximately 61,000 individuals in its custody at any given time, the USMS is responsible for \"hous(ing) and transport(ing) all federal prisoners from the time they enter federal custody until they are either acquitted or convicted and delivered to their designated Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility.\" Recent reports suggest that USMS has not instituted the necessary protocols to contain COVID-19, including failing to implement widespread diagnostic testing of detained individuals in its custody. In some cases, detained individuals have not been tested a single time until they reach their destination. As a result, USMS is contributing to the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and communities all across the U.S.  \"Because USMS holds individuals in federal custody and transports individuals who are sentenced to and from various facilities-which risks spreading the virus to facilities and communities all around the country-the agency has a unique responsibility to take every possible precaution to prevent the further spread of COVID-19,\" the lawmakers wrote. PTS is one of the largest for-profit prisoner transport companies operating in the U.S., contracting with state and local law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities, and transporting arrestees and prisoners across interstate or intrastate lines. Last year alone, PTS and its subsidiaries transported over 26,000 detained individuals to and from various locations. PTS does not appear to be publicly reporting information on COVID-19 cases among individuals in its custody or its staff and has posted no public statements on its website about the steps it is taking to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.  \"We urge PTS to immediately take concrete steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst individuals in its custody and the facilities with which it contracts, including providing face masks and implementing universal diagnostic testing of every individual that enters into its custody prior to transporting them,\" the lawmakers wrote.  The lawmakers are requesting detailed information from both entities about the steps they are taking to protect incarcerated people in their custody, their staff, and the general public from the further spread of COVID-19.  Last year, Senators Warren, Booker and Representative Deutch led an oversight investigation into PTS about reports that it was subjecting individuals in its custody to cruel and inhumane treatment and conditions aboard its vans, and urged the Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct an audit of the private prisoner transportation industry to evaluate whether DOJ is conducting sufficient oversight of prisoner transport and whether those companies are complying with federal law and regulations. In June, Senators Warren and Booker called on BOP to immediately conduct universal COVID-19 diagnostic testing of all incarcerated individuals and correctional staff - including those at privately-managed facilities. In July, as part of an ongoing investigation, Senator Warren demanded information from the American Correctional Association about the measures it has implemented to prevent and manage the spread of COVID-19 in the facilities that it audits. Last month, Senators Warren and Booker, along with their colleagues, introduced the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act, legislation that would require the BOP, USMS, and state governments to collect and publicly report detailed data about COVID-19 in federal, state, and local correctional facilities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402456", "Hastings Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Fort Lauderdale, FL) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:  \r\n\r\n\r\n I join our nation in mourning the devastating loss of Justice Ginsburg. During her nearly three decades of service to our nation's highest court, she was always a steadfast defender of women's rights, civil rights, and equality for all, becoming a trailblazer of justice for so many across our nation.  \r\n\r\n\r\nHercareer of fighting tirelessly so that every American could exercise their constitutional rights will continue to inspire all of us, including the generations to come, to continue to act with the courage, intelligence, morality and wisdom that Justice Ginsburg embodied.  \r\n\r\nWe have a responsibility to honor Justice Ginsburg's legacy by carrying forward the values she stood for on the Supreme Court and in our democracy. My heart goes out to the entire Ginsburg family, including her children, Jane and James, and her grandchildren Paul, Clara, Miranda and Abigail, during this time of great sadness and loss.  \r\n\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.  \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 37, "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 \"party\" = :p1 and \"state\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "Democrat", "p2": "FL"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=FL", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 37, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=FL", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=FL", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 37, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=FL", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=FL", "results": [{"value": "FL", "label": "FL", "count": 37, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=FL", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 37, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=FL&year=2020", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 382.54772406071424, "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"}