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532 rows where party = "Democrat", state = "FL" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending

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  • 2013 · 532 ✖

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url title date ▲ year month party chamber state member_name bioguide_id domain scraper source date_source text has_text collected_at updated_at
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365150 Hastings' Statement on the Expiration of Unemployment Benefits 2013-12-28 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Hastings' Statement on the Expiration of Unemployment Benefits f t # e Fort Lauderdale, FL, December 28, 2013 Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after emergency unemployment benefits lapsed for the first time since 2008:   “Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for having left so many Americans out in the cold this holiday season.   “Starting today, an estimated 1.3 million Americans will face new hardships because of Republicans’ failure to extend unemployment benefits. Millions more may lose their unemployment in the upcoming year, if Republicans do not allow Congress to extend these vital benefits.   “Unemployment compensation is neither reckless nor wasteful spending – it is a lifeline for millions of families struggling to recover from the worst economic recession of our time. Congress’ first order of business in the new year must be to address this failure, and to ensure that Americans facing difficult times are provided with the support they need as they continue to look for work.”   Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=112 President Obama Signs Frankel Provision on Military Sexual Assault into Law 2013-12-26 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy President Barack Obama today signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes Congresswoman Lois Frankel's provision that directs the military to examine the need for a new definition of rape and sexual assault in cases when someone abuses their position in the Military Chain of Command. Frankel's provision was inspired by constituent Elisha Morrow, a former Coast Guard recruit and victim of sexual harassment in the military, who brought her harrowing story to Frankel and they worked together to try to strengthen the flawed military justice system. The measure in the national defense bill seeks to address a flaw in current military law, which requires proof of physical harm or threat of life in order to prosecute a commanding officer for serious sexual crimes. The current law does not account for situations in which the superior abuses his or her position to take advantage of victims. Senator Bill Nelson introduced a companion measure to Frankel's. The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House earlier this month and the Senate last Thursday night. Our sons and daughters who put on the military uniform deserve a new day for justice, said Frankel, who is the mother of a Marine war veteran. No military recruit or service member should endure what Elisha and countless other men and women have. This national defense bill is a significant step forward, however we cannot rest until the men and women who protect us know that we will protect them. I cannot put into words how much it means to see this bill signed into law, said Elisha Morrow, a Boynton Beach resident. Though the opportunity for justice in our case has passed, it is truly healing to know future military members will now be able to receive the justice due to them. Additional resources on Frankel's provision: Sun-Sentinel Boot-camp hell leading to new law WFLX-Elisha Morrow's Quest for Justice for Military Sexual Assault Victims with Rep. Frankel Frankel's Floor Speech on the Provision Inspired by Elisha Morrow ##… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301153307/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-obama-signs-frankel-provision-on-military-sexual-assault-into President Obama Signs Frankel Provision on Military Sexual Assault into Law 2013-12-26 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy President Barack Obama today signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes Congresswoman Lois Frankel’s provision that directs the military to examine the need for a new definition of rape and sexual assault in cases when someone abuses their position in the Military Chain of Command. Frankel’s provision was inspired by constituent Elisha Morrow, a former Coast Guard recruit and victim of sexual harassment in the military, who brought her harrowing story to Frankel and they worked together to try to strengthen the flawed military justice system. The measure in the national defense bill seeks to address a flaw in current military law, which requires proof of physical harm or threat of life in order to prosecute a commanding officer for serious sexual crimes. The current law does not account for situations in which the superior abuses his or her position to take advantage of victims. Senator Bill Nelson introduced a companion measure to Frankel’s. The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House earlier this month and the Senate last Thursday night. “Our sons and daughters who put on the military uniform deserve a new day for justice,” said Frankel, who is the mother of a Marine war veteran. “No military recruit or service member should endure what Elisha and countless other men and women have. This national defense bill is a significant step forward, however we cannot rest until the men and women who protect us know that we will protect them.” “I cannot put into words how much it means to see this bill signed into law,” said Elisha Morrow, a Boynton Beach resident. “Though the opportunity for justice in our case has passed, it is truly healing to know future military members will now be able to receive the justice due to them.” Additional resources on Frankel’s provision: Sun-Sentinel Boot-camp hell leading to new law WFLX-Elisha Morrow’s Quest for Justice for Military Sexual Assault Victims with Rep. Frankel Frankel’s Floor Speech on the Provision Inspired by Elisha Morrow       ##… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364822 Hastings and Posey Call for Transparency in CFPB Auto Lending Guidance 2013-12-18 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Bill Posey (R-FL), along with 14 members of the Florida Congressional delegation, sent the following letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray, expressing concerns regarding the agency’s March 21, 2013 guidance and its potential impact on the auto dealer industry, indirect vehicle financing market, and consumers nationwide. (Please also find below and attached a copy of the letter). Joining Hastings and Posey as co-signers of the letter were: (14) Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Corrine Brown, John L. Mica, Jeff Miller, Mario Diaz-Balart, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Theodore E. Deutch, Richard B. Nugent, Dennis A. Ross, Frederica S. Wilson, Ron DeSantis, Lois Frankel, Joe Garcia, and Patrick E. Murphy The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) supported the letter. December 18, 2013 The Honorable Richard Cordray Director Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 1700 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20552 Dear Director Cordray: As members of the Florida Congressional delegation, we write to express our concerns regarding guidance issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on March 21, 2013 that could negatively impact the auto dealer industry, indirect vehicle financing market, and consumers in our state and nationwide.  It is our understanding that the CFPB issued this guidance based on an assessment of disparate impact under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), and that it believes there to be the potential for pricing disparities based on race, national origin, and other prohibited factors.  Allegations of discriminatory lending practices are deeply troubling, and therefore it is extremely important that we understand the methodologies and analyses used to reach this conclusion.  With that in mind, we ask that the CFPB fully respond to all Congressional requests for the raw data and specific methodology used to determine instances of “disparate impact” and formulate the new guidance. The auto d… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=362916 Town Hall Meeting with Reps. Deutch and Frankel 2013-12-18 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy ​TOWN HALL MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN TED DEUTCH and CONGRESSWOMAN LOIS FRANKEL! DON’T MISS THIS VERY SPECIAL MEETING! The Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations have invited Congressman Deutch and Congresswoman Frankel to speak at their upcoming delegation meeting in Valencia Shores. The Representatives will provide an update on what's happening in Washington and address questions from the COBWRA Delegation. When: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 9:30 am Where: Valencia Shores 7751 Valencia Shores Drive Lake Worth, FL 33467 (On the east side of Lyons Rd. between Boynton Beach Blvd. and Hypoluxo Rd.)   THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC No Tickets or Reservations Required ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221022948/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349233& Nelson: I will go to Iran if it will help bring Bob Levinson home 2013-12-17 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Nelson: I will go to Iran if it will help bring Bob Levinson home December 17, 2013      WASHINGTON, D.C. -  A U.S. lawmaker is offering to travel to Iran and meet with top Iranian officials over the fate of a missing American.  Such a trip would be the first for a member of Congress in at least three decades.   U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) made the offer through Tehran’s ambassador to the United Nations in a telephone call with him on Sunday.     Nelson told Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee that he would be willing to go to Iran in the case of Bob Levinson, the retired FBI agent and Florida resident, who disappeared on Kish Island off the coast of Iran in March 2007.   The senator told the ambassador that he would go if it would help lead to Levinson’s safe return home.     In response, the ambassador told Nelson that he would pass his comments along to the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.    “I am willing to go to Iran if in any way that it would secure his release,” Nelson said today in a speech on the Senate floor. “If the Iranian authorities took him, somebody in the government of Iran knows of his whereabouts.”      This week, the last man to allegedly see Levinson before he disappeared said he believes it was Iranian security officials who took him.       Several major news organizations disclosed late last week that Levinson had ties to the CIA.  His family last received proof that he was alive in 2011.     Levinson’s wife, Christine, traveled to Kish Island in Dec. 200… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364547 Hastings and 29 Democrats Send Letter to ED Secretary Duncan Regarding Gainful Employment 2013-12-14 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Stay Connected Use the form below to sign up for my newsletter and get the latest news and updates directly to your inbox. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=111 Frankel Statement on the Anniversary of Newtown Tragedy 2013-12-13 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Frankel Statement on the Anniversary of Newtown Tragedy f t # e Boca Raton, FL, December 13, 2013 On the eve of Saturday's one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting in Newtown, Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement. One year after the heartbreaking tragedy of Newtown, students again are victims of a horrific shooting, this time in aColoradohigh school. Once more we have another reason for Congress to pass common-sense laws to reduce gun violence. ### f t # e 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023002/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349202& Senate approves 3-year launch indemnity extension 2013-12-13 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Senate approves 3-year launch indemnity extension December 12, 2013      WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate today approved a 3-year extension of a long-standing third-party indemnification regime for U.S. commercial launch companies.  As considered earlier this year in a Senate Science and Space Subcommittee hearing chaired by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), the U.S. commercial launch indemnification regime helps domestic launch companies compete in the global launch market.  Many international competitors enjoy similar protections in their various home nations.   The legislation, led by Nelson, would extend the expiration date of commercial launch indemnification from Dec. 31, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2016.   Supporting Nelson’s initiative were Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Thune (R-SD), Mark Udall (D-CO), Tom Udall (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).    “A competitive launch industry is critical to our national space program, so this legislation is a common sense move,” said Nelson. “The certainty of a three year extension will help the U.S. commercial space industry continue to grow and thrive, both here in Florida and around the country.”    The measure passed unanimously in the Senate and now goes to the House. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140511223416/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-statement-on-the-anniversary-of-newtown-tragedy Frankel Statement on the Anniversary of Newtown Tragedy 2013-12-13 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Boca Raton, FL – On the eve of Saturday’s one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting in Newtown, Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement. “One year after the heartbreaking tragedy of Newtown, students again are victims of a horrific shooting, this time in a Colorado high school. Once more we have another reason for Congress to pass common-sense laws to reduce gun violence.”      ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364225 Hastings Honored with “Defenders of Children” Award 2013-12-12 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after receiving the First Focus Campaign for Children’s “Defenders of Children” award. First Focus honors the top 100 Members of Congress every year for leadership on issues important to the education and development of our nation’s children. “I am proud to accept this year’s Defenders of Children award from the First Focus Campaign for Children.  Issues affecting children are critical, and Congress must continue to act to reduce child poverty, improve children’s health and nutrition, and increase access to quality education. “No child should live without a home, and no child should live in fear of abuse or neglect. Every child deserves the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. As co-chair of the Congressional Homelessness Caucus and a member of the Congressional Foster Youth Caucus, as well as the Congressional Children's Caucus, I have made improving the well-being of our nation’s children one of my top priorities in Congress. “I will continue to advocate for our nation’s future generations, be it better schools, increased access to health services, or working towards putting an end to childhood and family homelessness once and for all.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023006/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349193& Feds target disease threatening citrus 2013-12-12 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Feds target disease threatening citrus December 12, 2013      WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal officials today unveiled a stepped-up effort to combat a citrus-killing disease that’s threatening to decimate Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry.   The plan, announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and urged by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), creates the framework for a new coordinated effort between federal, state and industry officials to fight the deadly disease that has infected crops in Florida, California, Louisiana, Georgia and South Carolina.     The disease, commonly known as citrus greening, produces green, bitter and misshapen fruit.  According to a study done last year by the University of Florida, citrus greening has cost the state’s economy $4.5 billion and 8,000 jobs between 2006 and 2012.      “If we don’t find a cure soon, we won’t be growing oranges in Florida much longer,” Nelson said.     The Florida lawmaker, two years ago, helped secure $11 million to fund the research into finding a cure.  In a teleconference with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last year, they announced the remaining $9 million of that money would be available right away and not spread out over four years as originally planned.   Nelson, meantime, is also pushing for a provision in the Senate Farm Bill that would create a trust fund to pay for the war on citrus greening.  It would get another $30 million a year.     On the House side, a strong advocate of the effort to combat green… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221094208/http://wilson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=456 Congresswoman Wilson Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Budget Deal 2013-12-12 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 web.archive.org     legacy WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) issued the following statement after the US House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013: “Budgets are moral documents.  While this budget deal takes some important moral stands by safeguarding entitlements including Social Security and softening Sequestration’s savage cuts—which fall on teachers, firefighters, medical researchers, and other hardworking Americans—it fails to uphold Congress’s moral obligation to millions who have been locked out of the job market. Even as America recovers from the Great Recession, the plight of the long-term unemployed remains as serious as ever.  My top priorities for 2014 are to restore unemployment insurance and—above all else—to return Congress to its rightful focus: Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!”                                                                                                                       ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.  Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221094219/http://wilson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=455 Congresswoman Wilson Statement on Passage of Legislation to Improve Transparency and Accountability in US Assistance to Haiti 2013-12-12 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 web.archive.org     legacy WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) issued the following statement after the US House of Representatives passed the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act, H.R. 3509 on which she served as an original co-sponsor: “Four years ago, Haiti suffered a tragic earthquake that claimed over 220,000 lives and devastated almost 3 million livelihoods.  While the United States has played an essential role in Haiti’s recovery—allocating $651 million to reconstruction activities—a recent report by the Government Accountability Office revealed that only $229.5 million, or 35% of the total funds, have been disbursed.  After nearly four years of recovery efforts, there’s still a serious deficit of transparency and accountability.  The bipartisan Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of 2013 is an important win for effective foreign assistance and for the people of Haiti.  The legislation, which overwhelmingly passed the House, extends and strengthens essential oversight and accountability by requiring the State Department to provide detailed progress reports every 6 months through September 30, 2016.”                                                                                                                                                                 ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.  Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-statement-on-passage-of-bipartisan-budget-deal Congresswoman Wilson Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Budget Deal 2013-12-12 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 wilson.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) issued the following statement after the US House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013: Budgets are moral documents. While this budget deal takes some important moral stands by safeguarding entitlements including Social Security and softening Sequestration's savage cutswhich fall on teachers, firefighters, medical researchers, and other hardworking Americansit fails to uphold Congress's moral obligation to millions who have been locked out of the job market. Even as America recovers from the Great Recession, the plight of the long-term unemployed remains as serious as ever. My top priorities for 2014 are to restore unemployment insurance andabove all elseto return Congress to its rightful focus: Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-statement-on-passage-of-legislation-to-improve Congresswoman Wilson Statement on Passage of Legislation to Improve Transparency and Accountability in US Assistance to Haiti 2013-12-12 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 wilson.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTONToday, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) issued the following statement after the US House of Representatives passed the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act, H.R. 3509 on which she served as an original co-sponsor: Four years ago, Haiti suffered a tragic earthquake that claimed over 220,000 lives and devastated almost 3 million livelihoods. While the United States has played an essential role in Haiti's recoveryallocating $651 million to reconstruction activitiesa recent report by the Government Accountability Office revealed that only $229.5 million, or 35% of the total funds, have been disbursed. After nearly four years of recovery efforts, there's still a serious deficit of transparency and accountability. The bipartisan Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of 2013 is an important win for effective foreign assistance and for the people of Haiti. The legislation, which overwhelmingly passed the House, extends and strengthens essential oversight and accountability by requiring the State Department to provide detailed progress reports every 6 months through September 30, 2016. ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364272 U.S. Rep. Castor announces $4.4M in outreach & enrollment assistance for community health centers in Florida 2013-12-11 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Kathy Castor C001066 castor.house.gov     legacy To help expand the capacity of community health centers serving our communities, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced that 46 centers in Florida will receive $4.4 million in federal grant awards. “These outreach grants will create employment in Tampa Bay and assist our community health centers in their effort to enroll uninsured Americans in the new health insurance coverage options made available by the Affordable Care Act,” Rep. Castor said.  “This grant will allow us to hire extra people and we should see significant increases in enrollment,” said Charlie Bottoms, CEO of Tampa Family Health Centers, Inc., which will receive $240,908 from the grant. Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc. will receive $177,974; Pinellas County will receive $35,458; and Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc. (in Ruskin) will receive $148,480. A complete list of all of Florida’s grantees is available here:  www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2013tables/outreachandenrollment/ “Despite Florida Republican legislators blocking the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at nearly every turn, these grants will allow health centers to meet the immediate needs of their enrollment efforts, including expanding the hours of existing outreach and enrollment assistance workers, and hiring new or temporary outreach and enrollment assistance workers.”  These grants build upon the Affordable Care Act’s $8.1 million invested earlier this year into Florida’s health centers. “With nearly 4 million Floridians who are uninsured and millions more who stand to benefit from the patient protections of the Affordable Care Act, community health centers are undertaking a large role in not only assisting with enrollment but also educating neighbors interested in learning about their health care rights,” Rep. Castor said. “Our neighbors turn to these community health centers as a trusted and familiar resource to provide face-to-face assistance with health care options.”  Florida has 48 health centers with 410 sites that served 1.1 million patients last yea… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=110 Frankel Joins Colleagues in Letter to Speaker Boehner: Dont Adjourn Congress without Extending Unemployment Insurance 2013-12-11 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Lois Frankel joined colleagues today in urging Speaker John Boehner to immediately bring up an extension of unemployment insurance and not to adjourn Congress for the year without extending it. Federal unemployment insurance is scheduled to expire on December 28 for 1.3 million Americans. According to a House Ways & Means Committee report, if Congress fails to extend emergency unemployment benefits, 73,000 Floridians will lose benefits on December 28. Another 1.9 million Americans, including 95,800 Floridians, who are projected to be eligible for federal unemployment insurance in the first half of 2014, would lose access to that coverage. Failure to extend this insurance would cause a loss of an additional 310,000 jobs in America due to the loss of spending power of those cut off. The letter that Frankel and colleagues sent to Speaker Boehner reads in part: We write to urge you to address the looming expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before adjourning Congress for the remainder of the year...Now is certainly not the time to further decimate vital federal assistance to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own and who must actively seek work in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits. We therefore strongly urge you to immediately bring up a one-year extension of the current EUC program. It is imperative for Congress to act now, otherwise thousands of Floridians, through no fault of their own, will have no income to pay for food, shelter, and other necessities, Frankel said. The full text of the group's letter is below: December 11, 2013 The Honorable John Boehner Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives H232, U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20515 Dear Speaker Boehner: We write to urge you to address the looming expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before adjourning Congress for the remainder of the year. Without swift Congressional action, 1.3 million jobless workers will have their benefits cut off on December… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023016/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349184& Lawmakers pressure Iran to intensify aid in Levinson case 2013-12-11 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Lawmakers pressure Iran to intensify aid in Levinson case December 11, 2013      WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today marks 2,470 days in captivity for Bob Levinson, the retired FBI agent and Florida resident, who disappeared on Kish Island off the coast of Iran in March 2007.     The time eclipses that of former AP journalist Terry Anderson, who was reportedly held by the terrorist organization Hezbollah for six years and nine months.  Anderson was abducted in 1985 in Beirut while covering the Lebanese civil war, and was released in 1991.    Evidence that Levinson was still alive and being held captive surfaced in 2010 and again in 2011 when the family received a video and series of photos of Mr. Levinson, indicating that he was being held somewhere in southwest Asia.     As part of an ongoing effort to keep up pressure on Iran, a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week introduced a resolution calling on the government there to fulfill its promises of assistance in this case.      Following is a copy of the resolution offered by U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL):     S. RES. 312   Calling on the government of Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance in this case of Robert Levinson, one of the longest held United States  civilians in our Nation's history.                                                             _____________________   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   Mr. Nelson… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140511223520/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-joins-colleagues-in-letter-to-speaker-boehner-don-t-adjourn Frankel Joins Colleagues in Letter to Speaker Boehner: Don’t Adjourn Congress without Extending Unemployment Insurance 2013-12-11 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC— Congresswoman Lois Frankel joined colleagues today in urging Speaker John Boehner to immediately bring up an extension of unemployment insurance and not to adjourn Congress for the year without extending it. Federal unemployment insurance is scheduled to expire on December 28 for 1.3 million Americans. According to a House Ways & Means Committee report, if Congress fails to extend emergency unemployment benefits, 73,000 Floridians will lose benefits on December 28.  Another 1.9 million Americans, including 95,800 Floridians, who are projected to be eligible for federal unemployment insurance in the first half of 2014, would lose access to that coverage. Failure to extend this insurance would cause a loss of an additional 310,000 jobs in America due to the loss of spending power of those cut off.  The letter that Frankel and colleagues sent to Speaker Boehner reads in part: “We write to urge you to address the looming expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before adjourning Congress for the remainder of the year...Now is certainly not the time to further decimate vital federal assistance to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own and who must actively seek work in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits.  We therefore strongly urge you to immediately bring up a one-year extension of the current EUC program.” “It is imperative for Congress to act now, otherwise thousands of Floridians, through no fault of their own, will have no income to pay for food, shelter, and other necessities,” Frankel said. The full text of the group’s letter is below: December 11, 2013 The Honorable John Boehner Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives H232, U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20515 Dear Speaker Boehner: We write to urge you to address the looming expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before adjourning Congress for the remainder of the year.  Without swift Congressional action, 1.3 million jobless workers will have their benefits cut … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=108 Frankel Authors Letter to USAID Urging Support for Reproductive Health as a Core Human Right 2013-12-10 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy In recognition of UN International Human Rights Day Tuesday, Congresswoman Lois Frankel and her colleagues have authored a letter to USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah urging support for reproductive and sexual health care as core human rights. The letter reads in part: Today is Human Rights Day and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsAs former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton famously proclaimed, women's rights are human rights.' We wholeheartedly agree, and are therefore eager to support your agency's efforts to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. The letter, authored by Frankel who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, also asks USAID to place particular focus on supporting adolescent girls, who face unique challenges in accessing reproductive and sexual health information and care. More than 60 House Democrats have signed onto the letter, which has been endorsed by organizations including Planned Parenthood, Center for Reproductive Rights, International Center for Research on Women, American Jewish World Service, National Council of Jewish Women, and the International Women's Health Coalition. Full text of the letter follows and can be found here. December 10, 2013 The Honorable Rajiv Shah Administrator United States Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20523 Dear Administrator Shah, Today is Human Rights Day and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In recognition of this milestone, we write to reaffirm that reproductive and sexual health care are core human rights. As former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton famously proclaimed, women's rights are human rights. We wholeheartedly agree, and are therefore eager to support your agency's efforts to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. Furthermore, as USAID considers a new strategy for programming in these areas, we encourage you … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=109 Frankel Statement on Office Depot Corporate Headquarters Remaining in Boca Raton 2013-12-10 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Frankel Statement on Office Depot Corporate Headquarters Remaining in Boca Raton f t # e Washington, DC, December 10, 2013 Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement after Office Depot Inc. announced today that its global, corporate headquarters would continue to be in Boca Raton. This news follows the merger between Office Depot and Naperville (IL)-based Office Max being finalized last month. Frankel's congressional district includes Office Depot. Office Depot staying in Boca Raton is great news for our local economy and community, Frankel said. This means we're keeping jobs here as well as welcoming new workers from Illinois. ### f t # e 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301153331/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-authors-letter-to-usaid-urging-support-for-reproductive-health Frankel Authors Letter to USAID Urging Support for Reproductive Health as a Core Human Right 2013-12-10 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC – In recognition of UN International Human Rights Day Tuesday, Congresswoman Lois Frankel and her colleagues have authored a letter to USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah urging support for reproductive and sexual health care as core human rights. The letter reads in part: “Today is Human Rights Day and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights…As former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton famously proclaimed, ‘women’s rights are human rights.’ We wholeheartedly agree, and are therefore eager to support your agency’s efforts to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.” The letter, authored by Frankel who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, also asks USAID to place particular focus on supporting adolescent girls, who face unique challenges in accessing reproductive and sexual health information and care. More than 60 House Democrats have signed onto the letter, which has been endorsed by organizations including Planned Parenthood, Center for Reproductive Rights, International Center for Research on Women, American Jewish World Service, National Council of Jewish Women, and the International Women’s Health Coalition. Full text of the letter follows and can be found here.     December 10, 2013     The Honorable Rajiv Shah Administrator United States Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20523   Dear Administrator Shah, Today is Human Rights Day and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.  In recognition of this milestone, we write to reaffirm that reproductive and sexual health care are core human rights.  As former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton famously proclaimed, “women’s rights are human rights.”  We wholeheartedly agree, and are therefore eager to support your agency’s efforts to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.  Furthermore, as USAID considers a new strategy for programming i… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140511223611/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-statement-on-office-depot-corporate-headquarters-remaining-in Frankel Statement on Office Depot Corporate Headquarters Remaining in Boca Raton 2013-12-10 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement after Office Depot Inc. announced today that its global, corporate headquarters would continue to be in Boca Raton. This news follows the merger between Office Depot and Naperville (IL)-based Office Max being finalized last month. Frankel’s congressional district includes Office Depot. “Office Depot staying in Boca Raton is great news for our local economy and community,” Frankel said. “This means we’re keeping jobs here as well as welcoming new workers from Illinois.”     ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363797 Rep. Deutch in Sun Sentinel: Social Security Needs Bolstering, Not Cuts 2013-12-09 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy Saving enough to retire has become impossible for most Americans. U.S. Census data indicates that even as health care, education and housing costs have soared, average working families earn less today than they did in 1989.The National Retirement Security Institute's recent analysis of Federal Reserve data revealed that Americans are at least $6.6 trillion short of what they need to retire securely. A staggering 80 percent of working households have less than a year's earnings put away, and 40 percent have nothing saved at all. Defined benefit pension plans that many employees used to count on have been replaced by 401(k) accounts that offer nowhere near the same level of income security, and barely half of all workers are even enrolled in such plans. The median retirement account balance of all working households over 55 is just $12,000. Social Security is the only thing most Americans can count on to keep them out of poverty during retirement. In times like these, you would think leaders in Washington would rally behind the one pillar of retirement security left standing in America. Unfortunately, lawmakers seem more intent on chipping away at Social Security than strengthening it. Many Republicans, Democrats and even President Obama have decided that reducing Social Security cost-of-living adjustments may be necessary to get a budget passed. Meanwhile, Republican Budget Chairman Paul Ryan repeatedly claims that only drastic benefit cuts will prevent Social Security from bankrupting our nation. On the contrary, Social Security does not go broke in 2033 as many falsely assert. When the $2.7 trillion Trust Fund is exhausted, Social Security remains capable of paying three-quarters of owed benefits for another 75 years. A minor shortfall two decades away is no crisis. Fear-mongering must not guide this conversation. Social Security is fundamentally strong, but it can be even stronger. That's why earlier this year I introduced the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act with Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. A shoc… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023020/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349171& Senate acts to keep undetectable plastic firearms off the street 2013-12-09 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Senate acts to keep undetectable plastic firearms off the street December 9, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to reports that technology now allows people with 3-D printers to manufacture plastic guns, the Senate tonight passed legislation to ban plastic firearms.    The legislation, sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bill Nelson (D-FL), bans the possession, use or manufacturing of any weapon that cannot be recognized by a metal detector or X-ray machine.    An existing prohibition on such weapons was set to expire at midnight Monday.     “Weapons like this pose a threat to our security and personal safety,” Nelson said.  “We’ve got to keep them off our streets and out the hands of those who would do us harm.”   The measure was passed without a vote by agreement of Senate leadership.  It was passed by the House last week and now goes to the president for his signature.  It keeps the ban on plastic weapons in place for at least ten more years.   With advances in new technology, someone with a sophisticated 3-D printer could produce a fully-functioning plastic firearm that could be slipped through metal detectors without sounding any alarm.   Law enforcement, fearing the smuggling of weapons through airport security and other sensitive areas, has called for a reauthorization of what is known as the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988.   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=107 Frankel Encouraged by Good Jobs News, Calls for Congress to Stay in Session to Address Unfinished Economic Business 2013-12-06 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Frankel Encouraged by Good Jobs News, Calls for Congress to Stay in Session to Address Unfinished Economic Business f t # e Boca Raton, FL, December 6, 2013 Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement about the good news that the economy gained 203,000 jobs in November, the jobless rate fell to a five-year low of 7 percent and the economy grew at 3.6 percent in the third quarter. This economic news is encouraging and it's important to keep up the momentum. Congress should stay in session until we pass a budget to make sure there's economic certainty and finalize the Water Resources Reform and Development Act to bring jobs to South Florida. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140511223716/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-encouraged-by-good-jobs-news-calls-for-congress-to-stay-in Frankel Encouraged by Good Jobs News, Calls for Congress to Stay in Session to Address Unfinished Economic Business 2013-12-06 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Boca Raton, FL – Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement about the good news that the economy gained 203,000 jobs in November, the jobless rate fell to a five-year low of 7 percent and the economy grew at 3.6 percent in the third quarter. “This economic news is encouraging and it’s important to keep up the momentum. Congress should stay in session until we pass a budget to make sure there’s economic certainty and finalize the Water Resources Reform and Development Act to bring jobs to South Florida.”   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363491 Hastings and Buchanan Support Legal Action to Stop Flood Insurance Hikes 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Co-Chairs of the Florida Delegation, sent a letter to Governors Phil Bryant of Mississippi, Rick Scott of Florida, Robert J. Bentley of Alabama, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Nikki Haley of  South Carolina, and Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, expressing support for their federal lawsuit challenging the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to unilaterally raise flood insurance premiums before completing an affordability study as mandated by law. (Please see below and attached a copy of the letter). December 5, 2013 The Honorable Phil Bryant Governor of Mississippi Office of the Governor P.O. Box 139 Jackson, MS 39205 Dear Governor Bryant: As co-chairs of Florida’s U.S. Congressional delegation, we are writing to express our strong support for your federal lawsuit challenging the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to unilaterally raise flood insurance premiums before completing an affordability study as mandated by law.  We stand ready to assist your request for an injunction overturning FEMA’s action. Hundreds of thousands of Floridians and millions more nationwide are experiencing untenable rate hikes that, if left unchecked, threaten to wash away property values and push people out of their homes. Section 100236 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, passed into law on July 6, 2012, explicitly instructed FEMA’s administrator to submit an affordability study to Congress “not later than 270 days of enactment of this Act.”  Today marks day 518 and FEMA Director Craig Fugate has yet to deliver an economic analysis of the new rate changes for congressional review.  While Biggert-Waters was designed to bring financial stability to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), it was not the intent of Congress to do so in a manner that would force people from their homes and businesses.  As your lawsuit accurately states, FEMA’s failure to conduct a study in the time mandated consti… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363560 Hastings Reintroduces the National Commission on Employment and Economic Security Act 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement after reintroducing the National Commission on Employment and Economic Security Act. Joining him as original co-sponsors of the resolution were Representatives John Conyers Jr. (MI-13) and Barbara Lee (CA-13). (Please see a copy of the legislation attached). “I am pleased to reintroduce the National Commission on Employment and Economic Security Act, legislation that establishes a national commission to examine the issues of economic and psychological insecurity within our workforce that have been caused by employment displacement,” said Congressman Hastings. “When Americans lose their jobs and their incomes shrink, too often, they face the loss of their family’s health insurance and, subsequent to the loss of income, even their housing. The mental health of the American worker is integral as we continue down the road of economic recovery.” “I am a proud original co-sponsor of the National Commission on Unemployment and Economic Security Act. While we are still recovering from the greatest recession since the Great Depression, unemployment numbers are unacceptably high, income inequality is growing, and our nation’s promise of opportunity is slipping from view, this bill would address those concerns and help to ensure that we have an economy that works for all,” added Congresswoman Lee.   “With the ongoing jobs crisis in America, I am fully supportive of the re-introduction of the National Commission on Employment and Economic Security Act, which will study the impact of unemployment and economic insecurity Americans face and then offer remedies. Over the last year a quarter of the American population was unemployed or underemployed, and did not earn enough to support their basic needs. We must act to curtail these circumstances before they become entrenched and systemic. I truly believe this is a measure both parties can come together to support and shed light on the real effect and devastation unemployment causes, and in turn lead the Co… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363593 Hastings Statement on the Passing of Nelson Mandela 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings made the following statement commemorating the life of Nelson Mandela: “Today, the world mourns the loss of a great leader, a Nobel laureate, and a champion of equality. A commanding advocate for equal rights and opportunities, Nelson Mandela led the charge against institutional racism and discrimination in South Africa, fighting apartheid and fostering an era of peace and reconciliation. Truly, the name Nelson Mandela has become synonymous with peace, justice, and the most steadfast perseverance. “The outpouring of support across the globe for President Mandela is a testament to his integrity and fortitude. I have no doubt that his name will live on for generations to come. I join with the people of South Africa and the world in honoring his remarkable life, and offer my thoughts and prayers to President Mandela’s family and country in this time of sadness.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Democratic Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=106 Frankel Statement on Passing of Nelson Mandela 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Frankel Statement on Passing of Nelson Mandela f t # e Washington, DC, December 5, 2013 Congresswoman Lois Frankel, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the passing of former South African president Nelson Mandela. Today we mourn the loss of Nelson Mandela, a special man who will forever be remembered for leading a peaceful fightfor equality and freedom.His legacy will continue to inspire millions of people. ### f t # e 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023023/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349158& Officials continue mulling state's voting directive 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Officials continue mulling state's voting directive Senator seeks Justice Department review December 5, 2013      ORLANDO – Some of Florida’s county elections chiefs met informally here today in part to discuss a recent Tallahassee directive that could force them to eliminate remote drop boxes for voters’ absentee ballots.  One of those officials afterward is to meet with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the lawmaker’s Orlando regional office.   Nelson (D-FL) is in Florida this week and meeting with several of Florida’s local elections supervisors regarding the potential impact of the new directive.  He wants to know if it violates any federal election laws.  And just today, he asked the Justice Department in a letter to review the state’s move.   The directive, issued last week by Secretary of State Ken Detzner, would require voters to return their completed absentee ballots to their county’s supervisors of election main offices only – thus eliminating the use by many local supervisors of the so-called remote drop-off locations.  Since being issued, Detzner’s directive has caused a furor among county elections officials with some outright declaring they would defy the order.    One of the supervisors who opposes the directive is Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles who is scheduled to meet with Nelson this afternoon.   For Nelson’s part, he’s been outspoken in his criticism of the state's handling of so-called election reforms, since the Legislature passed and Gov. Rick Scott signed a l… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221124206/http://wilson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=454 Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Statement on the Passing of Iconic Leader Nelson Mandela 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 web.archive.org     legacy Miami— Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), released the following statement about the passing of South Africa’s first black president, anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. “The world will probably never again see a man of Nelson Mandela’s courage and conviction.  He was truly a remarkable and inspirational human being to have endured 27 years as a political prisoner and to respond with forgiveness and reconciliation. President Mandela inspired a movement for freedom and equality that not only transformed South Africa but also humanity. Nelson Mandela was a man of steel and a symbol of peace. He was a gift from God to this world.”                                                                                                                       ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.  Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140511223741/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-statement-on-passing-of-nelson-mandela Frankel Statement on Passing of Nelson Mandela 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lois Frankel, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the passing of former South African president Nelson Mandela. “Today we mourn the loss of Nelson Mandela, a special man who will forever be remembered for leading a peaceful fight for equality and freedom. His legacy will continue to inspire millions of people.”   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-statement-on-the-passing-of-iconic Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Statement on the Passing of Iconic Leader Nelson Mandela 2013-12-05 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 wilson.house.gov     legacy Miami Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), released the following statement about the passing of South Africa's first black president, anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. The world will probably never again see a man of Nelson Mandela's courage and conviction. He was truly a remarkable and inspirational human being to have endured 27 years as a political prisoner and to respond with forgiveness and reconciliation. President Mandela inspired a movement for freedom and equality that not only transformed South Africa but also humanity. Nelson Mandela was a man of steel and a symbol of peace. He was a gift from God to this world. ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363446 Hastings and Bernice Johnson Send Letter Urging No Further Cuts to SNAP in the Farm Bill Conference Report 2013-12-04 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent the following letter to Congressman Collin Peterson, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on Agriculture, and Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, opposing additional cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the 2013 Farm Bill conference report. (Please see below and attached a copy of the letter). Joining Hastings and Johnson in signing the letter were (19): Representatives John Conyers (D-MI), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Robert A. Brady (D-PA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Janice D.  Schakowsky (D-IL), Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU),  Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), and Jared Huffman (D-CA). December 4, 2013 The Honorable Debbie Stabenow Chairwoman Senate Committee on Agriculture 328A Russell Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Collin Peterson Ranking Member House Committee on Agriculture 1301 Longworth Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Peterson: We write to express our strong opposition to reductions in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of any reconciliation between the House and Senate versions of the 2013 Farm Bill. We believe SNAP is an indispensable program for the nearly 50 million Americans that rely on it, and as the Conference Committee works towards a final version of the Farm Bill, we urge you to oppose a final conference report that would make hunger in America worse. As you are aware, an $11 billion cut to SNAP recently took effect after expanded funding within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expired on November 1, 2013. These cuts will negatively impact one in e… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=105 Request by Reps. Deutch, Frankel, Hastings, and Murphy for Flood Map Extension Granted by FEMA 2013-12-04 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted arequestfrom U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-21), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), and Patrick Murphy (FL-18) to give Palm Beach County officials time beyond the November 30th deadline to submit comments and technical data on flood map proposals for the region. This extension will allow local officials and scientists to continue contributing data and suggestions for the final flood maps, which need to be accurate in order to protect many homeowners from unaffordable flood insurance rates. Flaws in the preliminary flood maps released by FEMA would hurt Palm Beach County's economy by saddling homeowners with unaffordable flood insurance rates and reducing consumer spending at local businesses, said Congressman Ted Deutch. This extension will help ensure that the flood maps are accurate, the science is sound, and the remapping process is fair. Keeping flood insurance affordable is a must for South Florida families, Congresswoman Lois Frankel said. Sharp increases in flood insurance rates will continue to be an important issue for Floridians. It is a problem that we must resolve together and I appreciate FEMA's understanding of the situation. I look forward to working on solutions that are acceptable to all, said Congressman Alcee L. Hastings. "Because of the huge impact these final flood maps will have on our local economy, real estate market, and mitigation efforts, it is crucial to provide the time necessary to make sure they are accurate and scientifically sound," said Congressman Murphy. "This process must be done right to protect homeowners from facing outrageous flood insurance rate hikes, and I welcome this much-needed extension." The Palm Beach County congressional delegation has also sponsored the bipartisanHomeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which would require the National Flood Insurance Program take affordability issues into account before implementation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301152632/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/request-by-reps-deutch-frankel-hastings-and-murphy-for-flood-map Request by Reps. Deutch, Frankel, Hastings, and Murphy for Flood Map Extension Granted by FEMA 2013-12-04 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC—The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted a request from U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-21), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), and Patrick Murphy (FL-18) to give Palm Beach County officials time beyond the November 30th deadline to submit comments and technical data on flood map proposals for the region. This extension will allow local officials and scientists to continue contributing data and suggestions for the final flood maps, which need to be accurate in order to protect many homeowners from unaffordable flood insurance rates. “Flaws in the preliminary flood maps released by FEMA would hurt Palm Beach County’s economy by saddling homeowners with unaffordable flood insurance rates and reducing consumer spending at local businesses,” said Congressman Ted Deutch. “This extension will help ensure that the flood maps are accurate, the science is sound, and the remapping process is fair.”  “Keeping flood insurance affordable is a must for South Florida families,” Congresswoman Lois Frankel said. “Sharp increases in flood insurance rates will continue to be an important issue for Floridians. It is a problem that we must resolve together and I appreciate FEMA’s understanding of the situation. I look forward to working on solutions that are acceptable to all,” said Congressman Alcee L. Hastings.  "Because of the huge impact these final flood maps will have on our local economy, real estate market, and mitigation efforts, it is crucial to provide the time necessary to make sure they are accurate and scientifically sound," said Congressman Murphy.  "This process must be done right to protect homeowners from facing outrageous flood insurance rate hikes, and I welcome this much-needed extension." The Palm Beach County congressional delegation has also sponsored the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which would require the National Flood Insurance Program take affordability issues into account before implementation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363315 Florida falling further behind: No relief for 800K uninsured Floridians, while other states see 15% increase in Medicaid health applications 2013-12-03 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Kathy Castor C001066 castor.house.gov     legacy A report today shows that states fully participating in the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act have significantly boosted access to medical care for their citizens. The report states that applications increased by 15 percent in October compared to the average monthly enrollment in July – September. “While other states have put their tax dollars to work to provide health services, Florida Republicans have sent our tax dollars back to the federal government, recklessly leaving more than 800,000 of our neighbors without access to care and putting a significant number of jobs at risk,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said.  For example, California has seen a 31 percent increase in the number of Medicaid applications submitted, Massachusetts has seen a 43 percent increase and Colorado has seen a 102 percent increase. “The greatest outrage in Florida does not involve a website, but the intentional decision by Republican legislators to put Floridians at a disadvantage compared to other states by sending billions of our tax dollars elsewhere,” Rep. Castor said. "The Legislature’s decision sends $51 billion back to the federal government over the next 10 years and directs almost 1 million Floridians to ‘emergency room healthcare,’ which is more costly for our communities and neighbors who have insurance.”  Business and healthcare industry leaders, including the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Hospital Association, have expressed strong support for Medicaid expansion in Florida and publicly urged state lawmakers to implement the law. Earlier this year, a Florida Hospital Association study found that Florida Medicaid expansion would generate more than 121,000 jobs over the next 10 years, including nearly 50,000 in the health care industry alone. Today’s report was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is available here:  http://medicaid.gov/AffordableCareAct/Medicaid-Moving-Forward-2014/Medicaid-Moving-Forward-2014.html  Millions of Americans have benefitted from… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363094 Hastings Marks 25th Annual World AIDS Day 2013-12-01 2013 2013-12 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in recognition of the 25th annual World AIDS Day:   “Twenty-five years after observing the first World AIDS Day, we find ourselves at a turning point in the ongoing struggle against this devastating disease.  On one hand, AIDS remains a significant public health challenge here at home and abroad.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 35.3 million people around the world are currently living with HIV, with an estimated 2.3 million people newly infected in 2012 alone.   “However, thanks to scientific advancements and the tireless dedication of countless individuals, an AIDS-free generation is truly within our grasp.  Between increasing access to treatment and reducing new HIV infections, it is suggested that we could achieve the beginning of the end of AIDS as early as 2015.  In fact, 16 African countries have already surpassed the tipping point of their epidemics, with more new patients receiving treatment than the annual number of new HIV infections.   “While the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States has remained relatively stable in recent years, the pace of new infections continues to be significantly high, particularly for certain groups.  Men who have sex with men (MSM) bear the greatest burden of HIV infection, while African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and young people are disproportionately impacted.  Furthermore, only about one in three individuals living with HIV is receiving anti-retroviral treatment, and fewer still are able to adhere to their treatment and sustain undetectable viral loads.   “Achieving the beginning of the end of AIDS will take a renewed commitment to expanding access to testing, treatment, and care, as well as to raising public awareness.  On November 19, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed under suspension of the rules S. 1545, the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013.  PEPFAR, the ‘President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relie… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=104 Frankel Statement on Supreme Court Announcement It Would Hear Cases on Contraception Benefit in Affordable Care Act 2013-11-26 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced it would hear two cases Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius and Congestoga Wood Specialities v. Sebelius related to the Affordable Care Act benefit that requires most employers to include contraception coverage in their health care plans. Decisions about contraception belong to a woman with the advice of her doctor, not her employer, Frankel said. There is nothing more essential to a woman's health than to be in charge of her own body and be in control of her most important life-changing decisions. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to provide preventative care, including contraception, with no out-of-pocket costs to individuals. Churches and religious schools are exempt from providing contraception coverage to employees and there is also an accommodation for non-profit religious organizations. The stakes in this case are clear should for-profit corporations or a woman and her doctor determine her access to preventative care and contraception? ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301152408/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-statement-on-supreme-court-announcement-it-would-hear-cases-on Frankel Statement on Supreme Court Announcement It Would Hear Cases on Contraception Benefit in Affordable Care Act 2013-11-26 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Boca Raton, FL — Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced it would hear two cases — Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius and Congestoga Wood Specialities v. Sebelius — related to the Affordable Care Act benefit that requires most employers to include contraception coverage in their health care plans. “Decisions about contraception belong to a woman with the advice of her doctor, not her employer,” Frankel said. “There is nothing more essential to a woman’s health than to be in charge of her own body and be in control of her most important life-changing decisions.”   Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to provide preventative care, including contraception, with no out-of-pocket costs to individuals. Churches and religious schools are exempt from providing contraception coverage to employees and there is also an accommodation for non-profit religious organizations. The stakes in this case are clear — should for-profit corporations or a woman and her doctor determine her access to preventative care and contraception?   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362880 Hastings Marks International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women 2013-11-25 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement recognizing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: “Today, nations all around the world are observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Violence against women remains a global pandemic, and seven out of every ten women worldwide will experience violence or abuse in their lifetime. “Up to two million people, 80 percent of whom are women, are trafficked annually and forced into prostitution or domestic servitude. Furthermore, nearly 50 percent of sexual assaults across the globe are committed against girls under the age of 16, and more than 130 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation, predominately in countries throughout Africa and the Middle East. “Thankfully, in the United States, the number of cases of domestic violence has declined in recent years. Despite these reductions, however, domestic violence remains the most prevalent and underreported form of abuse against women, and there are still millions of cases each and every year. Approximately one in four women in the United States will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. Many women living in low-income households and individuals in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) relationships experience violence and abuse at even higher rates. “It is essential that we continue to address these staggering figures as quickly and comprehensively as possible. As a Member of Congress, I will continue to advocate for the thousands of victims of domestic abuse throughout our country, and will work tirelessly to support and implement policies that will further reduce abuse here at home and abroad. As we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, let us reflect on the progress we have made, and rededicate ourselves to bringing an end to the mistreatment of women and girls.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362886 U.S. Rep. Castor rallies for Small Businesses at start of holiday shopping season 2013-11-25 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Kathy Castor C001066 castor.house.gov     legacy U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) today visited an independent bookshop in Tampa to champion local Small Businesses at the start of the holiday shopping season. Since 2010, Small Business Saturday has been promoted as a day to support local businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. share: f t U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) today visited an independent bookshop in Tampa to champion local Small Businesses at the start of the holiday shopping season. Since 2010, Small Business Saturday has been promoted as a day to support local businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. “Shopping locally at our small businesses means more of our dollars spent during the holidays stay right here in our community,” Rep. Castor said. For every $100 spent on a local store, $68 stays in the community, compared to $43 when shopping at a nonlocal business, according to Civics Economics.  "As families make their holiday shopping lists, I urge them to go out of their way to 'buy local,' whether at a bookstore, restaurant, gift shop, auto repair or more," noted Rep. Castor.  Small businesses in Hillsborough County make up 92 percent of businesses, and Inkwood Books is one of 75,000 small businesses operating in Hillsborough County. “Small Business Saturday supports the uniqueness of local shops. This is how I make my living and I am invested in my customers,” Inkwood Books owner Stefani Beddingfield said. Inkwood Books has been in business for more than 20 years, but Stefani Beddingfield is new to entrepreneurship. After having been a long-time customer of Inkwood Books, she purchased the shop from its previous owners in April.  “Tampa Bay is a community of small businesses, and in America, small businesses are responsible for about half of all jobs,” Rep. Castor said. “Whether it is consumers shopping for holiday gifts, or businesses and governments procuring local goods and services, s… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362597 Hastings Celebrates National Adoption Day 2013-11-23 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement in honor of National Adoption Day: “Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, thousands of families across the country finalize the adoptions of children in the foster care system. Since 2000, nearly 40,000 adoptions have taken place on National Adoption Day, and this year, the National Adoption Day Coalition expects 4,500 children to be formally adopted by the end of the day. “Today, I am especially proud to honor the thousands of men and women that have provided loving homes for children in need, and the families that have been created as a result. For the thousands of children that are adopted each year, having the unconditional love and support of a family is a dream come true. “As a member of the Congressional Foster Youth Caucus, I am committed to the well-being and ultimate adoption of the more than 20,000 children in the foster care system in the State of Florida, and the more than 100,000 children waiting to be adopted in foster care systems across the country. Almost all of these children will wait for more than three and a half years to be adopted, and hundreds will age out of the foster care system before finding adoptive parents. We must do all that we can to give these children the support each and every one of them deserve.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362794 Statement by Rep. Ted Deutch on Iran 2013-11-23 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy ​Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa,  released this statement in reaction to President Obama's announcement of an interim deal with Iran:"This partial deal is only the beginning, but we must be clear that the end result of this process is Iran verifiably and completely ending its nuclear weapons program and dangerous enrichment activities. Before any final deal can be reached, Iran must come clean about its entire nuclear program once and for all. This means addressing all outstanding claims by the IAEA of possible military aspects, dismantling the Arak reactor, halting centrifuge manufacturing, and granting inspectors full access to Parchin and all other sites. Iran must understand that all options remain until its nuclear program is no longer a threat to U.S. and international security." 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362636 TODAY: Congressional Youth Cabinet to Grapple with Federal Budget Issues in Meeting with U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch 2013-11-22 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) will meet with the members of his 2013-2014 Congressional Youth Cabinet and lead the students through a federal budget simulation. The exercise, developed by the nonpartisan, non-profit organization Concord Coalition, will challenge the high school students to grapple with the federal budget debate underway in Congress and propose their own solutions. The Congressional Youth Cabinet is a program launched by Congressman Ted Deutch that provides high school students throughout Palm Beach County and Broward County direct exposure to major policy debates of importance to the nation and our local community. Details: Congressional Youth Cabinet Meeting Friday, November 23, 2013 at 4:00 pm Florida Atlantic University College of Business Room BU 120 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023026/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=348106& Sen. Nelson reflects on the day President Kennedy was shot 2013-11-21 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Sen. Nelson reflects on the day President Kennedy was shot November 21, 2013      WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tomorrow, the nation will mark 50 years since President John F. Kennedy was murdered by an assassin as he rode through the streets of Dallas, Texas. Just a young student at Yale University, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) still recalls how much he was influenced by JFK's call to public service, and his view of service as noble work.   Like so many Americans, Nelson says he will never forget the precise moment he and his international politics classmates heard the awful news.   To mark tomorrow’s somber milestone, Nelson has recorded a brief statement about where he was, and what he was doing, when he heard the news that President Kennedy was shot.  Click here to watch. Here’s the transcript of Nelson’s remarks: “Anyone who was alive in 1963 knows exactly where they were, remember it crystal clear, when we heard the news that President Kennedy was shot.  I was a student at Yale, in my international politics class. The professor came late because of the news, and he spent the next half hour tracing the history of political assassinations.  When we left the class, we were dumbfounded, and so many of us gathered around a car stopped in the middle of the street with an open window, where the radio news was blaring out into the street.  It’s a tragedy that’s indelibly etched in my mind and in America’s soul.” ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362413 Hastings Observes 15th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following remarks in observance of the 15th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which were entered into the Congressional Record: “M. Speaker, I rise today in observance of the 15th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. “Fifteen years ago, the tragic murder of transgender musician Rita Hester in Boston offered our nation a glimpse into the daily struggle and injustice suffered by transgender Americans.  In honor of her memory, transgender activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1998 as an occasion to remember all those who have been lost due to violence and prejudice against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.  Despite significant advances in the struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality in recent years, many people do not realize or recognize that transphobia exists, and transgender individuals continue to face discrimination in every major aspect of their day-to-day lives. “Tragically, members of the transgender community are too often the victims of hate-motivated violence.  Each year around the world, hundreds of transgender individuals of all ages – particularly transgender women of color –are brutally attacked, injured, or murdered simply because of who they are, and the list of names to memorialize grows ever longer.  In 2013 alone, this figure topped 238 lives lost, but we know that the real number of deaths is much higher as many cases go unreported and uninvestigated. “All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, as well as live free from fear of discrimination and harm.  For transgender individuals, the lack of access to culturally competent health care, disproportionate rates of poverty and homelessness, resorting to survival sex or attempting suicide, maltreatment by law enforcement, and employment discrimination remain serious challenges to their well-being.  As a nation, we must do more to address these issues, root out stigma and racism, and … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362416 Hastings Hosts Film Screening of The List and Discussion of the Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa Program Backlog 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after hosting a screening and discussion of The List. The film documents the efforts of Kirk Johnson, a former employee of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Iraq and founder of The List Project. Kirk Johnson and film Director Beth Murphy joined Congressman Hastings at the screening for a discussion of the Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa Program backlog. “The United States completed its military withdrawal from Iraq in December 2011, and for many the conflict is quickly fading from memory. However, for the tens of thousands of Iraqis who risked their lives assisting American forces, everyday life remains perilous. Iraqi citizens were vital to the success of the U.S. mission. Now, their lives – and the lives of their loved ones – are constantly in danger. “Since 2007, Kirk has worked tirelessly to bring greater attention to the plight of our Iraqi allies who remain in harm’s way. He has succeeded in resettling nearly 1,500 Iraqis who fled their country out of fear or violence, and his list continues to grow. I am proud of the work he has done and honored to welcome him to the capitol today for this important discussion. “A mere 7,000 Special Immigrant Visas have been awarded and 18,000 remain unclaimed. I am pleased that the program was recently extended through December 2013, and hope the backlog in claims can be thoroughly addressed during this time.  As we accelerate in our withdrawal from Afghanistan, the interpreters who aided our troops there face the same nightmares as our allies in Iraq. The situation will only grow more urgent in the coming months, and we must remain committed to protecting our friends in the region that are now in danger.” The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that roughly 70,000 Iraqis worked for U.S. government agencies or their contractors in Iraq as of August 2008.  The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that over 36,000 Iraqis worked with American forces in 20… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362468 Bipartisan Bill Tackling Abuses by Patent Trolls Introduced by Reps. Polis, Deutch, and Marino 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy This week, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) joined his colleagues Reps. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Tom Marino (R-PA) to introduce bipartisan legislation to tackle the growing problem of patent trolls. The Demand Letter Transparency Act will help businesses that increasingly find themselves on the receiving end of vague patent infringement demand letters that often make allegations that the use of everyday technology, such as wireless email, digital video streaming, and the interactive web, is in violation of a patent holders’ rights. While it is estimated that the Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs) behind these demand letter lose 92% of the merits judgments in courts, retailers, advertisers, marketers, and other often simply settle these nuisance claims rather than running the risk of complicated, expensive, and protracted discovery and litigation in federal court.According to the Congressional Research Service, PAEs generated $29 billion in direct costs from defendants and licensees in 2011, a 400% increase over $7 billion in 2005. Another study reported that 62% of all patent suits filed in 2012 were brought by PAEs.  “Intimidating small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits with vague demand letters has become one of the most common ways that patent trolls take advantage of the lack of transparency in our patent system,” said Congressman Ted Deutch. “The targets of these demand letters are often left to decide whether or not to enter into expensive litigation without knowing any of the details regarding the patent in question, whose rights are being infringed, or how often similar demand letters are sent. I am pleased to join Reps. Polis and Marino to introduce a bipartisan bill that uses to transparency to solve a growing problem.” “Businesses are increasingly coming under attack by entities abusing current patent law by sending vague, overbroad and threatening demand letters to businesses that are playing a vital role in our economy. As a result of this threat of litigation, consumers are forced to pay more and many com… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=103 Frankel Advocates for Port Everglades Expansion, Everglades Restoration As Negotiations Kickoff on Finalizing Major Transportation Bill 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Today Congresswoman Lois Frankel advocated for South Florida priorities Port Everglades expansion and Everglades Restoration as negotiations got underway on a final Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Frankel, a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment, has a seat at the table as the House-Senate Conference Committee resolve differences between the House and Senate-passed WRRDA bills. For Frankel's opening statement, please see below. Congresswoman Frankel Remarks As Prepared It's an honor to join you all today. First, I want to congratulate both the House and the Senate for passing excellent WRRDA bills and thank the chair and ranking members of the committees for their outstanding leadership. I am very optimistic and energized that we can show the American people that lawmakers have the ability to work cooperatively in this conference committee and bring back an excellent finished product to our respective bodies. Transportation moves our economy, and our waterways play a vital role. WRRDA is about jobs for America, and as a Floridian I will be looking forward to supporting a final bill that streamlines project approvals, promotes our ports, protects our precious wetlands known as the Everglades, and preserves and manages our coastline. Both WRRDA bills reduce the bureaucracy and expense in determining the feasibility of water projects. That will be good news for applicants, like Port Everglades, that has waited 17 years for a chief's report on a dredging proposal. America's ports, like Port Everglades, need to be ready for the widening of the Panama Canal, expected to be completed by 2015. If they are not ready, the ships will pass them by. Dredging projects will allow the accommodation of larger and heavier loaded Post-Panamax freight ships. For Florida, this translates into tens of thousands of jobs with a multi-billion dollar impact on our economy. The ports of our country are in an infrastructure race with the rest… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023027/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=348093& Effort to crackdown on theft of tax refunds gains momentum 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Effort to crackdown on theft of tax refunds gains momentum November 20, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A new tax-reform proposal that the head of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee issued today includes measures aimed at stopping the dramatic increase in ID thieves stealing tax refunds. The identity theft measures are based on legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and are part of a broader tax-reform initiative from Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat. The overall goal of Baucus’s proposal is to simplify the country’s current tax system that’s become riddled with loopholes for special interests and corporations. “It's encouraging the chairman recognizes the importance of dealing with ID theft," Nelson said today.  "Too many taxpayers are having their tax refunds swiped by identity thieves." While it's encouraging that renewed emphasis is being placed on Nelson's legislation, the prospects for passage of the broader tax plan in a divided Congress remain uncertain. “Just trying to make something happen by taking the initiative,” Baucus has told reporters. Nelson first got involved in the issue of tax-related identity theft two years ago after hearing numerous complaints from Florida taxpayers, mainly in Tampa and Orlando, who fell victim to the scheme.  The Florida Democrat held two hearings in the Senate Finance subcommittee he chaired to investigate the issue, then prepared and filed bipartisan legislation to try to deter identity theft by increasing the penalties imposed on criminals caught filing fraudulent t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221124222/http://wilson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=453 Congresswoman Wilson Announces Iconic Congressman John Lewis Will Visit Miami's Booker T. Washington Senior High School 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 web.archive.org     legacy MIAMI, FL- Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) announced today that iconic civil and human rights activist Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) will visit Booker T. Washington Senior High School to share with students his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. Congressman Lewis’s visit will take place at 9:00 a.m. Friday, November 22, 2013. The school is located at 1200 NW 6th Avenue, in Miami. Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Lewis are longtime friends and were classmates at Fisk University during the Civil Rights Movement. After meeting with students at the high school, Congressman Lewis will become an honorary member of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a comprehensive drop-out prevention and  mentoring program for at-risk boys in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “It is an honor to have an American hero like Congressman John Lewis visit Booker T. Washington Senior High School to speak to students and to share his experiences in the struggle for civil and human rights.  “For half a century, he has been an extraordinary role model for millions.  As he shares his wisdom and life’s lessons with students at Booker T. Washington Senior High School, it is my hope that the students will become even more inspired and empowered to fulfill their dreams,” said Congresswoman Wilson. Congressman Lewis is one of this year’s featured guest speakers at Miami Book Fair International which is sponsored by Miami-Dade College. Congressman Lewis is co-author of the #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel memoir trilogy MARCH, which also chronicles his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement.                                                                                           ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young mal… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140511223807/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-advocates-for-port-everglades-expansion-everglades-restoration Frankel Advocates for Port Everglades Expansion, Everglades Restoration As Negotiations Kickoff on Finalizing Major Transportation Bill 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Lois Frankel advocated for South Florida priorities — Port Everglades expansion and Everglades Restoration — as negotiations got underway on a final Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Frankel, a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment, has a seat at the table as the House-Senate Conference Committee resolve differences between the House and Senate-passed WRRDA bills. For Frankel’s opening statement, please see below. Congresswoman Frankel Remarks As Prepared It’s an honor to join you all today.  First, I want to congratulate both the House and the Senate for passing excellent WRRDA bills and thank the chair and ranking members of the committees for their outstanding leadership. I am very optimistic and energized that we can show the American people that lawmakers have the ability to work cooperatively in this conference committee and bring back an excellent finished product to our respective bodies. Transportation moves our economy, and our waterways play a vital role. WRRDA is about jobs for America, and as a Floridian I will be looking forward to supporting a final bill that streamlines project approvals, promotes our ports, protects our precious wetlands known as the Everglades, and preserves and manages our coastline. Both WRRDA bills reduce the bureaucracy and expense in determining the feasibility of water projects.  That will be good news for applicants, like Port Everglades, that has waited 17 years for a chief’s report on a dredging proposal. America’s ports, like Port Everglades, need to be ready for the widening of the Panama Canal, expected to be completed by 2015. If they are not ready, the ships will pass them by. Dredging projects will allow the accommodation of larger and heavier loaded Post-Panamax freight ships. For Florida, this translates into tens of thousands of jobs with a multi-billion dollar impact on our economy.  The ports of our country are in an infrastructure race w… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-announces-iconic-congressman-john-lewis-will-visit Congresswoman Wilson Announces Iconic Congressman John Lewis Will Visit Miami's Booker T. Washington Senior High School 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 wilson.house.gov     legacy MIAMI, FL- Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) announced today that iconic civil and human rights activist Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) will visit Booker T. Washington Senior High School to share with students his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. Congressman Lewis's visit will take place at 9:00 a.m. Friday, November 22, 2013. The school is located at 1200 NW 6th Avenue, in Miami. Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Lewis are longtime friends and were classmates at Fisk University during the Civil Rights Movement. After meeting with students at the high school, Congressman Lewis will become an honorary member of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a comprehensive drop-out prevention and mentoring program for at-risk boys in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. It is an honor to have an American hero like Congressman John Lewis visit Booker T. Washington Senior High School to speak to students and to share his experiences in the struggle for civil and human rights. For half a century, he has been an extraordinary role model for millions. As he shares his wisdom and life's lessons with students at Booker T. Washington Senior High School, it is my hope that the students will become even more inspired and empowered to fulfill their dreams, said Congresswoman Wilson. Congressman Lewis is one of this year's featured guest speakers at Miami Book Fair International which is sponsored by Miami-Dade College. Congressman Lewis is co-author of the #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel memoirtrilogy MARCH, which also chronicles his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Cor… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362227 Hastings Introduces Resolution Recognizing People of African Descent and Black European Leaders 2013-11-19 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement after introducing a resolution in recognition of people of African descent and Black Europeans, and outlining concrete steps for the United States to take to help address racism and discrimination in Europe (Please find attached a copy of the resolution): “An estimated seven to ten million individuals of African descent currently live in Europe, particularly in France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, and form an influential part of the African diaspora.  From labor and scholarship to politics and civil rights, they have contributed greatly to European history and culture over the past several centuries.  However, the story of Black Europeans remains widely untold, rendering many of their past and present contributions to the political and social life of Europe invisible or forgotten.  Furthermore, similar to the experiences of many African Americans, they have increasingly become the targets of discrimination, pernicious racial profiling, and violent hate crimes impacting equal access to housing, employment, education, and justice. “This week, it was my great privilege and honor to welcome to Washington, D.C. an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) delegation of Black European Rights Leaders representing 10 countries in Europe, and preside as Ranking Democratic Member over a U.S. Helsinki Commission briefing, entitled ‘Europeans of African Decent ‘Black Europeans’: Race, Rights, and Politics.’  Building on past and current initiatives, the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to shed light on the experiences of Black Europeans in the face of ongoing racism and discrimination, specifically with regard to their representation in leadership positions and political participation.  Their personal testimonies offered a raw and honest glimpse into the realities of many Blacks living in Europe, and provided an opportunity for lawmakers, human rights advocates,… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023031/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=348090& Senators press for action on flood insurance rates 2013-11-19 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Senators press for action on flood insurance rates November 19, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six lawmakers today jointly and publicly urged congressional leaders to take up legislation that would give millions of consumers relief from dramatic increases in their flood insurance. The bipartisan group was trying to impress upon congressional leaders how much folks in their states are hurting from these rate hikes.  They want Congress to pass stalled legislation they filed that would help. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) was joined by five other lawmakers including U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “We want to put this on hold,” Nelson said of the rate hikes. “Insurance that’s not affordable is not … insurance.”   Last month, Nelson and others filed legislation in the Senate that would delay the flood insurance rate increases for four years and require FEMA to complete an affordability study before increasing any flood insurance premiums in the future. They are now trying to attach that legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill that is currently being considered by the full Senate.   Such a move would have to be approved by leadership. Last year, Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act to make the nation's flood insurance program more financially sound.  The program was in a downward spiral mostly since Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans in 2005.     Biggert-Waters eliminated certain subsid… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361917 Hastings Marks National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 2013-11-18 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement in commemoration of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week: “Each year, we set aside the week before the Thanksgiving to mark National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. This year’s theme, “Bringing America Home,” reflects both the progress we have made in reducing hunger and homelessness and also the work that remains to ensure every American access to the most basic human needs. “As a member of the Congressional Hunger Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Homelessness Caucus, the issues of homelessness and hunger remain among my top priorities in Congress. I am particularly alarmed by the impact that recent and future reductions in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have on Americans living in poverty or without a home. Homeless and impoverished Americans already struggle to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis, and I believe that we have a moral obligation to do whatever we can to assist those in need.  “I commend the hundreds of schools, organizations, non-profits, as well as community and faith groups that come together every year during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week to bring renewed attention to the goal of working to end hunger and homelessness in America. Together, we will continue to make progress in ensuring that all Americans have food to eat and permanent shelter over their heads.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361822 Hastings Observes World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2013-11-17 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in commemoration of this year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims:   “Today, we remember the lives of loved ones lost in road crashes all over the world.  These devastating accidents are often sudden, traumatic events that leave family members, friends, and communities asking themselves how such tragedies could have been avoided.   “In October 2005, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for governments to mark the third Sunday in November of each year as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.  This year’s theme is ‘Let’s Have Roads that are Safe for All,’ reminding us of the critical need for safer highway infrastructure and sustainable urban planning to keep everyone out of harm when driving, biking, or walking on the street. Road safety is a shared responsibility that concerns everyone, including government, industry, non-governmental organizations, international agencies, and everyday citizens.   “From 2006 to 2010, an average of 37,600 Americans lost their lives every year on our nation’s roads. First responders and medical professionals are to be commended for their tireless dedication to treat the injuries of accident victims. Fortunately, we have seen the number of traffic deaths continue to decline due to improved road safety programs, yet we can all take greater steps to help reduce road traffic deaths further.   “Road traffic crashes are frequently predictable and preventable.  Many countries have already made significant progress in reducing their number of crashes and casualties through education and the implementation of smarter, safer policies.  More than two years into the Decade of Action for Road Safety, I remain committed to supporting sustainable road safety programs and partnerships to save lives and minimize crash-related injuries, and as we celebrate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, I encourage all Americans to be extra mi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361382 Deutch: Passage of Right to Counsel Resolution Must be Followed by Action 2013-11-14 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy The House of Representatives has passed a resolution introduced by Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) reaffirming support for the 6th Amendment right to counsel and recognizing the need for strategies to improve access to quality legal representation for indigent defendants in our criminal justice system. March 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision Gideon v. Wainwright, which held that access to legal representation is so essential to a fair trial that states have a constitutional obligation to provide attorneys to criminal defendants unable to afford adequate representation. The passage of H.Res 196 follows the recent introduction of Congressman Deutch's National Center for the Right to Counsel Act, legislation designed to spur desperately-needed improvements to public defender systems nationwide. The crushing caseloads, poor funding, and inadequate resources that plague indigent defense systems nationwide and undermine the 6th Amendment right to counsel have been well-documented in reports from the Department of Justice, American Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and other organizations. This bill would equip states and localities with tools to implement their own indigent defense systems and meet their constitutional obligations as defined by the Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright. "I am pleased that the House of Representatives has gone on record in support of the right to counsel, but we all know that words alone will not fix the gross inadequacies of our indigent defense systems," said Congressman Deutch. "The National Center for the Right to Counsel Act represents an opportunity for this House to turn words into action and ensure that all Americans accused of crimes, regardless of their financial means, have access to quality legal representation. Our failure to uphold the 6th Amendment undermines the premise that in America, every person has the right to a fair trial and is presumed innocent until proven guilty." The National Center for … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=101 Frankel Statement on President Obamas Affordable Care Act Announcement 2013-11-14 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Frankel Statement on President Obama's Affordable Care Act Announcement f t # e Washington, DC, November 14, 2013 Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement following President Obama's announcement Thursday that insurance companies can let people stay on their current health care plans. I welcome the President's announcement and look forward to the healthcare website being fixed, Frankel said. We should not go back to the days when insurance companies denied coverage for pre-existing conditions and dropped coverage for folks when they got sick. ### f t # e 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140115012541/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov:80/news/details.cfm?id=348063& New help is on the way for Florida's oyster industry 2013-11-14 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy New help is on the way for Florida's oyster industry November 14, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. - New help is on the way for Florida’s ravaged oyster industry, and fisheries and marine projects hurt by the BP oil spill in 2010, according to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).   The help is coming in the form of about $356 million that will go to affected parts of the state over the next five years.  The money is coming from fines the Justice Department levied against BP over the company’s role in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. One of the lawmakers instrumental in pushing for part of that money to go to help Florida has been Nelson.  He previously wrote a letter to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation officials asking that they consider using money from the Justice Department’s fines to help with Gulf Coast projects.   “This is a big step in helping industries that have been particularly hard hit by the oil spill and the economy,” Nelson said.  “Hopefully we can do a lot more in the next few years.”   Over the next five years, there’s going to be $356 million that goes to projects in Florida that are developed by state and federal agencies.   The initial round of projects – more than $100 million for 22 projects in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas - were announced just today.   The first ones in Florida are:   Management & Restoration of Escribano Point Coastal Habitat - $1,731,000 Government Street Regional Stormwater Pont at Corrine Jones Park - $2,106,500 Apalachicola… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140115013011/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov:80/news/details.cfm?id=348057& Nelson: Florida will cooperate with White House on saving canceled policies 2013-11-14 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Nelson: Florida will cooperate with White House on saving canceled policies November 14, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama announced today that he will have insurers reinstate anyone’s canceled health insurance policies, and Florida officials have assured the White House that they will fully cooperate.   That’s the word that U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) got from a top administration official just before the president went on national television to make the announcement about the policies.   Because health insurance is regulated by the state, Florida officials will have to approve reinstatement of the canceled policies.   “Congress enacted health care reform to help uninsured Americans get coverage, and it was not intended to take away from folks policies they're happy with,” Nelson said. “The president did the right thing today. Now, the administration has to fix the website and start getting new enrollees through the door.” As a former Florida Cabinet member and the elected insurance commissioner of Florida in the mid-1990’s, Nelson’s duties included regulating health insurance. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301151842/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-appointed-to-negotiate-final-wrrda-bill Frankel Appointed to Negotiate Final WRRDA Bill 2013-11-14 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Lois Frankel was appointed to help negotiate the final Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA).  Frankel will have a seat at the table as the House-Senate Conference Committee resolves differences between the House and Senate-passed WRRDA bills. “Transportation moves our local economy, and our waterways play a critical role,” Frankel said. “This bill is about jobs for South Florida and America, and I am honored to serve on the conference committee to promote our ports and restore our most precious wetlands, the Everglades.” As a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment, the committee that generated the WRRDA bill, Frankel worked with Democrats and Republicans to make sure it included a provision allowing Port Everglades expansion and Everglades Restoration to proceed. The House WRRDA bill authorizes planning, design and construction by a nonfederal interest, once a federal feasibility study is finalized. Most significantly, the non-federal interest will be eligible for a credit or reimbursement for any work carried out. The House bill as passed, will allow the Port to progress towards the dredging that is needed to accommodate the larger post-Panamax vessels that will frequent the seas once the Panama Canal is widened in 2015. Once completed, the dredging project will surge economic growth in South Florida, creating 7,000 new additional jobs and 135,000 indirect jobs. That’s a half billion dollars in economic impacts, far outweighing its potential costs. The House WRRDA bill will allow four Everglades projects to break ground, one of which will be constructed in backyard of Frankel’s district. The Broward County Water Preserve Area will help conserve water and boost water supply to South Florida.   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301152430/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-statement-on-president-obama-s-affordable-care-act-announcement Frankel Statement on President Obama’s Affordable Care Act Announcement 2013-11-14 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement following President Obama’s announcement Thursday that insurance companies can let people stay on their current health care plans. “I welcome the President’s announcement and look forward to the healthcare website being fixed,” Frankel said. “We should not go back to the days when insurance companies denied coverage for pre-existing conditions and dropped coverage for folks when they got sick.”   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361321 Hastings Attends Hoops for Youth Foundation Food Drive 2013-11-13 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following remarks at a food drive organized by the Hoops for Youth Foundation and the American League of Lobbyists: “As I came to work this morning, I found myself thinking about how the holiday season seems to come earlier and earlier every year. It’s already mid-November, and we are quickly approaching Thanksgiving, and the season where we give thanks for all the things we are fortunate enough to have. “In doing so, I was reminded – as I’m sure we all are – that there are many people in our country and around the world who are far less fortunate than those of us lucky enough to be standing in this room today. I was also reminded that just two short weeks ago, a $5 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) took effect. This cut that will affect 1 in 7 Americans, and will give the families relying on this critical program one more thing to worry about. For many, it will literally take food off the table. “This underscores the importance of events like the one we are holding today. “Across America, there are millions of people still struggling to recover after the recession. There are millions of Americans that are still out of work. And, there are millions of American families that are struggling not just to make ends meet, but to provide for the most basic needs such as putting food on the table. “I believe that we have a moral obligation to do whatever we can, be it a grand gesture or a seemingly insignificant act, to make it easier for those among us struggling to make ends meet. Not just this season, but throughout the year.  “And in saying that, there are thousands of organizations like the ones represented here today that have committed themselves to serving their communities. “Making it easier for people to eat may be one of the simplest yet most critical things we can do, and I commend you for organizing this food drive. “The Pantry of Broward County is an organization that I … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361322 Hastings Welcomes DOJ Decision to Allow American Airlines-US Airways Merger 2013-11-13 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the recent announcement that the Department of Justice (DOJ), along with a number of state attorneys general, has reached a settlement with American Airlines and US Airways to withdraw its lawsuit preventing a proposed merger between the two airlines: “I am pleased that the DOJ, as well as those states that supported its lawsuit, has decided to allow the proposed merger between American Airlines and US Airways to proceed.  This merger represents a tremendous opportunity that will help foster greater market competition, provide employees of the combined airline with better pay and benefits, and ensure that consumers have more choices when they travel. American Airlines and US Airways currently support thousands of jobs in Florida and, on September 27, 2013, I sent a letter along with six of my colleagues from the Florida Congressional delegation to State Attorney General Pam Bondi urging her to withdraw her support from the DOJ’s lawsuit.  I welcome this long awaited decision, which will soon result in the addition of a new 21st century carrier that not only offers competitive services globally, but supports economic growth in our communities throughout the nation.”  Please find attached a copy of the letter sent by Congressman Hastings, along with Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Ted Deutch (FL-21), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Joe Garcia (FL-26), and Patrick Murphy (FL-18), to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=100 Frankel, Blumenthal, Baldwin, Boxer, Chu, Fudge Announce Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Care 2013-11-13 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Today Congresswoman Lois Frankel joined by U.S. Senators U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Barbara Boxer (CA) and U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) Marcia Fudge (OH-11) announced the Women's Health Protection Act of 2013. The Women's Health Protection Act would protect a woman's right to safe and legal abortion by stopping restrictive regulations and laws such as those in place in states including Texas and Wisconsin intended to curtail reproductive health services for women. This legislation would prohibit laws that impose burdensome requirements on access to reproductive health services such as requiring doctors to perform tests and procedures that doctors have deemed unnecessary or preventing doctors from prescribing and dispensing medication as is medically appropriate. Other examples of laws that make it more difficult for a woman to access an abortion include: restrictions on medical training for future abortion providers, requirements concerning the physical layout of clinics where abortions are performed, and forced waiting periods for patients. Congresswoman Lois Frankel We've seen over the last few years that women in Florida and across the country are losing access to critical health services due to excessive and restrictive state laws and that's why it's important Congress passes the Women's Health Protection Act. Every woman deserves the right to make her own health care decisions, no matter what state she lives in. Senator Richard Blumenthal A new federal law is necessary to stop anti-choice legislators from using women's health and safety as a ploy to enact unconscionable and unconstitutional state statutes that obstruct and block women from essential health care and reproductive rights. Such restrictions create cascading doubt and deception that deter women from making personal decisions based their own values and constitutional rights. The Women's Health Protection Act invalidates unnecessary, unwarranted requirements and procedures ranging from ultrasounds and… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140115013006/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov:80/news/details.cfm?id=348052& President signs bill to rename VA hospital for Rep. Young 2013-11-13 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy President signs bill to rename VA hospital for Rep. Young November 13, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The president today signed legislation by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and others to rename the Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center in Florida after the late U.S. Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young. Nelson, who serves as a senior member of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, was able to fast track the bill through the Senate, where it was approved Oct. 31 following House passage the week before.  President Obama signed the bill today. “This is a fitting way to recognize Bill Young’s extraordinary legacy of public service and his unwavering support of our veterans,” Nelson said today. After 42 years in Congress, Young died Oct. 18 and was recently laid to rest in the Bay Pines National Cemetery adjacent to the medical center that will now bear his name. Click here to see a copy of the bill the president signed today. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221123359/http://wilson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=451 Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Appointed to House Higher Education Subcommittee 2013-11-13 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 web.archive.org     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C.  -  Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) was appointed today to the House Higher Education Subcommittee.  The Subcommittee oversees federal policy on U.S. colleges and universities and is part of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, on which Congresswoman Wilson also serves. “Higher education is not only about empowering our economy—it’s also about enriching lives,” said Congresswoman Wilson.  “I am deeply honored and ready to get to work to make college more affordable and accessible for the nation.” A longtime educator and former member of the Miami-Dade County School Board, Congresswoman Wilson has been a champion for college and university students as a Member of Congress.  Congresswoman Wilson introduced the Student Loan Fairness Act with Congressmember Karen Bass of California earlier this year and will soon announce a Student Loan Borrowers’ Bill of Rights to ensure that America’s students benefit from basic consumer protections.  Congresswoman Wilson proudly represents several institutions of higher education including Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, and Miami-Dade College in Florida’s 24th District.                                                                                                                             ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.  Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301152455/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-blumenthal-baldwin-boxer-chu-fudge-announce-legislation-to Frankel, Blumenthal, Baldwin, Boxer, Chu, Fudge Announce Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Care 2013-11-13 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Lois Frankel– joined by U.S. Senators U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Barbara Boxer (CA) and U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27)  Marcia Fudge (OH-11) announced the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2013. The Women’s Health Protection Act would protect a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion by stopping restrictive regulations and laws – such as those in place in states including Texas and Wisconsin – intended to curtail reproductive health services for women. This legislation would prohibit laws that impose burdensome requirements on access to reproductive health services such as requiring doctors to perform tests and procedures that doctors have deemed unnecessary or preventing doctors from prescribing and dispensing medication as is medically appropriate. Other examples of laws that make it more difficult for a woman to access an abortion include: restrictions on medical training for future abortion providers, requirements concerning the physical layout of clinics where abortions are performed, and forced waiting periods for patients.   Congresswoman Lois Frankel “We’ve seen over the last few years that women in Florida and across the country are losing access to critical health services due to excessive and restrictive state laws and that’s why it’s important Congress passes the Women’s Health Protection Act. Every woman deserves the right to make her own health care decisions, no matter what state she lives in.” Senator Richard Blumenthal “A new federal law is necessary to stop anti-choice legislators from using women’s health and safety as a ploy to enact unconscionable and unconstitutional state statutes that obstruct and block women from essential health care and reproductive rights. Such restrictions create cascading doubt and deception that deter women from making personal decisions based their own values and constitutional rights. The Women’s Health Protection Act invalidates unnecessary, unwarranted requirements and procedures – ra… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-appointed-to-house-higher-education Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Appointed to House Higher Education Subcommittee 2013-11-13 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 wilson.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) was appointed today to the House Higher Education Subcommittee. The Subcommittee oversees federal policy on U.S. colleges and universities and is part of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, on which Congresswoman Wilson also serves. Higher education is not only about empowering our economyit's also about enriching lives, said Congresswoman Wilson. I am deeply honored and ready to get to work to make college more affordable and accessible for the nation. A longtime educator and former member of the Miami-Dade County School Board, Congresswoman Wilson has been a champion for college and university students as a Member of Congress. Congresswoman Wilson introduced the Student Loan Fairness Act with Congressmember Karen Bass of California earlier this year and will soon announce a Student Loan Borrowers' Bill of Rights to ensure that America's students benefit from basic consumer protections. Congresswoman Wilson proudly represents several institutions of higher education including Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, and Miami-Dade College in Florida's 24th District. ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360720 Hastings Commemorates Veterans Day 2013-11-11 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in honor of Veterans Day: “Today, we honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces throughout generations. With great courage and sacrifice, our servicemen and women have kept us safe and acted selflessly to protect America’s interests across the globe. We are all indebted to their service. “In addition, we are uniquely aware that our nation’s commitments to our veterans do not end when they return home from the battlefield. Many have been physically wounded, and suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or mental health illnesses such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We also know that a disproportionate number of America’s veterans – about 67,000 of them – are homeless. These figures are alarming and unacceptable, and we must recommit ourselves to doing more to help our men and women in uniform. “I am pleased to hear that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made significant progress in recent months in reducing the backlog of disability compensation claims, and reduced outstanding claims by 34 percent. We are clearly making progress in addressing this serious problem, and I am deeply appreciative to the employees of the VA as they work to ensure that all of our veterans get the benefits they deserve.  “As we commemorate this year’s Veterans Day, let us remember all those who have fought and lost their lives in the name of freedom and democracy. The men and women of our Armed Forces deserve our deepest gratitude every single day for their continued sacrifice, and I will continue to work tirelessly for the rights of all veterans, active-duty members of the military, and their families.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360911 Statement on Veterans Day by Rep. Ted Deutch 2013-11-11 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa,  released this statement in reaction to President Obama's announcement of an interim deal with Iran:"This partial deal is only the beginning, but we must be clear that the end result of this process is Iran verifiably and completely ending its nuclear weapons program and dangerous enrichment activities. Before any final deal can be reached, Iran must come clean about its entire nuclear program once and for all. This means addressing all outstanding claims by the IAEA of possible military aspects, dismantling the Arak reactor, halting centrifuge manufacturing, and granting inspectors full access to Parchin and all other sites. Iran must understand that all options remain until its nuclear program is no longer a threat to U.S. and international security." 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360663 Deutch: Final Mental Health Parity Rule Will Expand Access and Save Lives 2013-11-08 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy (Boca Raton, FL) Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), a member of the House Mental Health Caucus, released this statement in reaction to news that the Obama Administration is issuing final rules for the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA): “The costs of untreated mental illness and substance abuse on our society are profound, from unnecessary incarceration and unemployment to the tragic loss of life due to suicide and as we have seen in recent times, horrific gun violence.  Five years ago landmark reforms were signed into law requiring that health insurance companies cover treatments for mental health just as they do other medical services. Yet for millions of Americans struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, or other behavioral health disorders, the promise of parity has been undermined by the lack of a final rule. The issuance of final regulations today by the Obama Administration will expand access to mental health care for millions of Americans whose private health insurance companies have avoided covering what are in many cases the life-saving services they need.” 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360542 Hastings’ Statement on Senate Passage of ENDA 2013-11-07 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (ENDA) by a vote of 64-32: “In passing ENDA today, the Senate sent a clear message that employer discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity should be outlawed. All across the country, qualified, hardworking Americans continue to be denied job opportunities, harassed, fired, or otherwise discriminated against solely because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). ENDA is a bi-partisan measure that strengthens basic employment protections for all Americans and, in my opinion, is long overdue. “It is now up to the House to ensure that this critical legislation becomes law, however, Speaker John Boehner has indicated that he will not allow ENDA to be brought to the Floor for a vote. This decision is outright unconscionable, and threatens the livelihood of LGBT individuals and their families. Sadly, it appears that House Republican Leadership will once again stand on the wrong side of history and attempt to block ENDA from taking effect. Speaker Boehner should reconsider his position and allow the House to vote on passage of a fully inclusive ENDA as soon as possible.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360617 U.S. Rep. Castor decries irresponsible sequester cuts on defense, other local economic engines 2013-11-07 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Kathy Castor C001066 castor.house.gov     legacy During an event hosted today by the local chapter for Women in Defense, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) outlined the harm that sequestration continues to have on the defense industry and other economic engines across the country and in Tampa Bay. Many members present at the event knew all too well the negative impacts of sequester cuts and expressed their experiences and concerns with job cutbacks, reduced training for preparedness, and losing top talent to other communities. “The defense industry has helped transform our community over the years into one of the most exciting places to live. It is a widespread sector of large and small businesses, and top contractors and talent are tied to MacDill Air Force Base, Special Operations Command and Central Command,” Rep. Castor said during her remarks at the event, while some commented that “cheap is expensive” and shared the difficulties the sequester has caused on their businesses and families.  “The technologies we have developed right here in the Tampa Bay area over the  past decade have improved our military capabilities by leaps and bounds. But that growth is at risk because of the hard liners in Congress who will not compromise on the budget and insist upon the sequester.  This approach stalls economic expansion across the country and in the Tampa Bay area.” Sequestration has meant a $470 billion cut in defense spending over 10 years, starting in 2013. Continued irrational sequester cuts will hurt local small businesses. Such cuts could force the military to reduce the size of the U.S. Army by 20 percent, eliminate U.S. Air Force bombers and transport planes, and cut as many as 33,000 from the Marine Corps. In addition, the recent government shutdown and economic uncertainty furloughed 1,500 at MacDill AFB and jeopardized $9 million in commercial contracts in the Tampa Bay area. Sequestration has also harmed other economic engines in Tampa Bay, such as education and research. Up to 1,200 fewer children in Florida will be served by Hea… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=99 Frankel Statement on Senate Passing the Bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act 2013-11-07 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy Frankel Statement on Senate Passing the Bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act f t # e Boca Raton, FL, November 7, 2013 Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after the Senate's passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) todaywith bipartisan support: I applaud the Senate for taking a historic step forward by passing ENDA. People must be treated fairly for the work they dowithout regard of their sexual orientation or gender.I urge theHouse to take up and pass this important bill. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140115013001/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov:80/news/details.cfm?id=348013& In wake of new reports, Nelson renews push for legislation targeting tax refund identity scams 2013-11-07 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy In wake of new reports, Nelson renews push for legislation targeting tax refund identity scams November 7, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) is renewing his call for an increased government crackdown on identity thieves who use someone else’s name to steal their tax refunds.   Nelson’s latest push comes in the wake of two new reports due out today by the U.S. Treasury Department’s inspector general on identity theft-related tax fraud.   The reports show the government is still losing $3.6 billion a year in potentially fraudulent tax refunds and it’s taking over 300 days for consumers who’ve had their identities stolen to get their cases resolved. That’s down from the $5.2 billion in potentially fraudulent refunds that were issued in 2011. “While these reports show that some progress is being made in reducing tax fraud, it’s also clear that there is still much to be done,” Nelson said in a letter to the Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Nelson requested the two newly-released inspector general reports after law enforcement authorities in Florida contacted him about seeing an increase in the number of cases in Florida where people were having their identities stolen. In 2011, a crackdown by a Tampa task force uncovered as much as $130 million in fraudulent refunds and officials made 49 arrests.   Nelson re-filed his legislation (S. 676) in April that would toughen criminal penalties for ID thieves who file fake refunds under someone else’s name.  It would also require the IRS to get legitimate taxpayers the refunds they’re due w… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140511223835/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-statement-on-senate-passing-the-bipartisan-employment-non Frankel Statement on Senate Passing the Bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act 2013-11-07 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Boca Raton, FL – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after the Senate’s passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) today with bipartisan support:   “I applaud the Senate for taking a historic step forward by passing ENDA. People must be treated fairly for the work they do without regard of their sexual orientation or gender. I urge the House to take up and pass this important bill.”   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360484 Reps. Deutch, Frankel, Murphy to Unveil Bill Protecting South Florida Homeowners from Outrageous Flood Insurance Rates 2013-11-06 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy This Friday at 11:00 am, U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (FL-21), Lois Frankel (FL-22), and Patrick Murphy (FL-18) will hold a press conference on the urgent need for Congress to pass the Homeowner Insurance Affordability Act and protect Palm Beach County homeowners from outrageously high flood insurance premiums. Joining the three Members of Congress as they detail this new bipartisan legislation will be local realtors, county officials, and community leaders who understand the threat posed by huge flood insurance rate hikes to South Florida’s economy. EVENT DETAILS Who: U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel, and Patrick Murphy Palm Beach County Mayor Steven Abrams Richard Radcliffe, President of the Palm Beach County League of Cities Local realtors and county officials What: Press Conference on the Homeowner Insurance Affordability Act Where: West Palm Beach Boardroom at the Palm Beach Realtors Association 1 Harvard Circle, Suit 102, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 When: Friday, November 8th at 11:00 am ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221123404/http://wilson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=450 Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Takes Action To Stop Flood Insurance Rate Increases 2013-11-06 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 web.archive.org     legacy WASHINGTON – As the nation marks the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and its devastating accompanying floods, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) today announced actions to protect Floridians from flood insurance rate increases.  In addition to introducing the Homeowners’ Defense Act of 2013—a bill to strengthen state-sponsored insurance funds and enhance their ability to serve homeowners who are unable to obtain coverage—Congresswoman Wilson has co-sponsored the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, a bipartisan bill to delay most flood insurance rate increases for a period of four years.   The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act also requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to propose a new flood insurance regulation framework that addresses affordability issues.  Congresswoman Wilson issued the following statement: “Every homeowner needs insurance.   As a Member of Congress from a state that is highly vulnerable to severe weather, I am absolutely committed to ensuring affordable access to flood insurance. “The Homeowners' Defense Act of 2013, which I sponsored in Congress, establishes a national Consortium for state-sponsored insurance funds to voluntarily bundle their catastrophe risk with one another, and then transfer that risk to the private markets through catastrophe bonds and reinsurance contracts. This bill will go a long way toward making insurance affordable and available. “The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which I have co-sponsored, grants FEMA the time it needs to develop cost-cutting reforms.  The bill stops a tidal wave of rate increases that are set to strike homeowners.  I am so pleased to see Democrats and Republicans coming together to support these sensible and urgently-needed actions.”                                                                          ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former sta… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-takes-action-to-stop-flood-insurance Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Takes Action To Stop Flood Insurance Rate Increases 2013-11-06 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 wilson.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON As the nation marks the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and its devastating accompanying floods, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) today announced actions to protect Floridians from flood insurance rate increases. In addition to introducing the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2013a bill to strengthen state-sponsored insurance funds and enhance their ability to serve homeowners who are unable to obtain coverageCongresswoman Wilson has co-sponsored the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, a bipartisan bill to delay most flood insurance rate increases for a period of four years. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act also requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to propose a new flood insurance regulation framework that addresses affordability issues. Congresswoman Wilson issued the following statement: Every homeowner needs insurance. As a Member of Congress from a state that is highly vulnerable to severe weather, I am absolutely committed to ensuring affordable access to flood insurance. The Homeowners' Defense Act of 2013, which I sponsored in Congress, establishes a national Consortium for state-sponsored insurance funds to voluntarily bundle their catastrophe risk with one another, and then transfer that risk to the private markets through catastrophe bonds and reinsurance contracts. This bill will go a long way toward making insurance affordable and available. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which I have co-sponsored, grants FEMA the time it needs to develop cost-cutting reforms. The bill stops a tidal wave of rate increases that are set to strike homeowners. I am so pleased to see Democrats and Republicans coming together to support these sensible and urgently-needed actions. ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Pr… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023034/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=347006& Senator wants to ban tax deductions for corporate wrongdoing 2013-11-05 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy Senator wants to ban tax deductions for corporate wrongdoing November 5, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) wants lawmakers working on the budget to consider approving a ban against corporations taking tax deductions for penalties imposed in cases of wrongdoing.   Nelson’s proposal comes in the wake of the latest disclosure that JPMorgan Chase is trying to claim a tax deduction for a portion of the $13 billion penalty it’s negotiating with the U.S. Department of Justice. The company was engulfed in a case stemming from its handling of mortgage securities ahead of the 2008 financial crisis. The deduction would save the company roughly $4 billion in U.S. taxes.   "That's money the U.S. taxpayer ought to be getting," Nelson said today.   Nelson made his request to end such tax breaks in a letter today to leaders of a 29-member special House-Senate Committee that is charged with resolving about $90 billion in differences between the differing federal budget plans of the two legislative chambers.  Nelson is one of the Senate appointees to the panel.   The panel is supposed to reach a budget compromise by next month.   Meantime, this isn’t the first time the Florida Democrat has fought against a corporation trying to claim a tax deduction for a penalty.  Earlier this year, following reports that BP was looking to write off a portion of the $4.5 billion penalty it agreed to pay for its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Nelson filed legislation to change the tax code and deny such tax … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360141 Hastings Introduces Resolution Recognizing 40th Anniversary of Bahamas Independence 2013-11-02 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement after introducing H.Res. 397, Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the independence of the Bahamas.  Joining him as original co-sponsors of the resolution were Representatives Corrine Brown (FL-05), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Hakeem S. Jeffries (NY-08), John Lewis (GA-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24). (Please find attached a copy of the legislation).   “On July 10, 1973, the Bahamas became a free and sovereign country, and throughout 2013 Bahamians are celebrating the 40th anniversary of this tremendous milestone.  Our Caribbean neighbor has a proud history and rich culture that dates back centuries, from the Lucayan Indians who first settled the islands to British colonial rule and ultimately independence.    “The United States and the Bahamas are united by a shared history, common values, and a commitment to democracy and human rights.  I hope that both our nations will continue strengthening their friendship and bilateral partnership, especially in the areas of promoting greater security, economic development, and people-to-people exchanges.  In addition, I look forward to working together with lawmakers and civil society organizations in the Bahamas as we continue to expand opportunities for the next generation of leaders, address the effects of climate change, and advance gender equality throughout the Caribbean region.   “This year, I join with the people of the Bahamas and the Bahamian community worldwide in commemorating the 40th anniversary of the independence of the Bahamas.”   Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360052 Hastings on Cut to SNAP Benefits 2013-11-01 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after a $5 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) took effect: “Starting today, American families struggling to make ends meet will have one more thing to worry about. The $5 billion cut to SNAP benefits will impact 1 in 7 Americans, including seniors, the disabled, children, and low-wage working Americans. For these families and individuals, the cuts will literally keep food off of the table. “This cut will force some of the hungriest people in our country to forego up to 21 meals every single month. Yet, Republicans remain determined to cut even more from the program. Just two months ago, House Republicans pushed through legislation to cut $39 billion from SNAP, nearly 10 times the amount agreed to in the bi-partisan compromise passed in the Senate. “SNAP benefits are critical for the 47 million people that receive them. As a Member of Congress, I will continue to oppose cuts to SNAP and support legislation that makes it easier for Americans to provide for themselves and their families.” Approximately 18 percent of Florida residents receive SNAP benefits. Nearly 1.7 million households in Florida participate in the program, including 51,000 households in the 20th Congressional district. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359986 Deutch: Reduction in SNAP Benefits for 3.52 Million Floridians Will Bring More Hardship, More Hunger 2013-11-01 2013 2013-11 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) released this statement today on the expiration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s $5 billion boost to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):  “Today, the 3.52 million Floridians and 48 million Americans nationwide who rely on SNAP to avoid going hungry will see their benefits go down as $5 billion in cuts take effect. These cuts result from the expiration of anti-hunger funding included in the Recovery Act, but we cannot forget that for these families, the economic recovery has yet to arrive, and putting food on the table remains a challenge. The fact that 87 percent of SNAP recipients live in households with children, seniors, or disabled Americans drives home how this assistance goes to those who need it most. “As these families cope with more hardship and more hunger in the wake of this $5 billion cut, leaders in the House and Senate are beginning to negotiate the terms of a new farm bill that could include anywhere between $4 and $40 billion in additional cuts to SNAP. The best way to reduce spending under SNAP is to pass legislation that will actually create jobs and grow paychecks so that millions of Americans do not have to scrape by on SNAP benefits. “Unfortunately, instead of passing a jobs bill, or a minimum wage increase, or immigration reform, Washington is busy debating how much less we are willing to help families who struggle with hunger in our communities on a daily basis.” 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360317 Hastings on Health Care Exchange 2013-10-31 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Hastings on Health Care Exchange f t # e Fort Lauderdale, FL, October 31, 2013 Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement regarding health coverage through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): “I am pleased to join the health care exchange on January 1, 2014, which will provide health insurance to tens of millions of Americans, and improve coverage for millions of others. “I voted in favor of the Affordable Care Act, and will go into the exchange as required by law.   “However, after considerable thought and consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM), I believe that my Congressional staff both in Florida and Washington should be treated the same as every other Federal employee, who purchases their health care coverage through the Federal Health Benefit Program (FEHBP).” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.   ### f t # e 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359959 PRESS ADVISORY: Reps. Frankel, Deutch, Murphy, Everglades Advocates to Announce Next Steps for Everglades Restoration 2013-10-31 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy On Friday morning, Congresswoman Lois Frankel and Congressmen Ted Deutch and Patrick Murphy along with other Everglades advocates Erik Eikenberg and John A. Marshall will announce next steps for Everglades Restoration and talk about the local impact. The press conference is being held at Clear Lake because the lake reservoir supplies water to West Palm Beach from the Everglades ecosystem. After the recent passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), Everglades Restoration can move forward. The WRRDA bill will allow four Everglades projects to break ground and paves the way for the Central Everglades Planning Project to progress, which marks a monumental step. South Florida’s congressional delegation members have been vocal advocates for Everglades Restoration. Frankel, who serves on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and its Water Resources and the Environment Subcommittee, helped ensure the WRRDA bill allowed Everglades Restoration to progress and worked with Florida delegation members to make sure Everglades issues were at the forefront.  Murphy recently held a Congressional briefing on local waterways issues with over 100 community members to speak to the importance of moving forward expeditiously on Everglades restoration projects, which will benefit the health of these polluted waterways. Amid unprecedented budget cuts in Washington, Deutch has worked to protect funding for Everglades Restoration projects critical to supplying safe drinking water to the people of South Florida and essential to preserving the unique ecosystem of the Everglades. The Everglades is important to South Florida’s economy and critical to South Florida’s water supply. According to an Everglades Foundation study, for every dollar invested in Everglades restoration, $4 are generated in economic benefits. The Everglades is the primary source of drinking water for more than 7 million Americans, including providing water to South Floridians.  PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS: What: Press Conferen… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=98 Frankel Joins Colleagues in Letter to Speaker Boehner Urging House GOP Leadership to End Threat of Another Government Shutdown or Default 2013-10-31 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 frankel.house.gov     legacy strongA day after budget negotiations began between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, Congresswoman Lois Frankel today joined 177 of her colleagues in a letter to Speaker John Boehner calling on him and House Republican leadership to publicly declare that they will not use the threat of a federal government shutdown or default as a political tactic in budget talks. Citing the economic damage caused by the recent 16-day government shutdown and threat of default, Frankel and the Members emphasized that Congress must work together to pass a responsible budget agreement and take the dual threats of a shutdown and default off the table. The 16-day-long federal government shutdown is over and default on America's debt has been averted, although no one is relieved that this latest crisis ever occurred, the lawmakers wrote. The most powerful source of uncertainty to American families and businesses is the threat of a government shutdown and default on our debts. That is why we are writing to you to urge you and your leadership to publicly declare that you will not again use the threat of a government shutdown or default as leverage in the important discussions regarding long-term deficit reduction and economic growth. On October 16, Frankel voted for a bill that ended the reckless shutdown and made sure America paid its bills. That bill funds the government through January 15, 2014 and ensures American can pay its bills through February 7, 2014. The full text of the group's letter is below: October 31, 2013 Honorable John Boehner Speaker of the House Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker, The 16-day-long federal government shutdown is over and default on America's debt has been averted, although no one is relieved that this latest crisis ever occurred. Now, we are deeply concerned that the American people are in danger of another shutdown or threat of default early next year. The most powerful source of uncertainty to American families and businesses is the threat of a government shutdown and def… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301151909/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/frankel-joins-colleagues-in-letter-to-speaker-boehner-urging-house-gop Frankel Joins Colleagues in Letter to Speaker Boehner Urging House GOP Leadership to End Threat of Another Government Shutdown or Default 2013-10-31 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Lois Frankel F000462 web.archive.org     legacy Boca Raton, FL— A day after budget negotiations began between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, Congresswoman Lois Frankel today joined 177 of her colleagues in a letter to Speaker John Boehner calling on him and House Republican leadership to publicly declare that they will not use the threat of a federal government shutdown or default as a political tactic in budget talks. Citing the economic damage caused by the recent 16-day government shutdown and threat of default, Frankel and the Members emphasized that Congress must work together to pass a responsible budget agreement and take the dual threats of a shutdown and default off the table. “The 16-day-long federal government shutdown is over and default on America’s debt has been averted, although no one is relieved that this latest crisis ever occurred,” the lawmakers wrote. “The most powerful source of uncertainty to American families and businesses is the threat of a government shutdown and default on our debts. That is why we are writing to you to urge you and your leadership to publicly declare that you will not again use the threat of a government shutdown or default as leverage in the important discussions regarding long-term deficit reduction and economic growth.” On October 16, Frankel voted for a bill that ended the reckless shutdown and made sure America paid its bills. That bill funds the government through January 15, 2014 and ensures American can pay its bills through February 7, 2014. The full text of the group’s letter is below: October 31, 2013 Honorable John Boehner Speaker of the House Washington, D.C.  20515 Dear Mr. Speaker, The 16-day-long federal government shutdown is over and default on America’s debt has been averted, although no one is relieved that this latest crisis ever occurred.  Now, we are deeply concerned that the American people are in danger of another shutdown or threat of default early next year. The most powerful source of uncertainty to American families and businesses is the threat of a government … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359828 Hastings Recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2013-10-30 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement recognizing the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month: “As a co-sponsor of the original Violence Against Women Act of 1993 (VAWA), I am proud of the progress our country has made in reducing domestic violence over the past two decades. We have taken great strides in banishing domestic violence from our homes, and have dedicated significant resources to better protect survivors, prosecute abusers, and prevent new violence before it occurs. According the Department of Justice (DOJ), our nation has seen a 64 percent decline in domestic violence since 1994.  “Despite this overwhelming progress, one in four women will still experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Young adults between the ages of 16-24 still experience domestic violence at the highest rates, and, every day, three women lose their lives as a result of domestic violence. These statistics are both staggering and unacceptable. Clearly, we must do more. That is why I proudly supported the re-authorization of VAWA.  “Even though Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed only once a year, efforts to bring an end to domestic violence must continue each and every single day. I believe that we must do all that we can to aid those who have suffered from domestic violence, and work to prevent new violence from happening.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=357119 U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch Introduces National Center for the Right to Counsel Act 2013-10-30 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Ted Deutch D000610 teddeutch.house.gov     legacy Legislation Aims to Uphold Right to Counsel Established by Gideon v. Wainright    Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the National Center for the Right to Counsel Act. The legislation is designed to spur improvements to public defender systems across America, which have been struggling to uphold the constitutional right to counsel for indigent defendants as established 50 years ago in the Supreme Court’s landmark Gideon v. Wainright decision. The National Center for the Right to Counsel Act will establish a private, nonprofit center to financially support state and local systems of public defense and provide training to improve the quality of representation provided to Americans charged with crimes but unable to afford lawyers.  Joining Congressman Deutch as original cosponsors of the National Center for the Right to Counsel Act are Congressman John Conyers (MI-13), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. “Our underfunded and overloaded public defender system undermines the legal representation that the Supreme Court ruled in Gideon v. Wainright must be guaranteed to all Americans, regardless of their financial means, in order to receive a fair trial,” said Congressman Ted Deutch. “From our unsustainably high rates of incarceration to the lives of families torn apart by unnecessary jail time and wrongful convictions, Congress cannot afford to ignore the economic and moral costs of this crisis in our criminal justice system. I have introduced the National Center for the Right to Counsel Act because Congress has an obligation to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans and ensure our justice system is administered fairly.”  The National Center for the Right to Counsel Act would create a private, nonprofit Center that provides financial support for state and local public defense systems and training progra… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023041/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=346969& U.S. senator wants fed probe of delays wrought by Florida’s new $63M unemployment website 2013-10-30 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Bill Nelson N000032 web.archive.org     legacy U.S. senator wants fed probe of delays wrought by Florida’s new $63M unemployment website October 30, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. senator is calling for a federal investigation into problems plaguing Florida’s new website for handling unemployment benefits since its launch last week.   Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, has asked the Department of Labor to investigate and make sure the state quickly fixes what has gone wrong with its Department of Economic Opportunity’s new $63 million website for people to apply for unemployment compensation.  It is the Labor Department that oversees programs to help American workers.   As reported by major Florida news outlets, the website that Gov. Rick Scott's administration launched last week has caused delays and frustrations among people trying to get help with unemployment benefits.   Today, Nelson asked Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez to have his department step in and investigate.   “While states administer their own unemployment compensation program … they do so under the Department of Labor which oversees many of the programs our nation has for American workers, including unemployment benefits,” Nelson wrote in a letter to Perez.  "The main purpose behind this federal-state program is to help stabilize the economy during recessions.  But it certainly won't be of much help in my state if those who have lost their jobs face protracted delays in seeking or receiving benefits."   Technical problems have reportedly frustrated many unemployed trying to use the CONNECT system featur… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221124242/http://wilson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=449 Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Leads Effort to Assist People of Haitian Descent in the Dominican Republic 2013-10-30 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 web.archive.org     legacy WASHINGTON, DC  - Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-4) submitted a letter to President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic in response to a recent Dominican court ruling that makes many Dominican citizens of Haitian descent into outsiders in their own country.  The ruling by the Dominican Republic’s Tribunal Constitucional in TC/0163/13 strips persons born on Dominican soil to parents without legal documentation of their citizenship rights.  Excerpts from the letter are as follows:                                                              “For over a generation the international community has agreed that governments have a duty to prevent statelessness. The right to nationality is fundamental and a gateway to almost all other human rights and government protections. Without citizenship one cannot access basic services such as education or health care, let alone find employment or exercise any number of political rights.” “This decision by the Tribunal Constitucional could result in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and seriously threaten regional stability. In light of this, we urge you to take all necessary steps to stay the tide of the denationalization campaign exemplified by the Tribunal Constitucional, and together we call for the protection of the thousands of Dominicans currently at risk of becoming stateless.”                                                                                                             ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.  Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a b… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-wilson-leads-effort-to-assist-people-of-haitian Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Leads Effort to Assist People of Haitian Descent in the Dominican Republic 2013-10-30 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Frederica Wilson W000808 wilson.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-4) submitted a letter to President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic in response to a recent Dominican court ruling that makes many Dominican citizens of Haitian descent into outsiders in their own country. The ruling by the Dominican Republic's Tribunal Constitucional in TC/0163/13 strips persons born on Dominican soil to parents without legal documentation of their citizenship rights. Excerpts from the letter are as follows: For over a generation the international community has agreed that governments have a duty to prevent statelessness. The right to nationality is fundamental and a gateway to almost all other human rights and government protections. Without citizenship one cannot access basic services such as education or health care, let alone find employment or exercise any number of political rights. This decision by the Tribunal Constitucional could result in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and seriously threaten regional stability. In light of this, we urge you to take all necessary steps to stay the tide of the denationalization campaign exemplified by the Tribunal Constitucional, and together we call for the protection of the thousands of Dominicans currently at risk of becoming stateless. ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356936 Hastings’ Statement on the Passing of Former Congressman Ike Skelton 2013-10-29 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Alcee Hastings H000324 alceehastings.house.gov     legacy Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the passing of Congressman Ike Skelton, former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee: “It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of my friend and former colleague Congressman Ike Skelton. For 34 years, Ike served the House of Representatives with distinction. He was a dyed-in-the-wool public servant, and his dedication to our nation’s security and prosperity rightfully earned him great respect across the aisle. “Ike was known as both a humble and selfless leader, who fought diligently for the men and women of our armed forces and everyday working Americans. He always put his constituents and the American people first, and as the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, he dedicated himself to ensuring that our men and women in uniform received the support they needed both on and off the battlefield. “With Ike’s passing, we’ve lost a great advocate for the American people. I am deeply honored to have known him and to have called him my friend. My thoughts and prayers are with Patty, his children, family, and friends, and the people of Missouri during this time of sadness and loss.” Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356971 U.S. Rep. Castor: Flood Insurance Relief Gaining Momentum in Congress 2013-10-29 2013 2013-10 Democrat House FL Kathy Castor C001066 castor.house.gov     legacy U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) and a bipartisan group of Congressional members are urging adoption of legislation filed today to provide relief from flood insurance increases and to continue reforms to ensure financial stability in the fund that provides a national backstop for flood disasters. “This bipartisan breakthrough will benefit thousands of families and businesses in Florida and other states, and will responsibly analyze flood insurance reform in a measured, reasonable way that focuses on stability for homeowners,” Rep. Castor said. “I am pressing to have Congress act quickly to pass this bipartisan legislation that provides relief for my neighbors, some of whom saw their rates skyrocket overnight."  Rep. Castor filed similar bipartisan legislation last month that would have delayed the rate hikes until FEMA completed a flood insurance affordability study. The bill filed today, called the “Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act,” requires that FEMA complete the affordability study within two years, and then develop measures that help homeowners and tackle the affordability issues identified by the study over the next two years. These measures would require Congressional review before they are implemented. The bill also states that FEMA would also have to certify that it can accurately analyze flood risk for individual properties.  Congress approved the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act in 2012 in an effort to bring solvency to the National Flood Insurance Program, but FEMA did not complete the affordability study mandated by law and subsidies were cut for many homeowners’ flood insurance policies. Subsidies expired Oct. 1 and many property owners saw their flood insurance rates increase. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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