url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-releases-report-highlighting-wins-central-florida-117th-congress,Soto Releases Report Highlighting Wins for Central Florida in the 117th Congress,2022-12-31,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"""In the 117th Congress, House Democrats delivered for Central Floridians and Americans. Under the leadership of President Joe Biden, we overcame the worst of the pandemic, maintained a strong economy, and made investments in our infrastructure and our environment that will impact generations to come. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished in the past two years and look forward to building on our progress in the 118th Congress,"" said Congressman Soto.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-secures-over-20-million-federal-funding-local-projects,Bilirakis Secures Over $20 Million in Federal Funding for Local Projects,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 29, 2022

Washington, DC: In keeping with his long-standing tradition of providing exceptional constituent service, Congressman Gus Bilirakis has worked tirelessly throughout the past year to ensure that his community received its fair share of federally allocated funds. In total, 12 of the 15 priority project proposals submitted by Congressman Gus Bilirakis this year have just been approved. These projects will bring a total $20,275,000 in federal funding to the Tampa Bay area. Each of the selected projects address substantial unmet needs within Florida's 12th Congressional District, including:

$2 million to help prevent flooding in north Pinellas and south Pasco counties through stormwater and roadway improvements,

$3 million for Moffitt’s Pasco County Expansion to build the Research and Life Science Facility that will serve as a regional hub for the delivery of high-quality healthcare, cancer research, education, and biotech business development.

$800,000 for the Pasco County Alliance for Healthy Communities Substance Use Prevention Program to provide coordinated behavioral health services in an effort to combat the overdose crisis occurring throughout the community. In 2021, Pasco had a record high of 1,526 overdoses.

$500,000 to support more than 300 at-risk middle and high school aged girls in Pasco and Hernando counties enrolled in the PACE Center for Girls program achieve long-term socio-economic independence by graduating from high school, entering higher education, attaining certification training, and gaining employment skills,

$2.5 million to build a one-stop-shop senior center in Pasco County operated by CARES. The services provided through the center will help improve the quality of life and maintain independence for many of the most frail and vulnerable seniors within the community,

$2 million for the Craig Park/Spring Bayou Seawall Repair in Tarpon Springs. These funds would be used to replace deteriorating historic seawalls and waterfront sidewalk, raising them to address sea level rise. Tarpon Springs is the lowest city land area in Pinellas County and is the greatest at risk to flooding. The sidewalks and City dock on Spring Bayou are frequently underwater which has caused structural problems. Access to the scenic Spring Bayou area is often barricaded to pedestrian access.

$1.27 million for to build new units of housing at the Vincent House for those struggling with mental illness,

$2 million for the Pasco Sheriff’s Department to upgrade technology at its regional Center for the Recovery of Missing Persons,

$2.4 million to install ADA-compliant bus stops along Moon Lake Road in West Pasco,

$600k for the Lighthouse for Visually impaired to assist older adults in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus, counties by empowering these adults with disabilities to live more independently in their home and communities with a focus on improved mental health,

$2 million for renovation of the Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit operated by Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services,

$1.225 million for a school readiness and early literacy program operated by the Pinellas County Education Foundation

“While I am no proponent of big government spending, I have a duty to ensure my community receives its fair share of allocated federal resources and to be transparent about my efforts to prioritize these important projects. Each of these good projects will help strengthen our local infrastructure, benefit our community, and assist local residents, "" said Congressman Gus Bilirakis.

To learn more about these approved projects, click here. If Congress allows future community projects to be considered, Congressman Bilirakis will share application details on his website.

Issues:Economic Policy",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-bill-honor-last-living-nuremberg-prosecutor-signed-law,Bipartisan Bill to Honor Last Living Nuremberg Prosecutor Signed Into Law,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), Ted Deutch (D-FL-22), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), and Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) released the following statements after their bipartisan bill to award Benjamin Ferencz—the last living Nuremberg prosecutor—a Congressional Gold Medal was signed into law.

""The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Certainly Ben Ferencz, who has spent more than 50 years prosecuting war crimes and genocide, qualifies for this prestigious honor. Throughout history, humanity has encountered many faces of evil. Our brightest moments as an international community have been those in which we present a united front in our efforts to identify and eradicate its presence. Mr. Ferencz has been at the helm leading that important work, and I am humbled to help honor him,"" said Rep. Bilirakis.

""It is an honor to recognize the last living Nuremberg prosecutor, 102-year-old Benjamin Ferencz, with the Congressional Gold Medal—Congress's highest expression of civilian appreciation. Mr. Ferencz's lifelong commitment to justice, peace, and human dignity is an inspiration to all who value freedom and humanity,"" said Rep. Frankel. ""Now, the US Senate must get this bipartisan bill over the finish line so that we can give Mr. Ferencz the recognition he deserves.""

""Ben Ferencz is a true champion of human rights. Beginning with his time as an investigator in World War II and chief U.S. Army prosecutor during the Nuremberg Trials, through his long, outstanding career as an advocate of international rule of law,"" said Rep. Wilson. ""Mr. Ferencz deserves our respect and appreciation. I am grateful to have co-led this bill to award him the Congressional Gold Medal and for the passage of this bill today. Thank you for your lifelong dedication to justice and integrity.""

""The Nuremberg Trials, the first international war crimes tribunal in human history, was a monumental milestone for the international community—a step toward true accountability for those who committed crimes against humanity during World War II. Ben Ferencz, who spent more than 50 years prosecuting the most horrific war crimes, is a living embodiment of the Nuremberg legacy,"" said Rep. Ted Deutch. ""Mr. Ferencz's lifetime of work carries particular significance today. At a time when there are fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors to share their experiences, Mr. Ferencz, the last remaining prosecutor from this tribunal, is a shining example to us all of the continued importance of speaking out, showing zero tolerance for war crimes, and ensuring what happened during the Holocaust never happens again. In honoring him, we commit to continuing his efforts.""

""Ben Ferencz has dedicated his life to standing up for human rights and justice,"" said Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern. ""As Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, I often hear how grave atrocities such as genocide happen because good people look the other way or fail to take action. Ben Ferencz has spent the last five decades ensuring that we do not look away—and that those who commit these heinous crimes are held accountable. Nuremberg is the model on how to investigate, how to interrogate, how to prosecute, and how to mete out justice. I am so proud that Congress came together in a bipartisan way to honor Mr. Ferencz with the Congressional Gold Medal. For ‘never again' to mean ‘enough is enough,' it is critically important for us to continue to honor and elevate the work of heroes like Mr. Ferencz.""

During World War II, Ferencz served in the U.S. Army and helped collect evidence of Nazi war crimes. After the war, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant of Infantry and was awarded five battle stars for his service. Later, he was appointed Chief Prosecutor in the trial that convicted 22 former Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS) officials for their roles in the murder of over a million people.Over the course of his life, Ferencz has been a tireless advocate for the rule of law and international justice. This remarkable centenarian embodies the best of what the United States—and the American people—offer to the world. The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress' highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. The first Congressional Gold Medal was given to George Washington in 1776 and has been awarded just 179 times to our nation's heroes, activists, scientists, and other important figures in our society.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/two-more-bilirakis-bills-become-law-1,Two More Bilirakis Bills Become Law,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Two bills authored by Congressman Bilirakis were signed into law as part of the end of year Omnibus spending package. While the Congressman could not, in good conscience, vote for the final spending package due to the damage that continued reckless spending will have on his constituents, he is pleased to see the consumer protection measures he has worked on over the past two years as the lead Republican on the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee finally become law. The first bill, ""Reporting Attacks from Nations Selected for Oversight and Monitoring Web Attacks and Ransomware from Enemies Act"" or the ""RANSOMWARE Act"" will strengthen the federal government's efforts to respond to recent ransomware and other cyber-attacks from foreign adversaries, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

“We have seen an increase in cyber-crimes targeting Americans across the country, from hospitals, law enforcement entities, to even run-of-the-mill businesses in our communities. Congress should be better equipped with information that the Federal Trade Commission learns of by working with foreign law enforcement agencies, and as a result of receiving cross-border complaints that involve ransomware and cyber security threats, so that we may work to make America more resilient,” said Congressman Bilirakis.

Specifically, Bilirakis's legislation will amend and update the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006, which first enabled cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies on international consumer protection issues and will require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report on cross-border complaints involving ransomware.

The second Bilirakis measure included in the package is the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act, which directs online marketplaces to verify the identity of high-volume third-party sellers of consumer products. Congressman Bilirakis led this legislation with his colleague, Chairman Jan Schakowsky. Requiring authentication of the identity of these online sellers will help deter organized retail crime rings who seek to sell stolen or counterfeit goods online. The bill will also benefit consumers by providing them with basic identification and contact information for the high-volume third-party sellers. Click here to listen to Bilirakis discussing this initiative when it was considered on the House Floor.

""This pro-consumer legislation enacts uniform, nationwide rules to promote safety, increase transparency, and provide greater accountability for online sales. It will provide a layer of enhanced protections for consumers from stolen and counterfeit goods without adding undue burdens on small mom-and-pop businesses,"" said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. ""This bill is a win-win for consumers and legitimate businesses in the online marketplace.""

Along with the rise in popularity of online marketplaces like Amazon, Facebook, and eBay, there has been an increase of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products offered for sale online to consumers. Currently, it is relatively easy for third-party sellers to go onto an online marketplace, create an account, sell high volumes of illicit goods to unwitting consumers, and then shut down the account and disappear before facing any accountability.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cammack-visits-us-troops-overseas-during-christmas-tour,Rep. Cammack Visits U.S. Troops Overseas During Christmas Tour,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"GAINESVILLE, FL — Over the last week, Congresswoman Kat Cammack visited with American servicemembers on military bases in the Middle East during a congressional delegation trip over the Christmas holiday.

The delegation made stops in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Greece, visiting with U.S. servicemembers serving across Europe and the Middle East. While there, they served lunch to and ate with enlisted servicemembers from their home districts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, hearing from them about their missions and their time in the U.S. Armed Forces. The members also visited with local children at an educational center at one of the stops.

""It's a special privilege to be with our troops during Christmas, and to thank them for all they do and sacrifice to keep our nation safe,"" said Cammack. ""It was great to spend time with our active-duty military, reservists, and National Guardsmen and women. Their families are thinking of them not just during Christmastime, but throughout the year, and as members of Congress, it's a rare opportunity to let these heroes just how much we appreciate and support them when they can't share the holidays with their families and friends back home.""

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), who chairs the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism with the House Foreign Affairs Committee led the congressional delegation trip. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Susan Wild (D-PA) also joined.

""I met several constituents from Florida's Third, including a handful from Alachua, Clay, Marion, and Putnam Counties. One constituent from Orange Park is serving with the U.S. Space Force and shared a patch from her unit that I'll proudly display in my office to think of her and all the amazing people we met during our travels. On behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, thank you to the men and women serving our nation around the world—we will work hard to continue honoring your service and sacrifice year-round.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-and-congressman-espaillat-spearhead-letter,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick and Congressman Espaillat Spearhead Letter to the Administration Outlining the United States’ Support for Haiti Relief Efforts,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON –Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) led a bipartisan letter urging the Administration to consider leading an international task force to assist in addressing the Republic of Haiti’s security and humanitarian crises.

In the letter, the Members urge President Biden and Secretary Blinken to strongly consider providing additional aid to Haiti to combat the political, economic, and humanitarian crises plaguing the Caribbean nation. Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) also signed the letter.

In the letter, the Members write:

Dear Mr. President and Secretary Blinken:

Thank you for your service and leadership. We write to request that the United States consider leading an international task force to assist in addressing the Republic of Haiti’s security and humanitarian crises.

Earlier this month, we participated in the United Nations (“UN”) Foundation’s “Congressional Learning Trip to the UN Headquarters.” During our trip, we were briefed on Haiti’s dire political, economic, and health situation. After receiving the UN’s suggested recommendations, our congressional delegation devised a path forward. Based on briefings from dignitaries and organizational leaders, who provided on-the-ground intelligence and expertise, we formulated three requests for the Administration. Respectively, we would like the U.S. to lead an international task force that addresses our requests and the humanitarian needs of the people of the Republic of Haiti.

First, we request that the United States consider leading the rapid response efforts to address the crises in Haiti in a collaborative manner that places the human rights of Haitians and democracy for all at the center. As you are aware, on July 7, 2021, the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated by foreign mercenaries. Since then, the Republic of Haiti has been plagued by political instability. The country lacks an elected president, has no parliamentary quorum, and has a dysfunctional high court due to a lack of judges. Additionally, the Caribbean nation has been hard-hit by devastating natural disasters. Moreover, the country is marred by gang violence, fuel shortages, and a cholera epidemic.

Rapid response efforts should include assistance to address Haiti’s political instability, gang violence, economic crisis, health epidemic, and humanitarian crisis. To move the country forward, Haiti needs a government with functioning executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Additionally, gang violence must cease for rapid response units to contend with the ongoing economic, health, and humanitarian crises. However, safeguards would need to be implemented to ensure that any rapid response unit deployed does not remain in Haiti longer than necessary so that the country can have a Haitian-driven rebuilding process.

Second, we request that the United States continue strengthening the Haitian National Police (“PNH”).We believe that positive change will come from financial assistance to Haiti for the purpose of adequate resourcing, re-training, and technical assistance for the PNH to produce an elite national police unit skilled to combat the violence and gangs that are currently obstructing access to essential goods for the Haitian people.

Following the assassination of President Moïse, Haiti’s police force has struggled to maintain control and is ill-equipped, as more than 200 gangs have overrun the beleaguered country. The police force’s inability to reign in violence has resulted in numerous killings of police officers and attacks on official buildings. In November 2022, the director of Haiti’s National Police Academy, Harrington Rigaud, was shot and killed in a gang-controlled neighborhood in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, as he sat inside an official police vehicle. In October 2022, it was reported that Haitian Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus made a plea at the Organization of American States (OAS) Summit for international police support as the PNH struggles to respond to the escalating gang violence. Undoubtedly, assistance is needed, and we believe the United States can lead the international effort to address these life-threatening concerns.

Third, we request that the United States continue providing humanitarian aid to Haiti. Today, violence, hunger, and cholera threaten to kill thousands of Haitians. According to an October 2022 UN World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization report, “a record 4.7 million people face acute hunger [,] and almost 20,000 people are enduring ‘catastrophic hunger,’ meaning they are at risk of starving to death.” It is estimated that 2.4 million school-aged children are not enrolled, as eighty percent of schools are closed due to ongoing gang violence. Unfortunately, many unenrolled adolescents have been recruited by the gangs via social media and now make up roughly sixty percent of the gang members.

Haitian gangs have blocked all humanitarian corridors and are attacking humanitarians trying to deliver aid. As a result, the UN has been forced to negotiate with gang members. Reportedly, several United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (“UNICEF”) employees and their family members have been kidnapped, and their families have been asked to prepare ransom payments in exchange for their return. For months, women and girls have been subjected to gender-based violence—mostly rape—at the hands of gangs.

On October 18, 2022, UNICEF classified the situation in Haiti as a Level-2 emergency. Currently, Haiti has no humanitarian or non-profit organization to assist with the country’s many crises. If possible, we request that the United States work with the international community and the Haitian diaspora to render humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti, potentially creating employment opportunities and strengthening our foreign relations with other countries.

Moreover, we encourage you to advise and assist in revamping Haiti’s healthcare infrastructure to help address the most pressing health concerns, including maternal and neonatal health. A significant first step would be international partners coming together to aid in constructing hospitals throughout Haiti and at the Haitian border, proactively responding to the volume of Haitian mothers in dire need of quality medical care. The House of Representatives passed an appropriations measure for Fiscal Year 2022 supporting dialogue in Haiti aimed at resolving the political crisis, urging stronger action against human rights abuses, and addressing the plight of pregnant Haitian women leaving their country to seek neonatal care. However, this dialogue must be met with funding, strategy, and international coordination to mitigate on-the-ground challenges.

We respectfully request that the Administration strongly consider the requests mentioned above. Additionally, we ask that the Administration keep the undersigned Members of Congress informed on any developments regarding this matter, either in writing or in an unclassified or classified briefing.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this critical matter. We appreciate your efforts and are willing and able to provide any support or assistance you may need.

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER HERE",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-issues-statement-southwest-airlines-flight,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Issues Statement on Southwest Airlines Flight Cancellations,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FORT LAUDERDALE – After Southwest Airlines (“Southwest”) canceled thousands of flights during the holiday season, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, issued the following statement.

“The complete meltdown of Southwest Airlines during the holiday season is unacceptable. Tuesday, 85 Southwest flights were cancelled at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The collapse of their flight schedule has left customers, families, and hardworking Southwest employees stranded at airports over the holiday travel period. Additionally, I am deeply troubled by reports of Southwest’s lack of prompt customer service to help passengers get to their destinations.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403999,Rep. Castor: “Record-Setting” 2022 for Tampa Bay as Congressional Office Delivers $10M to Veterans and Neighbors + Secures $2.3B in Grant $!,2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today that her team worked to deliver over $10 million in aid, benefits and refunds to veterans, seniors, small businesses and families in 2022, including over $4.8 million to veterans and service members; over $2.3 billion in federal grants to create jobs, lower costs, invest in our schools and infrastructure, help our community recover from the Covid19 pandemic, and support the important work of local partners; and an additional $132.3 million in federal grants from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Rep. Castor championed in Congress.

“My Tampa constituent services team works tirelessly to cut through red tape on behalf of the families, veterans and businesses. We tragically lost the heart of Team Castor, Tery Sanchez, earlier this year, but have continued to meet the needs of our neighbors in her honor and have delivered historic returns. I am grateful for all that Tery, along with Steven Angotti, Tania Fernandez, Damaris Gonzalez and Sean Saintil – as well as the help of the entire Castor Team – did this year. Their expertise and compassion are critical to ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned and to guarantee that survival stimulus payments, Social Security, Medicare are delivered on time.

“Amazingly, 812 federal grants bolstered neighborhoods from North Tampa to USF to West Tampa and more - for a total of $2,312,900,550 including important investments in housing, Tampa’s Riverwalk, safer streets, and medical research. I love my hometown and am committed to lifting every neighbor through growing public transit , Feeding Tampa Bay through expanded food assistance, and other local organizations that are investing in skills career training to expand good-paying jobs and apprenticeships and so much more.

“Our health heroes – present and future – received a major boost with a $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to USF that is aimed at recruiting and training nursing students and current registered nurses to increase access to care, with an emphasis on chronic disease prevention and control, including mental health and substance use conditions. HART also received a $300,000 grant through American Rescue Plan funds that helped them restore service and keep essential services moving after the pandemic. Bay Area Legal Services is always there for our neighbors, and an $800,000 grant has helped struggling individuals and families with free and low-cost legal services as they recovered from Hurricane Sally. The Tampa community is blessed with volunteers and organizations who are working to creatively and compassionately solve problems, and I was proud to partner with them to get these initiatives over the finish line.

“Not included in that amount are the 16 federal grants – totaling $132,304, 671 – that our community secured from the landmark Infrastructure Investment and Job Act. From funds to fix our roads and expand safe pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, we are building safer communities, and creating jobs along the way. Port Tampa Bay also received a critical $12.6M grant that will create good-paying jobs and build a new dock so that larger cargo ships can utilize the Port. We’ll see lower costs through this construction and cement Port Tampa Bay’s place as a thoroughfare that’s critical to our state and nation’s economy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413,PHOTO RELEASE: Franklin Sworn in as Congressman for Floridas 15th Congressional District,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Scott Franklin was sworn in as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 15th congressional district. Congressman Scott Franklin was joined by his wife, Amy.

“I want to thank my constituents for trusting me to serve as their congressman in the 117th Congress,” said Congressman Scott Franklin. “My family and I are excited to be here in Washington, and I look forward to serving on behalf of Floridians in the 15th district. My office is here to assist you, and I can’t wait to meet you all in the district.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-american-teacher-act-to-raise-the-minimum-teacher-salary-to-60000,"Congresswoman Wilson's American Teacher Act to Raise the Minimum Teacher Salary to $60,000",2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee, introduced the American Teacher Act to incentivize states to increase the minimum K-12 teacher salary to $60,000 and provide adjustments for inflation. This financial incentive supports ongoing state efforts to provide competitive wages for teachers and address the national teacher shortage.

""Teachers deserve a raise. Our nation's teachers have been underpaid, overworked, and deprived of resources for too long. That's why I'm filing the American Teacher Act today, to give our nation's teachers the raise they have earned and deserve,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""Teachers are the backbone of our education system and economy, playing a foundational role in the development of our children. For seven hours a day, they help shape and inspire young minds as well as nurture students academically and socially. As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, teachers continued to play a critical role in our recovery, underscoring their indispensability. I am proud to introduce the American Teacher Act, a critical first step in the fight to support a livable, competitive wage for America's educators.""

Teacher shortages are among the most pressing threats to education access today, with districts across the country forced to radically adjust school offerings to respond to turnover and prolonged vacancies. Every day, stories surface of schools shortening their weeks, canceling courses, increasing student-teacher ratios, and placing underprepared or temporary substitute staff in core instructional roles. Such adjustments disrupt learning, take a sustained toll on teacher morale, and harm student achievement. In August, the White House issued a fact sheet renewing attention to the weak teacher pipeline and calling upon legislators to use federal, state, and local resources to strengthen teaching career pathways and ensure competitive, livable wages.

""While teachers have never received the wages and respect commensurate with the work they do to help all children reach their promise and potential, the culture wars and stagnant wages of the last few years have made this worse. Recruiting and retaining a diverse teaching force has become increasingly difficult—indeed, most parents say they wouldn't want their kids choosing teaching as a career,"" said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. ""Rep. Frederica Wilson's bill, the American Teacher Act, addresses these challenges directly by providing states with federal funding to incentivize school districts to create a minimum starting salary of $60,000 for teachers. It also funds a national campaign highlighting the value of the teaching profession and encouraging young people to become teachers, using many of the recommendations in the AFT's Teacher and School Staff Shortage Task Force report ""Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?"" for recruiting the best candidates into teaching, including increasing compensation. This bill says put your money where your mouth is. We thank Rep. Wilson for her bold legislation addressing the low starting salaries that have plagued the teaching profession for generations, and we are proud to support this legislation.""

""Students of every color, background and ZIP code deserve qualified and caring educators dedicated to connecting with them and given the resources to nurture their passions and potential. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the educator staffing crisis that had been brewing for more than a decade,"" commented Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association. ""Fueled by insufficient teacher salaries and chronic underfunding of our public schools, our leaders need to immediately adopt solutions to the educator shortage, including treating educators with the respect and competitive compensation these dedicated professionals deserve. The American Teacher Act is an encouraging step forward, and NEA applauds Congresswoman Frederica Wilson for introducing legislation to enact long-term solutions to this longstanding, systemic issue.""

""Teachers are vital to our democracy and economy because we need them to maximize all young people's potential. We must take advantage of this moment—with the devastating learning loss and enormous and historic teacher shortages—to pay teachers what they are worth to us, to young people, and our shared future,"" said Ninive Calegari, Co-Founder of The Teacher Salary Project. ""Imagine what would happen if teaching were the sustainable and prestigious profession it deserves to be.""

Failing to invest in our teachers properly perpetuates shortages by devaluing the profession and diverting current and prospective educators. Currently, the Economic Policy Institute reports an enduring pay penalty for teachers, meaning that those in the profession earn lower weekly wages and receive lower overall compensation for their work than their similarly college-educated peers. This penalty reached a record high of 23.5% for public school teaching in 2021, making it increasingly difficult for our nation to recruit, train, and maintain qualified educators. These concerns are even more significant among teachers of color, who are more likely to teach in schools with fewer resources.

The American Teacher Act centers education as a national priority and addresses teacher shortages by supporting states in better insulating teaching as a valued and viable career. The bill would authorize funding to support the following:

Award grants for the purpose of enacting and enforcing legislation to establish a statewide teacher salary requirement of $60,000 minimum, with 15% allocated to states and 85% to local educational agencies;

Include a cost-of-living adjustment to ensure that minimum teacher salary keeps pace with inflation;

Include a maintenance-of-effort provision to ensure states and districts do not replace currently committed allocations with federal government funding;

Include a part-time teacher provision that adjusts required minimum salary proportional to workload (e.g., a 60% FTE teacher would have a minimum salary of $36,000);

Include a provision that existing salary schedules or structures (i.e., the number of steps and lanes) remain as is with additional qualifications accruing the same salary increases as before, with step 1 as $60,000 and further steps adjusted accordingly.

Provide a funding device that supports states and districts in closing the gap between current starting salaries and the $60,000 minimum over the course of 4 years.

Prioritize local educational agencies qualifying as low or moderate-income.

Invest in a national campaign to expand awareness of the value of teaching and encourage secondary and college students to consider teaching as a career;

Support state efforts to ensure competitive wages for teachers

Grantees would be required to establish a statewide teacher salary schedule or otherwise with a minimum threshold of $60,000 and annual increases congruent with the inflation rate. This financial incentive supports ongoing state efforts to ensure competitive wages for teachers.

The American teacher Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the Teacher Salary Project, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), The National Education Association (NEA), The Education Trust, Teach for America, The New Teacher Project (TNTP) National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Educators for Excellence, Council for Exceptional Children, Center for Black Educator Development, Alliance for Excellent Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Network of State Teachers of the Year, National Center for Grow Your Own, National Equity Project, Black Teacher Project, Teach.Org, Open Way Learning, The Million Dollar Teacher Project, American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, University of San Francisco School of Education, 826 Valencia, Tall Poppy, LLC, New Jersey Teacher Corps, Public Advocacy for Kids, Center for Curriculum Redesign, New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children, Hispanic Association of College and Universities, and American Consortium for Equity in Education.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-statement-on-markenzy-lapointe-s-senate-confirmation-for-us-attorney-for-the-southern-district-of-florida,Congresswoman Wilson's Statement on Markenzy Lapointe's Senate Confirmation for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Yesterday, The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Markenzy Lapointe, longtime government lawyer and Miami-based litigator, to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) issued the following statement regarding Lapointe's Senate confirmation:

""Markenzy Lapointe represents the American Dream! After more than two years of relentless advocacy and pushing for the confirmation of Markenzy Lapointe as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, I am overjoyed the Senate has confirmed his nomination.

""As a former U.S. Marine, ex-federal prosecutor, and product of Miami-Dade, Markenzy Lapointe shares a unique perspective on the issues plaguing our communities and brings a clear vision along with a wealth of experience to lead this critical office. Confirmed to serve as the first Haitian American U.S. Attorney, Mr. Lapointe is shattering glass ceilings.

""I am confident in his ability to uphold the rule of law and dedication to fighting for a more equitable criminal justice system. I know his extensive experience, unquestionable conviction, and home-grown commitment to our diverse community will guide his success as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

""With this appointment, I am proud to see that the office of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida will finally seat a trusted and seasoned litigator to take the helm in one of the nation's most diverse regions.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-greg-steube-s-statement-on-the-america-last-omnibus/,Rep. Greg Steube’s Statement on the “America Last” Omnibus,2022-12-24,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Rep. Greg Steube’s Statement on the “America Last” Omnibus

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today released the following statement on his opposition to the lame duck, “America Last” omnibus bill passing the U.S. House of Representatives:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403998,"Rep. Castor: Year-End Federal Appropriations Package Provides Holiday Cheer for Families, Veterans and Tampa Bay Area Neighbors That Will Last Through the Year",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Omnibus on the way to President Biden to lower the cost of living, creates better-paying jobs, and support our neighbors

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act just in time for the holidays to help families, veterans, small business owners, and students now and into 2023. The “omnibus” also includes vital aid to Floridians devastated by the costliest hurricane season through emergency supplemental funding to respond to the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Overall, the investments will lower the cost of living for hardworking people, make housing more affordable, create better-paying jobs, combat the climate crisis, and keep our nation and communities safe.

“As we continue to fight inflation and the rising cost of living, I was proud to vote for critical investments in better health care for kids, more affordable college and greater support for our veterans and military families.

“Communities like Tampa have felt the pinch of the hot housing market, so I made housing affordability a priority through more robust support for first time homebuyers and increased access to affordable housing, while investing in more housing options for our service members and veterans. We’ll also protect housing assistance for nearly 5 million Americans to ensure they remain in safe, stable and affordable housing. Local communities in Florida will bounce back faster through Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds for recovery from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

“This package supports people struggling to make ends meet by strengthening nutrition assistance, fighting urgent health disparities, ensuring expanded access to health care for children, and supporting the health and well-being of our community of veterans.

“I am also proud to share that this package includes grants for a total of $27,699,164 directly to the Tampa Bay area – from cost-saving energy efficiency upgrades for Feeding Tampa Bay’s new facility to expansion of The Skills Center youth empowerment center in East Tampa to a first-of-its kind Latin Tech Accelerator for Latino entrepreneurs. 2023 is looking bright for our Tampa Bay community, and I look forward to continuing my work with local partners to ensure that our neighbors and small businesses benefit.”

Below are a few highlights from the government funding bill:

Children and Families:

Institutes a permanent Summer EBT program, with grocery benefits to replace school meals for 29 million children in low-income families when schools are closed for the summer

Provides 40 million children with 12 months of continuous eligibility for their coverage in Medicaid and CHIP, reducing churn and ensuring kids have stable access to health insurance

Extends funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years

Increases funding for early childhood education programs by $2.8 billion, affecting Head Start, the Child Care Development Block Grant, and Preschool Development Grants

Grants historic funding for the critical Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting initiative, which improves health outcomes for pregnant people and young families who live in underserved communities

Directs HHS to research the effects of social media and technology on infants, children, and adolescents

Includes $385 million for Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education, helping children’s hospitals train physician residents across the country

Helps our nation’s elementary and secondary students through $18.4 billion for Title I grants to low-income schools and $15.5 billion for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act programs

Health:

Five years of increased Medicaid funding for our neighbors in Puerto Rico

New investments in mental health services, which will improve access to medication-assisted treatment, expand our mental health workforce and increase coverage of mental health services, including specific resources for children and youth

Passage of the PREVENT Pandemics Act, which uses lessons learns from COVID-19 to improve our preparedness for future public health emergencies

Strong guardrails to prevent disruption to families’ health coverage, as states resume Medicaid recertifications next year.

Increase for every CDC Cancer Program, supporting the Cancer Moonshot Initiative

$25 million to continue firearm injury and mortality prevention research at the CDC and NIH

Guidance on diversity action plans for clinical trials, ensuring manufacturers take different demographic categories into account, including pregnant and lactating women

200 new Graduate Medical Education residency positions, with 100 dedicated to psychiatry residents to address our nation’s mental health emergency

$4 million for the MISSION Zero Trauma Grant program, developing critical partnerships between our military and civilian trauma providers

College Affordability:

Elevated funding for federal student aid programs for college students, with an increase of $500 for the maximum Pell Grant each year and increases in federal-work study, TRIO, and GEAR UP programs

Veterans:

$21 billion increase for veterans’ health care – including supporting the VA as it implements our landmark PACT Act

$3.9 billion to administer benefits, including disability compensation benefits, to support the VA’s effort to decrease their claims backlog

$1.9 billion for caregiver support

$35 million for veterans' treatment courts

$337 million to support improved access to care, including expanded access to transportation and telehealth

$840.5 million for women’s health, to include gender-specific healthcare services, and initiatives and improvements to health care facilities treating our female veterans

$13.9 billion for mental health, including $498 million for suicide prevention outreach

$2.7 million for programs to prevent veteran homelessness

Affordable Housing:

Grows opportunity through homeownership and rental assistance, including more than 12,000 new housing choice vouchers targeted to individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness and over 2,800 new units for seniors and persons with disabilities

Supports the vulnerable with public housing safety, maintenance and improvement investments, such as the remediation of lead paint and radon

Protects housing assistance with $8.5 billion for the Public Housing Fund, ensuring more than 4.8 million individuals and families continue to remain in safe, stable, and affordable housing

Invests $3.6 billion in efforts to reduce homelessness

Includes $3 billion in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds for recovery from major disasters occurring in 2022

Directs $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program - which will lead to the construction of nearly 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units

Provides $350 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative

Military Construction:

$2 billion for major and minor VA infrastructure construction

$19 billion in defense spending for military construction and family housing, and funding for other priorities projects addressing resiliency and quality of life

$360 million for the Air Force to continue to rebuild facilities at installations damaged by hurricanes and flooding, including in Florida

$293 million for construction of new child development centers and planning and design for future projects to address insufficient access to childcare facilities and the poor conditions of existing facilities

$90 million for planning and design to enhance military installation resilience

Climate:

Cleans up pollution while rebuilding our infrastructure with $2.76 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure through the Environmental Protection Agency grant programs

Invests in historically underserved communities overburdened by disproportionate levels of pollution with $108 million for Environmental Justice activities

Follows the science and develops common-sense standards to curb pollution with $10.1 billion for the EPA, including $4.1 billion for core science and environmental program work

Includes more than $15.3 billion of transformative investments in clean energy and science, which will help develop and deploy clean, affordable, and secure American energy and create tens of thousands of green jobs in communities across the country.

Other:

$40 billion in emergency disaster funding to help victims of hurricanes and wildfires throughout our country, to address the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and $1 billion for Puerto Rico’s electrical grid.

$45 billion in security, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, as we continue to support their fight for Democracy.

$14.1 billion for the Social Security Administration (SSA) for SSA’s administrative expenses, the largest increase in more than a decade

Increasing funding for the National Labor Relations Board for the first time since fiscal year 2010, a sigh of relief for millions of America’s workers

Reforming the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which will help thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power like we saw on January 6th.

Designating a study of wild and scenic river segments of the Little Manatee River (which passes through Hillsborough County)

$ 500 million for NOAA to repair and replace equipment including hurricane hunter aircraft used to track and respond to disasters.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

Related News",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-secures-over-14-million-fl-20-community,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Secures Over $14 Million for FL-20 Community Projects & Helps Avert a Potential Government Shutdown,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) announced the inclusion of thirteen integral community projects in the Fiscal Year 2023 funding package, which was passed by the House in time to avert a potential government shutdown.

""I'm proud to have secured this critical funding for our district within my first 10 months in Congress,"" said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. ""This legislation delivers over 14 million dollars of critical resources for programs in Broward and Palm Beach Counties to provide housing, economic opportunity, and healthcare to those who need it most.""

In addition to local community benefits, the legislation includes $772.5 billion for non-defense discretionary programs and $858 billion in defense funding. The funding bill also delivers investments in housing and homelessness prevention, emergency disaster assistance, increases Pell Grant awards, clarifies the role of the vice president while overseeing the certification of the electoral vote, helps with childcare and utilities, provides support for the environment, provides additional aid for Ukraine, and more.

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE BILL HERE

Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick championed funding for 13 projects that will directly benefit District 20 residents. These include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3563,Rep. Frankel Votes for Federal Funding Bill that Delivers For The People,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Key Frankel Priorities Supporting Women, Seniors, Veterans, Investing in Florida Infrastructure, Included in FY23 Bill

Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21), member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after voting for the budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). This government funding package includes key Frankel priorities to support women’s health, protect seniors, assist veterans when they return home from their service, restore the Everglades and South Florida’s beaches, and more. It also includes emergency funding to respond to recent natural disasters, including Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, as well as provide additional support for Ukraine.

“This government funding package delivers For The People through historic investments that will improve the lives of Americans. Specifically, this package includes priorities of mine like support for pregnant and lactating women, first-time investments to protect our aging loved ones from falls, and additional money for Alzheimer’s research,” said Rep. Frankel. “As a mother of a U.S. Marine war veteran, I’m proud that this bill includes investments to support student veterans as they transition to civilian life, and that it funds new health programs for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.

“Floridians will also benefit from important investments to restore the Everglades, protect our beaches, keep our waterways open and clean, and assist those impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.”

This package also contained key Frankel and Democratic legislative priorities, including:

Reforming the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which will help thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power like we saw on January 6th.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which will provide labor protections—including bathroom breaks, the ability to sit down during shifts, limits on heavy lifting, and more—for pregnant workers.

The Secure 2.0 Act, which will help workers across America save for retirement more efficiently.

The Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act, which will award Ben Ferencz of Delray Beach, the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg Trials, the Congressional Gold Medal.

Creating a nationwide permanent Summer EBT Program so that 29 million kids can get healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer.

Providing more consequential assistance to Ukraine, as we continue to support their fight for Democracy.

Rep. Frankel advocated for an array of programs that were included in funding portion of the package, such as:

Health Care

Senior Health:

$1 million in first-time funding for the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age Friendly Communities to coordinate fall prevention efforts across the federal government.

$5 million in first-time funding to research and test new models for fall prevention and evaluate existing programs.

$94.85 million to expand existing fall prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Administration for Community Living (ACL), and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

$366.3 million for Home-Delivered Nutrition Services (Meals on Wheels) for senior citizens.

$410 million for Home- and Community-Based Supportive Services for older Americans and individuals with disabilities.

Women’s Health:

$200,000 for an Advisory Committee to implement research recommendations for pregnant and lactating women, language directing the creation of a designated NIH research category for menopause, and directives for the NIH to study to identify disparities and gaps in women’s health research.

$823 million for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant for states and $4.1 billion for international programs to improve maternal and child health and fight infectious diseases.

Energy and Water

$446 million for Everglades restoration, securing drinking water for the eight million people in South Florida and protecting our wildlife habitat.

$133 million to keep Florida’s intercoastal waterways clear and maintained.

$37 million to restore and protect Florida’s beaches from erosion.

Language ensuring the Army Corps uses science when determining proper water levels for Lake Okeechobee, fairly distributing water supply for all water users of South Florida.

Over $3.4 billion for renewable energy to fight climate change.

Natural Disaster Assistance

$19 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and an additional $5 billion to strengthen disaster recovery efforts for recent hurricanes in Florida and Puerto Rico.

$1.67 billion for EPA programs to address the impact of climate disasters including Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.

$1.48 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to make necessary repairs to impacted projects and increases resiliency from future flooding and storms.

Veterans and First Responders

$9 million for Centers of Excellence for Student Veteran Success, which offer resources to student veterans transitioning from military to civilian life

Last year, Rep. Frankel introduced bipartisan legislation to create these centers across the nation.

$5 billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund, which was established to support costs related to providing veterans and their families the benefits associated with the eligibility expansions included in the Honoring Our PACT Act.

Language encouraging the creation of a World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence outside the New York area to serve first responders who have retired and relocated, including the thousands now residing in South Florida.

Safety and Freedom from Gender-Based Violence

$700 million for Violence Against Women Act prevention and prosecution and $250 million to prevent and respond to global gender-based violence.

$20.5 million for the Domestic Violence Hotline.

$240 million for Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) programs to provide resources and support to survivors of domestic violence.

$61.75 million for Rape Prevention and Education Grants.

Global Gender Equality:

Over $150 million in funding to implement the Women, Peace and Security strategy, to empower women as equal partners in conflict prevention, peace building, transitional processes, relief, and reconstruction efforts in countries affected by conflict or in political transition.

$200 million for the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund to advance gender equity and equality globally.

$15 million for the Office of Global Women's Issues to empower women and girls around the world through U.S. foreign policy.

$12 million for UN Women Supports USAID’s commitment to placing qualified and dedicated Gender Advisor in every overseas Mission, Regional Platform, and Washington Bureau.

$32.5 million for modernized body armor for females and small-framed males.

Language directing joint partner country assessments on barriers to the participation of women in national security forces of partner countries.

Child Care

$8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant to help low-income families afford quality child care.

$12 billion for Head Start.

Global Education

$970 million for basic education abroad, including$150 million for the education of girls in areas of conflict.

Language recognizing the importance of education and flexible learning opportunities, particularly for adolescent girls, in humanitarian emergencies.

Combating Antisemitism

$305 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which synagogues, community centers, and other nonprofit institutions can use to protect themselves from the rising violent threats of antisemitism.

$1.5 million to the Office to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

$1.5 million for the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues.

$65.2 million for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Support for Israel

$3.3 billion for security assistance to Israel.

$2 million for USAID-Israel development cooperation to address sustainability challenges relating to water resources, agriculture, and energy storage.

$50 million to support the 3rd year of implementation of the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, including a focus on programming for Israeli and Palestinian women

$8 million for the Middle East Regional Cooperation Program for research collaboration in the Middle East, including between Israelis and Palestinians.

$500 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense cooperation.

$225 million in economic assistance funding for programs in the West Bank and Gaza serving the Palestinian people.

Assistance for Ukraine

$45 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people, defend global democracy in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, and other purposes, including:

The funding bills passed the House by a vote of 225-201 and now go to President Biden for his signature. For fact sheets and summaries for each of the Appropriations bills, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3564,Rep. Frankel Announces New Funding for Local Projects in Federal Budget,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21), a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced unique funding for local community projects included in the Federal Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill, which passed the House by a vote of 225-201 and will be signed into law on Friday.

“Funding for community projects were once again included in the Federal 2023 budget, allowing Members of Congress to respond directly to many of their districts’ most pressing issues. At my request, 15 city and nonprofit programs or projects will receive direct funding in 2023, covering a diverse range of needs,” said Rep. Frankel. “My requests were made after a series of community meetings with input from many stakeholders.”

Rep. Frankel is pleased to announce the following projects were included in the spending bill:

American Association of Caregiving Youth

Location: 6401 Congress Ave #200, Boca Raton, FL 33487

Funding: $491,000

The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is a not-for-profit serving children and adolescents that provides significant or substantial assistance, often on a regular basis, to relatives or household members needing help due to physical or mental illness, disability, or frailty.

This request will allow for AACY to expand their existing mental health, academic, and other services for youth caregivers to 20 new public middle and high schools.

City of Boynton Beach

Location: 100 East Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, FL 33435

Funding: $1,025,000

The City of Boynton Beach will replace a 35-year-old 32-ft. self-supporting radio tower and control sheds at 551 NW 15th Avenue. The results of a recent inspection revealed extensive damage and deterioration which has compromised the structure’s integrity. Replacing the radio tower is paramount to the public safety communications network for the city of over 80,000 residents.

Caridad Center, Inc.

Location: 8645 W. Boynton Beach Boulevard, Boynton Beach, FL

Funding: $1,000,000

Caridad Center is the largest free healthcare clinic in Florida, offering comprehensive medical, vision, and dental care for the uninsured and underserved children and families of Palm Beach County.

The proposed funds will increase space and maximize efficiencies to expand primary and specialty services to PBC’s uninsured, poor, minority communities. The funds will be used to roughly double Caridad’s capacity over the next five years to accommodate the increased need for mental health, social services, health education, and renovate the existing 11,000 sq. ft. space.

City of Delray Beach

Location: 100 NW 1st Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444

Funding: $3,452,972

Improvements to the city’s water systems are long overdue. This funding would be used to upgrade and improve the city’s water systems to properly clean and disinfect water for the nearly 70,000 residents.

Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family & Children’ Services

Location: 5841 Corporate Way STE 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Funding: $700,000

Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Service is a not-for-profit organization, with a mission to serve the community by providing a wide range of social services to strengthen individuals and families of all denominations.

This funding will be used to cover the buildout of a mixed-use space that will allow the organization to expand their mental health, counseling, mentoring, food assistance, and volunteer programs to help those in need throughout Palm Beach County.

City of Greenacres

Location: 5800 Melaleuca Lane, Greenacres, FL 33463

Funding: $1,000,000

Greenacres has operated a licensed, nationally accredited K-12 youth program since 1995. The current program serves about 150 students and has three different focuses: Arts + Crafts and Science Lab (elementary school), Culinary Lab (middle school), and Computer/Gaming (high school).

The funding would be used to expand their existing youth programming by adding infrastructure, increasing staff, purchasing new technology, creating additional curriculum, and providing skills training to students.

Health Care District of Palm Beach County

Location: 1515 N Flagler Drive, Suite 101, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Funding: $1,000,000

The Health Care District of Palm Beach County provides an array of health care services to Palm Beach County residents, including trauma care, school health, hospital care, skilled nursing care, and more.

The funding would be used to expand existing Falls Awareness for Older Adults’ Program by focusing on evidence-based falls prevention and outreach, creating helpful videos, training volunteer instructors, and providing core-balance classes at key public spaces.

Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

Location: 1121 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460

Funding: $750,000

The Lake Worth Beach CRA, in partnership with Adopt-a-Family, Habitat for Humanity, and others seek to purchase available, blighted, and foreclosed properties and build much-needed affordable housing units. Over the past 12 years, the CRA has created 400 affordable housing units using this method.

This funding will be used to acquire properties, rehabilitate 50 properties for affordable rents, rehabilitate 20 properties for new homebuyers, provide subsidies and assistance for at least 40 households, as well as provide counseling and support.

Town of Lantana

Location: 500 Greynolds Circle, Lantana, FL 33462

Funding: $1,200,000

The funding would be used for engineering design, bidding assistance, construction management, and inspection services to replace asbestos cement water mains throughout the town.

Norton Museum of Art

Location: 1450 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Funding: $750,000

The Norton Museum of Art is a museum located in West Palm Beach. Its collection includes over 7,000 works, with a concentration in European, American, and Chinese art as well as contemporary art and photography.

The funding will be used for renovations and enhancements throughout the museum, including refurbishing the original rooftop, purchasing a new generator, air handlers, and dehumidifiers, and improving parking lot security, which will benefit the museum’s safety and energy efficiency.

Palm Beach State College

Location: 4200 Congress Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33461

Funding: $1,000,000

Palm Beach State College is a public college with multiple locations in Palm Beach County, providing over 130 programs of study and serving nearly 49,000 students.

The funding would be used to train faculty and students in Artificial Intelligence and other technologies to help with workforce development and train students for next generation careers.

Promise Fund of Florida

Location: 340 Royal Poinciana Way Suite 317-301, Palm Beach, FL 33480

Funding: $951,500

Promise Fund of Florida is a women’s health clinic that aims to prevent the unnecessary progression of breast and cervical cancer in order to eliminate preventable loss of life in Palm Beach County, Florida.

This funding will be used to acquire mammography, ultrasound, and cervical equipment resources to expand the clinic’s breast and cervical screening and cancer program.

Vita Nova Inc.

Location: 2724 N Australian Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Funding: $750,000

Vita Nova is a not-for-profit that works to provide a road to independence for former foster care and other homeless youth through supportive housing, education, employment, and life skills training.

This funding will be used to construct affordable housing, high tech broadband, and a business center with computer access for youth ages 18-25, a population without access to affordable housing or livable wages, to ensure they do not fall back into homelessness.

Wayside House

Location: 378 NE 6th Avenue, Delray Beach, 33483

Funding: $1,000,000

Wayside House is a substance abuse rehabilitation center that helps women with drug and alcohol dependence by providing them with tools to rebuild their lives, reconnect with loved ones, and recover from active addiction.

The funding would be used for building improvements and additions that will accommodate hundreds of additional individuals who are seeking addiction recovery services.

City of West Palm Beach

Location: 401 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Funding: $969,500

The funding would be used to purchase a secure mobile radio site needed to deliver continuous and reliable public safety services and communication coverage for the city, especially helpful during hurricanes and large-scale events.

The bill now goes to President Biden for his signature. Once these bills become law, each organization listed above will work with the appropriate federal agency to receive funding for their project.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-statement-fy23-spending-package,Diaz-Balart Statement on the FY23 Spending Package,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Ranking Member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee on Appropriations, issued the following statement regarding the FY23 funding bill.

“Despite having months to work on this bill in good faith with House Republicans, this 4,000+ page spending package was drafted behind closed doors and released less than a week before government funding expires. As the American people continue to suffer the consequences of this Administration’s reckless spending and wasteful economic policies, increasing non-defense discretionary spending on these radical left-wing policies will only further fuel and lengthen inflation.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://webster.house.gov/press-releases?ID=9572A32B-5554-4F00-93A0-D8EA4CDAFF0E,Webster: Congress Again Fails to Restore Fiscal Responsibility,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Daniel Webster,W000806,webster.house.gov,webster,https://webster.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – A consistent advocate for cutting government spending who has also taken steps personally to set an example, today Florida Congressman Daniel Webster (R-Clermont) released the following statement regarding his opposition to the Senate’s omnibus government spending bill. H.R. 2617, the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Act restricts funding for border security and spends taxpayer dollars on dubious programs while making no attempt to seriously address the government spending problem.

“I have continuously called on my colleagues – Democrat and Republican alike – to return to a responsible and thorough process for developing the federal budget. They have both failed to do so and instead, the U.S. Senate released a 4,000+ page budget that was developed by a handful of members on a timeline that doesn’t allow us to fully review before being required to cast our vote. It's a slap in face of Americans that this bill invests in other countries' security while specifically restricting it on our own border.

“I have also consistently worked to reform Washington and oppose my colleagues’ exorbitant and dangerous spending habit. I also reject the Washington presumption that nothing can be cut in order to fund priorities without increasing the deficit. I hope next Congress, my colleagues will embrace their obligation to develop a thoughtful, fiscally responsible budget early and with an open process.

“I am confident we can set our nation on a responsible fiscal path while investing in critical priorities, including border security, infrastructure projects, and our military. It starts with Congress rejecting the practice of last-minute funding deals and policies that restrict economic growth.”

Webster annually returns funds allocated for his Congressional offices to the U.S. Treasury – saving more than $4 million taxpayer dollars. Additionally, every year Rep. Webster delivers a check to the Treasury to roll back his salary to 2008 amount. Although this may appear as a small action given the trillions of dollars the federal government spends, it is a step in the right direction. If all federal government spending was rolled back to 2008 amounts, we would no longer have a budget deficit and could begin to pay down our debts.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403990,Rep. Castor Announces $28M in Tampa Area Community Priority Grants in Year-End Government Funding Package,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced 15 community priority projects in the year-end FY23 funding package that is slated to be voted this week, for a total of $27,699,164 directly to the Tampa Bay area – from cost-saving energy efficiency upgrades for Feeding Tampa Bay’s new facility to expansion of The Skills Center youth empowerment center in East Tampa to a first-of-its kind Latin Tech Accelerator for Latino entrepreneurs. Castor championed the projects based upon community support and pressing local needs including life-saving cancer screenings and initiatives to cut costs for neighbors and nonprofits. Last year in FY22, Rep. Castor secured nearly $10 million in funding for community priorities.

“Working together, we will ensure that every Tampa Bay neighbor has the opportunity to grow and thrive across our community. I am proud that these community projects will help tackle the rising cost of living, educate the next generation, and create good-paying jobs organizations lift our community.

“We need real solutions to lower costs and put money in people’s pockets, and through the workforce development initiatives and programs that engage Hillsborough County students in the arts and high-skilled trades training, we will build careers and revitalize local infrastructure, bolster our economy and help provide Tampa residents an income you can raise a family on.

“The Tampa Bay area is the home of some of the most esteemed research and medical professionals in the world, and through projects at Moffitt, Lions Eye Institute and the University of South Florida, we will make strides to improve health outcomes for our neighbors and individuals across the globe, and ultimately save lives.

“Improving the safety of our community is front of mind for myself and other local leaders, and through priorities championed by HART and Hillsborough County, we are responding to requests across the Tampa area to take direct action to provide safe, affordable housing and ensure Floridians and visitors get where they need to go while using our growing public transit system.

“Ignoring the climate crisis is not an option for the millions of Americans whose lives have been upended by floods, wildfires, and destructive storms like Hurricane Ian. Local neighborhoods like Palmetto Beach near Ybor City need help to afford protection against the brunt of rising sea levels. There are also exciting opportunities to move to cleaner sources of energy, including solar, that would lower costs for Feeding Tampa Bay so it can focus on serving neighbors who are food insecure.

“The infusion of these funds will jumpstart the work of so many important priorities, and I am grateful to all of the local partners who put time and effort into helping me successfully advocate for these funds.”

Listed below are the fifteen community priority projects Congresswoman Castor has successfully championed in FY23. Projects are listed in alphabetical order:

African American Arts and Cultural Center – Hillsborough County

· This project would provide funding for professional services and pre-construction activities for the new African American Arts and Cultural Center in West Tampa—a multidisciplinary space for arts experiences, educational enhancement, and community engagement that will further economic development in the area.

· Amount: $1,000,000

“The African American Arts and Cultural Center will serve as a unique space in the county where the history and the stories of African American communities are honored by way of coming to life through the arts. It is imperative that we continue to celebrate and cherish the diversity in our County and offer new artists an opportunity to share their work with the world. An investment in the African American Arts and Cultural Center is an investment in the collective future of Hillsborough County. We appreciate the support from Congresswoman Kathy Castor,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers.

Palmetto Beach - Bermuda Boulevard Seawall Improvements – City of Tampa

· This project would stabilize and improve the existing Palmetto Beach/Bermuda Boulevard seawall along McKay Bay to reduce risk to the surrounding working class community, providing a long-term solution to reduce property damage and potential loss of life from flooding in the area.

· Amount: $2,965,800

""In the future, our quality of life will depend on steps we take to make Tampa resilient today. These projects are an important investment in making our infrastructure sustainable. By reducing our carbon footprint and mitigating the impacts of rising sea levels, we will make our city a better place for future generations. I appreciate Congresswoman Castor's hard work to deliver funding for projects like these to Tampa,” said Mayor Jane Castor.

Building Tampa’s Tomorrow-Workforce Development Initiative – Hillsborough County Public Schools

· This project would train students in a variety of medical and building construction professions to create a critical career pipeline to the highest demand fields within Hillsborough County and provide opportunities for underrepresented youth to access high-skilled trade careers.

· Amount: $2,300,000

“We are grateful for these additional resources as it will drive the work to accelerate our students into the 21st-century workforce. District and school leaders are creating robust, cutting-edge programs that will prepare students with the necessary skills to obtain careers right here in the Bay area. Through these unique academies, our students will gain a competitive edge after graduation and become the workforce for Tampa’s Tomorrow.” Superintendent Addison Davis.

Community Arts Education Initiative – Hillsborough County Public Schools

· This project would develop a high-quality arts education program for students in underserved and struggling communities, enhance the student educational experience, and introduce students to potential career paths in the arts.

· Amount: $1,986,353

“The funds awarded through this grant will elevate the educational experiences for learners in our Transformation Network schools. By providing these innovative opportunities, we are able to lift the cultural quality of life for students and open additional pathways for them as we develop a comprehensive arts education program with our community partners at the Straz Performing Arts Center and the Tampa Museum of Art,” said Superintendent Addison Davis.

Counseling and Wellness Centre – Centre for Women, Inc.

· This project would expand behavioral health services and programming in the community and train the next cohort of mental health providers in the Tampa Bay area, building on existing relationships with local colleges and universities.

· Amount: $1,205,394

“For 45 years, the Centre for Women has been a beacon of hope for people dealing with everyday mental wellness issues. The pandemic has been an accelerator for anxiety, depression, divorce, domestic violence, grief, and relationship challenges,” said Ann Madsen, Executive Director, the Centre for Women. “The need for our services has skyrocketed. Our licensed therapists provide accessible and affordable counseling to prevent situations from becoming a crisis. Rep. Castor’s support will help us open this resource for those who are uninsured, under-insured, and/or face a racial or ethnic disparity that limits their access to care. The counseling center will also serve as a learning environment for students who are training to be mental health professionals.”

Feeding Tampa Bay Solar/Wind Energy Efficiency Program – Feeding America Tampa Bay, Incorporated

· This project would enhance energy efficiency and achieve sustainability for a new cold storage facility at an organization that services more than one million Floridians facing food insecurity, helping to save money and save food in our area.

· Amount: $2,258,992

“Support for solving food insecurity among the residents of Tampa Bay is a critical issue to the wellbeing of our community. Every year, Feeding Tampa Bay recovers and delivers over 100 million pounds of food - a significant recycling effort that nourishes our residents and reduces our carbon footprint. As we build a new facility for the future, we are grateful Congresswoman Kathy Castor is supporting us to provide cost-saving and renewable solar and wind technology. Congresswoman Castor's fierce advocacy for our work has taken many forms over the years and this is just one more great example,” said Thomas Mantz, President/CEO, Feeding Tampa Bay.

Functional Brain Imaging Core Research Center to Advance Prevention and Treatment of Brain Disease – University of South Florida

· This project would bring the first functional MRI (fMRI) machine with full research capabilities to the Tampa Bay metro area, benefiting patients with clinical trials and advancing brain science research opportunities.

· Amount: $2,000,000

“A key part of the University of South Florida’s mission is to lead cutting-edge research that improves the quality of life for members of our community and beyond,” USF President Rhea Law said. “We are deeply grateful to Rep. Castor for requesting funding to support a new, game-changing brain imaging research center that would fill a critical need in Tampa Bay, and help patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other serious diseases. This project would also provide significant economic benefit to our region by paving the way for USF to attract new research dollars, recruit world-class scientists and create high-skilled jobs.”

HART Bus Stops Improvements Project – Hillsborough Transit Authority

· This project would make improvements to approximately 285 bus stops in Hillsborough County to address equity, safety, and accessibility issues and bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

· Amount: $5,000,000

""HART would like to thank U.S. Representative Kathy Castor for her continued advocacy for transportation alternatives. This CPF funding request would be a substantial investment in our transportation infrastructure. Bus stop improvements enhance the customer experience and aids in reducing the barrier to entry for our customers,” Adelee Marie Le Grand, CEO, HART.

Housing and Neighborhood Assessment Project – Hillsborough County

· This project would improve the quality of life, increase economic opportunities, and increase property values for over 26,000 residents in Progress Village and Palm River that are faced with the safety hazards of living in densely populated areas that are dependent on septic.

· Amount: $1,920,000

“We are grateful for the continued prioritization Congresswoman Kathy Castor has shown regarding water quality and our environment as a whole. The modernization of these sewer lines for the communities of Progress Village and Palm River will undoubtedly increase economic and property values, thereby improving the overall quality of life for these residents,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers.

LatinTech Accelerator – Tampa Bay Wave, Inc.

· This project would remove barriers for some of the most under-represented entrepreneurs, filling a critical gap in Tampa’s local startup ecosystem, and making a lasting impact on the regional economy.

· Amount: $500,000

“Tampa Bay Wave is grateful for Congresswoman Castor’s ongoing support of initiatives like our LatinTech Accelerator project that foster inclusive innovation-driven economic growth and high-wage job creation in our region. The LatinTech Accelerator will fill a critical gap in our local startup ecosystem by helping a demographically important but under-represented segment of tech entrepreneurs in the Tampa Bay region and across the U.S. Given Tampa Bay Wave’s long history of promoting diversity and equity in our region’s tech startup ecosystem, we know the funding requested by Rep Castor can help us make a meaningful difference in the growth and success of Latin-owned startups - including those in strategically important industries such as cybersecurity, fintech, healthtech, edtech, climate tech, and more,” said Linda Olson, President/CEO, Tampa Bay Wave.

Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Program – H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

· This project would increase lung cancer screening rates among underserved and disadvantaged populations in Tampa through a fully mobile, electric lung cancer screening vehicle.

· Amount: $2,350,000

""Moffitt Cancer Center greatly appreciates Congresswoman Castor’s support for our effort to establish a mobile lung cancer screening program for communities in Tampa Bay and beyond. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death, and greater access to screening can save lives by detecting lung cancers at earlier and more curative stages. The funding requested by Rep. Castor could help Moffitt greatly improve lung cancer outcomes in our community, especially among traditionally under-served populations who face heightened barriers to health care,” said Jhanelle Gray, MD, Chair, Thoracic Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center.

Pre-Apprenticeship Training and Hiring Program (P.A.T.H.) – Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc.

· This project would address the persistent skills gap in the Tampa Bay area through partnerships with local stakeholders to provide opportunities for underrepresented youth to access high-skilled trade careers and diversify the talent pipeline.

· Amount: $1,862,625

“As our economy continues to grow and expand, it is important to create pathways to employment for underrepresented residents. CDC of Tampa is excited to be able to partner and provide options for residents to learn a trade or obtain a certification, to begin the journey to economic self-sufficiency,” said Ernest M. Coney Jr., MPH, President & CEO, Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc.

Skills Center Collaborative – Skills Center, Inc.

· This project would help with the completion of an opportunity center for low-income youth, with the goals of on-time grade promotion, high school graduation, and preparation for life after high school for every program participant.

· Amount: $3,000,000

""From the moment a student walks through our doors, they will begin to reimagine their future. We thank Rep. Castor for supporting our project,” said Celeste Roberts, CEO, The Skills Center. “The Skills Center Collaborative will be a place where every young person has the opportunity succeed; a place where essential skills are developed, positive relationships are grown and solutions to systemic challenges facing our youth are addressed.”

Vision Health and Research Center – Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research Foundation

· The project would create a state-of-the-art treatment and research facility that will provide comprehensive, streamlined vision care and services, and research under one roof, building on an existing relationship with University of South Florida physicians.

· Amount: $2,284,047

“We are honored to be considered for this funding opportunity,” said Jason K. Woody, President and CEO of the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research. “The Vision Health Center will be an important medical resource in our community that will serve those that have been impacted or vulnerable to visual impairment. Our goal is to meet the pressing vision healthcare needs of those in our community.”

Water Facilities Hydroelectric & Solar Project – the City of Tampa

· The project would provide for further clean hydroelectric power generation at the Hillsborough River Reservoir Dam and enhance energy recovery at the Water Department’s remote pump station.

· Amount: $2,000,000

""In the future, our quality of life will depend on steps we take to make Tampa resilient today. These projects are an important investment in making our infrastructure sustainable. By reducing our carbon footprint and mitigating the impacts of rising sea levels, we will make our city a better place for future generations. I appreciate Congresswoman Castor's hard work to deliver funding for projects like these to Tampa,” said Mayor Jane Castor.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2022/12/buchanan-bill-help-student-veterans-passes-us-senate-0,Buchanan Bill to Help Student Veterans Passes U.S. Senate,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Vern Buchanan today announced that his legislation, the Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act, unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. The bill now heads to the president’s desk for signature and will be Buchanan’s 27th measure signed into law.

The VETS Credit Act, H.R.6604, would help student veterans by ensuring they are able to quickly and easily transfer their course credits to another institution should their school close or program end suddenly. This legislation passed the U.S. House earlier this year with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 412-1.

“The G.I. Bill’s promise of a college education is one of most important and effective tools we have to recruit and retain the very best and brightest to serve in the U.S. armed forces,” said Buchanan. “I’m pleased to see the U.S. Senate approve my bill, the VETS Credit Act, to ensure that no veteran loses access to the valuable G.I. Bill credits they earned and deserve by virtue of their service and look forward to this important measure being signed into law.”

While current law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to restore G.I. Bill benefits (up to 12 credits) to eligible student veterans whose schools close or program ends in the middle of a semester, the process can be very confusing and oftentimes leaves veterans unable to easily transfer their earned credits to a new school.

Specifically, Buchanan’s bill would require the VA to work with students and explain the school credit transfer process and to provide them with a certificate of eligibility from the VA providing proof of their restored benefits.

In their endorsement of Buchanan’s bill, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) said, “IAVA is committed to ensuring that every veteran can take full advantage of their earned education benefits and that no veteran loses valuable G.I. Bill credits if their school closes or program ends. The Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act will guarantee that affected veterans can easily transfer their course credits to another institution if that happens thereby avoiding the unnecessary loss of benefits.”

The VETS Credit Act has also been endorsed by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Veterans Education Success (VES).

Buchanan's bill also included a provision from Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) that makes it easier for dependents of veterans or active-duty military to retain transferred Post-9/11 G.I. bill benefits.

Rep. Murphy said, “Eastern North Carolina veterans earned their benefits with honorable military service to our country. With Rep. Buchanan’s VETS Credit Act headed to the president’s desk, these benefits are guaranteed so that our servicemen and women returning home have easy access to a college education. I’m proud that my commonsense bill is included in the VETS Credit Act to ensure clerical errors do not prevent dependents from receiving well-earned educational assistance. This is a tremendous step for our outstanding military families and I look forward to seeing how this legislation will help them obtain the benefits they deserve.”

Buchanan has a strong record of fighting for veterans and military families. Last year, a Buchanan measure to reduce military training accidents following the death of Bradenton soldier Nicolas Panipinto was enacted into law. Buchanan has also introduced the Veterans Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act, which requires the VA to study the link between addictive opioids and the alarmingly high rate of suicides among veterans.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403989,Florida Democratic Delegation Announces Critical Hurricane Ian and Nicole Disaster Relief for Florida Families and Hard-Hit Communities in Year-End Omnibus,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Val Demings (FL-10), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and Darren Soto (FL-09) released a joint statement highlighting the inclusion of critical disaster relief supplemental funding in the year-end government appropriations package for Florida families and communities still reeling from the most destructive and expensive hurricane season in history. Democrats in Congress and President Biden have championed federal support for the recovery of communities and businesses in Florida even as Republican members have failed to vote in support of emergency aid to the Sunshine State.

“The $27 billion in disaster aid from Congress is welcome news to Florida families and businesses straining to recover from a deadly and destructive hurricane season. The emergency aid will strengthen recovery efforts for ravaged towns and cities and allow the Small Business Administration’s Florida Business Recovery Centers to continue their important work in impacted counties across the state. Every member of the Florida Democratic delegation knows the importance of these funds reaching our neighbors who remain in need. Over 3.2 million Floridians were left without power for days, farmers are reporting devastating citrus crop loss near 80 percent, and Captiva Island, Sanibel Island and neighboring areas worry it’ll take nearly 20 years to recover. That is why it’s disappointing that just days after Hurricane Ian struck, every Florida Republican – both House and Senate – voted against immediate aid for the Sunshine State. The omnibus also provides localized Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for community-led projects for long-term housing, infrastructure and utilities needs and funds the Army Corps of Engineers to increase resiliency from future flooding and storms. To ensure Floridians are not saddled with exorbitant recovery costs on their own and continue a healthy recovery, we urge our Republican colleagues to support the omnibus which includes the critical disaster relief aid for Florida. It’s time they stop rejecting bipartisan legislation and start putting Floridians first.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3371,Bipartisan Bill to Award Last Living Nuremberg Prosecutor the Congressional Gold Medal Included in Fiscal Year 2023 Spending Bill,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) were joined by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to announce that their bipartisan bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Benjamin Ferencz—the last living Nuremberg prosecutor—was included in the Fiscal Year 2023 spending package. The funding package is expected to pass later this week and be signed by President Biden by Friday.

“By awarding Ben Ferencz, the last living Nuremberg prosecutor, with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congrss is sending an important message: that hate, bigotry, and antisemitism can never be tolerated. This message couldn’t come at a more important time with antisemitism and Holocaust denial on the rise,” said Rep. Frankel. “Mr. Ferencz is a hero of the Jewish community who has dedicated decades of his life to combatting antisemitism, prosecuting those who act on their hatred, and keeping the lessons of the Holocaust alive. It is a privilege to recognize his remarkable, lifelong commitment to justice, peace, and human dignity with the Congressional Gold Medal—Congress’s highest expression of honor.”

“Ben Ferencz is a true champion of human rights. Beginning with his time as an investigator in World War II and chief U.S. Army prosecutor during the Nuremberg Trials, through his long, outstanding career as an advocate of the international rule of law. Mr. Ferencz deserves our respect and appreciation,” said Rep. Wilson. “I am grateful to have co-led this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to award him the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of his lifelong dedication to justice and integrity.”

“Ben Ferencz has dedicated his life to standing up for human rights and justice,” said Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern. “As Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, I often hear how grave atrocities such as genocide happen because good people look the other way or fail to take action. Ben Ferencz has spent the last five decades ensuring that we do not look away—and that those who commit these heinous crimes are held accountable. Nuremberg is the model on how to investigate, how to interrogate, how to prosecute, and how to mete out justice. I am so proud that Congress is coming together in a bipartisan way to honor Mr. Ferencz with the Congressional Gold Medal. For ‘never again’ to mean ‘enough is enough,’ it is critically important for us to continue to honor and elevate the work of heroes like Mr. Ferencz.”

“The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Certainly, Ben Ferencz, who has spent more than 50 years prosecuting war crimes and genocide, qualifies for this prestigious honor. Throughout history, humanity has encountered many faces of evil. Our brightest moments as an international community have been those in which we present a united front in our efforts to identify and eradicate its presence. Mr. Ferencz has been at the helm leading that important work, and I am humbled to help honor him,” said Rep. Bilirakis.

“I am honored to have secured the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Benjamin Ferencz, a champion for human rights and the last living Nuremberg prosecutor,” said Senator Gillibrand. “As chief U.S. prosecutor during the Nuremberg trials, Mr. Ferencz held Nazi war criminals accountable for their crimes against humanity, and spent the many decades since then fighting for human rights, justice and peace. Mr. Ferencz’s life exemplifies what it means to dedicate oneself to compassion, empathy and righteousness. Few people have been more deserving of this tremendous honor.”

During World War II, Ferencz served in the U.S. Army and helped collect evidence of Nazi war crimes. After the war, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant of Infantry and was awarded five battle stars for his service. Later, he was appointed Chief Prosecutor in the trial that convicted 22 former Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS) officials.

Over the course of his life, Ferencz has been a tireless advocate for the rule of law and international justice. This remarkable centenarian embodies the best of what the United States—and the American people—offer to the world.

The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. The first Congressional Gold Medal was given to George Washington in 1776 and has been awarded just 184 times to our nation’s heroes, activists, scientists, and other important figures in our society.

Senator Gillibrand was joined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) in leading the Senate companion bill. The bill enjoyed the support of 296 House cosponsors and 81 Senate cosponsors. It was endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rutherford-urges-senate-republicans-oppose-democrats-omnibus-wish-list,Rutherford Urges Senate Republicans to Oppose Democrats' Omnibus Wish List,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,John H. Rutherford,R000609,rutherford.house.gov,rutherford,https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) released the following statement urging Republican Senators to oppose the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023:

""Over the last two years, Democrats have been on a reckless spending spree, culminating in this massive spending bill being pushed through Congress just days before Christmas. Instead of working with Republicans on the 12 annual appropriations bills through regular order, the Senate Majority ignored the committee process and dropped this colossal bill filled with riders at the last minute. On top of that, Democrats are at it again with their budget gimmicks. By shifting funding to supplemental funding for Ukraine and disaster response, more money is freed up in the base bill to go toward Democrat priorities.

Democrats have already forced billions of dollars through this year in their so-called Inflation Reduction Act, which, instead of providing relief for the American people, has spent billions of dollars on Green New Deal initiatives, socialist bailouts, and a lengthy progressive wish list.

This last minute 4,000-plus-page omnibus offers more of the same. It gives even more money to the IRS, plusses up renewable energy programs, and continues programs expanded through the COVID-19 public health emergency. This is all while failing to fund enhanced border security or provide offsets to new spending.

Ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent to reflect the interests and values of the American people is one of Congress's most important responsibilities. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am committed to being a good steward of taxpayer dollars and ensuring federal spending reflects our nation's priorities. That is why I urge my Republican colleagues in the Senate to oppose this bill. Next Congress, House Republicans will be able to develop a plan to cut wasteful spending and reduce inflation, while prioritizing border security and our national defense.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-announces-2022-congressional-app-challenge-winner,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Announces 2022 Congressional App Challenge Winner,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"GAINESVILLE, FL — Today Congresswoman Kat Cammack named Melissa Li, Hailey Lin, Katie He, and Una Kinbarovsky the winners of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge. Ms. Li created an app called ""PlanIt,"" which provides users with an integrated, customizable planner that uses a rewards system to incentivize and motivate users to track and complete their daily activities.

""I'm excited to name this team this year's Congressional App Challenge winner,"" said Rep. Cammack. ""It's truly incredible to see these talented high school students channel their creativity in such innovative ways, using sophisticated technology and coding software at such a young age. I'd like to congratulate all our applicants from the competition for being part of the next wave of young innovators, and of course, the winners of the challenge for their app, 'PlanIt.' We can’t wait to see what you do next!""

Winners of the Congressional App Challenge are eligible to have their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on the House of Representatives website. They are also invited to a reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to celebrate their accomplishments.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jayapal-announces-congressional-progressive-caucus-executive-board,Rep. Jayapal Announces Congressional Progressive Caucus Executive Board Appointments for 118th Congress,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), announced the executive board for the 118th Congress, naming Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick to serve as Deputy Whip.

""I'm honored to have been appointed by Rep. Jayapal to serve as Deputy Whip on the CPC Executive Board for the 118th Congress,"" said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick. ""I'm proud to be a part of the most diverse leadership and the largest Progressive Caucus in history. I look forward to the road ahead as we continue to deliver for working families.""

The Progressive Caucus was founded in 1991 by Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Peter DeFazio, and Rep. Maxine Waters. Since its founding, the caucus has continued to grow, organize, and build. It will enter the 118th Congress with its largest membership to date. The diverse composition of the new CPC executive board includes 50 percent women, 73 percent people of color, and LGBTQ members.

""I am thrilled to announce these appointments today and complete our CPC Executive Board for the 118th Congress,"" said Chair Jayapal. ""These members represent the diversity of the progressive movements, our caucus, and our country: they are immigrants and first-generation Americans, freshmen and senior members, state legislators and organizers, people of color and women, from working-class backgrounds and diverse geographies. Each of them is committed to our progressive values and to leaving no one behind.""

Complete List of Executive Board Appointments:

Deputy Whips

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20)

Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12)

Representative-Elect Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37)

Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Representative Chellie Pingree (ME-01)

Executive Board Members-at-Large

Representative Joe Neguse (CO-02)

Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)

Representative Nydia Velázquez (NY-07)

Special Order Hour Conveners

Representative-Elect Summer Lee (PA-12)

Representative-Elect Morgan McGarvey (KY-03)

Representative-Elect Delia Ramirez (IL-03)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2907,"Wasserman Schultz Delivers $55M for Ft. Lauderdale Courthouse, Plus Tens of Millions More for Local Projects in New Federal FY 23 Omnibus",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington DC – Today, U.S. Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) announced that the 2023 Appropriations bills released late last night includes an additional $55 million in funds needed for the construction of the new federal courthouse in Ft. Lauderdale, as well as more than $40 million in critical local projects secured by the Congresswoman.

The courthouse and other local funding projects were included in the draft Omnibus after intense bipartisan, bicameral negotiations between the House and Senate. The Omnibus is expected to pass both chambers later this week.

“The scales of federal justice in our community operate under immense space constraints and unsafe conditions, and I am so proud to help deliver the $55 million needed to begin work and avoid further delays on a brand new federal courthouse,” said Wasserman Schultz. “This is significant and positive news for all our citizens who rely upon a swift and seamless federal court system, and especially for those who valiantly move these wheels of justice. Combined with all the other critical local funding needs that this omnibus spending plan includes, I am so thankful and very proud that it will make life better for millions of people in South Florida and Broward County in the next year.”

Among the other projects secured by the Congresswoman in the Omnibus include:

$500,000 for the University of Miami to purchase a molecular sequencing platform to expand surveillance of infectious diseases in Florida that will provide an early warning system to alert to the presence of new variants of concern in the population.

$11 million for Florida International University to establish new pilot coastal subsurface monitoring systems in South Florida vulnerable to near-shore subsurface water and saltwater risks to infrastructure. This will provide more sea level rise data, and provide early warning of subsurface conditions so cities can plan, adapt, and avoid major infrastructure failures.

$2.5 million for the City of Sunrise to construct an intermodal public transfer station that will facilitate multiple modes of transportation through the incorporation of bike and scooter rentals, electric charging stations, and community bus stops.

$1.5 million for the David Posnack Jewish Community Center to increase community-based employment opportunities for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities by operating a food truck that will equip adults with IDD with employability skills and job opportunities as well as inclusion and community partnership.

$900,000 for the Promise Fund of Florida Breast and Cervical Screening and Cancer Program to expand mammography, ultrasound, and cervical health services at the Promise Fund’s Women’s Health Centers in South Florida.

$1.7 million for the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis for research, new treatments and therapies for those who have sustained traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

$800,000 for the Town of Davie to purchase body-worn cameras for the police department.

$3.8 million for Nova Southeastern University to deploy research resources across scientific disciplines to quickly address disease etiology of stony coral tissue loss disease.

$3.8 million for the City of Hollywood to upgrade their drinking water infrastructure.

$2 million for Feeding South Florida for a mobile market and kitchen that makes free and low-cost healthy and nutritious foods available to low-income Broward County families.

$1.5 million for the City of Hallandale Beach to build an all-Electric Bus Fleet and EV Transit Parking and Charging Facility, to reduce health impacts resulting from pollution.

$525,000 for Broward County Public Schools which will be used to support program expansion, professional development, and acquisition of technological equipment (computers, 3D printers, software, etc.) to provide pathways in visual art and design to strengthen spatial reasoning and STEM success.

$600,000 for the Town of Southwest Ranches to reduce stormwater staging on both Griffin Road and Dykes Road, and to significantly improve water quality by reducing the amount of nutrients that get introduced into the primary and secondary canals.

$5 million for the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization to provide multimodal improvements and improve travel along University Drive between North of Johnson Street to South of Stirling Street within Pembroke Pines, Hollywood and the Town of Davie.

$2.5 million for NSU to purchase and implement the equipment and infrastructure needed for high-performance computing capabilities and NIST 800-171 compliance.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of the largest and busiest federal judicial districts in the country. Its jurisdiction covers 15,000 square miles and serves more than 6 million Floridians, and sees nearly 10,000 civil cases filed there annually. The current 40-year-old federal courthouse is plagued by mold, chronic roof leaks and flooding, and has significant space constraints, and a $20 million maintenance backlog.

Further construction delays on a new courthouse will require Congress to spend more to repair the old courthouse. In 2018, Congress appropriated $190 million for the new 255,000-gross-square-foot federal courthouse, which was meant to cover the entirety of the project, including site procurement, building design, and construction. However, cost proposals submitted in August are 34% higher than the appropriated FY18 construction budget of $147 million. The steep escalation of construction costs in Florida led to the need for additional funding.

####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2908,Wasserman Schultz Secures Drowning Prevention Funds in FY23 Spending Plan,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) announced that the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety (VGB) Reauthorization Act that she and Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Roy Blunt (MO), and Reps. John Carter (TX-31), Colin Allred (TX-32), and Michael Burgess (TX-26) spearheaded in Congress, has been included in the end-of-year omnibus spending bill.

“It is crucial that we keep our children healthy and safe, and that’s always been one of my main priorities in Congress. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act has saved countless lives over the years, so I am proud that it was reauthorized in the end-of-year omnibus and included Indian Tribes as eligible grant recipients,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “While the Omnibus did not include the entire raft of programs we need, this is a step in the right direction. I look forward to continuing to push this legislation forward in the next Congress. We are not powerless in addressing these tragedies, and strong education, awareness, and enforcement efforts can help make children safer around the water and save lives.”

The VGB Act is bipartisan legislation first authorized in 2008 aimed at improving the safety of all pools and spas by increasing the layers of protection and promoting constant supervision to prevent child drowning and entrapment. This and other local funding projects were included in the draft Omnibus after intense bipartisan, bicameral negotiations between the House and Senate. The Omnibus is expected to pass both chambers later this week.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-names-ansil-lewis-2022-veteran-year-floridas-third,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Names Ansil Lewis 2022 Veteran Of The Year In Florida's Third Congressional District,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"GAINESVILLE, FL – Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack announced this year's Veteran of the Year as Mr. Ansil Lewis, a 30-year United States Marine Corps veteran.

Mr. Lewis served as a Sergeant Major in the United States Marine Corps from 1987 to 2017, where he received the Bronze Star; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Combat Action Ribbon; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Navy Unit Commendation; and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal.

After his decades-long service to our nation, Mr. Lewis has continued to demonstrate his dedication to our area's veterans as an involved member of the Clay County veteran community, serving as the past Commandant of the Roy S. Geiger Marine Corps League Detachment 1047, a member of the board for Operation Bambas, and the president of the Veterans Council of Clay County.

""I'm honored to announce Mr. Lewis as the 2022 Veteran of the Year,"" said Congresswoman Cammack. ""Sergeant Major Lewis served our nation honorably for three decades, committing his life's work to the Stars and Stripes. Upon his return, he's only increased his commitment to our veteran community, introducing more people to our region's vibrant history of service and leadership. From his presidency with the Veterans Council of Clay County to his organization of dozens of events for our nation's heroes, I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor. I'm excited to celebrate this award with Mr. Lewis and his family in the new year.""

Congresswoman Cammack has flown a flag over the U.S. Capitol in Sergeant Major Lewis' honor and has entered his service into the Congressional Record. A ceremony formally recognizing this honor will take place in January in Gainesville.

Last year's inaugural Veteran of the Year Award honoree was the late Corporal Duane Dewey, a 1953 Medal of Honor recipient and Korean War veteran.

Congresswoman Cammack thanks the community for submitting their entries for this year's Veteran of the Year and looks forward to continuing this tradition for years to come.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3559,Rep. Frankel Announces New Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Center for Residents Impacted by Hurricane Ian,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"West Palm Beach, FL – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) released the following statement announcing a new Disaster Recovery Center operated by FEMA and the State of Florida that has opened in Palm Beach County to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian. The new center is located at the Hagen Ranch Road Library in Delray Beach.

“The opening of a local Disaster Recovery Center is welcome news for those impacted by Hurricane Ian in Palm Beach County,” said Rep. Frankel. “Folks who sustained damages may get in-person recovery assistance by visiting the Hagen Ranch Road Library during business hours.”

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) provide guidance regarding disaster recovery, clarification of any written correspondence received, Housing Assistance and Rental Resource Information, and answer questions. DRCs also provide referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance, status of application being processed by FEMA, and SBA program information when available.

The Hagen Ranch Road Library Disaster Recovery Center is located at 14350 Hagen Ranch Road, Delray Beach FL, 33446. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm, closed Sundays.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3560,Rep. Frankel Statement on Final January 6th Select Committee Report,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"West Palm Beach, FL – Today, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21) issued the following statement after the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack released the executive summary of its final report.

“I thank the Members of the bipartisan January 6th Select Committee for their courageous, arduous work. Their final report defends our Democracy and points us in the direction of accountability and justice,” said Rep. Frankel.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-secures-60-million-central-florida-water-projects-fy23-ndaa,Soto Secures $60 Million for Central Florida Water Projects in FY23 NDAA,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“Our Central Florida community will greatly benefit from the water projects included in the FY23 NDAA. With this funding, we will see major improvements in water infrastructure across Florida’s Ninth Congressional District to improve the quality of life for our constituents and make us better equipped for future natural disasters and flooding,” said Congressman Soto. “In Orange and Polk County, we secured $60 million in total to begin these critical projects. In Osceola County, we will continue working with key stakeholders to determine what is needed to achieve our goals in Lake Tohopekaliga/Kissimmee Lakefront, Lake Runnymede, and Shingle Creek. From there, I look forward to advocating for essential resources.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://webster.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C45E632D-1984-4159-98A1-96D57CF36289,Webster Bill to Prevent FEMA Clawbacks to Become Law,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Daniel Webster,W000806,webster.house.gov,webster,https://webster.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, December 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate passed legislation introduced by Congressman Webster - the Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act, to ensure innocent disaster victims won’t have their assistance clawed back by the federal government when it makes an error. The bill passed the House on December 8thas part of the National Defense Authorization Act and will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.

“Florida is no stranger to the devastating effects of hurricanes and natural disasters,” said Rep. Webster. “Federal aid is crucial for many victims’ ability to recover and rebuild in the wake of disaster. FEMA should be focused on helping victims recover, not putting them on the hook for errors made by the government. This commonsense bill will help protect victims and bring further accountability to FEMA.”

Originally introduced in the House of Representatives with Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), and Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) the Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act stops the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from taking back disaster assistance funds that it mistakenly awarded to victims who applied for assistance in good faith and utilized that money to help rebuild their lives. The bill requires FEMA to waive the debt of disaster relief recipients in cases where the agency later determined it mistakenly granted assistance, but no fraud was committed. Under current law, FEMA can come back weeks, months, or even years later to seek repayment of funds it awarded victims, even when the agency is at fault for making the error and the funds were appropriately used in the wake of a disaster. FEMA is also required to reports Congress on its efforts to minimize similar errors in the future.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2022/12/2022-app-challenge,Buchanan Honors Area Student Who Invented App to Help Foreign Language Students,2022-12-18,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"SARASOTA, Fla — Congressman Vern Buchanan recognized Jace Billingsley as the winner of the 2022 Congressional District App Challenge. Billingsley designed a software application to help foreign language students translate school lessons in real time.

Buchanan hailed the ingenuity of Billingsley, saying “I can’t commend him enough for inventing such an important tool for international students. As a two-time winner of the Congressional App Challenge, Jace clearly has a bright future as an aspiring web applications developer.”

Jace Billingsley is a 14-year-old 8th grade student at Buffalo Creek Middle School in Palmetto, Fla. He also won last year’s Congressional District App Challenge for his development of “The Code Blue App,” which helps health care workers administer the American Heart Association’s recommended interventions used to resuscitate patients experiencing cardiac or respiratory failure, also known as a “code blue.”

“STEM education gives students the tools they need to succeed and help the U.S. compete in an increasingly global 21st century economy,” Buchanan continued. “Children are 25 percent of the population, but 100 percent of the future, and the future is in good hands with students like Jace.”

The winning entry, “ClassTranslate” was developed to help international students in American schools translate their lessons from English to their native language. Unlike other translation apps, ClassTranslate is specifically made for classrooms, allows students to download their language transcripts, offers multi-language support and provides live clarification to ensure students are typing lessons and conversations accurately.

The app will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us and will also be eligible to have photos of its interface displayed in the U.S. Capitol.

“Since I started participating in the Congressional App Challenge, I have learned so much about how to publish apps and speak about them,” said Billingsley. “I enjoy creating practical applications that have a real-world use. The idea for this year’s app came from a need I saw firsthand in my class. I had Ukrainian classmates that did not speak English, and I wanted to do something to help them communicate more efficiently in a classroom setting. So, I created ClassTranslate.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts overall employment in the economy to grow by 5.3 percent between 2021 and 2031, while jobs in STEM fields are expected to grow by 10.8 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, college-educated STEM job holders earn between 29 percent and 39 percent more per hour than non-STEM employees with equivalent educational attainment.

The Congressional App Challenge was created by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015 and allows students to compete against their peers across the country by creating an app for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices. The challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gimenez.house.gov/2022/12/gim-nez-calls-on-state-department-for-information-on-americans-stranded-in-per,GIMÉNEZ CALLS ON STATE DEPARTMENT FOR INFORMATION ON AMERICANS STRANDED IN PERÚ,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Carlos A. Gimenez,G000593,gimenez.house.gov,gimenez,https://gimenez.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL – Following the democratic impeachment of socialist President Pedro Castillo for attempting to dissolve the Congress of the Republic of Perú, a large group of American tourists, including several Floridians and residents of Miami-Dade County, have been stranded in-country as violent, anti-democratic forces fan the flames of social unrest in Perú.

Today, Congressman Carlos Giménez (FL-26) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State officials handling this case to call for the U.S. Department of State to provide information on the situation unfolding and guarantee the safety of U.S. citizens currently stranded in the Republic of Perú.

The office of Congressman Giménez has also contacted the U.S. Embassy in Perú.

Congressman Giménez looks forward to an immediate response and keeping an open line of communication with both the U.S. Embassy and the Department of State.

The full text of Congressman Giménez’s letter is below.

Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State

Honorable Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State

Honorable Lisa Kenna, Ambassador",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403985,Rep. Castor: The People of Puerto Rico Deserve to Live in Dignity with the Freedom to Determine Their Future,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor spoke in support of H.R. 8393 – the Puerto Rico Status Act on the House Floor ahead of the chamber’s vote on the bill. The bill passed 233-191.

A video of her remarks can be found here.

A transcript of her remarks can be found below:

Madam Speaker, the people of Puerto Rico deserve to live in dignity with the freedom to determine their future. That is why I rise in support of the Puerto Rico Status Act. The Act simply provides Puerto Ricans the opportunity to determine their future and choose whether statehood, independence or sovereignty and free association makes the most sense for them. Colleagues, I hope we can all agree that we all value basic human rights and that means like every American citizen, our Puerto Rican neighbors deserve true representation, equal rights and everything that flows from that. After Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, Boricuas in the Tampa Bay area came together to advocate for resources to rebuild the island. The disparate treatment became so plain at that time, but it has existed for decades, even as Puerto Ricans have given their life and service for America's freedom. So it is time that the territorial status of Puerto Rico be reexamined. It's unsustainable and cannot continue. Puerto Ricans deserve the opportunity to have their say. And I want to thank Representatives Velázquez, Soto, Ocasio-Cortez, González Colón, Leader Hoyer and of course Chair Grijalva for crafting this landmark legislation for self-determination, per the democratic values that we hold dear. Vote for self-determination and freedom and democracy for everyone. I urge you to adopt this bill. Thank you. I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3558,Rep. Frankel Urges Securities and Exchange Commission to Combat Workplace Harassment,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) was joined by 61 Members of Congress in sending a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urging the commission to help combat workplace harassment. The letter asks the SEC to use its existing rulemaking authority to require publicly-traded companies to disclose the number and aggregate amounts of settlements, judgements, and awards that pertain to workplace harassment, sexual harassment, and assault on their annual filings.

The letter states, in part, “According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), one in three women has experienced harassment in the workplace. Workplace harassment and assault force many people, especially women, to leave their job, or industry completely, due to an unsafe work environment. These situations negatively impact the health and safety of workers, and consumers, as well as the value of corporations.”

The letter continues, “The SEC’s stated mission is, in part, to make sure that the public and shareholders have the timely, accurate, and complete information they need to make confident and informed decisions about when or where to invest. By informing shareholders and the public about expenses related to harassment and assault disputes, the SEC will be able to improve accountability for these companies and incentivize them to prevent workplace harassment and assault.”

The letter has been endorsed by a variety of advocacy organizations, including Lift Our Voices, Jewish Women International, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women's Law Center, and more.

Full text of the letter is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://webster.house.gov/press-releases?ID=FF7E596D-8240-4B49-8E7C-AF17BDE1A7D5,Webster: The VA Needs More Accountability Not Less,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Daniel Webster,W000806,webster.house.gov,webster,https://webster.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, released the following statement regarding his opposition to the passage of H.R. 1948 the VA Employee Fairness Act, which reduces the ability to hold Veteran Administration (VA) employees accountable for serving our veterans.

“More accountability not less is needed at the VA,” said Rep. Webster. “This bill hamstrings the VA Secretary’s ability to ensure the highest quality of care at the VA for America’s veterans. I opposed this legislation because Congress should not strip the Secretary of this responsibility and allow potentially non-medical unions to decide on issues impacting patient care and clinical competence. I am disappointed that Congress would attempt to transfer such a critical responsibility to unaccountable third-party arbitrators.”

“Ensuring veterans are receiving the highest quality healthcare is the Secretary’s chief responsibility. We owe our veterans a debt we can never repay. I have and will continue to advocate to bring reform to the VA to ensure our veterans get the care they deserve.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403987,"SELECT COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS RELEASE FINAL REPORT ON KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES",2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON (December 14, 2022) - On Wednesday, Chair Kathy Castor and the Democratic members of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released Solving the Climate Crisis 2022: Key Accomplishments and Additional Opportunities, a majority staff report highlighting key accomplishments made by Congress to address the climate crisis and additional opportunities for future Congresses. The report follows up on the Select Committee's Climate Crisis Action Plan, released in 2020.

(Note: Members will give remarks during a press conference on the report at 11am today; the press conference will be broadcast live here.)

The new report highlights the historic progress made by House Democrats to reduce heat-trapping pollution, lower energy costs, and create good-paying jobs across America by addressing the climate crisis and deploying cleaner, cheaper energy. It also outlines progress made to help communities adapt to climate impacts and become more resilient in the face of worsening extreme weather events. Those accomplishments include investments in bills like the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS & Science Act, the Energy Act of 2020, the yearly appropriations bills, the National Defense Authorization Act, and more.

“House Democrats have delivered on their pledge to urgently address the costly climate crisis, paving the way for lower costs, good-paying jobs, and reduced pollution,” said Chair Castor. “Under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, we've turned more than 300 of the recommendations in our Climate Crisis Action Plan into law - and we're ready to keep our foot on the electric pedal and keep making progress on solving the climate crisis.

“As House Republicans prepare to dismantle our climate committee, our progress and new report should inspire Americans to continue the fight for cleaner, cheaper energy and more resilient communities – guided by science, rooted in justice, and powered by American workers.”

Some of the key accomplishments highlighted in the new report include:

Laying the foundation to slash pollution across the board with tax credits that will drive investment in affordable clean energy, electric vehicles made in America, and cost-saving energy efficiency technologies;

A massive down payment on the electrification of the entire economy, with substantial investments and policy changes in electric transmission and a historic deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure;

Making environmental justice a cornerstone of climate action, with a focus on stronger enforcement of environmental laws and increasing investments to EJ communities, including rural and tribal communities;

Creating good-paying jobs for American workers as a key aspect of solving the climate crisis, with tax incentives that provide bonuses for high-road labor standards;

Transformational incentives for domestic manufacturing of climate solutions to enhance American economic competitiveness and investments in clean energy demonstrations to commercialize advanced technologies;

A cross-cutting approach to reducing methane pollution from the oil and gas sector, including the first-ever Methane Emissions Reduction Program;

Transforming and strengthening our nation’s core infrastructure from every corner, including transportation, clean water, broadband, and a reliable electric grid that can increasingly withstand climate impacts;

Making unprecedented investments to deploy natural climate solutions, expanding conservation measures and harnessing the power of our lands and waters to capture heat-trapping pollution and boost resilience;

Advancing climate science within the federal government, improving earth observations and data collection, climate and oceanic research, and emissions measurements;

Working to protect the health of all Americans, reducing air and climate pollution and directing funding for disadvantaged communities to help reduce impacts on public health;

Reaffirming America’s leadership role in global efforts to reduce heat-trapping pollution and help vulnerable communities adapt to climate impacts; and

Confronting the national security implications of the climate crisis, advancing mitigation and resilience for our nation’s military, prioritizing energy resilience and security, and increasing preparedness for personnel, operations, and installations.

The new report also highlights additional opportunities for future Congresses to address the climate crisis, including the need for:

A comprehensive transmission strategy to meet the increased electric load from electrification of vehicles, buildings, and industrial processes;

A Clean Electricity Standard, Zero Emission Vehicle sales standards, and other sector-specific standards to provide certainty for investments in pollution reduction;

A comprehensive approach to critical minerals sourcing and recycling, including updating outdated mining laws to ensure critical minerals are secured in an environmentally, economically, and socially responsible way;

Continued investments in research for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like off-road transportation and industry, and for carbon removal;

Improving community engagement in the permitting process, addressing the cumulative impacts of plastic production and disposal in fenceline communities, and supporting efforts to strengthen the environmental justice focus of agencies;

Increasing support for workforce development and communities experiencing energy transitions, including through registered apprenticeships and a reimagined Civilian Conservation Corps, and ensuring all workers are protected by securing strong labor standards, especially during any extreme weather conditions or events;

A National Adaptation and Resilience Plan, including strategies to advance climate science and tools, expand technical assistance to improve planning and access to federal programs, and prioritize investments in environmental justice communities;

Advancing resilience-based codes and standards against rising flood, wildfire, and extreme weather risks, and accelerating disaster recovery and bridging the resilience and protection gap for communities at greatest risk;

Implementing nature-based solutions on public, private, and working lands and waters, enshrining climate mitigation and adaptation in federal natural resource and land management, and protecting and conserving at least 30% of lands and waters;

Increasing research on climate and public health impacts, prioritizing health equity in federal planning for climate impacts on the healthcare sector and public health, recognizing the disproportionate burden on disadvantaged communities; and ensuring all health sector infrastructure is resilient to the impacts of climate change;

Fulfilling our commitments to mobilize climate finance for developing countries, and expanding diplomatic, humanitarian, and military capacity to address climate issues; and

Embedding climate considerations into all facets of national security and defense policy, including acquisitions, vehicles, technologies, construction, and other approaches.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3555,"Reps. Frankel, Salazar, Burgess Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Maternal Health",2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), and Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX-26) released the following statement after introducing the Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act. The purpose of this bipartisan legislation is to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as their newborns.

The bill encourages easier access to devices and services that allow physicians to monitor their pregnant patients remotely to identify life-threatening complications like blood pressure irregularities. It requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide recommendations and resources to state Medicaid programs on how to cover these devices to make them more accessible in the future.

“The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in any developed nation in the world, disproportionately impacting communities of color,” said Rep. Frankel. “Virtual medical monitoring can identify pregnancy and postpartum complications, improving maternal health outcomes.”

“Ensuring that expectant mothers have access to every tool necessary is vital to supporting maternal health and to our nation’s future,” said Rep. Salazar. “I am proud to co-lead legislation that would give new and expecting mothers and their children the head-start they deserve with the best technology our country has to offer.”

“The bipartisan Connected MOM Act is common sense legislation that will help improve care for pregnant women covered by Medicaid,” said Rep. Burgess, M.D. “I served women and their newborns in North Texas as an OB/GYN for almost 30 years. I can personally attest to the power of incorporating these cutting-edge technologies and devices to strengthen patient care and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in Texas and across the country.”

“As we continue to see the U.S. maternal mortality crisis worsen, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports the House introduction of the bipartisan Connected MOM Act. This bill will go a long way in helping to improve maternal health outcomes by creating policies and providing state resources that will make it easier for pregnant patients to receive the evidence-based care they need, when and where they need it,” said Iffath A. Hoskins, M.D., FACOG, President of ACOG. “Patient monitoring for blood pressure and glucose levels through remote medical devices have shown clear maternal health benefits. When so many patients live in states with maternity care deserts, these supportive policies would decrease the need for unnecessary office visits while also potentially increasing adherence to evidence-based prenatal care plans. The COVID-19 pandemic was a great case study in the use of telehealth to improve access to care and address socioeconomic and racial health inequities. ACOG applauds the leadership of the sponsors of this bill who are carrying those lessons forward in order to improve the health and lives of pregnant and postpartum people.”

A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D (R-LA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). A full summary of the legislation is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/co-chairs-and-members-congressional-friends-egypt-caucus-meet-president,Co-Chairs and Members of the Congressional Friends of Egypt Caucus Meet with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– This morning, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Friends of Egypt Caucus, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-25) and Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-2), along with nine other members, met with H.E. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

""As co-chairs of the Congressional Friends of Egypt Caucus, we were honored to meet with Egypt's President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to discuss mutual national security interests and shared goals. For decades, Egypt has been a valued partner in forging peace, fighting against terrorism, and promoting global security. Like the United States, Egypt has suffered brutal acts of terrorism within its borders and knows firsthand the high stakes and sacrifice incurred in the struggle for peace and security. We are grateful for Egypt's friendship and look forward to working together toward our mutual goals.

""This year, we marked 100 years of U.S.-Egypt diplomatic relations. As we reflect on our joint successes of the past century, we look forward to fostering this essential relationship and meeting our challenges together for many more years to come.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-we-re-going-to-impeach-secretary-mayorkas/,Rep. Steube: We’re Going to Impeach Secretary Mayorkas,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Rep. Steube: We’re Going to Impeach Secretary Mayorkas

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) joined his House GOP colleagues and Trump Administration Immigration officials at a press conference held in support of impeaching U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in the 118th Congress.

Click here to view Rep. Steube’s remarks.

“I know a little something about fighting terrorism…I can’t think of a higher crime than releasing known terrorists into our country.”

– U.S. Representative Greg Steube",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2906,"Wasserman Schultz, Klobuchar, Cardin, Fitzpatrick, and DeSaulnier Lead Cancer Survivorship Bill",2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) introduced The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA), legislation that will address gaps in survivorship care and develop desperately needed standards to improve the overall patient-centered quality of care and navigation needs of cancer survivors and their families.

For every cancer survivor, this deadly disease imposes vastly different and highly personal experiences. With more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, and 26 million expected by 2040, there is an urgent need to empower them with the best possible resources and care to overcome this terrible disease. The CCSA will set new standards of care to ensure the best and most seamless experience for survivors, their families, and caregivers, throughout their survivorship journey, from diagnosis to end of life.

“As a fifteen-year cancer survivor, confronting it head-on, with an all-hands-on-deck approach, is my personal and professional mission. With the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, I am proud to introduce far-reaching legislation that better enables cancer survivors to choose their own path, provides them agency and autonomy over their personal health experiences and decisions, and addresses the entire survivorship continuum of care,” said Wasserman Schultz. “From the point of diagnosis, through active treatment and transitions to primary care, until the end of life, this legislation sets the standards of care that all survivors need and deserve. The CCSA confronts care planning, transition, navigation, workforce, education, and awareness, and empowers survivors with the best possible resources and care to overcome this terrible disease.”

“As a result of advances in early detection and access to effective treatments, more people are recovering after their cancer diagnoses. That’s why we must do everything we can to improve care services and quality of life for cancer survivors,” said Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will do just that, esuring that more survivors receive comprehensive, coordinated post-diagnosis and post recovery care that addresses their unique treatment needs throughout the course of their life.”

“Living with or surviving cancer is personal for so many families across our nation, and, thanks to increased access to preventive care, which leads to early detection, the rate of cancer survivorship continues to grow,” said Cardin. “Our legislation recognizes the importance of investing in improving quality of life and long-term care of cancer survivors who have bravely fought and won their battles against cancer.”

“Each year, our nation makes new advancements in cancer treatment, increasing the number of cancer survivors across the country,” said Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Cancer Caucus. “It is time that we set standards of care for those who are cancer survivors, and we address the emotional, financial, and physical challenges that these millions of Americans are faced with. Like so many in America, the fight against cancer is personal to me, and I am proud to join my colleagues in both chambers on both sides of the aisle in introducing the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act.”

“As an 8-year survivor of a non-curable treatable blood cancer, I know firsthand how important a seamless continuum of care is,” said DeSaulnier. “I am proud to join Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and my colleagues in leading this effort to ensure every cancer survivor in America has access to the support and resources they need to be healthy and happy in all facets of life. I am also pleased that this legislation includes my Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act to help Medicare patients be better informed about their cancer diagnoses.”

The CCSA’s key pillars:

Care Planning and Transition: Provides coverage to address the transition to primary care to help survivors develop personalized treatment care plans, standardizes processes, and consolidates treatments to guide survivorship monitoring and follow-up care;

Alternative Payment Model: Studies existing reimbursement landscape to develop an alternative payment model to ensure a coordinated approach to survivorship care across an episode of care;

Navigation: Develops effective and comprehensive navigation services that emphasize the continuum of care, such as follow-up and health disparities and determinants, like food insecurity, housing, transportation, labor, broadband, telehealth access, and childcare;

Quality of Care: Establishes grants to promote utilization of navigation, employment of risk-stratification, transition to primary care, utilization of care plans, potential use of at-home care, and better use of information technology for patient experience data;

Workforce: Establishes workforce assistance grants to help survivors, their families, and caregivers when faced with a range of workforce challenges; and

Education, Awareness: Creates resources for survivors and health professionals to promote early detection, preventive care and help providers provide high-quality services.

The CCSA also addresses innovation and technology use, fertility preservation, long-term studies, survivorship resources, and provisions concerning childhood and adolescent cancer.

The following organizations support The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA): Alliance for Fertility Preservation (AFP), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS-CAN), American Lung Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA), Association for Clinical Oncology, Breast Care for Washington, Brem Foundation, Cancer Support Community (CSC), CancerCare, Children's Cancer Cause (CCC), FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, LUNGevity Foundation, Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF), Malecare and the National LGBT Cancer Project, Moffitt Cancer Center, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), Nueva Vida, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Prevent Cancer Foundation, Sisters Network Inc., Susan G. Komen, Tigerlily Foundation, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, YMCA of the USA, Young Survival Coalition

“Cancer survivors face many unmet care needs that are complex and include physical and emotional symptoms, concerns about finances and social roles, and limited care coordination. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act legislation sponsored by Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, Congressman Fitzpatrick, and Congressman DeSaulnier, and Senators Klobuchar and Cardin proposes to implement much needed fundamental standards of care including care coverage and coordination that will address the unique needs of the more than 18 million cancer survivors in the US. Having these standards of survivorship care in place will benefit cancer survivors and their families and caregivers. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is proud to support this Bill which will enhance our capacity to provide essential comprehensive cancer survivorship care for the South Florida community and surrounding region,” said Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., Director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“Barriers to equitable access and appropriate care coordination stand in the way of achieving equity in cancer care and delivering high-quality care to all patients with cancer. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act addresses cancer disparities throughout the cancer care continuum and is responsive to the benefits of patient navigation. Nueva Vida applauds this Bill and its intent to support patient navigation managing the late and long-term effects of cancer and cancer treatment,” said Laura A. Logie, Ph.D., Director of Research, Nueva Vida.

“Young Survival Coalition (YSC) understands the unique issues young adults with breast cancer face, particularly the long-term impacts of a young breast cancer diagnosis. Young adults are more susceptible to long-term consequences of their cancer treatment, and cancer survivors of racial and ethnic diversity have a disproportionately lower health-related quality of life and those living in rural areas have less access to services and have poorer outcomes. We know best practices and standardized care for cancer survivorship would improve treatment, quality of life, and long-term health outcomes. YSC enthusiastically supports the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act,” said Jennifer Merschdorf, Young Survival Coalition CEO.

“YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) is grateful to Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick and DeSaulnier and Senators Klobuchar and Cardin for introducing the bipartisan Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA). As the largest provider of in-person health and well-being programs for cancer survivors, the Y has seen unprecedented growth in demand for services for individuals living with, through and beyond cancer. Since 2008, the Y has supported more than 80,000 individuals and their families to help them heal and be well, but there are so many more who need our help. CCSA would provide resources to expand and sustain this work,” said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO YMCA of the USA.

“Over the last 20 years, we've seen tremendous strides made in the treatment of lymphoma and in understanding of the unique needs of all cancer survivors. The Lymphoma Research Foundation commends Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick, and DeSaulnier, and Senators Klobuchar and Cardin for their co-sponsorship of the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act and for recognizing that surviving cancer brings with it a set of physical, psychological, and financial needs that require ongoing attention and support. The Lymphoma Research Foundation is committed to the continued support of cancer survivors and their caregivers through survivorship education programs and in funding related research to ensure that more people survive a cancer diagnosis and go on to live full lives,” said Meghan Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer, Lymphoma Research Foundation.

“Our systems need to adapt to meet the needs for a growing population of long-term cancer survivors, as treatments become more and more effective. The ‘Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act’ would address critical gaps, for both adults and children, by providing coverage for vital services to ease the transition from oncology to primary care. These services include cancer care planning and coordination plus new models for workplace support. We applaud Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, Congressmen DeSaulnier and Fitzpatrick, and Senators Cardin and Klobuchar for their bipartisan efforts to transform our health and social systems to better serve cancer survivors,” said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).

“From detection and diagnosis to treatment and long-term support, people living with cancer face numerous challenges in receiving the best possible care,” said Andrea Ferris, President and CEO of LUNGevity Foundation. “We applaud Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick and DeSaulnier, as well as Sens. Klobuchar and Cardin, for leading this comprehensive legislation that would take meaningful steps toward improving the way that cancer care is coordinated, delivered, and covered. We look forward to working with these congressional champions and our partners in the cancer advocacy community to ensure that these important measures are enacted.”

“The needs of people who have cancer are many and they don’t end for those whose treatment ends. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act will provide the tools and resources needed to address current barriers in delivering survivorship care. Given that cancer survivors represent 5% of the US population it is an important step in improving their lives,” said Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

“The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act is a huge step forward for millions of people living with, through, and beyond cancer in the United States. With an array of measures to improve the entire continuum of care - from diagnosis through active treatment and post-treatment - this legislation will strengthen our ability to meet the unique needs of cancer survivors,” said Smitha Pabbathi, MD, Medical Director, Survivorship Clinic, Moffitt Cancer Center.

“The American Lung Association is pleased to support the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “This bill gives individuals and their families facing a devastating diagnosis the resources to live their lives. It also gives providers the tools they need to improve treatment and quality of life for cancer survivors. The Lung Association sincerely appreciates the work of Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick and DeSaulnier, and Senators Klobuchar and Cardin to improve the lives of people living with cancer.”

""Malecare and The National LGBT Cancer Project encourage bipartisan passage of this legislation. Sexual and Gender Minority cancer patients have unique and life-threatening needs that the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA) fearlessly and effectively addresses. Our LGBTQ+ cancer survivor community has been invisible to healthcare providers for far too long. The CCSA will shine a light on interventions that will help thousands of cancer patients live longer and happier lives,"" says Darryl Mitteldorf, LCSW, Director of Malecare and the leading pioneer of LGBTQ psycho-oncology.

“The AACR commends Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick, and DeSaulnier and Senators Klobuchar and Cardin for their extraordinary leadership of the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act. Breakthroughs in cancer treatment have resulted in more than 18 million Americans living today as cancer survivors, and this Act will provide vital resources for many of them, including supporting personalized survivorship care plans for follow-up care, navigation services, and evidence-based survivorship resources,” said Lisa M. Coussens, PhD, FAACR, President of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

“We are deeply grateful for Representative Wasserman Schultz’s inclusion of fertility preservation coverage in the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act. Young cancer patients should not have to sacrifice a basic and vital life experience – parenthood – because they suffered the misfortune of a cancer diagnosis. This act will finally establish equitable protection for these vulnerable patients’ reproductive futures,” said Joyce Reinecke, Executive Director of the Alliance for Fertility Preservation.

“Cancer has a lasting impact—physical, social, emotional, and financial—on the affected individual and their family. Improved screening, early detection, and therapies allow us to save more lives than ever before so understanding the needs of cancer survivors and helping them successfully navigate life after cancer is crucial. We applaud Representative Wasserman Schultz and the other bill co-leaders. This legislation will pave the way for survivors to have better quality of life, providing guidance to address short- and long-term treatment effects, and an evidence-based plan that includes screening for recurrence, new cancers, and other complications,” Lisa Schlager, Vice President, Public Policy, FORCE.

“Susan G. Komen applauds long-time cancer community champions, Representatives Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Mark DeSaulnier and Brian Fitzpatrick and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ben Cardin, in their efforts to support the growing number of people living with and surviving cancer in our country. With the increasing availability of screening, earlier detection and improvements in breast cancer treatments, the overall breast cancer mortality rate among women in the U.S. has declined by 41 percent over the last 30 years. However, statistics do not illustrate the challenges breast cancer patients, those living with metastatic disease and survivors face every day to maintain their health and quality of life. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act would increase access to the tools those impacted by breast cancer may need to navigate their care, wherever they are on their cancer journey,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen

“Racial/ethnic minority cancer survivors, especially Asian American cancer survivors, have reported high needs for help and subsequent low quality of life. To address the high needs for help among Asian American cancer survivors, there is a clear necessity for an innovative way of identifying their needs and delivering information and support to this specific population. This new legislature will definitely help meet their high needs through various ways that were not possible in previous years,” said Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, Professor & Edith Folsom Honeycutt Endowed Chair, Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

“CancerCare applauds the introduction of The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA) which recognizes the ongoing needs, concerns, and challenges confronting cancer survivors and their loved ones. With approximately 18.1 million cancer survivors currently in the United States, a number expected to grow to 22.5 million in ten years, this timely legislation will be instrumental in ensuring that survivors and their family members receive the continuing care and services they require and rely on to lead their best lives. Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and the bill’s cosponsors have paved a much needed path to help navigate survivorship, replacing a previously unmarked map that left millions adrift without appropriate care and support,” said Patricia Goldsmith, CEO of CancerCare.

“With advances in cancer treatments, more people are living long lives after cancer. Yet, cancer survivors are often lost in transition from the support they received during treatment to life after cancer. They deal with physical, emotional, and financial issues, often for the rest of their lives. We need to provide better support to cancer survivors so that they can live as well as they can for a long as they can, during and after their treatment. We are grateful to Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Cardin, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier for their leadership and dedication to improving the lives of cancer survivors, and we look forward to working with them to enact the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act,” said Shelley Fuld Nasso, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS).

“After finishing active treatment, cancer patients must manage a frequently difficult to navigate and disjointed transition to survivorship care. Notably, there are over 19 million current cancer survivors in the US alone. These individuals often continue to pay higher costs of care for the remainder of their lives. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivor Act offers numerous ways to address these financial challenges and ensure that those who survived their initial diagnosis and treatment maintain the greatest opportunity to remain cancer free, and to effectively address long-term effects from cancer. We offer enthusiastic support for this bill and urge momentum in Congress,” said Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, CEO of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

“Today’s introduction of the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act is a testament to Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz’s bravery and relentless advocacy for those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. On behalf of the Cancer Support Community, the largest, professionally-led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, and those who continue to access community-based navigation emotional support from our network partners, I would like to thank Representative Wasserman Schultz, along with Senators Klobuchar and Cardin and Representatives. DeSaulnier and Fitzpatrick for their leadership in introducing this landmark legislation,” said Debbie Weir, CEO, Cancer Support Community.

“Many pediatric cancer survivors face a multitude of lifelong health challenges caused by the toxicity of their treatment. Many lack a survivorship care and transition plan when they leave treatment and go into primary care and are unprepared for the significant health issues they may face, including hearing loss, infertility and cardiac late effects. Innovations in the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act help to address the specialized needs of this population through the development of best practices to ease transitions of care. The bill would also encourage the creation of a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation pediatric survivorship care demonstration model that could help to establish a standard of post-treatment transition care,” said Steve Wosahla, Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Cancer Cause (CCC).

"" We must have a Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship care plan in place for all cancer patients. What we used to know to be normal is different now. We cannot rely on Google university for information around cancer,” said Sharon Rivera-Sanchez, founder of Trials of Color & Saving Pennies 4 A Cure.

Tigerlily Foundation is proud to support this important legislation championed by Representative Wasserman Schultz. Being diagnosed with breast cancer changed my life, and one of most challenging times was “after” treatment ends and the lack of survivorship care. With the number of cancer survivors growing – this means that patients will live longer – but with comorbidities and a variety of psychosocial, financial, quality of care and other needs. In addition, with the socioeconomic challenges and inequities that face BIPOC populations, we must ensure that patients have legislation that support and protect all, especially vulnerable populations. We are honored to have worked with Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for so many years and look forward to seeing this survivorship legislation impact the lives of patients,” said Maimah Karmo, President and CEO, Tigerlily Foundation.

The original bill text can be found here, the section by section here, and one-pager here.

####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403983,Rep. Castor Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Promote the Inclusion of Pregnant and Lactating Women in Clinical Research,2022-12-13,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced H.R. 9487, the Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2022. This bipartisan bill will build upon prior legislation to better our understanding of the effect of medications on pregnant and lactating women and their infants. By updating FDA regulations, establishing a national clearinghouse of educational materials, creating a coordinating committee of federal activities, and raising awareness for patients and providers, this legislation will help ensure that moms and babies stay safe and healthy.

A section-by-section is available here.

“Pregnant and lactating women have very little information on the safety of therapeutics and vaccines in pregnancy, and even less on the safety for the baby while breastfeeding,” said Castor. “We can do better. Expectant mothers and their doctors should have accurate information about effects of medications used during pregnancy to ensure the best health outcomes for themselves and their babies. The presumption that the use of medications throughout pregnancy and lactation is unsafe is inaccurate in many cases, and may actually endanger the health of moms and babies. I thank Representatives Fitzpatrick and Underwood for joining me in leading the effort to promote the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research through our Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act.”

""It is vital that we continue to advance medications and treatments for pregnant and lactating women to keep them healthy,"" said Fitzpatrick. ""I am proud to work alongside Representatives Castor and Underwood to push for updated FDA regulations, continued educational materials, and overall awareness of how medications impact pregnant and lactating women.""

“Pregnant and lactating people must be protected through research, not excluded from it,” said Underwood. “The exclusion of this population from clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines led to a serious information gap that resulted in lower vaccination rates for pregnant people. Evidence now shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for people who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. We must do more to protect this population, and the Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act takes important steps to ensure that pregnant and lactating people can safely access life-saving vaccines and therapeutics.”

This legislation is a follow-up to the Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2016, sponsored by Rep. Castor and Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, which became law as part of the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016. It established a Task Force of federal and medical experts to advance research and information on medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The bill is supported by the following organizations: 2020 Mom, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Association of Maternal & Child Heath Programs, Children’s Hospital Association, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, March of Dimes, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Society for Women’s Health Research, Treatment Action Group, UCB.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403984,Rep. Castor Announces Congressional App Challenge Winner,2022-12-13,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced that Aashi Shrivastava (8th Grade) and Aditi Shrivastava (6th Grade), students at Tampa’s Terrace Community Middle School, were awarded the top prize in her annual congressional app challenge with their app, “Career Exploration.” The app was created through block code and aims to help high school students discover their career passions and choose academic classes that will help them achieve their goals. The winners will be recognized at the U.S. Capitol for the House of Code celebration in the spring alongside other winners of congressional app competitions from throughout the country.

“We were inspired to create this app because we were facing difficulties thinking of which high schools we wanted to attend that would help us with what we wanted to do later in life, and we wanted to know more about how to achieve our goals.” said Aashi and Aditi about “Career Exploration.”

A video demonstration of Aashi and Aditi’s app is available here.

According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, female scientists and engineers are concentrated in different occupations than men, with relatively high shares of women in the social sciences (60%) and biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences (48%) and relatively low shares in engineering (15%) and computer and mathematical sciences (26%).

“Encouraging students to explore STEM fields through the app challenge is a great way to help younger generations learn about science and technology in a creative manner and spark their interest in the STEM workforce. This challenge helps communities who often do not have the opportunity to learn coding and are underrepresented in the STEM field by awarding them for their work at the highest level. I’m grateful for the dedication to science, technology, diversity and inclusion in the Tampa Bay area and look forward to Aashi and Aditi representing our community in the halls of the U.S. Capitol this year,” said Rep. Castor.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gimenez.house.gov/2022/12/gim-nez-encourages-musk-to-relocate-twitter-to-miami-dade-florida,"GIMÉNEZ ENCOURAGES MUSK TO RELOCATE TWITTER TO MIAMI-DADE, FLORIDA",2022-12-13,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Carlos A. Gimenez,G000593,gimenez.house.gov,gimenez,https://gimenez.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"GIMÉNEZ ENCOURAGES MUSK TO RELOCATE TWITTER TO

MIAMI-DADE, FLORIDA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Carlos A. Giménez (FL-26) sent a letter to Elon Musk, new CEO of Twitter, proposing to relocate Twitter’s Head Quarter from San Francisco, California, to Miami, Florida. Both as Mayor of Miami-Dade County and as a Member of Congress, Rep. Giménez has spearheaded efforts to create good-paying jobs in our community and strengthen Miami-Dade’s tech ecosystem.

“I am writing to you as the former Mayor of Miami-Dade County who now has the distinct honor of representing my community in Congress. We want to encourage you to explore our Free State of Florida and make the move to relocate Twitter to Miami-Dade County.” Giménez said in the letter to Musk.

“As Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I worked tirelessly to transform our world-class city into a global technology hub. Early on, we identified the tech sector as one with limitless potential and dreamed of creating a Tech Beach, right in the heart of South Florida,” continued Giménez.

Additionally, with revelations on Twitter’s previous censorship and Musk’s transparency, the hope that Twitter will continue to remain a beacon of free speech and First Amendment freedoms on the web falls in line with Florida’s values.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cammack-soto-lead-bipartisan-letter-house-senate-appropriators-requesting,"Reps. Cammack, Soto Lead Bipartisan Letter To House & Senate Appropriators Requesting Relief For Specialty Crop Insurance Providers",2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) and Darren Soto (D-FL-09) led the Florida congressional delegation in sending a bipartisan letter to House and Senate appropriators, urging them to provide relief for specialty crop insurance providers who are facing steep Administrative and Operating (A&O) costs.

In 2011, a cap on the administrative and operating (A&O) expense reimbursement was established to ensure that, when the prices of crops like corn, wheat, soybeans, or cotton increase, A&O costs associated with these crops' policies do not also significantly rise. Unfortunately, specialty crops have not seen the same price increase as row crops but have been subject to the same A&O caps, resulting in steep decreases to specialty crop insurance funding.

Thus, the downward pressure on specialty crop funding has made it more difficult for crop insurance providers to deliver specialty crop insurance policies to producers in Florida and elsewhere, which in turn threatens the long-term survival of our nation’s specialty crop producers

The letter is a follow-up to one sent by Rep. Cammack and Rep. Soto in June of this year, and asks the House Appropriations Committee to provide relief in the FY23 Agriculture appropriations bill to ensure that specialty crop insurance policies are not tied to this A&O cap

""Florida has experienced immense hardship in the last few months, and our producers have been struggling to keep up with all the hurdles being thrown their way,"" said Rep. Cammack. ""My colleague Rep. Soto and I have been working to tackle these inefficiencies within the specialty crop industry by ensuring fair and equitable access to insurance for our farmers, and with the FY2023 Agricultural appropriations budget still underway, there is no better time than now to deliver relief to our producers who so desperately need it.""

The letter earned the support of the Florida Farm Bureau (FFB), Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA), and the Crop Insurance Professionals Association (CIPA)

Original signees of the letter include Reps. Cammack, Al Lawson, Bill Posey, Darren Soto, Gregory Steube, Gus Bilirakis, Maria Elvira Salazar, Michael Waltz, Neal Dunn, Scott Franklin, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

The full text of the letter may be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403981,"Castor, Murphy to Co-Chair Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus",2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) announced that Rep. Murphy will serve as the Republican co-chair of the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus (CAMC) for the 118th Congress. Established in 2009, CAMC is a bipartisan group of lawmakers that promotes academic medicine in congressional policy discussions to ensure a healthier future for all Americans.

“I am looking forward to continuing to lead the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus with my new Co-Chair, Rep. Greg Murphy, in the 118th Congress,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL). “Since I was elected to Congress, I have worked to address the physician shortage and lift up the training, research and partnerships in academic medicine. Our bipartisan caucus was created to educate members of Congress and their staff on the critical, multi-faceted role of medical schools, teaching hospitals, and faculty physicians in improving our nation’s health. In Florida’s 14th Congressional District, I have witnessed firsthand the value of the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa General Hospital, and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital that are tireless in teaching and training the next generation of medical professionals. They have been a godsend as we grapple with various health crises like the Covid19 pandemic and the children’s mental health emergency. The impact of academic medical centers on our health system is undeniable, and I look forward to helping them continue to grow and provide quality health care to our neighbors in the upcoming Congress.”

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus alongside my colleague, Kathy Castor,” said Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC). “I have been a physician and Professor of Surgery for more than 30 years. It is therefore such a privilege to help inform my fellow Members of Congress and the American people on the essential role that America’s medical schools, teaching hospitals, and faculty physicians play in improving our nation’s health outcomes. American medical innovation, science, and technology are driving unprecedented achievements in the research and development of lifesaving cures. I look forward to engaging in serious and productive conversations regarding the academic medicine community and the patients they serve.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3553,Rep. Frankel Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Expansion in Palm Beach County,2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) released the following statement announcing grants for more than $700,000 for community health care centers in Palm Beach County to expand COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

“We have learned a hard lesson these past two years about how the rampant spread of a virus can negatively impact our health and our economy,” said Rep. Frankel. “As we experience another spike in COVID-19 cases, it is important to have COVID-19 vaccines available for those who want it.”

The new funding is part of a $350 million initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services to provide funding to health centers across the country to increase COVID-19 vaccine distribution in underserved populations. This funding will support health centers as they administer updated COVID-19 vaccines at mobile, drive-up, walk-up, or community-based vaccination events.

The $700,000 will be distributed as follows: $110,614 for Genesis Community Health, $361,336 for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, and $237,226 for FoundCare.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3554,Rep. Frankel Statement on Rollout of New Benefits for Toxic-Exposed Veterans,2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21), member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the rollout of new health care benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances during their service. The Honoring Our PACT Act, which President Biden signed into law earlier this year, adds to the list of health conditions that have been linked to exposure of these substances.

“As the mother of a U.S. Marine war veteran, I recognize the sacrifice our servicemembers are willing to make to protect our freedoms. That’s why ensuring they have access to the health care they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives when they return home is a priority for me,” said Rep. Frankel. “The Honoring Our PACT Act is a comprehensive law that treats toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting veterans, including access to earned benefits and health care through the VA.”

Veterans and their families can visit va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits to learn more and start accessing the care they need. Veterans can also visit the VA news website to see if there’s a townhall near them where more in-depth information will be shared.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/sotos-restoring-resilient-reefs-act-included-fiscal-year-2023-national-defense,Soto’s Restoring Resilient Reefs Act Included in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act,2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Darren Soto’s (FL-09) bill, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act, was passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The Restoring Resilient Reefs Act reauthorizes and modernizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, strengthens NOAA's Coral Reef program, and gives innovative new tools and resources to states, territories, and local communities. Now, the FY23 NDAA heads to President Biden for his signature.

The Coral Reef Conservation Act, which expired over 15 years ago, was designed to promote the conservation of our nation's reefs. In recent years, the decline in the nation's coral reefs has only become more severe. The Restoring Resilient Reefs Act authorizes five years of federal funding and technical assistance to states, territories, and local communities to restore and manage coral reef ecosystems. The legislation also codifies and updates the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and encourages innovative new Coral Reef Stewardship Partnerships among resource management agencies, research centers, and community stakeholders.

""Our Florida coral reefs are national treasures that contain part of the most diverse ecosystems on planet Earth,"" said Congressman Soto. ""Time and time again, we've witnessed how the effects of climate change, overfishing, pollution, and development have threatened the vitality of coral reefs around our coasts. I’m thankful that our legislation was included in the FY23 NDAA and will help protect our environment – specifically our precious habitats for marine life. I look forward to seeing key federal programs reauthorized and funded to help stop the deterioration of our coral reefs. In Florida, our way of life certainly depends on it.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-votes-against-fueling-inflation-and-eroding-2nd-amendment-rights,Bilirakis Votes Against Fueling Inflation and Eroding 2nd Amendment Rights,2022-12-09,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"After voting against this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congressman Gus Bilirakis issued the following statement:

“While there were provisions within the NDAA that I have personally championed, such as the long-overdue repeal of the Biden Administration’s unconscionable military vaccine mandate, increased pay and housing allowances for active duty military, and a condemnation of unauthorized territorial overflights of a NATO ally’s airspace, such as Turkey’s overflights of Greek airspace, other provisions in the bill prompted my no vote. Poison pills contained within the package include: increased funding for Ukraine without strong measures to ensure transparency or accountability, further erosion of Americans’ 2nd Amendment rights, and overall increased spending levels without appropriate offsets. Americans are suffering from devastating inflation and Congress cannot keep writing checks that fuel this problem. In many instances the NDAA simply didn’t go far enough. For example, to fully rectify the harm that originated from the military COVID vaccine mandate, we must correct the military records and allow re-enlistment of the 3,300 Marines, 1,800 soldiers, 1,800 sailors, and 900 airmen who were terminated simply for exercising their right to make individual healthcare decisions. Additionally, despite concerns about military readiness and staffing levels, this year’s NDAA did not address this important issue,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403979,"Rep. Castor Votes to Boost Military Pay, Increase Access to Affordable Housing for Tampa Bay Service Members",2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement upon the House’s 350-80 passage of the bipartisan FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“The American people witness the bravery and commitment of our military service members everyday, and 2022 brought new challenges in defending our nation and its values in the aftermath of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the growing threat posed by China. That is why we passed a defense bill that equips our military and the Department of Defense with the necessary resources and technology to meet current and the evolving threats against the United States and its allies.

“Our service members and their families also need lower costs to combat the rising cost of living while they’re serving our nation at home and abroad, so the increase in military basic pay by 4.6 percent for our troops was a priority for me for their service and sacrifice. A hot housing market also required adding funds to the basic allowance for housing to ensure that military families can find adequate housing wherever they may serve and lower costs at the same time. We also provide support for the costs of everyday food and products service members purchase from commissaries.

“Important missions at MacDill AFB are receiving vital investments, including $50,000,000 for construction of a Special Operation Forces Operations Integration Facility and an investment in the Joint MISO WebOps Center (JMWC) at MacDill AFB to help modernize their work in the global information space.

“I was proud to advocate for language to help better tackle the challenges that our Special Operator service members face when transitioning to civilian life. I worked with my fellow co-chairs of the Special Operations Forces Caucus on a provision requiring the Government Accountability Office to conduct a report on the ability of servicemembers assigned to Special Operations units to utilize Department of Defense transition programs. It’s our duty to serve our men and women in uniform as well as they serve us, and that includes meeting their needs – physical, mental and financial – when they return home.

“Special Operators in Florida are feeling the impacts of the child care shortage, with many having to drive over an hour each way to drop their kid off every day. I’m proud to share that this bill includes $4,750,000 for the Camp Bull Simons Child Development Center in the Florida Panhandle, which will allow for an increase in staff members and children who can attend, lessening the burden on Florida’s military members. The Defense Department will also submit a brief regarding child care at military installations that do not currently offer child care or need more spots offered – it is my hope that we can grow military child care centers around the country to provide consistent child care for parents in our armed services.

“Recognizing that climate change increasingly threatens our national security and bottom line, the NDAA includes provisions to tackle these challenges head on, with measures to increase energy security, pilot sustainable aviation fuels, and strengthen our military installations against extreme heat and storms and other climate-fueled threats.

“Earlier this year, the lives of over 3.5 million veterans who have toxic exposure were changed after we passed the Honoring Our PACT Act and President Biden signed it into law. Once more, it is my hope that the Congress will work in a bipartisan fashion to support our military families. As we approach the end of the year, the Senate must work quickly to pass this critical defense bill to support the work of our troops at home and abroad as it has in years past.”

The NDAA includes the following priorities for MacDill Air Force Base and Tampa residents:

Supporting Military Members and their Families

Increases basic pay by 4.6% for service members

Increases service member housing allowance by 2% and requires a report on a more transparent, fair, and flexible way to calculate the basic allowance for housing

Increases the threshold to be eligible for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) to up to 150% of the federal poverty line

Increases funds for the commissaries to help offset higher prices and lower costs

Establishes a five-year pilot program to reimburse service members for childcare due to a permanent change of station or assignment

Authorizes childcare fee reductions for children of military child development center employees

Extends critical recruitment and retention incentive programs

Requires Secretaries of the military departments to explore all feasible options for improving availability and access to childcare in areas that are remote or lack adequate childcare availability

Supports Spouse Employment through financial reimbursement for moving expenses for spouses with home businesses, and noncompetitive appointment authority to certain spouses of military personnel and disabled veterans.

Permits the Secretary of Defense to expand restricted reporting of sexual assault for civilian employees. Prior to this, civilian employees could only file unrestricted reports with the military

Requires independent trained investigators outside of the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment

Establishes policies to ensure accountability as it relates to wounded, ill, and injured service members during the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) process

Housing Oversight

Requires the military departments to notify and brief the House Armed Services Committee before executing any lease-term extension for a privatized military family housing project, and an annual briefing on the health and status of military housing privatization projects enterprise-wide

Requires that the services conduct mold inspections before new tenants move into vacant privatized housing units while also requiring that these new tenants be provided the inspection results

Reports on the capacity of the DoD to provide emergency short-term housing to survivors of natural disasters

Reports on the housing realities, difficulties, and needs facing junior members of the Armed Forces, including a review of available housing stock and plans to address any shortages productively and cost-effectively

Veterans

Calls for a report on how often and what type of supportive services (including career transition and mental health services and services for elderly veterans) are being offered to and used by veterans, and any correlation between a lack of supportive services programs and the likelihood of veterans falling back into housing insecurity

Supporting Our Allies

Conduct a thorough review of efforts to support and process evacuees from Afghanistan and the Afghanistan special immigrant visa program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormicks-celebrates-passage-respect-marriage-act,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick's Celebrates Passage of Respect for Marriage Act,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick issued the following statement upon today’s passage of the Respect for Marriage Act:

“Today, we took a stand for justice and equality in a bipartisan vote for the Respect for Marriage Act. By enshrining marriage equality into law, we ensure long overdue federal protections for same-sex and interracial partnerships. This monumental step forward serves as a moment of celebration during a time of rising anti-LGBTQ rhetoric across the country. As a member of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, I am committed to continuing the fight for equitable legislation for all Americans, regardless of who they choose to love.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormicks-statement-release-wnba-player-brittney-y,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick's Statement on the Release of WNBA Player Brittney Y. Griner,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – After nearly 10 months in Russian detention, Brittney Griner has been released from custody. I commend the Biden Administration for their tireless efforts to negotiate her release.

On July 4, 2022, Brittney sent a handwritten letter to President Biden asking him not to forget her and the other American detainees. He did not.

Thank you, President Biden, and Vice President Harris, for delivering on your commitment to bring Brittney home and reaffirming your commitment to ensuring the safe return of other American detainees such as Paul Whelan.

As we celebrate Brittney’s return, we must never stop advocating for the release of all Americans wrongfully detained by state actors. It is estimated that at least 153 Americans have been wrongfully detained since 2001. Such detentions are an emerging threat to national security.

In my capacity as a Member of Congress and a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I will continue to amplify my voice and stand for the just treatment and protection of Americans against authoritarian regimes who lack respect for the rule of law.

I am grateful Brittney is free from custody, safe, and homeward bound. It is my hope that Brittney can reunite with her family, friends, and teammates, and begin the healing process that is needed following her horrific and unjust detention.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3551,Rep. Frankel Statement on House Sending Bill Protecting All Marriages to President Biden,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21) released the following statement after the House passed the Respect for Marriage Act. This bill ensures that the federal government recognizes all marriages—including same-sex and interracial unions—and that no state can discriminate against a couple legally married in another state. It also repeals the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

“People deserve to be able to marry whomever they wish irrespective of gender or sex. If they chose to commit to one another legally and build their lives together, government should recognize their union,” said Rep. Frankel. “This bill is a step in the right direction toward protecting the rights of all married couples nationwide. States that still do not recognize same sex marriage should follow this path.”

The DOMA banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage by limiting the definition of marriage to the union of one man and one woman. It further allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. This law was ruled unconstitutional or legally void by Supreme Court decisions in the cases of United States v. Windsor (2013) and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which invalidated the law and any enforcement it had. However, the Supreme Court’s reasoning in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn the right to abortion raises concerns that other fundamental rights, including the right to marriage equality, could be at risk.

This bill will ensure that married same-sex and interracial couples in every state have the same rights and freedoms as every other married couple.

The bill passed by a vote of 258-169 after previously passing in the Senate. It now heads to President Biden for his signature.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3552,"Rep. Frankel Votes to Improve Everglades Restoration, South Florida Water Quality",2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) released the following statement after voting to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA), bipartisan legislation that would further Everglades restoration efforts, improve water quality in Palm Beach County, and approve flood control and coastal resiliency projects.

“This bipartisan legislation makes critical investments to boost our economy here in South Florida, improve the quality of our water, and protect our environment for future generations,” said Rep. Frankel. “This bill will help us protect and restore the Everglades, update our water infrastructure, and protect communities like ours from sea level rise, flooding, algae blooms, and other devastating impacts of the climate crisis.”

WRDA includes several critical priorities for South Florida, including:

Expediting completion of a study for the Western Everglades Restoration Project.

Reporting on the status of all Everglades restoration projects, including estimated implementation and updated costs.

Increasing funding for Port Everglades deepening and widening, allowing the project to move forward.

Authorizing a Comprehensive Central and South Florida Study of resiliency and flood risk management.

Authorizing a Harmful Algal Bloom reduction program.

Allocating $100 million for the St. Lucie River, Indian River Lagoon, and Lake Worth Lagoon for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure improvements.

The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gimenez.house.gov/2022/12/gim-nez-scores-win-for-homestead-air-reserve-base-south-dade-in-national-defense-authorization-act-ndaa,"GIMÉNEZ SCORES WIN FOR HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, SOUTH DADE IN NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA)",2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Carlos A. Gimenez,G000593,gimenez.house.gov,gimenez,https://gimenez.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Carlos A. Giménez (FL-26) scored a major win for Homestead Air Reserve Base in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA, which passed today, will include a provision that would prohibit the Secretary of the Air Force from entering into an agreement that would “provide for or permit the joint use of Homestead Air Reserve Base by the Air Force and civil aircraft.”

“Preserving the Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB) for its original intent and purpose is critical to protecting our national security interests,” Giménez said. “I am encouraged that our efforts to preserve HARB were included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and will ensure the base’s functionality and main objective as stated by law, remain as such. Allowing aircrafts not affiliated with our military or armed services to utilize an air reserve facility would only compromise our country's national security. Prohibiting the joint use of the Homestead Air Reserve Base ensures the protection of our strategic interests and protects the precious South Florida ecosystem caught in between Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. I thank Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott for their leadership on this issue and look forward to continuing working together to deliver results for our community.”

Rep. Giménez introduced The Protecting Critical Ecosystems and Military Readiness in Florida Act, earlier this year to prohibit civil aviation operations at Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB) in Homestead, Florida. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

For years, Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB) has been a central focus of special interests that wish to secure commercial passenger and cargo operations to expand the urban development boundary in southern Miami-Dade County. Those proposals have the potential to impact military readiness and diminish efforts to conserve and restore critical habitat near HARB and Biscayne Bay.

The inclusion of this provision as part of the NDAA guarantees the protection of our South Dade ecosystem and ensures that Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB) will continue to operate for its original intended purpose.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-votes-enshrine-marriage-equality-under-federal-law,Soto Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality Under Federal Law,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to send H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. This landmark legislation takes several key steps to defend marriage equality by officially repealing the bigoted and unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act and upholding couples’ right to equal protection under federal law.

“I am proud to have voted for the Respect for Marriage Act to protect same-sex and interracial marriages in Central Florida and across America,” said Congressman Soto. “After the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion, it was critical for us to come together to enshrine marriage equality into law. Soon, President Biden will sign this bill and deliver a major win for human rights.”

In his concurring opinion after the Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Supreme Court to reconsider its Obergefell v. Hodges decision upholding marriage equality. Since then, House Democrats have worked to protect all personal freedoms.

The Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:

1. Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided DOMA, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law remains on the books. The Respect for Marriage Act repeals this statute once and for all.

2. Enshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will uphold married couples’ right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings, and veterans’ benefits.

3. Barring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Previously passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year, the Respect for Marriage Act was amended and advanced by the Senate last week. With today’s vote in the House, the final bill now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2900,Wasserman Schultz on Steering and Policy Co-Chair Nomination,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U. S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement after Incoming Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that he had named her, along with Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California and Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan, to serve as the three Co-Chairs of the Steering and Policy Committee:

“I am honored and humbled to be appointed by incoming Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to serve as Co-Chair of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee for the 118th Congress. The Steering and Policy Committee Co-Chairs are part of the Democratic leadership team, and the Committee is responsible for recommending candidates for election as Chair or Ranking Member of House Committees, nominating Democratic Members for their House committee assignments and coordinating with the Democratic Leader in setting the Caucus policy agenda. As part of this leadership team, I will work hard every day to assist Leader Jeffries and my colleagues to ensure we are prepared for this next Congress under a new generation of Democratic leaders. I am committed to working with my fellow co-chairs and colleagues to ensure that every segment of our Caucus is valued, included, and has a voice as we do the people’s work to protect and expand on the historic policy gains we have made on behalf of the American people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://webster.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E4F6E2DF-7A21-4212-A011-2CE5E790E0EB,Webster Supports Passage of Key Defense Bill,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Daniel Webster,W000806,webster.house.gov,webster,https://webster.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, released the following statement on his vote to pass H.Res. 1512, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23 NDAA), which rescinds the Covid vaccine mandate, invests in servicemembers, increases accountability and strengthens security to deter Chinese aggression.

“Today, I voted in support of the FY23 NDAA, which provides our men and women in uniform with the tools, support, and financial resources necessary to protect our nation. A big win in this bill is that it rescinds the COVID-19 vaccine mandate imposed on our service members. I have opposed and fought to repeal this mandate since day one and will continue to work to restore our men and women to the positions they should have never lost. It also includes important policies to deter Chinese aggression, including prohibitions on DOD and its contractors from procuring Chinese made goods and materials as well as improved tracking of Chinese companies and universities that are working with the Chinese military. Oversight and accountability of aid provided to Ukraine is also strengthened in this bill.

“The U.S. Constitution states that providing for the ‘common defense’ is one of our fundamental responsibilities. Thanks to Republican negotiators, this bill is a step in the right direction to provide our military training and resources they need to continue being the world’s finest fighting force. By reversing President Biden’s proposed budget cuts to defense spending, the NDAA strengthens our national security, affirms relations with our allies like Taiwan, and ensures the United States can effectively counter adversaries like China. Our freedom, our families, and our way of life would not exist if not for our military.”

The FY23 NDAA:

Provides a 4.6% pay raise for service members and other financial assistance to help offset record inflation.

Includes essential provisions to help counter adversaries such as China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea.

Supports key partners, such as Israel and Taiwan.

Ensures oversight and accountability by requiring the DoD, State Department and USAID Inspector Generals to routinely conduct comprehensive reviews and audits of aid provided to Ukraine.

Reverses cuts in President Biden’s request to combat ships and set the U.S. back on track for a 355-ship navy.

Reinforces parents’ rights over the education of their children who are attending DoD schools

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3550,President Biden Signs Bipartisan Speak Out Act,2022-12-07,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Legislation Empowering Sexual Assault, Harassment Survivors Becomes Law

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21) and Ken Buck (R-CO-04), joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), House Judiciary Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI-01) and Subcommittee Vice Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), and Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), and Burgess Owens (R-UT-04) released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed their bill, the Speak Out Act, into law.

This legislation makes unenforceable predispute nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that prohibit survivors from disclosing sexual abuse on the job.

“Forced NDAs punish the survivor and protect the perpetrator who is set free to abuse others again and again,” said the Members. “With the signing of the Speak Out Act, we will now hold abusers accountable and change the culture of the workplace. Employers who were used to hiding their dirty little secrets will be forced to stop toxic workplaces, sexual harassment, and assault before it happens. This should lead to safer and more productive workplaces and civic society for employers, employees, and consumers.

“This is a historic day for labor law and women’s rights in America, and we’re grateful to the bipartisan group of Congressional leaders and dedicated advocates that got this bill over the finish line, and to President Biden for signing it into law.”

The bill signing comes on the heels of the fifth anniversary of the “Me Too” Movement, which brought to light countless stories of sexual misconduct in the workplace.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2899,"Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Chabot, Reschenthaler, Kuster and Sens. Blumenthal and Cornyn Statement on House Passage of the PROTECT Our Children Act",2022-12-07,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz(FL-23), Steve Chabot (OH-01),Annie Kuster(NH-02),Guy Reschenthaler(PA-14), and SenatorsJohn Cornyn(R-TX) andRichard Blumenthal(D-CT), issued the following statements after their legislation, thePROTECT Our Children Act, aimed at fighting against online child predators was passed in the House of Representatives Tuesday.

The Senate passed this bill by Unanimous Consent in November, and yesterday, the House continued that momentum and sent the bill to President Joe Biden. With the passing of this vital legislation, the ICACTaskForce will continue to be authorized.

“Our lives are increasingly intertwined with the internet, and those who would commit crimes against our children know that all too well. With the passage of thePROTECT Our Children Act, we can help make the internet a safe space for all children and guard against those seeking to exploit them,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “I’m proud to have introduced this bipartisan legislation to build on the advances we have made so far since the original PROTECT Act that I authored over a decade ago. We all have a role to play in keeping our children safe.”

“The PROTECT Our Children Act supports law enforcement by helping identify online child exploitation and investigate abusers and predators. Reauthorizing the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program is critical to this important mission,” saidSen. Blumenthal.

“Law enforcement officers need access to every available tool to prevent the perpetrators of online child exploitation from committing future abuse,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By providing the necessary resources to counter the pervasive threat of cyber-crimes, this bill would help law enforcement respond to the alarming number of children who are targeted, and I urge the President to sign this legislation into law as soon as possible.”

“As our kids spend more time online, ensuring their safety is of the utmost importance,” said Rep. Chabot. “With the reauthorization of thePROTECT our Children Act, we are providing our law enforcement officers with the necessary tools and resources to combat child exploitation. I would like to thank Rep. Wasserman Schultz for her continued leadership on this critical issue.”

“Working to keep children safe online and preventing child sexual exploitation is crucial, especially as kids are spending more time on screens than ever before,” said Rep. Kuster, founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. “ThePROTECT Our Children Act is common-sense, bipartisan legislation to help ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources necessary to protect children, support victims of these heinous crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable. I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law to keep children in the Granite State and across our country safe.”

“With the rapid expansion of digital technology, the prevalence of child exploitation and trafficking has also tragically increased. We must do everything possible to crack down on these criminals and protect our children,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “This bill will help to bring an end to these heinous acts. I stand committed to ensuring the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program and National ICAC Data System have the resources needed to continue their efforts to catch and prosecute dangerous predators.”

""Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, over half of those accessing the Online National Sexual Assault Hotline are children,"" saidSamantha Cadet, director of federal affairs for RAINN. ""The need to address online child sexual exploitation and abuse is more imperative now than ever. We are happy to see this bill pass and look forward to Congress further addressing this important issue in the new year.""

Raven wants to thank the leadership of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schulz and Congressman Chabot for their sponsorship of the Protect Our Children Act. This legislation gives the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces the ability to rescue and safeguard our children,” saidJohn Pizzuro, CEO of RAVEN.

This legislation funds the National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Data System until 2024, and supports the national network of 61 coordinated task forces that combat child exploitation across the country. By reauthorizing the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, it is a powerful law enforcement tool that keeps online predators away from children.

The original PROTECT Our Children Act that was passed in 2008 authorized the ICAC Task Force Program, a coordinated group of task forces representing 3,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies engaged in reactive and proactive investigations across the country. The ICAC task forces aid local and state law enforcement in the creation and implementation of effective responses to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation by offering guidance on victim support, forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, and community education.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-issues-statement-extension-redesignation-tps,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Issues Statement on Extension & Redesignation of TPS for Haiti,2022-12-06,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - While speaking with Secretary Mayorkas yesterday, he expressed his enthusiasm to get this right, and we did. I appreciate the Biden Administration's commitment to working together to address these unprecedented challenges with decency and dignity.

I applaud Secretary Mayorkas's announcement on the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for an additional 18 months, through August 3, 2024, due to the extraordinary conditions plaguing the Caribbean nation. This decision provides much-needed humanitarian relief for Haitians living in the United States while also allowing tens of thousands of undocumented Haitian nationals to live and work in the U.S. temporarily and legally.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/cammack-joins-rep-murphy-colleagues-annual-campus-free-speech-roundtable,"Cammack Joins Rep. Murphy, Colleagues At Annual Campus Free Speech Roundtable",2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Reps. Greg Murphy, M.D., Virginia Foxx, Kat Cammack, Burgess Owens, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks held the second annual Congressional Campus Free Speech Roundtable in the U.S. Capitol. The event brought together leaders from the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), current college students, and members of the Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA) to discuss First Amendment concerns in post-secondary education.

Video playback of the event can be found HERE.

“Thanks to Dr. Murphy and my colleagues and other attendees for their participation this morning,” said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL). “The issue of free speech on college campuses is one of the most important of our time, and something that should be at the forefront of lawmakers’ minds as we head into the 118th Congress. As one of the co-chairs of the Campus Free Speech Caucus, we’re taking this mission to the next level and encouraging colleagues to have the important discussions with the schools in their districts about what they’re doing to defend and protect this First Amendment Right.”

“Now that the American people have entrusted Republicans with the House majority, it’s more important than ever that we make First Amendment protections a top priority,” said Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC). “I was proud to lead today’s roundtable event to outline free speech concerns among students, faculty, stakeholders, and alumni in higher education, and discuss how Congress can help safeguard students’ First Amendment rights on college and university campuses. The free exchange of ideas is the hallmark of a post-secondary education, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect the freedom of speech for generations of students to come.”

“It was an honor to join Rep. Murphy for his second Campus Free Speech Roundtable and I appreciate his dedication to protecting our First Amendment rights,” said Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC). “As a former educator, I made it a point to help students learn how to think—not what to think. Unfortunately, too many colleges and universities now care more about creating conformity of thought instead of promoting freedom of thought. However, I was encouraged to hear from the brave students and others on the frontlines of this fight and I look forward to working with these free-speech warriors in the coming Congress.”

“The freedom of speech is a fundamental Constitutional right,” said Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT). “Open and intellectually stimulating dialogue in education is essential for fostering an environment where students can learn and thrive. I was proud to join my colleagues for a Campus Free Speech roundtable to hear directly from students and alumni as we work hand-in-hand to protect the First Amendment on America's college and university campuses.”

""As the principal outreach organization of the conservative movement, Young America's Foundation is proud to continue partnership with our allies in Congress in the fight for campus free speech,"" said Karalee Geis, Director of Capitol Hill Outreach (YAF). ""Hearing from YAF student activists firsthand, both past and present, was instrumental in today's conversation.""

“Young America’s Foundation is grateful for the leadership of Congressman Murphy and the Campus Free Speech Caucus in defending the First Amendment rights of students nationwide,” said Raj Kannappan, Vice President (YAF). “Unless people in power hold them accountable, universities have little incentive to change their often unconstitutional behavior.”

“FIRE is glad to continue to participate in this important conversation on protecting free speech and fighting back against campus censorship,” said Greg Gonzalez, Legislative Fellow (FIRE). “We thank Representative Murphy for leading the Campus Free Speech Roundtable — and for Congress's continued attention to the ongoing threats to the First Amendment at our nation's colleges and universities.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cammacks-legislation-rename-middleburg-va-clinic-signed,Congresswoman Cammack's Legislation To Rename Middleburg VA Clinic Signed By President,2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, S.2159, the bill to rename the VA Clinic in Middleburg, Florida after Andrew Kenneth Baker, was signed into law by President Biden at the White House.

After the bill passed the House and Senate earlier this fall, the president's signature was the final step before the formal designation and name change ceremony in Middleburg.

""It's an amazing day in Florida's Third Congressional District,"" said Cammack.""To have this bill across the finish line during my freshman term is a major accomplishment, and to do it in memory of Chief Baker and his service and sacrifice is truly an honor. I look forward to seeing the new name go up on the building in the new year, and to celebrate this project's completion. Thank you to Senators Rubio and Scott and all of my Florida colleagues for your support of this effort.""

“I am grateful that President Biden has signed my bill to honor U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew Kenneth Baker’s legacy into law. The VA clinic in Clay County provides quality care to our veterans who have dedicated their lives to service, just like Chief Petty Officer Baker,” said Senator Rubio.

""Our veterans have made countless sacrifices to defend our nation. We must do everything possible to provide them with the support and care they need. I'm proud the president signed this bill into law and that the Veterans Affairs Clinic in Clay County will pay. homage to U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew Kenneth Baker,"" said Senator Scott.

The clinic's new name honors Antisubmarine Warfare Chief Andrew Kenneth Baker of Middleburg, Florida who was killed during a SEAL training event when the Trident 615, an H-60 Seahawk, crashed at sea on March 13, 1997.

Chief Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and USS Coral Sea as a Ship's Serviceman and completed training in Search and Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at NAS Jacksonville, earning his ""Wings of Gold."" Chief Baker then reported to HS-9, serving on the USS Nimitz, then in HS-3, assigned as the Training and Operations Chief.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kat-cammack-co-leads-bipartisan-resolution-honor-women-veterans-military,Rep. Kat Cammack Co-Leads Bipartisan Resolution To Honor Women Veterans & Military Women's Memorial,2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), in coordination with the former Bipartisan Women’s Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI-14), introduced H. Res. 1497, a resolution recognizing the contributions of the Women in Military Service for America (Military Women’s Memorial) for its 25 years of service.

The Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery tells the stories of more than three million women who have served the U.S. since the American Revolution and is the only historical repository to document the service of America’s military women. Each year, the Women's Caucus hosts a memorial event during the week preceding Memorial Day at the memorial, honoring those we've lost and inviting one outstanding servicewoman from each of the six military branches to be recognized for her contributions and service. event is the Women's Caucus's longest consecutive annual event, celebrating more than 20 years this decade.

“I'm proud to join Rep. Lawrence in co-leading this resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Military Women’s Memorial,"" said Rep. Cammack. ""As one of the vice chairs of the Congressional Women's Caucus, I’ve been proud to support and pay tribute to our female servicemembers at the memorial in Arlington National Cemetery each year around Memorial Day. To our women in uniform, a grateful nation thanks you for your service and stands with you every step of the way.""

""Our nation’s women servicemembers and veterans deserve to be seen, heard, and recognized,"" said Rep. Lawrence. ""The Memorial has exhibited an unwavering dedication to solidifying the place of women servicemembers in history. It has served as a touchstone destination for hundreds of annual Honor Flights, military ceremonies, and retirements and a gathering point for military and service organizations from across the country. I strongly urge my colleagues to rise in support of this resolution.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-religious-liberties-must-always-be-vigorously-protected,Diaz-Balart: Religious Liberties Must Always be Vigorously Protected,2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) issued the following statement regarding the ""Respect for Marriage Act,"" being voted on this week in the House of Representatives.

""The concept of all states respecting other states' decisions on marriage laws is deeply rooted in American jurisprudence and tradition. Similarly, our Founders understood that religious liberties are sacred and vulnerable, and must always be vigorously protected.

""My record shows that I am a long-standing advocate against discrimination of all types. I, however, cannot support any effort that undermines religious liberties by failing to provide legitimate safeguards for Faith-Based organizations that object based on their deeply-held religious beliefs.

""It is unfortunate that the Senate missed an opportunity to protect marriage equality while also guaranteeing religious freedom. After multiple efforts by my colleagues to offer amendments, Senate Democrats rejected each amendment and doubled down on a bill that fails to uphold the religious liberties which are sacred to our nation.""

The Senate Amendments consisted of the following:

Senator Rubio's Amendment

Senator Mike Lee's Amendment

Senator Lankford Amendment

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403975,Representatives Castor and Higgins Introduce Legislation to Increase Access to Lung Cancer Screening,2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) introduced the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act (H.R.9336). The bill will increase lung cancer screening rates across the United States and reduce barriers to care and preventative services in underserved communities.

“Lung cancer kills too many Americans each year due in part to late-stage diagnoses. In Florida, only 3% of those eligible for lung cancer screenings were screened in 2021. It’s time to boost that statistic. Our new bill will help increase access to screenings and preventive services to save lives across America,” said Congresswoman Kathy Castor. “Fortunately, Moffitt Cancer Center, one of the nation’s premier cancer research institutes, is at the forefront of cancer prevention and working to remove barriers to ensure that all Americans have access to lifesaving screenings and health care. Together, we are committed to saving tens of thousands of lives lost to lung cancer each year through outreach and early detection like lung screenings.”

“Like many cancers, early detection is our best protection against lung cancer. Unfortunately, there are still many barriers to screenings and rates across the country remain low, especially in underserved communities,” said Congressman Brian Higgins. “This legislation will increase lung cancer screening rates and improve access to preventative care. It will help millions of families and bring us another step closer to ending cancer as we know it.”

“We estimate as many as 60,000 lives could be saved each year if the 14.5 million Americans who are eligible received annual lung cancer screening. This legislation will improve access to early detection, which is key to reducing lung cancer deaths. Outcomes for patients are much better when we can catch lung cancer at early stages when curative treatment options are available,” said Jhanelle E. Gray, M.D., department chair and program leader of Thoracic Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center.

In the United States, lung cancer accounts for 25 percent of all cancer-related deaths, claiming more lives than breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers combined. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths partially due to the fact that 46 percent of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited, and five-year survival rates are low.

This legislation will amend the Social Security Act to require all state Medicaid programs to cover lung cancer screening for eligible enrollees. It also expands coverage under Medicaid for counseling and medication assisted treatment for tobacco cessation for all enrollees without the need for prior authorization. Additionally, the bill will prohibit both public and private insurers from subjecting annual lung cancer screenings to prior authorization.

Castor and Higgins are leading efforts to improve access to lung cancer screening in Tampa, Western New York and across the country. Castor requested $2.3 million for the Moffit Cancer Center in the FY 2023 budget for a mobile, electric lung cancer screening vehicle and programming to reach disadvantaged populations. Higgins secured $1.5 million for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in the FY2022 budget to support new and upgraded compute tomography (CT) equipment and lung cancer screening outreach in underserved communities. In September, they led a Cancer Caucus briefing titled “Lung Cancer Screening Saves Lives”. The event featured experts from Moffitt Cancer Center and Roswell Park presenting information the morality of late-stage lung cancer diagnosis, early detection, barriers to lung screenings, and the policy steps needed to increase screening rates and reduce lung-cancer related deaths nationwide.

In September, marking the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s moonshot speech, President Biden announced plans to reignite the Cancer Moonshot. Taking bold action to advance cancer research, the Cancer Moonshot aims to reduce cancer-related deaths by 50 percent over the next 25 years. The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act will make critical contributions to our nation’s goal of ending cancer as we know it.

The bill is supported by Moffitt Cancer Center, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Lung Association.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gimenez.house.gov/2022/12/congressman-gimenez-diaz-balart-salazar-sent-a-letter-to-secretary-mayorkas-regarding-cuban-migrants,"CONGRESSMAN GIMENEZ, DIAZ-BALART, SALAZAR SENT A LETTER TO SECRETARY MAYORKAS REGARDING CUBAN MIGRANTS",2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Carlos A. Gimenez,G000593,gimenez.house.gov,gimenez,https://gimenez.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Representatives Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-26), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) sent a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, once again expressing their concern regarding the apparent shift in U.S.-Cuba policy and requesting that the Administration implement a system where family members and legal representatives can find the whereabouts and information of Cuban migrants interdicted at sea.

Read the complete letter here or below.

""Dear Secretary, Mayorkas,

As I have expressed several times, I am profoundly concerned by the Biden Administration’s apparent shift in U.S.-Cuba policy, including the agreement with the regime in Cuba to increase repatriations of Cuban nationals to totalitarian Cuba.

One unfortunate consequence of the administration’s increase in repatriations has been a corresponding increase in family members seeking information regarding their loved ones interdicted at sea. Currently, there is no efficient and timely way for family members or their legal representatives to verify their location and basic details of their cases.

This is a fixable problem. The United States government has addressed this issue for individuals in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody through the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). ODLS is a publicly available online system that allows the public to search for persons to determine whether they are detained by ICE and if so, at which facility they are located. By making the information available in this way, family members and legal representatives are able to find basic information without draining crucial resources or manpower from already strained and overworked agencies.

The administration’s apparent agreement with the Cuban regime to ramp up deportations of Cuban nationals seeking freedom has many unfortunate repercussions. At the very least, as interdictions and repatriations increase, I believe that it would be beneficial to those fleeing Cubans, their family members, and their legal representatives to have timely, accurate information on whether they have been interdicted, their location, and other basic facts of their case.

For these reasons I request, within all applicable rules and regulations, that you consider implementing a system similar to ODLS for Cuban nationals interdicted at sea, or otherwise in U.S. custody through situations not currently covered by the ODLS.

Thank you for your attention to this matter of utmost importance.

Sincerely,""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-salazar-gimenez-envian-carta-al-secretario-mayorkas-sobre,"Díaz-Balart, Salazar, Giménez envían carta al secretario Mayorkas sobre migrantes cubanos",2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Los representantes Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) y Carlos A. Giménez (FL-26) enviaron una carta al secretario del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglès), Alejandro Mayorkas, expresando una vez más su preocupación por el aparente cambio en la política de Estados Unidos hacia Cuba y solicitando que la Administración implemente un sistema donde familiares y representantes legales puedan encontrar el paradero e información de migrantes cubanos interceptados en el mar.

Lea la carta completa en Inglés aquí.

""Estimado Secretario Mayorkas,

Como hemos expresado varias veces, estamos profundamente preocupados por el aparente cambio de la Administración Biden en la política de Estados Unidos hacia Cuba, incluido el acuerdo con el régimen en Cuba para aumentar las repatriaciones de cubanos que escapan de la dictadura.

Una lamentable consecuencia del aumento de las repatriaciones por parte de la administración ha sido el aumento correspondiente de familiares que buscan información sobre sus seres queridos interceptados en el mar. Actualmente no existe una forma eficaz y oportuna para que los familiares o sus representantes legales verifiquen su ubicación y detalles básicos de sus casos.

Este es un problema reparable. El gobierno de Estados Unidos ha abordado este problema para las personas bajo la custodia del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglès) de EE.UU. a través del Sistema Localizador de Detenidos en Línea (ODLS, por sus siglas en inglès). ODLS es un sistema electrónico disponible públicamente que permite al público buscar personas para determinar si están detenidas por ICE y de ser así, en qué instalación se encuentran. Al hacer que la información esté disponible de esta manera, los miembros de la familia y los representantes legales pueden encontrar información básica sin agotar los cruciales recursos o la mano de obra de agencias ya sobrecargadas de trabajo.

El aparente acuerdo de la administración con el régimen cubano para aumentar las deportaciones de cubanos que buscan la libertad tiene muchas repercusiones desafortunadas. Como mínimo, a medida que aumentan las interdicciones y repatriaciones, creo que sería beneficioso para los cubanos que huyen, sus seres queridos y representantes legales tener información oportuna y precisa sobre si han sido interceptados, su ubicación y otros datos básicos y hechos de su caso.

Por estas razones, solicitamos dentro de todas las normas y reglamentos aplicables, que considere implementar un sistema similar al ODLS para los ciudadanos cubanos interdictos en el mar o bajo custodia en EE.UU., que actualmente no están cubiertas por el ODLS.

Gracias por su atención a este asunto de gran importancia.

Cordialmente,""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-salazar-gimenez-sent-letter-secretary-mayorkas-regarding,"Diaz-Balart, Salazar, Gimenez Sent a Letter to Secretary Mayorkas Regarding Cuban Migrants",2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-26) sent a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, once again expressing their concern regarding the apparent shift in U.S.-Cuba policy and requesting that the Administration implement a system where family members and legal representatives can find the whereabouts and information of Cuban migrants interdicted at sea.

Read the complete letter here or below.

""Dear Secretary Mayorkas,

As I have expressed several times, I am profoundly concerned by the Biden Administration’s apparent shift in U.S.-Cuba policy, including the agreement with the regime in Cuba to increase repatriations of Cuban nationals to totalitarian Cuba.

One unfortunate consequence of the administration’s increase in repatriations has been a corresponding increase in family members seeking information regarding their loved ones interdicted at sea. Currently, there is no efficient and timely way for family members or their legal representatives to verify their location and basic details of their cases.

This is a fixable problem. The United States government has addressed this issue for individuals in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody through the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). ODLS is a publicly available online system that allows the public to search for persons to determine whether they are detained by ICE and if so, at which facility they are located. By making the information available in this way, family members and legal representatives are able to find basic information without draining crucial resources or manpower from already strained and overworked agencies.

The administration’s apparent agreement with the Cuban regime to ramp up deportations of Cuban nationals seeking freedom has many unfortunate repercussions. At the very least, as interdictions and repatriations increase, I believe that it would be beneficial to those fleeing Cubans, their family members, and their legal representatives to have timely, accurate information on whether they have been interdicted, their location, and other basic facts of their case.

For these reasons I request, within all applicable rules and regulations, that you consider implementing a system similar to ODLS for Cuban nationals interdicted at sea, or otherwise in U.S. custody through situations not currently covered by the ODLS.

Thank you for your attention to this matter of utmost importance.

Sincerely,""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2898,"Members of Congress: Amazon Must Not Profit From Antisemitic Book, Film",2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Mitch Perry

Washington DC – Today, nearly three dozen Members of Congress called on the top leaders of Amazon to remove the antisemitic book and related film, Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, from being sold on its platform, and urged the company to stop profiting from the promotion of hate speech that endangers the Jewish community.

“Much like other antisemitic material that Amazon has removed from its shelves in the past, this film and book promote hatred of Jews through the use of multiple antisemitic tropes, including Holocaust denial,” states the letter, which was led by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23). The letter goes on: “Your company’s decision to profit from the promotion of this dangerous hate speech has substantial world costs and consequences for the Jewish community and the greater society.”

The book’s antisemitic content attracted intense criticism after NBA superstar Kyrie Irving promoted Hebrews to Negroes to his millions of fans. Sales of the book and film quickly spiked on Amazon, the nation’s dominant book retailer.

In asking for its removal, the lawmakers wrote: “Amazon has a unique and critical role to play in ensuring its customers do not consume hate-filled propaganda and misinformation. And as responsible corporate citizens, Amazon should certainly never profit from hate.”

Among the Members who signed the letter were U.S. Reps: Pete Aguilar (CA-31); Colin Allred (TX-32); Nanette Barragan (CA-44); Sanford Bishop (GA-2); Yvette Clarke (NY-9); Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5); Steve Cohen (TN-9); Jim Costa (CA-16); Henry Cuellar (TX-28); Anna Eshoo (CA-18); Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); Lois Frankel (FL-21); Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5); Steven Horsford (NV-4); Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18); Barbara Lee (CA-13); Ted Lieu (CA-33); Kathy Manning (NC-6); Grace Meng (NY-6); Gwen Moore (WI-4); Joe Neguse (CO-2); Katie Porter (CA-45); Janice Schakowsky (IL-9); Bradley Schneider (IL-10); Brad Sherman (CA-30); Thomas Suozzi (NY-3); Norma Torres (CA-35); Ritchie Torres (NY-15); Lori Trahan (MA-3); David Trone (MD-6); Nydia Velazquez (NY-12); Bonnie Coleman Watson (NJ-12); Susan Wild (PA-7); Nikema Williams (GA-5).

The entire letter including Member signatures, is attached, and the content of it is below:

Andy Jassy Jeff Bezos

Chief Executive Officer Executive Chairman

Amazon Amazon

2111 7th Ave 2111 7th Ave

Seattle, WA 98121 Seattle, WA 98121

Dear Mr. Jassy and Mr. Bezos,

We write to urge swift removal of the antisemitic book and related film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America by Ronald Dalton Jr., being sold on your platform.

Much like other antisemitic material that Amazon has removed from its shelves in the past, this film and book promote hatred of Jews through the use of multiple antisemitic tropes, including Holocaust denial, by terming the six million Jews who were murdered by Nazis one of the “five major falsehoods.”

The film and book also echo a long-standing antisemitic trope common among extremist factions of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement that claims “white” Jews are “not the real Jews” and instead stole the religious heritage of Black people. This same concept has inspired attacks against the Jewish community including a violent rampage at a New Jersey kosher supermarket in 2019 that took three lives.

Your company’s decision to profit from the promotion of this dangerous hate speech has substantial world costs and consequences for the Jewish community and the greater society. According to the FBI’s 2020 hate crimes report, Jews were the target of 55 percent of all religiously-motivated hate crimes–an alarming statistic for a group that makes up less than two percent of the U.S. population.

Over the past few months, there has been a deeply distressing rise in antisemitic incidents, among the largest rise in antisemitic incidents in the last half century. Within this dangerous climate, basketball star Kyrie Irving’s recent decision to promote this film to millions of social media followers, along with his refusal to disavow its antisemitism, has spread this dangerous hate-filled content even further.

Mr. Irving’s actions drew international attention and a dramatic spike in sales of the film and its related book, making it a best seller in multiple categories on Amazon. Amazon’s own guidelines tell filmmakers that “all titles undergo manual and automated reviews” before it licenses them and that certain content is prohibited, such as violating a copyright or explicit sexuality. Amazon also says it prohibits “hateful content,” such as speech that contains “derogatory comments, hate speech, or threats specifically targeting any group or individuals.”

It is alarming that this antisemitic film and book would not immediately qualify as hateful content.

Amazon should not amplify and profit from this promotion of hate. Pulling this hateful content from your offerings should be a value judgment we believe your company should be comfortable making.

Amazon can minimize the damage it causes in searches for Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, by ensuring customers are not automatically connected to similar publications of a conspiratorial nature.

Amazon has a unique and critical role to play in ensuring its customers do not consume hate-filled propaganda and misinformation. And as responsible corporate citizens, Amazon should certainly never profit from hate.

We urge you to swiftly take action and remove this film and book from your platform. Thank you for your full and fair consideration of this matter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-and-over-dozen-lawmakers-urge-state,"Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick and Over a Dozen Lawmakers Urge State Department to Investigate Mass Deportations of Haitian Migrants and Discriminatory, Anti-Black Migration Enforcement in the Dominican Republic",2022-12-01,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida) led a letter of more than a dozen other lawmakers urging the U.S. Department of State and the international community to investigate the mass deportations of Haitian migrants and the discriminatory, anti-Black migration enforcement practices taking place in the Dominican Republic.

It is estimated that between August 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022, the Dominican Republic deported nearly 60,000 Haitians and people of Haitian ancestry.

On November 19, 2022, the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory Alert citing “Ongoing Dominican Migration Enforcement.” According to the alert, in recent months, “travelers to the Dominican Republic have reported being delayed, detained, or subject to heightened questioning at ports of entry and in other encounters with immigration officials based on their skin color.”

The deportation of Haitian migrants run counter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk’s, recent calls “for deportation to Haiti to stop, given the human rights and humanitarian crises the country is facing.”

“Given the historical context of Dominican Republic-Haiti relations, it is evident that race factors into the marginalized treatment of Haitian migrants by the Dominican Republic government. There is widespread video evidence that the National Police are targeting individuals who possess African-like phenotypic (i.e., Black) features and deporting them. Black citizens, residents, and migrants in the Dominican Republic are in such grave danger that even Black Americans have been cautioned against traveling to the country, as they are equally at risk of detention or deportation. If the Dominican Republic continues its discriminatory, anti-Black practices, we fear that Black people from all nations may be subjected to inhumane treatment by the Dominican Republic,” said the Members. “Additionally, we request that the international community continue to call for the cessation of forced returns of Haitians to Haiti by all countries in the region, including the Dominican Republic, as the unremitting gang violence and systematic human rights violations in Haiti do not currently allow for the safe return of Haitians to Haiti.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rutherford-murphy-introduce-bipartisan-red-snapper-act,"Rutherford, Murphy Introduce Bipartisan Red Snapper Act",2022-12-01,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,FL,John H. Rutherford,R000609,rutherford.house.gov,rutherford,https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04), Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and 14 of their colleagues introduced H.R. 9373, the Red Snapper Act. This bipartisan legislation would prevent the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from implementing area closures in the South Atlantic until the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count study is complete and the findings are integrated into the fishery's stock assessment.

Recreational fishing in Florida is a major economic driver that produced $9.2 billion in economic output and supported 88,501 jobs in 2020. Over the last 10 years, the South Atlantic fishing community has worked hard to rebuild the red snapper stock. However, due to a lack of good data, seasons remain short and fail to reflect the real number of red snapper in the region. To fix this, Congress appropriated $5.1 million over the last three years to fund the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count, which will deliver reliable data on abundance, genomics, and mortality and improve access to red snapper fishing for anglers.

Earlier this year, NOAA proposed closures for all bottom fishing in the South Atlantic in an effort to decrease the red snapper caught outside of the two-day recreational season. While the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council ultimately rejected NOAA's proposal, the threat of future closures persists. The Red Snapper Act would prevent NOAA from making future sweeping management decisions until the ongoing South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count is complete.

""For too long, Florida's anglers have been forced to put up with bad science and short red snapper seasons. The sweeping closures proposed by NOAA would have devastated our economy right here in Northeast Florida,"" said Rep. Rutherford. ""Our bipartisan Red Snapper Act will stop NOAA from closing fisheries and force them to use better data. Florida anglers deserve dependable access to red snapper fishing now and for years to come.""

""Fishing is not only a key part of the Florida way of life, but it is also essential for the survival of our coastal economies and the small businesses that depend on robust fishing seasons,"" said Rep. Stephanie Murphy. ""I was proud to spearhead the Great Red Snapper Count, along with Congressman Rutherford, to get a more accurate picture of the number of fish in the South Atlantic, but proposed closures from NOAA could threaten access to bottom fishing before the study is complete. With this new legislation, we are pushing back to ensure our fisheries are not shut down and that NOAA uses the best data available moving forward.""

The Red Snapper Act is supported by 14 original cosponsors, including: Reps. Ted Budd (NC-13), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Austin Scott (GA-08), Mike Waltz (FL-06), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Garret Graves (LA-06), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Brian Mast (FL-18), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Richard Hudson (NC-08), and Daniel Webster (FL-11).

The Red Snapper Act has also been endorsed by the Center for Sportfishing Policy, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, the Coastal Conservation Association, and the American Sportsfishing Association (ASA):

""Before moving forward with drastic measures like area closures, the results of the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count should be considered and incorporated into the next stock assessment to ensure management decisions are based on the best science and fishing communities are not harmed unnecessarily,"" said Martha Guyas, ASA Southeast Fisheries Policy Director. ""We applaud Congressman Rutherford for his leadership on South Atlantic red snapper and for introducing this commonsense bill.""

Read the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403974,U.S. Rep. Castor announces her 2022 nominations to U.S. military academies,2022-11-30,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced that 21 students representing more than ten local high schools received nominations for admission into our nation’s military academies: Air Force (USAFA), Navy (USNA), Army (USMA) and Merchant Marine (USMMA).

“These talented student leaders are critical to the future of America. Their commitment to serving our country will make our patriotic Tampa Bay community proud,” said Castor.

“I am grateful for the service of my dedicated Nomination Committee that thoroughly reviews each application and meets with interested students,” Castor continued. “I know that this year’s nominees will represent Tampa Bay and America well in all that the future holds for them.”

Photos of the nominees can be found here.

Receiving a nomination to one of our nation’s military academies is an essential step towards receiving an appointment to the academies. Nominations are earned based upon each student’s interview with Castor’s Nomination Committee, their academic record, participation in extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership qualities. Because of the stringent application requirements, many students begin working on what it takes to apply as early as their first year of high school.

Based upon the process established by federal law, all U.S. military academies, except the Coast Guard Academy, require either a service-connected or Congressional nomination (from their Member of Congress, U.S. Senator or the Vice President of the United States). Parents and students interested in the nomination process can work with their school guidance counselors and find more information at Service Academy Nominations | U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (house.gov).

Castor will announce official appointments at a later date after being notified of appointments by the academies. Today’s announcement is the conclusion of Castor’s 2022 competitive nomination process. The nominees who receive an appointment from a U.S. military academy will attend their respective academies in the 2023-2024 school year.

U.S. Rep. Castor granted her nomination to the following students for one or more of the U.S. military academies:

Joshua Willke, Cambridge Christian School – USMA

Kalesha Bowers, Wharton High School – USMA

Skyllar Erikson, Robinson High School – USMA + USAFA

Juan Figuera-Parra, Jesuit High School – USNA

Grayson Gallagher, Jesuit High School – USNA

Katherine Merrill, Academy of the Holy Names – USNA

Lea Visher, Brooks-DeBartolo High School – USNA + USAFA

Luke Hamilton, Plant High School – USNA + USAFA

Trace Benn, Jesuit High School – USNA

Agustin Barrido, Berkeley Prep – USNA + USAFA

Damien Uzonwanne, Berkeley Prep – USNA + USAFA

Austin White, Robinson High School – USNA + USAFA

Grace Houghton, Stuggart High School – USNA + USAFA

Grant Creedican, Jesuit High School – USNA

Elaiza Varela, Sickles High School – USNA + USAFA

Emma Stone, Freedom High School – USNA

Jean-Carlo Zapta, Home School – USAFA

Turner Ashby, Plant High School – USAFA

Oliver Hewitt-Qualls, Plant High School – USAFA

Reagan Wilson, Sickles High School – USAFA

Adrianna Cook, Ramstein High School; Falcon Foundation Prep School – USAFA",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-statement-house-democrats-new-leadership,CONGRESSWOMAN CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK STATEMENT ON HOUSE DEMOCRATS NEW LEADERSHIP,2022-11-30,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today will forever be etched into the pages of U.S. history. I want to extend heartfelt congratulations and a warm welcome to our new leaders, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Katherine Clark, and Rep. Pete Aguilar.

It has been a monumental day for our Caucus and our country. As we transition to the next generation of leadership, House Democrats remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering For the People.

This historic shift is another step forward in pursuing a more perfect union. I beamed with pride as my colleagues and I unanimously voted for this generational change in leadership. Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Majority Whip Clyburn have laid an excellent foundation for many generations to build on.

Working on critical solutions alongside Rep. Jeffries in the House and with the Congressional Black Caucus during the 117th Congress has been an honor. I look forward to continuing under his leadership as he takes the helm of our party as Democratic Leader for the 118th Congress.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-leads-colleagues-in-demanding-transparency-from-us-naval-academy-on-denial-of-diplomas-to-unvaccinated-midshipmen/,Rep. Steube Leads Colleagues in Demanding Transparency from U.S. Naval Academy on Denial of Diplomas to Unvaccinated Midshipmen,2022-11-30,2022,2022-11,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Rep. Steube Leads Colleagues in Demanding Transparency from U.S. Naval Academy on Denial of Diplomas to Unvaccinated Midshipmen

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) led with seven of his colleagues in demanding transparency from the U.S. Naval Academy on the denial of diplomas to unvaccinated Midshipmen. In a letter to Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, the members demanded answers regarding the U.S. Naval Academy denying Midshipmen from graduating and asked for an explanation on their authority or ability to influence the approval of Midshipmen religious exemption requests relating to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

“Denying diplomas to otherwise qualified Midshipmen based solely on COVID-19 vaccination status would not only be a waste of our country’s four-year investment in Midshipmen who are eager to serve our nation, but could disrupt military readiness in a year that every branch had trouble recruiting. The U.S. Naval Academy must provide full transparency of their process to deny diplomas due to the absurd COVID-19 vaccination mandate, including details of cases where Midshipmen’s religious exemption requests were also denied,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Steube.

The following members of the U.S. House joined Rep. Steube in demanding answers from the U.S. Naval Academy: Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Scott Franklin (R-Fla.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas).

Read the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cammack-meets-university-florida-agriculture-scientists-discuss-how,Rep. Cammack Meets With University of Florida Agriculture Scientists To Discuss How Research Supports Global Food Security & Nutrition,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"GAINESVILLE, FL – Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack met with agricultural scientists at the University of Florida and leaders from Farm Journal Foundation to discuss how public support for agricultural research and development (R&D) can help alleviate global hunger and malnutrition.

The event, which included a tour of agricultural research facilities at the university and a roundtable discussion, highlighted how innovations can strengthen global food supply chains, prevent animal disease outbreaks, and enable farmers to increase production with fewer resources. Today, the global food system is under significant pressure from challenges including the conflict in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and extreme weather events. However, new technologies and practices generated from agricultural R&D can help make food systems more resilient, driving efforts to increase production of healthy foods, preserve natural resources, and enable farmers to adapt to different weather patterns.

“Food security is national security, which is why it’s so important to work together in support of necessary sustainable and innovative solutions to the problems our food supply chains face,” said Rep. Cammack. “Our farmers, ranchers, and producers work tirelessly to feed our nation and the world, and I’m grateful to the University of Florida and its Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) for their critical investments into research and development on these fronts. We’re always looking for better ways to best support the folks who feed, clothe, and fuel our country, and I’m grateful to the Farm Journal Foundation and the University of Florida for making today’s event possible.”

“UF/IFAS continues to innovate the way to increase food production globally with less environmental impact,” said Scott Angle, UF’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of UF/IFAS. “That challenge is getting steeper, but so is the UF/IFAS commitment with the recent launch of our Global Food Systems Institute and our historic investment in artificial intelligence to revolutionize agriculture. Our solutions to the challenges of producing food in a subtropical/tropical climate make our science directly applicable in large regions of the world that face food insecurity. At the same time, what we learn abroad helps Florida farmers and ranchers.”

Agricultural research has one of the highest returns of any public investment, returning on average $20 in benefits for every $1 invested. Agricultural research undertaken in the public sector, such as that being conducted at the University of Florida, has an important role to play in strengthening global food security. While private sector research investments have had a significant impact, particularly on yields for large commodity crops such as corn and soybeans, the public sector can support early stage research to pave the way for significant long-term innovations. Public investment can also support comparatively underexplored areas such as animal health, environmental, and food safety research, and unlock innovations for smallholder farmers overseas, helping developing countries feed themselves.

“Agricultural research investments are absolutely vital, especially as we look toward a future with rising global food demand – including demand for nutritious animal-sourced foods – and increasing pressure on natural resources,” said Katie Lee, Vice President of Government Affairs at Farm Journal Foundation. “Agricultural innovations benefit farmers and consumers both in the U.S. and abroad, helping to sustainably increase production and ensure that there will continue to be enough safe, affordable, and nutritious food for everyone.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/briefing-and-exhibit-hurricane-matthew-recovery-efforts-in-haiti,Briefing and Exhibit: Hurricane Matthew Recovery Efforts in Haiti,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Wednesday, November 16, 2016

2261 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Exhibit: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Briefing: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

For more information or to RSVP, please email kcrosby@usaid.gov

Honorary Co-Hosts

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson | Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | Rep. John Conyers | Rep. Maxine Waters | Rep. Barbara Lee | Rep. Yvette Clarke

Please join us for a briefing and photo exhibit on USAID-led efforts to help Haiti recover from Hurricane Matthew. The event will feature agency leaders on the frontline of the recovery efforts, members of Congress who recently traveled to Haiti, and other workers and experts in the fields of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. Staff from USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs (DCHA) will be on hand from 11:00 am-12:00 pm to answer questions on the Hurricane Matthew response.

Key Facts",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/briefing-and-exhibit-hurricane-matthew-recovery-efforts-in-haiti-0,Briefing and Exhibit: Hurricane Matthew Recovery Efforts in Haiti,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Wednesday, November 16, 2016

2261 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C.

Exhibit: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Briefing: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

For more information or to RSVP, please email kcrosby@usaid.gov

Honorary Co-Hosts

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson | Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | Rep. John Conyers | Rep. Maxine Waters | Rep. Barbara Lee | Rep. Yvette Clarke

Please join us for a briefing and photo exhibit on USAID-led efforts to help Haiti recover from Hurricane Matthew. The event will feature agency leaders on the frontline of the recovery efforts, members of Congress who recently traveled to Haiti, and other workers and experts in the fields of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. Staff from USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs (DCHA) will be on hand from 11:00 am-12:00 pm to answer questions on the Hurricane Matthew response.

Key Facts",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/committee-on-education-and-labor-approves-the-rebuild-america-s-schools-act-and-wilson-amendment-to-ensure-public-school-buildings-are-structurally-sound,Committee on Education and Labor Approves the Rebuild America's Schools Act and Wilson Amendment to Ensure Public School Buildings Are Structurally Sound,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, the House Education and Labor Committee approved the Rebuild America's School Act (H.R. 865). This legislation addresses the chronic underfunding of school infrastructure and the state of disrepair at too many American public schools. H.R. 865, which Congresswoman Wilson co-sponsored, calls for a $100 billion investment to address crumbling buildings, support 21st century digital infrastructure, and improve school safety.

During today's markup, the Florida lawmaker introduced an amendment that recognizes that a school's building design should be structurally sound and protect students, teachers, and staff from natural elements and human threats. It was adopted with the unanimous support of her colleagues.

""The nation's public schools should be vibrant places that make children get up each morning anxious to absorb every bit of knowledge they can. A crumbling school building is an unsafe building. And if children don't feel safe, how can they learn?"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""My amendment will help ensure that teachers and students are able to work and learn in schools that are safe and aesthetically pleasing and also make them feel like they matter.""

H.R. 865 would ensure equity in school facilities and digital infrastructure, strengthen the state role in creating safe and healthy schools, and improve regulations and data collection on those conditions. The legislation also is projected to create more than 1.9 million well-paying jobs.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-lawmakers-join-forces-to-secure-10-million-in-fy2018-omnibus-bill-to-address-haiti-s-cholera-epidemic,Congressional Lawmakers Join Forces to Secure $10 Million in FY2018 Omnibus Bill to Address Haiti's Cholera Epidemic,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"In the current political climate, Democrats and Republicans don't often agree on much, but in a rare act of bipartisanship, Congress has passed an omnibus package that rejected many of the White House's harsh budget cuts. The legislation, signed by President Donald Trump before lawmakers left Washington for a two-week recess, included $10 million to help Haiti combat cholera.

In 2010, United Nations peacekeepers contaminated Haiti's largest river, which led to a cholera outbreak that infected hundreds of thousands of Haitians and killed nearly 10,000 people. It also left destitute thousands of families that lost their households' primary breadwinners or suffered some other economic hit as a result of the epidemic.

The U.N. in 2016 established a $400 million trust fund to address this crisis, which has to date remained woefully underfunded. In addition, President Trump, who famously called Haiti and African nations ""shit holes,"" refused to reallocate $11 million in unspent peacekeeping dollars to help reduce the spread of the disease and provide some relief to Haitians whose lives and livelihoods have been adversely impacted by it.

During the appropriations process, 36 House lawmakers, led by Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), sent letters to the chairs and ranking members of the State, Foreign Operations committees in both chambers, urging them to authorize $11.7 million in the FY 2018 omnibus funding bill for this purpose. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-17), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, have long championed this issue.

In a second letter, several House lawmakers have requested the inclusion of bill and report language in the FY 2019 budget that would provide an additional $22 million in U.N. dollars unused this year to the fund.

""To allow Haiti, which has had to deal with more than its fair share of natural disasters, to continue to struggle under the weight of a human-made crisis is both inhumane and anathema to our American values. I am extremely pleased that Democrats and Republicans were able to join forces and do the right thing. It is my sincere hope that other nations will follow our example,"" said Congresswoman Wilson (FL-24).

""As a long-time friend of Haiti, I have been profoundly disappointed by the international community's failure to respond appropriately to the cholera epidemic, which was introduced into Haiti by United Nations peacekeepers. I strongly supported the inclusion of funds in the Omnibus Appropriations Act to stop the spread of this devastating disease in Haiti,"" said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), who co-chairs the Congressional Caribbean Caucus.

""The people of Haiti have faced enormous challenges over the past eight years that are not of their making, and we should do everything in our power to help them rebuild and recover,"" said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09). ""I'm pleased to see this Congress include funding to help Haitians recover from the cholera outbreak and stop the spread of this disease.""

""The United States should devote the resources necessary to end the cholera epidemic in Haiti and address the needless and preventable suffering. I'm pleased that Congress included funding to help Haitians recover from the cholera outbreak and stop the spread of this disease,"" said Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22).

""It's critical that we continue to fund effective public health interventions to vigorously address the prevalence of cholera throughout Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Caribbean,"" said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). ""There are immediate and long-term solutions to control cholera, and we must mobilize and remain vigilant in our efforts to support economic development, universal access to clean drinking water, and proper sanitation throughout the region to curb the rising incidence of infection and death from this treatable disease.""

""I am proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to help fight cholera in Haiti. A cholera outbreak has killed 10,000 and infected hundreds of thousands of Haitians, and we cannot sit idly by. We stand in solidarity with our Haitian-American community in Philadelphia and their worldwide diaspora. We have a humanitarian duty to stand with them and support the multinational effort to eradicate cholera in Haiti because it is a matter of conscience,"" said Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02).

""I have long championed the cause of the Haitian Diaspora and those who remain in Haiti as they face mounting challenges in creating a stable and productive democracy,"" said Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20). ""I was happy to join my colleagues in our effort to ensure that Haiti received much-needed funding in its fight against the cholera epidemic that has been devastating the country for nearly a decade. I look forward to continuing my work on behalf of the Haitian Diaspora and assisting those in Haiti, as we all work to strengthen the country's democratic institutions and address the effects of the many natural disasters Haiti has had to confront over the years.""

""As a former member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, I have fought for years to help Haiti recover from the 2010 earthquake, countless devastating hurricane seasons, and multiple public health crises. I am very pleased that Congress was able to work in a bipartisan way to pass this critical funding to fight the ongoing cholera crisis. The U.S. contributions to this U.N. fund are essential to giving Haiti the aid necessary to rebuild and recover,"" said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-s-statement-on-the-anniversary-of-the-parkland-shooting,Congresswoman Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson's Statement on the Anniversary of the Parkland Shooting,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement to mark one year since the Parkland shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School:

""Since the Middle Ages, February 14 has been a day on which people around the globe celebrate love and romance. For Americans, however, it will now forever be the day we also mourn the loss of 14 students and three staff members who were senselessly shot to death one year ago at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

""Sadly, gun violence plagues communities all around the nation. The best way to honor those whose lives have been taken or shattered by it is through actions that will end this horrific epidemic. This week, the House Judiciary Committee advanced the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which will close loopholes in the current background check system. It is a critically important first step and I look forward to voting for it on the House floor.

""After the Parkland shooting, young people stood up and spoke both forcefully and passionately about gun violence's impact on their ability to feel safe, which led to the passage of new gun control laws in 26 states, including Florida. Unfortunately, the Florida House is considering a bill that would repeal the measures passed last year.

""That our state legislators would even consider such a move astounds me. I urge them to listen to our constituents' cries of 'Enough is enough!'""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-condemns-racist-acts-at-american-university-and-other-college-campuses,Congresswoman Frederica S. Condemns Racist Acts at American University and Other College Campuses,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson joined congressional colleagues and sorors at a news conference today to decry the discovery of bananas hanging from nooses tied to trees on the campus of American University in Washington, D.C. The despicable act appears to be in response the election of the university's first African-American student government president, Taylor Dumpson, who is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

In addition to delivering the statement below condemning the incident and similar acts on campuses around the nation, Rep. Wilson called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to address this terrible phenomenon.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-and-house-lawmakers-hold-press-conference-in-response-to-rescue-of-one-missing-chibok-girl,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson and House Lawmakers Hold Press Conference in Response to Rescue of One Missing Chibok Girl,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) and several House lawmakers hosted a press conference in response to the breaking news that one of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls had been rescued more than two years after they were abducted from their dormitory rooms by the world's deadliest terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Amina Ali Nkeki. 19, was discovered by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, a vigilante group created to help fight Boko Haram. She was spotted while gathering firewood and was carrying a baby reported to be just a few months old. After a short reunion with family members, who confirmed her identity, Amina is now being debriefed by Nigerian government officials.

""This is an extremely critical development and the best possible confirmation of why it has been so important for us to fight for the safe return of these girls week after week while much of the world wondered why bother and had given up hope,"" said Rep. Wilson, who noted that this extraordinary turn of events had taken place on Wear Something Red Wednesday, the day on which lawmakers commemorate the missing girls each week that Congress is in session.

The Florida lawmaker called for swift action by the United States and other members of the international community that have pledged support to help Nigeria rescue the girls and defeat Boko Haram.

""Time is of the essence,"" Rep. Wilson warned. ""We must assume that with the rescue of this one girl, Boko Haram will very likely try to move the girls even deeper into the forest. They may also try to separate them into groups, which will make it more challenging to find them. It is critically vital that we zero in on their location as quickly as humanly possible.""

Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, commended Rep. Wilson's dogged determination to keep lawmakers engaged in this issue. Without that level of support, she said, it might be easy to dismiss Boko Haram as just one of many terrorist groups doing harm.

""This is a day of mixed emotions. It's a day to celebrate because of the return of one of the girls and the possibility of getting information and how the girls are being treated. Will this bring us closer to finding them?"" said Rep. Bass. ""But it's also a day for us to remember that it was one girl that returned, and there are still over 200 girls being held captive. I want to make sure we continue this campaign until every single is girl is returned.""

Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), Ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, noted the difference in how the world has responded to the abduction of the Chibok girls and the havoc that Boko Haram has wreaked in Nigeria and border nations compared to its response to terrorist acts in Paris and other parts of the world.

""The United States must keep demanding answers and continue the fight to rescue the girls and defeat Boko Haram,"" said Rep. Payne.

""It has been two years, and we must continue to fight for the return of the girls just as strongly as we started. We must continue to fight for the freedoms of the least among us, whether those for whom we fight are out of sight, such as the kidnapped teenage girls from the Chibok boarding school or educated medical doctors fleeing violent extremism in Syria,"" said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas). ""The bottom line is our obligations in the human family must revolve around and be grounded in our conviction and commitment to the rights to freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and the freedom from fear or terrorism, among others.""

Today [Rep. Wilson's] relentless advocacy has borne fruit and one little lost lamb has found her way back home. I thought that it was very poignant that she said to her mother, 'I thought I'd never see you again. Wipe your tears. God has made it possible for us to see each other again,'"" said Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.). ""It unfortunately deepens the poignancy of the lost six that help will never be able to come in time for. I hope this will give some leverage and insight on how to find the others. In some ways that's one of the greatest celebrations we have today. Perhaps this will reignite a commitment on all our parts to find the rest of the girls.""

""Today, the news of first missing Chibok girl found after more than two years gives us hope for finding every single girl who remains missing. As a father, I cannot imagine the grief that their parents have to endure. We must not give up on bringing back our girls,"" said Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.). ""I am proud to have joined the efforts championed by Congresswoman Wilson, who has been working tirelessly to ensure the girls are not forgotten. She has proven the power of many, through simple acts of wearing red on Wednesdays and using hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. We must not stop until they all return home safely.""

""The girls disappeared from their school, but not from our hearts. They are all our daughters,"" said Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-announces-new-committee-assignments,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Announces New Committee Assignments,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson has been appointed to the influential House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and will serve on the following subcommittees: Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials; and Water Resources and Environment.

""I am honored to be a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which will play a pivotal role in rebuilding our nation's deteriorating infrastructure while simultaneously creating jobs and boosting our nation's economy,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""I am especially pleased that this service also will provide many opportunities to help my district and the state of Florida grow stronger and more competitive.""

Before her appointment to the committee, Congresswoman Wilson already played an instrumental role in ensuring that both District 24 and Florida received its fair share of resources, including founding and chairing the Florida Ports Caucus and helping to secure funding for significant upgrades to PortMiami. One of the first bills that she will introduce in this session of Congress is the Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Act, which aims to rebuild and modernize America's infrastructure and transportation systems and the nation's workforce. She also will introduce The Jobs Now Act of 2017, which is modeled after successful initiatives started under Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Richard Nixon and would provide two-year grants directly to cities, counties, and qualified nonprofit organizations to train, hire, and retain workers for jobs in public service.

The Florida lawmaker will continue to sit on the Education and the Workforce Committee and is now a member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. In this new assignment the congresswoman will be able to apply her considerable experience as an educator, school principal, and founder of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a renowned in-school dropout prevention and mentoring program. She also will serve on the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, & Pensions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-announces-plan-to-boycott-president-trump-s-first-state-of-the-union-address,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Announces Plan to Boycott President Trump's First State of the Union Address,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement on why she will not attend President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address:

""For the first time since I began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, I will not be attending the president's State of the Union address. I have no doubt that instead of delivering a message of inclusivity and an agenda that benefits all Americans, President Trump's address will be full of innuendo, empty promises, and lies.

""During his disappointing and destructive first year in office, Mr. Trump has demeaned the presidency at every opportunity and cast doubt on our nation's standing as a global leader. The United States' reputation is smoldering in the ashes of his recent racist and incendiary remarks about Haiti and African nations. Many of his proposed domestic policies are harmful to people of color, low-income communities, and the middle class. It would be an embarrassment to be seen with him at a forum that under any other president would be an honor to attend.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-450000-in-federal-grants-for-miami-dade-and-broward-colleges,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds $450,000 in Federal Grants for  Miami-Dade and Broward Colleges",2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI - Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson today applauded the U.S. Department of Education's award of Federal TRIO grants to Miami-Dade and Broward Colleges. The grants will assist low-income students, disadvantaged youth, and first-generation college students in Miami-Dade and Broward counties by strengthening the training of TRIO educators in the state.

""These grants will go a long way to improving the chances for success of students at Miami-Dade and Broward Colleges,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""As a lifelong advocate for education, it is important that we do all we can to ensure their chances to succeed and improve their station in life. I am excited for the additional opportunities these grants will create.""

Miami-Dade College was awarded $236,900, which the school has historically allocated for scholarship and financial aid counseling, tutoring, intensive academic advisement, individualized education planning, services for students with disabilities, career exploration assistance, job placement, peer mentoring, leadership development activities, and cultural enrichment. The $236,000 awarded to Broward College marks the first time the school has received a TRIO gtant

TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The grant recipients are institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth and secondary schools.

Congresswoman Wilson has fought for increased education grants throughout her career. Earlier this year, she made a request to the House Committee on Appropriations to increase Trio funding.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-7-million-infra-grant-award-to-make-portmiami-upgrades,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds $7 Million INFRA Grant Award to Make PortMiami Upgrades,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The U.S. Department of Transportation this week awarded Miami-Dade County a $7,000,000 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant that will be used to modernize two cargo terminal gates at PortMiami. Last fall, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, a founder and chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, led a letter signed by members of the Miami-Dade congressional delegation urging Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to approve the grant request.

The upgraded gate facility will employ real-time data that will enable the port to increase capacity and reduce processing time for trucks entering and exiting the terminal, which will decrease their turnaround by more than 50 percent. The new technology also will increase safety and lower costs.

""I am extremely pleased that the Department of Transportation has recognized the value of investing in PortMiami's growth, which will boost both our local and the nation's economy. Just a few years ago, after deepening its main harbor, the port welcomed the first neo-Panamax vessel to dock in Florida,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""Making the most of that historic opportunity by modernizing PortMiami's other facilities is the logical next step. I will continue to work diligently with bipartisan groups of local, state, and federal leaders to secure the federal funding required to ensure that PortMiami is both big-ship and cargo ready, which in turn will provide opportunities for Florida businesses and the creation of jobs, jobs, jobs!""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-administration-for-safeguarding-benefits-for-injured-federal-employees-in-fy-2017-budget-request,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds Administration for Safeguarding Benefits for Injured Federal Employees in FY 2017 Budget Request,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"President Obama's newly released Fiscal Year 2017 federal budget request for the Department of Labor rejects a proposal to cut benefits under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) for federal civilian workers injured or killed on the job.

""I am delighted to hear that the administration and the Department of Labor are rejecting FECA benefits cuts and will remain dedicated to ensuring that the workers who have committed themselves to federal service are honored by a system that does not leave them and their families financially worse off than if the injury or death had not occurred,"" said Congresswoman Wilson, Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

""It is my hope the administration's rejection of benefits cuts will inspire Congress to move forward on bipartisan efforts to modernize and improve the FECA system savings to taxpayers. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on this issue.""

In December 2015, Ranking Member Wilson, along with Reps. Bobby Scott, Elijah Cummings, and Gerald Connolly, sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget urging the administration to reject the Bush-era proposal that would have slashed benefits for injured federal workers who have dependents or have reached retirement age. These Bush-era benefits cuts have been included in all of the Obama administration's previous budget requests.

During a May 2015 Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing on FECA cuts, Ranking Member Wilson spoke out against arguments that benefits cuts were justified because federal workers were unmotivated to return to work. She went on to highlight the potential impact of the proposed cuts and acknowledged the widows of a fallen correctional officer and mail carrier and several permanently disabled postal workers who had traveled to Washington, D.C., for the hearing.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, which provides compensation for lost wages, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation. FECA provides coverage for 2.8 million federal civilian workers across more than 70 agencies and all three branches of government.

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-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. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-haiti-s-appointment-of-a-provisional-president,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds Haiti's Appointment of a Provisional President,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The appointment of Senator Jocelerme Privert to serve as Haiti's provisional president is good news. The fact that lawmakers moved so swiftly is a positive sign that could help ease the international community's lingering concerns. I hope the interim government will also move swiftly to hold the presidential and legislative elections so that Haiti's leaders can focus their attention on the country's urgent needs, such as the current food insecurity crisis, building schools and hospitals, and upgrading its infrastructure.

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-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. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-passage-of-11-billion-in-federal-zika-funding,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds Passage of $1.1 Billion in Federal Zika Funding,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL - Today Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson joined Republican Congressmen Carlos Curbelo and Mario Diaz-Balart at a press conference to applaud the passage of a continuing resolution that includes $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus. The funding is part of a stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government open through December 9. Congresswoman Wilson has been at the forefront of the fight for Zika funding since July, when the first local transmissions were confirmed in Wynwood, which is in the heart of her district.

""The $1.1 billion provision to combat the Zika virus is a victory for South Florida, our constituents, and the world,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""Zika's epicenter was in Wynwood, which became an open laboratory in the quest to find solutions to stopping its spread. We know so much more than we did when the first Zika transmission cases were confirmed, but there is much more to learn. Now we have the funding for research, testing, and prevention efforts.""

The continuing resolution includes $394 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for mosquito control and surveillance, $397 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development authority for Zika research and vaccine development, $175.1 million to fund Zika response efforts, and $75 million to reimburse U.S. states and territories with active Zika transmissions for the treatment of individuals who do not have private health insurance.

Rep. Wilson and a bipartisan, bicameral group of Florida lawmakers recently hosted a Capitol Hill press conference to provide an update on a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan that she led requesting Zika funding, and a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Curt Clawson that she co-sponsored with Congressman David Jolly.

In addition to her work in Congress, Rep. Wilson conducted extensive outreach initiatives in her district to educate residents about the threat Zika posed. She hosted a town hall meeting featuring medical professionals, community leaders, business owners, and elected officials to provide updates on efforts to combat the virus, as well as outreach events in Little Haiti and Overtown, which are adjacent to Wynwood.

""I'm certain Wynwood business owners, residents, and patrons will feel as though a weight has been lifted off of the community's shoulders,"" she said. ""Tomorrow, I will join Governor Rick Scott and other elected officials and community leaders for 'Dine Out Wynwood' to support the businesses that felt the devastating financial impact of the Zika virus. I encourage everyone to join us to help Wynwood bounce back.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-president-obama-s-nomination-of-john-king-for-us-secretary-of-education,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds President Obama's Nomination of John King for U.S. Secretary of Education,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"""I applaud President Obama for nominating Acting Secretary John King to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education. Throughout his career, Dr. King has demonstrated a commitment to high standards and advancing educational equity and opportunities for all students. As the Department of Education implements the Every Student Succeeds Act, his nomination comes at a critical time. I look forward to working with him to ensure that every American student graduates from high school college and career ready, and urge the Senate to swiftly confirm his nomination.

""Dr. King, who was orphaned at age 12, knows from personal experience how education can literally save a young man's life. I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to host him this week in my district, where he will speak at the Miami-Dade My Brother's Keeper Action Summit Breakfast on February 19. The event will address efforts to eliminate opportunity gaps, barriers, and challenges for boys and young men of color in Miami-Dade County. Dr. King will also meet with parents and students at Miami Senior High School and Miami Northwestern Senior High School to discuss college access and the importance of student attendance and mentorship.""

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-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. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-president-obama-s-push-for-stronger-unemployment-insurance-system-and-wage-insurance,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds President Obama's Push for Stronger Unemployment Insurance System and Wage Insurance,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"This weekend, President Obama announced proposals to strengthen the unemployment insurance (UI) system and create wage insurance programs-policies that stand to benefit millions of unemployed and underemployed Floridians.

According to a 2015 report from the National Employment Law Project, eligibility and procedural restrictions on Florida's UI program have made it virtually impossible for many unemployed Floridians to access the UI benefits they need to maintain economic security after a job loss. In 2015, only 12 percent of unemployed Floridians received unemployment benefits-the lowest rate in the country and well below the national average of 27 percent. Additionally, Florida only provides a maximum of 14 weeks of benefits, the country's second-lowest level in the nation, and nearly half the national norm of 26 weeks.

The president's proposal would strengthen unemployment insurance programs by restoring the 26-week maximum benefit levels and ensuring that more workers, including certain low-income workers, are covered.

""Floridians who lose their jobs by no fault of their own find it unnecessarily difficult to access the unemployment insurance benefits they need to continue to support themselves and their families. I applaud the administration's proposal to strengthen the unemployment insurance system so that more Floridians have access to the benefits they need to stay afloat while they look for new work,"" said Congresswoman Wilson.

President Obama's proposal would also require states to create a wage insurance program to replace lost wages for experienced workers who take a pay cut in their new jobs.

""Many Floridians who put in years of work at a job struggle to find comparable work if laid off. They often are forced to make the difficult decision to accept a job with a drastic pay cut or face long-term unemployment,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""Wage insurance ensures unemployed Floridians can quickly return to work and take steps toward regaining the comparable pay and positions they once held.""

This year, Congresswoman Wilson introduced the comprehensive Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Act of 2015, modeled after President Obama's 2011 comprehensive job-creation bill, the American Jobs Act. The Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Act of 2015 includes provisions that allow states to use unemployment insurance funds to implement wage insurance programs.

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-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. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-the-passage-of-legislation-mandating-generators-at-all-florida-nursing-homes,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds the Passage of Legislation Mandating Generators at all Florida Nursing Homes,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL - Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement in response to the passage of legislation mandating generators at all Florida nursing homes:

""Last year, 14 patients at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills tragically lost their lives because of a 'prolonged power failure' that shut down the facility's air conditioning system during Hurricane Irma. Today, Florida's state legislature passed Senate Bill 7028 and House Bill 7099, which require nursing homes to have backup power capability and adequate fuel supplies to maintain air conditioning for 96 hours after loss of electricity.

""This legislation is a victory for Florida. Our state has the highest concentrations of nursing homes and related facilities. Nursing homes' preparedness and response to emergencies ensures that our seniors receive the care they deserve. To that end, I have partnered with state lawmakers, long-term care providers, and experts in the field to form an honorary task force to strengthen compliance and standards for licensed facilities. The first phase of our commitment included the October 19, 2017, congressional field hearing, which was convened to hear testimony from experts and officials about the tragedy with general recommendations.

""Other actions include language added to an $81 billion disaster aid package requiring FEMA to provide training and guidance that will assist nursing homes and long-term care facilities to better prepare for power outages during a major natural disaster. Additionally, new language has been added to the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, requiring authorities responding to power outages during hurricanes to prioritize long-term care facilities and hospitals at the beginning of their response efforts.

""The second phase of our commitment to strengthen compliance and standards for licensed facilities includes the formation of a consortium. This will include a broad spectrum of stakeholders who will reexamine emergency preparedness parameters and requirements for licensed facilities for seniors during natural disasters and propose specific actions to ensure that tragedies like the one that occurred at the Hollywood Hills nursing home during Hurricane Irma never happen again on our watch. We are the guardians of our seniors and it's up to all of us to create a safety net for them to ensure this never happens again.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-applauds-the-passage-of-the-supporting-youth-opportunity-and-preventing-delinquency-act,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Applauds the Passage of the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, September 22, overwhelmingly passed the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act (H.R. 5963) by a vote of 382-29. Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, Ranking Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, is an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which reauthorizes the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

""This bill is about opportunity,"" said Rep. Wilson. ""It is about giving at-risk youth a second chance at success. We want our young people to be able to learn from their mistakes and move beyond so they can get an education, have successful careers and be contributing members of society.""

H.R. 5963 updates the law's key protections, gives states new tools to prevent delinquency and encourage young people to avoid gangs, and requires more data collection and reporting about children in the juvenile justice system to identify and curb racial and ethnic disparities that exist in the system. In addition, the legislation includes measures to ease the transition for children coming out of juvenile justice facilities and withholds federal funding from states that jail minors in adult facilities.

According to the most recent statistics from Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, juvenile delinquency arrests in the state have decreased by 22 percent since 2011. The Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act will provide the resources needed to continue this positive trajectory. It also will enhance efforts to shut down the school-to-prison pipeline.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-appointed-to-serve-on-the-house-transportation-and-infrastructure-committe,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Appointed to Serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committe,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson released the following statement on her appointment to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:

""Since my first day in Congress, my mantra has been jobs, jobs, jobs. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee plays a pivotal role in spurring job creation and economic growth. This appointment will provide excellent opportunities to work across party lines to advance an agenda to rebuild and strengthen America's infrastructure and transportation systems, which will make our nation both safer and more competitive.

""South Florida's airports and seaports are significant economic drivers in our state and gateways to commerce in other states. As a member of this vital committee, I will work hard to open doors of opportunity for both employees and businesses at home and across the nation.""

Now in her fourth term, Congresswoman Wilson has been a leader on labor, transportation, and infrastructure issues. In 2013, she founded and became co-chair of the bipartisan Florida Ports Caucus in the House of Representatives, which played a central role in the passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, legislation that, among other things, funded water infrastructure projects across the country, including significant upgrades to PortMiami to deepen the main harbor to 50 feet and make it Big Ship ready. In the 115th Congress, the Florida lawmaker will introduce the Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Act, which aims to put workers back on the job while rebuilding and modernizing America's infrastructure and transportation systems.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-calls-for-a-brightline-safety-review,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Calls for a Brightline Safety Review,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement calling for a federal safety review of Brightline passenger trains following two fatalities and an accident during its first week in operation:

""I join with Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson in calling on Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to conduct a thorough investigation into the fatal accidents involving Florida's Brightline high-speed rail service. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Railroad Subcommittee, I am especially concerned and determined to seek solutions on how to prevent these tragic incidents.

""On the morning of Friday, January 12, committee members joined me on a Brightline train for a preview voyage from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale. That very evening a woman was struck by a train. Since then, a second fatality occurred, and on January 19, a person was struck and hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

""For three years before the Brightline launch, I had several discussions with representatives from All Aboard Florida about safety, which was my top committee priority then and continues to be now. As a member of the Railroad Subcommittee, I am committed to using every available resource to fight for safety improvements.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-calls-for-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-to-resign,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Calls for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to Resign,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement in response to reports that Attorney General Sessions lied under oath at his confirmation hearing:

""I join my colleagues in calling for the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who lied under oath about his contacts with a Russian ambassador. He is the nation's top law enforcement officer and must be held to the highest standard, a test he failed by being dishonest during his confirmation hearing and then neglecting to later correct the record. Coupled with Mr. Sessions' civil rights record, this incident reinforces my strong belief that he should never have been appointed attorney general in the first place.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-calls-for-more-fema-funding-to-aid-hurricane-irma-victims,Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Calls for More FEMA Funding to Aid Hurricane Irma Victims,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement in response to FEMA funding measure passed today to aid hurricane victims:

""Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a measure that adds more than $15 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's budget to support recovery efforts in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The funding package, which may also be used in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, is a critical first step toward reassuring Floridians and other Americans whose lives have literally been blown away by the two storms that they can count on the federal government to help them begin rebuilding their lives.

""It is, however, just a first step.

""Given the magnitude of the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and the ruinous impact that Irma is projected to have on Florida statewide, $15 billion is a mere drop in the bucket. Before this legislation was passed FEMA's coffers were nearly empty. Harvey is expected to cost about $180 billion and Irma somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 billion.

""Clearly Congress will have to do much, much more and I am committed to fighting for additional funding.

""As a life-long Floridian, I along with millions of others, have survived many storms over the years, including Hurricane Andrew, the last Category 5 hurricane to rip through our Sunshine State. It is painful to witness the monumental suffering experienced by tens of thousands of victims, from the loss of life to irreplaceable family mementos.

""The many more billions of dollars that will likely be required for recovery efforts sounds like a lot of money, but it is important to remember that the aid the hurricane victims receive also will be just a first drop in the bucket toward making their lives whole again.

""I pledge to do all that I can to build 100 percent support work across party lines to secure more funding and urge my Capitol Hill colleagues to remember that no district or state is immune from natural disasters. Times like these are tragic, but they also provide opportunities for us to keep our commitment to the people who sent us here to fight for them and when necessary to prioritize their needs over our political biases.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z