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://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404428,"U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Highlights ""Meaningful and Record-Setting 2023” for Tampa Bay area as Her Congressional Office Delivers $13.3M to Veterans and Neighbors and Secures $1B in Federal Grant Dollars to Lift Communities",2023-12-27,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"TAMPA, FL – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today that her team worked to deliver over $13.3 million in aid, benefits and refunds to veterans, seniors, small businesses and families in 2023, including over $1.7 million to veterans and service members. Over $1 billion in federal grants were secured for the community to invest in our schools and infrastructure, create good-paying jobs, lower costs, and foster safer, healthier neighborhoods. Local partners and nonprofits deserve kudos for playing a critical and collaborative role this year. “The Tampa and St. Petersburg constituent services team works tirelessly to cut through red tape on behalf of families, veterans and businesses. In a year with an unprecedented number of passport cases and the implementation of the historic Honoring Our PACT Act, my office has delivered favorable results to our neighbors and veterans across the Tampa Bay area. I am grateful for all that Steven Angotti, Tania Fernandez, Damaris Gonzalez and Sean Saintil – as well as the entire Castor Team – did this year. I couldn’t be prouder of my dedicated casework team that went above and beyond working weekends to save many Tampa Bay families thousands of dollars as they faced disruptions in their overseas travel due to this year’s unprecedented surge of passport issues. Their expertise and compassion are critical to ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned, and that Social Security and Medicare benefits are delivered on time. “Amazingly, 207 federal grants bolstered neighborhoods from West Tampa to South St. Petersburg and more - for a total of $1,030,242,000 including important investments in righting the wrongs of the past with inclusive highway connections, safer streets, and fighting the Black maternal health crisis. I love my hometown and am committed to lifting every neighbor by revitalizing neighborhoods through meaningful environmental justice, supporting our youth, combatting extreme heat, and improving health outcomes for Black mothers and babies. There is so much to look forward to in the new year, as I champion investments that improve our lives through the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to the Tampa Bay area and into your pockets. “This year I was also proud to introduce legislation to protect our children online, create lasting solutions to the changing climate, and create more high-quality, affordable health care options. With over 30 pieces of legislation introduced, I kept your needs and best interests at the forefront of my work so I could continue to deliver for you and your families. “Looking ahead, in 2024 we will bring home more investments to Tampa Bay families and communities by addressing our neighbors’ most critical needs through the Infrastructure Decade, combatting extreme weather, and strengthening the health and safety of our neighborhoods. The Tampa Bay area is a special community, and I will stand up for my neighbors to deliver solutions and advocate to bring every federal dollar home. I am grateful for the work of my team and the partnership of local leaders, businesses and nonprofits that allow our community to secure grants that will keep Tampa Bay an outstanding place to live.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3661,Florida Democratic Delegation Urges Governor to Enroll in Summer Food Assistance Program,2023-12-22,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (FL-22), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-25), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Darren Soto (FL-09), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) sent a letter urging Gov. DeSantis to enroll Florida in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program, which would provide food assistance to two million children across the state. Florida would be set to receive $248 million for this program, however the state has yet to take any action to apply for these funds ahead of the January 1st deadline. “For many working and low-income families, the only nutritious meal a child receives is at school. Unfortunately, during the summer when school is out, children are missing out on the opportunity of a healthy meal,” the Members wrote. “We urge you to apply for these funds before the deadline to ensure the children of our state don’t go hungry next summer.” The full letter may be viewed here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404426,U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Leads FL Democrats in Urging Gov. DeSantis End His Grinch-Like Blockade of Transportation $$,2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"TAMPA, FL – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and members of the Florida Democratic Congressional Delegation are urging Gov. DeSantis to reverse his Grinch-like decision to reject $320 million to reduce carbon pollution and improve Florida’s transportation network under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). The lawmakers’ letter follows reporting that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) fully intended to implement a plan to improve the state’s infrastructure through public transit, safe rest stop areas and reduced congestion until DeSantis pulled the plug. The DeSantis turnabout landed like a lump of coal in a Christmas stocking, as Florida is the only state in the country to reject the funds. “This decision constitutes a stark policy reversal, following months of FDOT planning and the development of the state’s Carbon Reduction Strategy, a prerequisite step for Florida to receive the program’s $320 million in funding. FDOT’s own documents outline the importance of the Carbon Reduction Program — and the investments it would have provided — to the state’s transportation goals. Such goals include: providing safe and convenient transportation options, improving traffic flow and reducing congestion and idling, improving energy efficiency, and reducing climate impacts.” The lawmakers continued, “Plainly, your repeated rejection of federal investment opportunities will lead our state to a future with more traffic fatalities, higher energy and transportation costs, and worse air pollution. The people of Florida deserve answers, and they deserve a Governor who will not sacrifice the best interests of our state to further an extreme agenda.” Read the full letter here. Gov. DeSantis’ rejection of $320 million in carbon reduction infrastructure investments makes Florida the only state in the nation to reject federal CRP funding. The Governor’s decision followed FDOT’s months-long planning and coordination with stakeholders on how to best utilize the funding for Florida’s needs, including a public meeting and presentation on the critical need for this funding and a comprehensive plan to meet the needs of Florida communities – all of which have been deleted from FDOT’s website following FDOT Secretary Perdue’s letter rejecting the funding. Signers of the letter to Gov. DeSantis include: Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Darren Soto (FL-09), Maxwell Frost (FL-10) and Lois Frankel (FL-22).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404424,"Reps. Castor, Frankel, Manning Lead 50 House Democrats in Urging Rejection of Dangerous GOP Attacks on Medical Education, Training That Harms Women",2023-12-20,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Lois Frankel (FL-22) and Kathy Manning (NC-06) led 50 House Democrats in urging U.S. House and Senate Appropriators to reject House Republicans’ dangerous medical training policy rider in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that will worsen maternal health outcomes in our communities. Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs) decision in 2022, physician faculty and trainees across the country have shared the devastating impacts of this ruling – and subsequent abortion restrictions – on medical education. In listening to physicians who are training, teaching, and/or practicing in states that have banned or restricted abortion, the lawmakers found that these laws are interfering in the physician-patient relationship, restricting physicians’ ability to offer evidence-based care, limiting educational opportunities for trainees, and putting physicians in legal peril. Despite the clear dangers of these harmful policies, House Republicans last month tried to use the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to advance extreme policies that further attack women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health care services. Thankfully, Republican leadership was unable to get the votes to even bring this extreme bill to the House Floor. Nevertheless, the GOP seems intent on continuing to push their harmful interference in medical education. “The Dobbs decision and subsequent abortion bans and restrictions are already harming graduate medical education and impacting the care that physicians can provide,” the lawmakers wrote. “If Congress pursues an appropriations bill that further restricts medical training, going against the evidence-based standard of care, we will see even fewer residents who are trained to handle the full range of reproductive health care.” The lawmakers continued, “As you move forward with negotiations on the final Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, we urge you to reject Section 541 of H.R. 5894 and any other similar restrictions on graduate medical education to ensure that our communities can train and retain the caliber of physicians that patients and their families deserve.” Endorsing Organizations include Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, National Council of Jewish Women Inc., National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Partnership for Women and Families and The Century Foundation's Health Equity and Reform Team.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3658,"Reps. Frankel, Castor, Manning Lead 50 House Democrats in Urging Rejection of Dangerous GOP Attacks on Medical Education, Training That Harms Women",2023-12-20,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Kathy Manning (NC-06) led 50 House Democrats in urging U.S. House and Senate Appropriators to reject House Republicans’ dangerous medical training policy rider in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that will worsen maternal health outcomes in our communities. Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs) decision in 2022, physician faculty and trainees across the country have shared the devastating impacts of this ruling – and subsequent abortion restrictions – on medical education. In listening to physicians who are training, teaching, and/or practicing in states that have banned or restricted abortion, the lawmakers found that these laws are interfering in the physician-patient relationship, restricting physicians’ ability to offer evidence-based care, limiting educational opportunities for trainees, and putting physicians in legal peril. Despite the clear dangers of these harmful policies, House Republicans last month tried to use the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to advance extreme policies that further attack women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health care services. Thankfully, Republican leadership was unable to get the votes to even bring this extreme bill to the House Floor. Nevertheless, the GOP seems intent on continuing to push their harmful interference in medical education. “The Dobbs decision and subsequent abortion bans and restrictions are already harming graduate medical education and impacting the care that physicians can provide,” the lawmakers wrote. “If Congress pursues an appropriations bill that further restricts medical training, going against the evidence-based standard of care, we will see even fewer residents who are trained to handle the full range of reproductive health care.” The lawmakers continued, “As you move forward with negotiations on the final Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, we urge you to reject Section 541 of H.R. 5894 and any other similar restrictions on graduate medical education to ensure that our communities can train and retain the caliber of physicians that patients and their families deserve.” The full letter may be viewed here. Endorsing Organizations include Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, National Council of Jewish Women Inc., National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Partnership for Women and Families and The Century Foundation's Health Equity and Reform Team. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404414,"U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor: Democrats Lead Passage of Bipartisan Defense Bill, Now On Its Way to President Biden’s Desk",2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement upon passage of the bipartisan, bicameral FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. “Our military service members and their families deserve our support and I am pleased that the FY2024 NDAA will provide a pay raise for our service members, strengthen America’s national security and protect our strategic alliances. “Extreme MAGA Republicans delayed adoption of the bill for months and used America’s national security as leverage to try to force their radical agenda on America. In the end, more Democrats than Republicans voted to support our country and our military through the NDAA as Congress limped out of town with little to show for the year marked by turmoil among the GOP. “I am proud to have championed important provisions in the defense bill that will directly support MacDill Air Force Base service members and their families, including a pay raise and improvements to on-base housing, health care and child care. As Co-Chair of the Special Forces Caucus, I strongly pressed for support for our Special Operations Forces global missions through combat development activities, cyberspace operations, and INDOPACOM MISO. “We owe it to our service members to continue working to lower the cost of living. That’s why I fought to deliver on President Biden’s request for a 5.2 percent pay raise for our troops, which will give service members and their families a needed boost as inflation slows. The NDAA will help more military families balance their budgets by expanding eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance, which helps lower grocery and housing costs. “Importantly, the NDAA will take significant steps in improving child care for military families, including by investing $301 million in military construction for new child development centers and $60 million in additional funds for planning and design to accelerate child development center replacements. “U.S. service members and their families at MacDill and around the world deserve housing that is safe and clean and free of mold and shoddy construction. The NDAA includes significant investments to continue improving military housing and strengthens oversight of the conditions of housing units. “As overheating, rising sea levels and stronger storms impact operations at MacDill, the NDAA takes steps to tackle the effects of climate change and safeguard our national security and military readiness. This bipartisan bill not only rejects extreme Republican provisions that would have prevented action on climate resilience, but this year’s NDAA will also promote energy efficiency and counter harmful impacts on the environment while protecting the health of our service members, including a record $650 million investment in energy resilience and energy conservation. “While Republicans spent months fighting amongst themselves – fixating on attempts to restrict health care for women service members and limit the Department of Defense’s ability to recruit and retain a diverse workforce – Democrats stood ready to work in a bipartisan way to better support our service members and their families while addressing pressing national security issues. Once again, Democrats proved we are committed to putting People Over Politics for the good of our country.” Supporting Military Service Members and their Families: 5.2% pay raise Expanded eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) Increases investments in child development centers Improves Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) eligibility Military Housing: Increases housing allowances Establishes the Military Family Readiness Working Group for Military Housing Improves privatized military housing units Increases oversight of military housing conditions Health Care: Increases access to mental and physical health care services Reduces out-of-pocket costs and expands delivery of health care benefits Veterans: Improves the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to help service members transition to civilian life through the Skillbridge and Troops to Teachers initiatives Improves the processing of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) disability claims Increases the participation of Veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracts The FY2024 NDAA Conference Report passed by a margin of 310-118 in the House, with 163 Democrats and 147 Republicans voting “Yea”. The bill now heads to President Biden for signing. U.S. Rep. Castor is a member of the powerful U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee and previously served on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and as Chair of the former U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Her district includes MacDill Air Force Base and is home to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), two of the Armed Forces’ most important military commands. MacDill Air Force Base’s 6th Air Refueling Wing is the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power mission with its essential functions of aerial refueling. The base’s mission is vital to keeping America safe and ready for any contingencies we may face as a nation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-kiggans-introduce-department-veterans-affairs,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Kiggans Introduce the Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act",2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced the Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act. Therapeutic medical physicists (TMPs) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work with radiation oncologists during radiation treatment planning and delivery. The Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act would eliminate the pay cap for TMPs, delivering higher quality care to veterans, improving TMP recruitment and retention, and lowering total costs for the VA. Over the past fifteen years, TMP salaries have increased nationwide as radiation therapy has become more sophisticated and more common. However, VA TMPs earn approximately $40,000 less than their private sector counterparts ― forcing the VA to overspend on contracted TMP services, which could be done more reliably in-house and at a much lower cost. “Therapeutic medical physicists play an instrumental role in supporting veterans receiving cancer care at VA facilities,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “If action is not taken to reverse the VA TMP workforce shortfall, veterans will not receive the world-class radiation therapy that they earned serving our country. Everyone stands to benefit from this bipartisan legislation ― our veterans, health providers, and the VA.” ""Our veterans deserve access to the best care possible when they visit VA medical centers,"" said Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA). ""Unfortunately, many of our veterans were exposed to harmful substances and toxins during their service and developed diseases and conditions that require radiation testing and treatment. By attracting qualified Therapeutic Medical Physicists to work in our veteran care networks, we can both ensure our former servicemembers are treated by the best and most qualified healthcare professionals while saving taxpayer dollars in the process. As a veteran and a geriatric nurse practitioner, I'm proud to join Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick on this bipartisan bill!” “The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) strongly endorses this legislation, which will help VA hospitals hire and retain therapeutic medical physicists. VA hospitals across the country have faced challenges in recruiting and retaining therapeutic medical physicists due to statutory limitations on how much they can pay. Therapeutic medical physicists are an integral part of a patient’s cancer care team, ensuring the precision and safety of radiation therapy. If signed into law, this bill will ensure our veterans have access to the highest quality cancer care. We commend Representatives Cherfilus-McCormick and Kiggans for their leadership on this important issue,” said Dr. Ehsan Samei, President of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. “The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) supports eliminating the pay cap for Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicists (TMPs). Radiation oncologists work closely with TMPs to ensure that complex cancer treatments using radiation are properly tailored for each patient. Our nation’s Veterans deserve the safest, most effective cancer care possible, and high-quality TMP support is critical to achieving that goal. ASTRO believes that this legislation will allow the VA to compete for and retain these important members of the radiation oncology treatment team,” said Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, Chair, ASTRO Board of Directors. The legislation is endorsed by the American Society for Radiation Oncology and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-ruiz-sewell-introduce-rpm-cost-sharing-elimination,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ruiz, Sewell Introduce RPM Cost Sharing Elimination Study Act of 2023",2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the RPM Cost Sharing Elimination Study Act of 2023. The RPM Cost Sharing Elimination Study Act of 2023 would eliminate the 20% copay for remote patient monitoring (RPM) for two years under Traditional Medicare and study the effects of the elimination on patient outcomes in home health, as well as potential cost savings to Medicare. The RPM program, which provides reimbursement for using technology to monitor patients between visits, was introduced by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2019. The RPM program mandates the use of a biosensor, often in conjunction with a smartphone app, to monitor patients between appointments. It has been used to monitor and treat diabetes, heart failure, cardiac disorders, and high blood pressure. “As a former home care executive, I know how valuable remote monitoring can be in equalizing care and giving seniors the tools they need to manage their health from home,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “My colleagues and I hope to identify what steps are needed to improve remote monitoring services and ensure better health outcomes for Medicare enrollees.” “As an emergency physician, my main priority has always been to protect and strengthen Medicare, especially for our seniors in rural and underserved communities where travel to medical facilities is a challenge,” said Dr. Ruiz (D-CA). “This bill would improve remote patient monitoring and allow us to save more lives by catching emergencies early on.” “With an increasing number of Americans relying on telehealth, we must ensure that these services are affordable and accessible to those who need them,” said Congresswoman Sewell (D-AL). “This legislation would eliminate cost sharing for remote patient monitoring under the Medicare program, allowing older Americans, especially those in rural areas, the ability to utilize RPM services without the concern for costs.” “The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) applauds Representatives Cherfilus-McCormick, Ruiz, and Sewell for introducing the RPM Cost Sharing Elimination Study Act of 2023,” said NAHC President William Dombi. “Remote physiological monitoring (RPM) is an important innovation that can help optimize care in the home of all kinds while improving patient and family outcomes and satisfaction. Home health agencies have been using RPM for years to support their patients, despite not being reimbursed for it. Unfortunately, RPM is underutilized across the entire Medicare program, partly as a result of outdated payment policies governing its use. By temporarily removing the co-pay for Medicare RPM services, an option open to providers during the COVID PHE, this legislation will remove a key financial barrier to RPM’s wider adoption. NAHC believes the broader implementation of RPM will enable more people to receive care where they want it – their own homes and communities. We look forward to working with these congressional champions on this and other efforts to bolster the care-in-the-home community.” “The National Rural Health Association applauds Representatives Cherfilus-McCormick, Ruiz, and Sewell for introducing The RPM Cost Sharing Elimination Study Act. Rural Americans must choose between enduring long travel times or paying unnecessary fees for simple and routine monitoring of their health conditions,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. “This legislation may serve as a substantial step toward improving rural health outcomes by encouraging wider use of Remote Patient Monitoring, which could eliminate travel times for rural patients and reduce the burden on healthcare providers.” The legislation is endorsed by the National Rural Health Association, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, and the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-national-defense-authorization-act-0,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on National Defense Authorization Act,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement following the House conference vote on H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “Passage of this NDAA once again signals the American people losing at the hands of the defense lobby. “While Democrats held the line and fought hard to strip out harmful attacks on minority communities and people of color, key fiscal accountability measures have been purposefully left out, leaving taxpayers holding the bag. “Let's be clear that adequate funding to ensure our national defense is entirely different from writing a blank check at the cost of Florida's taxpayers when, for the sixth year in a row, the Pentagon has failed their annual audit. “It is shameful that bipartisan amendments like mine – which would have helped usher true transparency and accountability as we fight to end wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars by defense contractors looking to line their own pockets at our expense – were rejected in this conference report. “I am, however, encouraged to see that the final version of the NDAA is moving forward without Republican led attacks on abortion care and reproductive freedom, and without hateful attacks on our LGBTQ+ community which would have included provisions to ban gender-affirming care, drag shows, and books featuring trans representation. “And I am encouraged to see bipartisan support for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to strengthen our ally’s defense against Russian aggression. “For our military servicemembers and their families, I am also grateful to see a 5.2% pay raise go to our folks in uniform and to support the loved ones who make their service possible.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3656,Rep. Frankel Votes to Condemn Antisemitism on College Campuses in Wake of Presidents’ Testimonies,2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,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-22), released the following statement after voting in favor of a resolution to condemn rising antisemitism on college campuses and the December 5th testimonies from university presidents who failed to clearly state that calls for the genocide of Jews constitute harassment and violate their institutions’ codes of conduct. “The rapid rise of antisemitism on college campuses across the country is unacceptable—students can’t learn if they don’t feel safe,” said Rep. Frankel. “The work of fighting back against this hate requires a full throttle effort from every level of society.” Earlier today, Rep. Frankel joined senior White House officials to discuss the implementation of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, a first of its kind, whole-of-society approach to tackle this hate. The strategy contains 100 specific actions to be taken by two dozen agencies, including the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR). In response to the scourge of antisemitism on college campuses, OCR will offer technical assistance to universities to better respond to antisemitic discrimination, and officials will conduct site visits to hear from students, faculty, and administrators. For the full text of the resolution, click here. To watch the testimonies of the presidents from Harvard, MIT, and UPenn before the House Education and Workforce Committee in full, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-announces-500k-federal-grant-connect-tampa-orlando,"Congressman Maxwell Frost Announces $500K Federal Grant to Connect Tampa, Orlando, and Miami",2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, FL – Today, U.S. Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) announced a $500,000 grant to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to help support the proposed Miami-Orlando-Tampa Sunshine Corridor, which would connect critical parts of South and Central Florida. The proposed Sunshine Corridor would include tracks for Brightline and SunRail along I-4 to connect Orlando International Airport to the I-Drive area, with Brightline expanding west with a station in Tampa. This funding would allow FDOT to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. “The I-4 corridor is one of Florida's most congested roadways, and federal funding to help expand rail service to this area would be a game-changer for our residents and visitors who want to enjoy all that Central and South Florida have to offer,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost. “Alleviating daily traffic, connecting our coasts to Central Florida, and investing in the future of transportation for our state is a win-win for Florida. This investment is the catalyst for future investments to make this corridor a reality and change the landscape of our car-centric region.” The funding comes to Florida as part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor ID program to drive future passenger rail expansion.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-hres-927,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on H.Res. 927,2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement on H.Res. 927. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “I continue to condemn any and all acts of hate and antisemitism on college campuses and in communities across our country and our world. Anti-semitic rhetoric and attacks are rising on college campuses, creating a hostile and unsafe environment for Jewish students. Each and every institution must be dedicated to ensuring the safety and protection of their Jewish students, period. Death threats against members of our Jewish community, and calls for the genocide of Jewish people are abhorrent, and I forcefully denounce them. “I am also disappointed by the way the three college presidents cited in this resolution handled the important hearing held by the Education Committee on antisemitism in college campuses. “But let’s be clear, as much as I wish this were not the case, this resolution does nothing to make our Jewish students safer on college campuses. “Week after week, I have called for our Republican-led Congress to do more than pass toothless resolutions that point fingers and do nothing to address the rising problem of antisemitism head on. Week after week, I have called for serious bipartisan legislation that will produce real results, instead of non-binding resolutions that only offer politically motivated messaging. “I voted against this resolution because we cannot allow House Republicans to weaponize the power of this institution to continue to bully and destroy places of higher learning under false claims of fighting antisemitism.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404412,U.S. Rep. Castor Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Health Bills to Lower Costs and Provide Transparency,2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) applauded House passage of bipartisan legislation to lower health care costs, improve transparency and expand access to care. “American families deserve better information on the actual cost of health services and prescription drugs so they can make informed decisions and keep more money in their wallets,” said Castor. “High costs often cause our neighbors to delay or forgo medical care, and nearly all of us have experienced the great uncertainty of waiting for a medical bill to see what we actually owe. Our bipartisan package out of my Energy & Commerce Committee requires hospitals to make public and display all standard charges for services and requires insurers to make public their negotiated in-network and out-of-network provider rates while improving the quality of care for all our neighbors.” In addition to greater transparency for the hospital services, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act requires greater price transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) so that employers and health plans can negotiate lower prices for employees. The bill also ensures that our Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers that serve families across the Tampa Bay area can continue their important missions to provide high quality, affordable health care. Local providers like Tampa Family Health Centers and Evara Health can use these resources to help address doctor shortages and deliver care to ensure no one falls through the cracks. As our nation continues to battle the opioid epidemic, it is imperative that Congress continues to tackle the ongoing opioid overdose crisis. Nearly 110,000 people died in the U.S. from drug overdoses in 2022, with almost 1 in 6 Americans aged 12 and older reporting having a substance use disorder. The Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act will reauthorize key parts of a landmark 2018 law, continuing existing initiatives (many of which expired in September) and creating new policies to help combat the opioid epidemic. This includes public health initiatives focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery for patients with substance use disorder and the expansion of Medicaid coverage for our neighbors battling with substance use disorder and other mental health conditions",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404413,U.S. Rep. Castor Statement President Zelenskyy Visit,2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill: “Vladimir Putin’s barbaric war in Ukraine has had profound implications for peace and stability across the globe and here at home. “Critical support from the United States for our Ukrainian allies is pivotal in enabling Ukraine to resist external threats, safeguard its people and defend the principles that underpin democracies around the world. “Abandoning our allies at this pivotal moment is a win for ruthless dictators and a significant loss for our national security. Republicans are emboldening Xi Jinping of China as well. I urge my Republican colleagues to support freedom-loving people across the globe and unite with Democrats and President Biden in supporting America’s national security, democracy and freedom for all people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404411,U.S. Rep. Castor Statement After Attending COP28,2023-12-11,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), former Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, released the following statement as the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in Dubai, UAE comes to a close: “It is crucial that the world move quickly to cleaner, cheaper energy to reduce pollution and help people avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. As I return from the COP28 climate conference, I am buoyed by pledges to triple renewable energy, double energy efficiency and boost the ability of communities to deal with extreme heat and weather events. I witnessed America’s leadership in action as Biden Administration representatives rallied countries across the globe to go farther and faster on clean energy. Personally, I conveyed a sense of urgency to act following the hottest summer on record in Florida and as neighbors grapple with the escalating costs of air conditioning and property insurance. “Our bipartisan House of Representatives delegation met with representatives of other countries and participated in public forums to share our views and collaborate. The trip provided an opportunity to demonstrate to our allies and adversaries that the U.S. is committed to President Biden’s target of slashing climate pollution by 50-52 percent by 2030. This goal aligns with serious risks in the recently released Fifth National Climate Assessment, which states that ‘the effects of human-caused climate change are already far-reaching and worsening across every region of the United States.’ “It was clear at COP28 that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — America’s historic climate and clean energy law — has bolstered U.S. climate leadership on the global stage and is now raising the ambition of other nations. Since it was signed by the President in August 2022, the IRA has spurred a wave of new clean energy and manufacturing projects and jobs around the country. In Florida alone, the historic climate law is projected to create more than 85,000 high-quality, good-paying jobs by the end of the decade. Representatives from Australia, Germany and other nations relayed their efforts to pursue similar policies aimed at driving clean energy innovation and economy-wide sustainability. “While I left feeling hopeful, I also saw fossil fuel lobbyists and OPEC nations flex their muscles to slow progress. We cannot allow oil and gas corporations to divert the world from a safer and healthier future. Leaders across government, the private sector, and the activist community — especially young people — are energized and doing amazing work to help us secure a livable planet. The work is far from over, especially in Congress. I look forward to advancing policies that expand lower-cost clean energy, cut pollution, protect our communities and improve our health.” Watch Castor's remarks ahead of COP28 here. Watch Castor’s remarks at the Atlantic Council’s Event on “Rewarding Environmental Performance in Trade” at COP28 here. Photos from COP28 can be viewed here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/wilson-warren-pressley-schumer-sanders-urge-dept-of-education-to-use-full-authority-expand-student-debt-cancellation-by-strengthening-proposed-rules-for-relief,"Wilson, Warren, Pressley, Schumer, Sanders Urge Dept. of Education to Use Full Authority, Expand Student Debt Cancellation by Strengthening Proposed Rules for Relief",2023-12-11,2023,2023-12,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 (D-FL), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA.), Ilhan Omar (D-MN.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging him to leverage his existing and full authority under the Higher Education Act to provide expanded student debt relief to working and middle-class borrowers. The letter comes in response to an initial draft of the proposed rule – and ahead of the final session of the negotiated rulemaking (""neg-reg"") process – that would limit student debt relief to four specific subsets of borrowers: (1) borrowers with outstanding federal student loan balances that exceed their original principal balance (2) borrowers who have paid their loans for over 20 or 25 years; (3) borrowers who are eligible for forgiveness but have not enrolled; and (4) borrowers who took on loans to attend unaccredited or predatory programs. Following the Supreme Court's June 2023 ruling that struck down President Biden's initial student debt relief plan, President Biden swiftly implemented two measures to expedite debt relief for a wide range of borrowers while simultaneously supporting them during the repayment process. The first was the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan that prevents balances from growing because of unpaid interest and lowers borrower monthly payments. The second was the initiation of a negotiated rulemaking procedure to establish an alternative debt forgiveness pathway for a number of working and middle-class borrowers, leveraging the authority granted under the Higher Education Act. ""This rulemaking process presents a significant opportunity to address pervasive problems within the student loan system by fortifying the authority to waive debt in order to ensure that postsecondary education becomes accessible to all students,"" wrote the lawmakers. ""We urge you to leverage this authority to its fullest extent, maximizing relief for the greatest number of borrowers facing financial hardship."" The Department of Education (the Department or ED) is currently in the midst of three sessions of this student debt neg-reg process. In advance of the second session, the Department issued an initial draft of the rule that would make four subsets of borrowers eligible for student debt relief: (1) borrowers with outstanding federal student loan balances that exceed their original principal balance due to interest; (2) borrowers with loans that have been in repayment for 25 years or more; (3) borrowers who are eligible for forgiveness under an enumerated repayment plan or loan program but have not enrolled; and (4) certain borrowers who took on loans to attend programs that provide insufficient financial value (including career-training programs with unreasonably high debt or low earnings for graduates, and programs at institutions with high loan default rates). ""While we commend the Biden Administration for taking key steps forward to fix the broken student loan system through the regulatory process, we believe that the regulatory text could be improved to better take advantage of the Department's full authority under the HEA to protect vulnerable borrowers. As we lend our support to your diligent efforts to provide debt relief through regulatory procedures, we urge you to consider several recommendations to strengthen the Department's debt relief rule,"" continued the lawmakers. The lawmakers proposed the following actions to strengthen the proposed student debt relief rule and provide more relief to vulnerable borrowers: Eliminate all debt that exceeds the original principal balance of the loan. Under the current rule, the ""Secretary may waive all or a portion of the amount by which a borrower's total outstanding balance exceeds the original principal balance of the loan."" The proposed rule should eliminate all debt that exceeds the initial principal due to runaway interest. Provide full cancellation, not just a waiver of excess interest, for borrowers who have repaid enough to cover their original principal. The current draft rule does not extend relief to borrowers who have diligently repaid enough to cover their original principal. The Department should provide full cancellation, not just a waiver of excess interest, for borrowers who have repaid enough to cover their original principal. Eliminate the sudden cliff that would give full relief to borrowers whose loans first entered repayment at least 25 years ago and no relief to similarly situated borrowers. As written, the proposed rule would only extend relief to borrowers who entered repayment 25 years ago or more by July 1, 2025, would qualify for relief. However, a borrower who hits the 25-year mark on July 2, 2025 would be ineligible for relief. ED should remove the cutoff date for relief for borrowers who have been in repayment for decades, and instead permit borrowers to become eligible for this relief on a rolling basis. Extend relief to additional categories of borrowers with financial hardship and create a catch-all category for unforeseen forms of hardship. In addition to the categories of hardship listed in ED's issue paper, ED should consider other income-based indicators of financial hardship, such as receipt of Earned Income Tax Credits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Supplemental Security Income — as well as other non-income-based indicators such as incarceration status or eviction history. The rule should also include a catch-all provision to capture other forms of hardship in the interest of justice and historically restrictive criteria for relief eligibility. Extend relief to borrowers who have been victims of student loan servicer misconduct or error. The Department should extend relief to borrowers who have been victims of student loan servicer misconduct or error, but the current draft text does not include protections for borrowers who have faced predatory loan servicer practices, such as forbearance steering, overcharging, or failing to enroll borrowers in IDR plans for which they were eligible, upon their request. Eliminate the need for borrowers to submit burdensome applications by basing eligibility for relief on information that ED already has or that it can acquire from other agencies. The rule should extend relief to borrowers automatically, without requiring them to submit applications. ED can largely base relief on information already in its possession through payment history databases, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications, and on information from other federal agencies. ""We are encouraged by the Department's critical efforts to provide student debt relief through negotiated rulemaking. However, we believe more must be done to improve the draft regulatory text to meet President Biden's objective of 'provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible.' The Biden Administration should take every opportunity to use the authority Congress has already given it to deliver on the promises made to student loan borrowers,"" concluded the lawmakers. Congresswoman Wilson has led the push for student debt relief in the House of Representatives: In March 2023, Ranking Members Wilson and Scott reintroduced the LOAN Act which would provide urgent relief for Americans holding student loans. Since the start of the Biden administration, she has chaired multiple committee hearings on federal student aid policies and student debt relief. Congresswoman Wilson has raised the issue of student loan debt with the administration and signed numerous letters calling on the President to cancel student debt. In April 2022, Congresswoman Wilson introduced the Student Loan Borrower Relief Act, which seeks to cap interest rates, stop unfair lending practices, expand public service loan forgiveness programs, and protect disabled borrowers. In previous years, she introduced the Student Loan Borrowers' Bill of Rights Act a bill that helps to extend more protections for borrowers and fight back against predatory lending practices. In 2014, Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) co-introduced the Relief for Underwater Student Borrowers Act. In addition to these efforts, Congresswoman Wilson introduced the Student Loan Borrowers' Bill of Rights. She has also coauthored the Student Loan Fairness Act and co-sponsored the Student Loan Relief Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404400,"Castor, Trahan Lead House Members Demanding Answers on Meta Profiting from Sexualized Content",2023-12-08,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Lori Trahan (MA-03), members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee, led a request to Meta demanding answers on investigative reports showing the company profiting from Instagram serving sexual and exploitative content to users with interests in content featuring children, including risqué photos and videos. “We are deeply concerned by reports indicating that Meta and Instagram steer users toward sexualized videos through associations with children and that the platform runs ads alongside such content without advertisers’ knowledge and in violation of their policies,” the lawmakers wrote. “This is highly disturbing and suggests that Meta’s algorithms serve the prurient interests of pedophiles, and that Meta is aware of the practice and chooses to maximize their profits while turning a blind eye to the harm caused by sexualizing children.” A recent investigation found that Instagram’s Reels feature will show videos promoting adult sexual content and subsequently branded advertisements to adult users that follow youth gymnasts, cheerleaders and influencers. The investigation follows a Wall Street Journal report from June that found Meta algorithms help form large communities of users with interests in pedophilic content, which the company struggles to remove from its services. “Meta’s inefficiency and selectivity in responding to these concerns has again been demonstrated by the Journal, which found that Meta’s content moderation contractors are not being adequately trained, that enforcement actions against objectionable groups and accounts are often not effective, and that Meta’s own decisions about taking down groups and accounts related to child sexual abuse are “routinely inexplicable,” the lawmakers continued. Trahan and Castor have consistently pushed for stronger protections for users, particularly children and younger users, on social media platforms. In 2021, they spearheaded the congressional effort to stop Meta’s plans to create an Instagram for Kids and pressed Facebook on research suggesting the company was targeting advertisements to teens based on young users’ browsing history and preferences. In 2022, the lawmakers demanded answers from Meta on reports that the company’s algorithm was pushing eating disorder content to children and teens. The lawmakers have also introduced multiple bills to update the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and implement comprehensive transparency requirements from social media companies. The letter sent today was signed by Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Adam B. Schiff (CA-30), Sean Casten (IL-06), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). The lawmakers requested answers from Meta to the following by December 22nd: 1. What safety assessments were performed on the Reels feature of Instagram before it was released? a. Did any of those assessments focus on risks related to CSAM, sexualized content, child safety or brand safety? b. Were any of those assessments performed by independent third parties? c. What recommendations were made to increase the safety of the Reels feature, and were those recommendations adopted or accepted by Meta’s leadership? If not, for what reason were those recommendations not accepted? 2. Of the actions detailed in the recent blog post entitled “Our Work to Fight Online Predators,”10: a. Which of them were explored or proposed before the introduction of Reels or before the recent press stories highlighting Instagram’s child safety failures? b. Why was Reels launched without these child safety measures in place? 3. By Meta’s own estimates in the post, the new enforcement measures have resulted in over 4 million more reels actioned per month, and 16,000 additional groups and 250,000 additional devices actioned against since the summer. In addition, Meta claims that 500,000 additional accounts were disabled in August 2023 for violating child sexual exploitation policies. a. How long were the newly disabled accounts, groups, and devices operating on Instagram until the enforcement actions were taken? b. By Meta’s own estimates, how many reels should or would have been taken down under the new automated enforcement policies since the introduction of the Reels feature? 4. In the blog post, Meta mentioned that it “fixed technical issues, including an issue that unexpectedly closed user reports.” The Journal’s reporting also mentioned that the issue prevented “a substantial portion of user reports from being processed.” a. How long was the bug in place? b. When did Meta first detect this bug? How long did Meta take to fix the issue after it was detected? c. How many reports were closed by this bug? What percentage of total reports were closed by the bug? d. How many of them related to adult content or child sexual abuse? e. Has Meta reopened those users' reports, and resumed acting on them? 5. Why do Instagram’s algorithms promote sexualized content to accounts that have not demonstrated an interest in such content, as the Journal’s reporting showed? a. What topics do Instagram’s algorithms associate with sexualized content? b. Do Instagram’s algorithms associate content related to children with sexualized content or promote sexualized content alongside content related to children, and if so, why did Meta not prevent that from happening? c. Has Meta considered any technical measures to address the promotion of sexualized content on Instagram, and, if so, which of those measures have been adopted? 6. Does Meta enforce its policy banning adult content in ads on Instagram? a. If so, how many ads on Instagram were rejected or not shown by Meta because of adult content? b. How many ads were reported on Instagram because they contained adult content? 7. Does Meta respect the restrictions advertisers impose on the placement of their advertising? a. Does Meta track violations of such restrictions? b. How many times was an ad shown next to, preceding, or following, adult content on Instagram in violation of the advertiser’s restriction? c. What transparency do advertisers on Meta have regarding the content that their ads are shown alongside? Do advertisers have access to a random sample of content that their ads were used to monetize?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-wasserman-schultz-lead-call-desantis-end-florida-book,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Wasserman Schultz Lead Call for DeSantis to End Florida Book Bans",2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,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, U.S. Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led fellow Florida Democrats in calling on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to end his administration’s campaign of censorship in Florida’s schools, citing evidence that book bans negatively impact LGBTQI+ and Black students. Additionally, this letter requests that Governor DeSantis substantively engage with educators, librarians, and parents to protect students’ rights to an inclusive, and comprehensive education. The lead authors were joined by a majority of the Florida Democratic Delegation, including Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Darren Soto (FL-09). This letter has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, PEN America, the National Center for Transgender Equality, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), the Interfaith Alliance, and the American Civil Liberties Union. According to PENAmerica, Florida became the national leader in banned books in the 2022-2023 school year, with a 40% increase in banned or challenged titles compared to the 2021-2022 school year. This concerning statistic is accompanied by the fact that many of these stories feature LGBTQ+ or Black characters. Unfortunately, this censorship represents a direct attack on these communities that ultimately impacts the well-being of Florida’s underrepresented students. “The dangerous practice of banning books and silencing educators is not new and has always been used by those who want to roll back progress, sow fear and division, hide important truths, and foment moral panic. And banning books because they contain LGBTQ+ content or censoring educators and students in the classroom is a shameful attempt to silence LGBTQ+ stories and further isolate LGBTQ+ kids. There is no freedom in banned books, and all students ‒ no matter their background, sexual orientation, or gender identity ‒ deserve the freedom to feel safe and welcomed in schools and libraries,” said David Stacy, Human Rights Campaign Vice President for Government Affairs. “Children deserve to see themselves in books, and to have access to a diversity of views and expressions. By making knowledge and ideas available via a wide range of books, school libraries serve the educational process. PEN America applauds Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick and Wasserman Schultz’s leadership in standing up for the freedom to read in Florida,"" said Katie Blankenship, Director of PEN America Florida. ""The increasing prevalence of book bans, and the commensurate surge in legislative attempts to limit the teaching of race, gender, American history, and LGBTQI+ identities, is eroding the fundamental freedom for students to read, learn, and think critically,” said Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “These bans are often implemented without considering the harm they will cause to students, families, and educators. Such actions will only further alienate transgender youth from their peers and send the harmful message that transgender students and students of color don’t exist and don’t belong. In sending this message, we’re continuing to damage the mental health of an already vulnerable group such as transgender youth, who are more likely to experience suicidality, especially because of legislative attacks such as these. Everyone should have the freedom to see their identities and experiences reflected in the stories they read and in the lessons they’re taught in schools, including transgender children. Sweeping censorship will only continue to foster misunderstanding about transgender people among the public. By removing LGBTQI+ content from school curriculum and banning books containing LGBTQI+ identities & experiences, we are depriving future generations of a robust education informed by diverse perspectives and experiences."" “According to GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey, 82% of LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling unsafe in school, and book bans are only causing more harm,” said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN. “Inclusive school curriculum – including access to books about LGBTQ+ people – can act as a window for young people into the diverse world around them, as well as a mirror to reflect their own experiences and identities. As adults, it is our job to model the future for the next generation, and our youth deserve to grow up in a society that celebrates – not limits – diversity.” “Book bans are being used by religious extremists in Florida to erase those who look, believe, or love differently than they do,” said Rev. Dr. Sharon Harris-Ewing, steering committee member of the Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida. “Schools and libraries are supposed to be spaces where young people are introduced to democratic ideals and the diverse points of view that shape our country. Censoring the stories of people from minority faiths, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities is antithetical to fulfilling America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights for all. It is time to end this campaign of fear that violates our First Amendment freedoms and weaponizes faith to erase history and diverse viewpoints.” “Gov. DeSantis has unleashed an army of book banners who claim they are protecting freedom and the rights of parents. The reality is that they bully school and library boards to deny the rights of parents who want an honest education for their children, free of ideologically inspired censorship,” said Howard Simon, Interim Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3119,"Wasserman Schultz, Cherfilus-McCormick Lead Call for DeSantis to End Florida Book Bans",2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) led fellow Florida Democrats in calling on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to end his administration’s campaign of censorship in Florida’s schools, citing evidence that book bans negatively impact LGBTQI+ and Black students. Additionally, this letter requests that Governor DeSantis substantively engage with educators, librarians, and parents to protect students’ rights to an inclusive, and comprehensive education. According to PENAmerica, Florida became the national leader in banned books in the 2022-2023 school year, with a 40% increase in banned or challenged titles compared to the 2021-2022 school year. This concerning statistic is accompanied by the fact that many of these stories feature LGBTQ+ or Black characters. Unfortunately, this censorship represents a direct attack on these communities that ultimately impacts the wellbeing of Florida’s underrepresented students. “The dangerous practice of banning books and silencing educators is not new and has always been used by those who want to roll back progress, sow fear and division, hide important truths, and foment moral panic. And banning books because they contain LGBTQ+ content or censoring educators and students in the classroom is a shameful attempt to silence LGBTQ+ stories and further isolate LGBTQ+ kids. There is no freedom in banned books, and all students -- no matter their background, sexual orientation, or gender identity -- deserve the freedom to feel safe and welcomed in schools and libraries,” said David Stacy, Human Rights Campaign Vice President for Government Affairs. The lead authors were joined by a majority of the Florida Democratic Delegation, including Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Darren Soto (FL-09). This letter has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, PEN America, the National Center for Transgender Equality, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), the Interfaith Alliance, and the American Civil Liberties Union. “Children deserve to see themselves in books, and to have access to a diversity of views and expressions. By making knowledge and ideas available via a wide range of books, school libraries serve the educational process. PEN America applauds Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Cherfilus-McCormick’s leadership in standing up for the freedom to read in Florida,"" said Katie Blankenship, Director of PEN America Florida. ""The increasing prevalence of book bans, and thecommensurate surge in legislative attempts to limit the teaching of race, gender, American history, and LGBTQI+ identities, is eroding the fundamental freedom for students to read, learn, and think critically,” said Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “These bans are often implemented without considering the harm they will cause to students, families, and educators. Such actions will only further alienate transgender youth from their peers and send the harmful message that transgender students and students of color don’t exist and don’t belong. In sending this message,we’re continuing to damage the mental health of an already vulnerable group such as transgender youth, who are more likely to experience suicidality, especiallybecause of legislative attacks such as these. Everyone should have the freedom to see their identities and experiences reflected in the stories they read and in the lessons they’re taught in schools, including transgender children. Sweeping censorship will only continue to foster misunderstanding about transgender people among the public. By removing LGBTQI+ content from school curriculum and banning books containing LGBTQI+ identities & experiences, we are depriving future generations of a robust education informed by diverse perspectives and experiences."" “According to GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey, 82% of LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling unsafe in school, and book bans are only causing more harm,” said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN. “Inclusive school curriculum – including access to books about LGBTQ+ people – can act as a window for young people into the diverse world around them, as well as a mirror to reflect their own experiences and identities. As adults, it is our job to model the future for the next generation, and our youth deserve to grow up in a society that celebrates – not limits – diversity.” “Book bans are being used by religious extremists in Florida to erase those who look, believe, or love differently than they do,” said Rev. Dr. Sharon Harris-Ewing, steering committee member of the Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida. “Schools and libraries are supposed to be spaces where young people are introduced to democratic ideals and the diverse points of view that shape our country. Censoring the stories of people from minority faiths, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities is antithetical to fulfilling America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights for all. It is time to end this campaign of fear that violates our First Amendment freedoms and weaponizes faith to erase history and diverse viewpoints.” “Gov. DeSantis has unleashed an army of book banners who claim they are protecting freedom and the rights of parents. The reality is that they bully school and library boards to deny the rights of parents who want an honest education for their children, free of ideologically inspired censorship,” said Howard Simon, Interim Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. The full text of the letter can be found below. Dear Governor DeSantis: We write to share our grave concern regarding the sharp uptick of banned and challenged books across the state of Florida, and the alarming hostility of your administration toward schools, libraries and the professionals who operate them for our constituents. These combined actions, if left unchecked, will foment a noxious climate of repression and marginalization that degrades learning, understanding and undermines all Floridians’ basic freedoms. The American Library Association recently reported that 2,571 unique titles were banned or challenged last year in the United States, marking a 40 percent increase from 2021.[1] Even more worrisome is the targeted attack on stories written by and about people of color and LGBTQI+ individuals, with 30 percent of book bans last school year featuring stories about race and 26 percent of stories featuring LGBTQI+ themes.[2] As a result of your signing House Bills 1467 and 1069 into law, Florida is now the national leader in banned books.[3] Given that reality, and combined with your administration’s recent decision to cut ties with the American Library Association[4], we strongly urge you to end this campaign of censorship in schools and substantively engage with educators, librarians, and parents to protect our students’ rights to an inclusive, comprehensive education. The censorship of books not only poses a threat to our children’s well-rounded quality education, but it also infringes on their First Amendment rights. In Board of Education v. Pico, a case in which New York school board members attempted to strip books such as Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. from the Island Trees Union Free School District, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that “First Amendment rights, applied in the light of the special characteristics of the school environment, are available to… students.”[5] The Court also opined that the First Amendment may “impose… limitations upon a local school board’s exercise of its discretion to remove books from high school and junior high school libraries,”[6] and suggested that books may not be removed from school libraries simply because a school board disagrees with its content. Despite these considerations, you have signed legislation and enabled local efforts to censor an unprecedented number of books, leaving schools with fewer resources that are less reflective of our communities. As you are likely aware, the banning of books that feature LGBTQI+ characters, themes, and stories deprives students of essential learning opportunities, denies them access to diverse perspectives, and fosters a culture of discrimination and exclusion. Indeed, legislative attacks against this community have proven to be devastating to the educational success and mental health of our LGBTQI+ youth. As part of their 2023 survey, The Trevor Project reported that nearly two in three LGBTQI+ young people said that hearing about potential laws banning discussions of LGBTQI+ individuals at school made their mental health “a lot worse.”[7] In the 2021 GLSEN National School Climate Survey, nearly 70 percent of LGBTQI+ youth felt unsafe in their school environment, with almost one in three LGBTQI+ students missing at least one day of school in the past month because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable.[8] Just last year, The Trevor Project also found that 45 percent of LGBTQI+ youth in Florida seriously considered suicide in 2022, with 16 percent of individuals actually attempting to take their life.[9] Instead of addressing these concerns, your administration has continued to demonize the LGBTQ+ community by falsely equating stories that uplift LGBTQI+ youth with child predation. Similarly harmful impacts can be expected with the erasure of stories that discuss and tackle racism or explore the experiences of various communities of color or under-represented voices. For instance, the alarming dearth of Black voices and images in children’s literature has long been a publishing and academic blemish,[10] and your actions will only compound the educational adversity that these students of color already confront. It is our firm belief that the banning of books because they contain LGBTQI+ content, or involve issues of race or ethnicity, is an explicit attempt to silence the stories of communities that already face an onslaught of legislative attacks, especially in Florida. As Governor, it is your responsibility to ensure Florida’s classrooms remain bastions of growth and inclusivity, rather than sanctuaries of division and hatred. Ultimately, it is crucial that you and your administration acknowledge the value of diverse stories in helping forge students who are welcoming and accepting of individuals regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404399,"Reps. Castor, DelBene Introduce Bill to Boost Domestic Manufacturers, Tackle Climate Change",2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Ami Bera (CA-06), and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Brian Schatz (HI) and Martin Heinrich (NM) introduced legislation to make American companies more competitive in the global marketplace and address major sources of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions by creating a carbon border adjustment. American manufacturers are less carbon-intensive than most foreign competitors. The U.S. economy is almost 50 percent less carbon-intensive than the global average. The Chinese economy is over three times as carbon-intensive as the U.S., and India is nearly four times as carbon-intensive. The Clean Competition Act would impose a carbon border adjustment on energy-intensive imports while incentivizing decarbonization of domestic manufacturing. Starting in 2025, the adjustment would apply to energy-intensive industries, including fossil fuels, refined petroleum products, petrochemicals, fertilizer, hydrogen, adipic acid, cement, iron and steel, aluminum, glass, pulp and paper, and ethanol. In 2027, it would be expanded to include imported finished goods that meet certain weight or value thresholds, such as cars. The fee would be based on the weight of a particular good, beginning at $55 per ton, and increasing over time. 75 percent of revenues raised would fund grants to help domestic industries invest in the new technologies necessary to reduce their carbon footprints. The remaining 25 percent would be used by the State Department to help developing countries decarbonize. “As we work to reduce climate pollution and boost American jobs, we need a renewed focus on leveling the playing field for American goods and products that compete against products from countries that pollute and use unfair advantages. The Clean Competition Act is an important complement to the new wave of American manufacturing jobs boosted by the historic Inflation Reduction Act. American industries are leveraging a wide range of technologies to drive down industrial air pollution and achieve greater sustainability,” said Castor. “Our Clean Competition Act will help reward these innovations, strengthen America’s industrial base, and protect us from unfair competition in the global marketplace while ensuring that China and other nations are doing their part to reduce pollution and environmental impacts.” “For too long, American industries producing goods in a less carbon-intensive way have been undercut by foreign competitors with dirtier production processes. Washington saw this firsthand with the closure of the Intalco aluminum smelter due to Chinese overproduction, which resulted in the loss of over 700 good-paying union jobs. To address the climate crisis while defending American industries, the Clean Competition Act would level the playing field by imposing a fee on imports from high-carbon producers,” said DelBene. “A carbon fee would incentivize industries from around the world to prioritize decarbonization and create a level playing field for American workers in these sectors.” “American manufacturers doing the right thing on climate are often at a disadvantage compared to high-polluting foreign competitors,” said Whitehouse. “Our Clean Competition Act would give domestic companies a step up in the global marketplace while lowering carbon emissions at home and abroad, and ultimately steering the planet toward climate safety. There is bipartisan momentum for a carbon border adjustment in the Senate – this a solution endorsed by industry and experts across the political spectrum.” “The Clean Competition Act is a smart use of trade policy that would advance both our climate and economic agenda by incentivizing domestic energy-intensive industries to become more efficient and pushing for manufacturers overseas to do the same,” said Beyer. “I greatly appreciate the work of Rep. DelBene and Sen. Whitehouse on this important bill and look forward to advancing it through the legislative process.” “American manufacturers often find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to prioritizing environmentally responsible practices in comparison to competitors in other countries with less environmentally friendly approaches,” said Bera. “The Clean Competition Act will help level the playing field for American companies with our trading partners while addressing the urgent threat of climate change. By introducing a carbon border adjustment that targets imports from the world’s dirtiest polluters, we are incentivizing the transition of heavy industry towards the adoption of cleaner and more energy efficient practices and helping re-invest in American clean manufacturing here at home.” “Manufacturing accounts for nearly one-quarter of U.S. climate pollution and is a rapidly growing sector globally. Reducing climate pollution is vital for a stable climate and healthy, thriving communities. The Clean Competition Act can create a race to the top among global competitors as part of a larger effort to move toward a low-carbon economy, while opening a dialogue about additional efforts needed to address local pollution impacts on frontline communities,” said Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President for Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund. The full text of the legislation can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-castro-torres-goldman-lead-introduction-americas,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Castro, Torres, Goldman Lead Introduction of Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act to Curb U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Latin America and Caribbean",2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,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, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) led more than a dozen of their colleagues to introduce the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act, legislation that would mobilize resources across the federal government to disrupt firearms trafficking from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean and implement stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight for U.S. arms exports. “Weapons trafficking by way of the United States is a major contributor to Haiti’s growing gang crisis and the current instability that plagues the country,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Co-Chair of the Haiti Caucus. “The implementation of stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight mechanisms for U.S. arms exports would address this regional issue and stop guns from getting into the hands of dangerous criminals.” “Nearly four years ago, the Trump administration worked with the National Rifle Association to loosen gun export regulations and unleash a flood of American-made guns on the Western Hemisphere. As we work with our allies and partners to address shared regional challenges, including forced migration and drug trafficking, Congress needs to address the role of U.S. gun exports in driving violence and instability abroad. The ARMAS Act will reestablish strong oversight of American gun exports, bring federal agencies together to disrupt arms trafficking, and build safer communities for families in the United States and in the Western Hemisphere,” said Ranking Member Joaquin Castro. “The American people deserve transparency when it comes to American-made guns being sent abroad. There must be greater Congressional oversight over dangerous firearms exports. I have long pushed for policies to address firearms trafficking and its deadly and often destabilizing impacts on regions like the Northern Triangle. The ARMAS Act – which includes my legislation to crack down on deadly firearms exports – provides much-needed transparency and accountability mechanisms. This legislation will disrupt firearms trafficking across the Western Hemisphere and bolster both America's national security and the security of our neighbors.” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. ""Transnational criminal organizations, especially drug cartels, rely on American-made guns to control their human trafficking and drug smuggling operations by force,"" said Congressman Dan Goldman. ""We must take every avenue possible to ensure that American weapons do not get into the hands of the cartels, who use them to threaten the safety and prosperity of the entire Western Hemisphere. It's incumbent upon American leadership and a strong federal response to keep weapons of war out of the hands of the cartels. The ARMAS Act is a key component of that much-needed response."" In 2020, the Trump administration transferred authority over small arms exports from the State Department to the Commerce Department, weakening export oversight in a move lauded by the National Rifle Association as allowing gun manufacturers to “run more competitively among the global markets.” The transfer has led to skyrocketing arms sales, with a 30 percent annual increase in U.S. arms exports globally and an 82 percent increase in U.S. handgun exports to Latin America and the Caribbean. Across the Western Hemisphere, public reporting has shown that firearms from the United States contribute substantially to political suppression, gang violence, and human rights violations. According to data from the Government Accountability Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S.-sourced firearms accounted for 75 percent of firearms recovered from the Dominican Republic and 70 percent from Mexico. Most recently, U.S. guns were connected to the murder and kidnapping of four American citizens in the border town of Matamoros, Mexico. The ARMAS Act will address these challenges by: Transferring small arms authority from the Commerce Department and back to the State Department to ensure greater accountability and transparency. Requiring the development of a comprehensive interagency strategy and program, led by the State Department, to disrupt arms trafficking and diversion of exported firearms and create a certification requirement for arm sales end-users. Providing for congressional notification, review, and oversight of certain small arms exports regulated by the State Department. Requiring the submission of an annual report by the State Department and relevant agencies that will allow Congress to understand the challenges and successes of current efforts to address illegal arms trafficking and inform future strategies. Prohibiting the Commerce Department from promoting small arm sales globally throughout the transfer of authority period. “Guns from the U.S. are being used by violent groups in Latin America and the Caribbean to commit atrocities and destabilize the region. The ARMAS Act would increase accountability and transparency in arms exports. It includes several crucial provisions that gun violence advocates and survivors have identified as key to being crucial to reducing the illegal flow of US guns to other countries. I commend Rep. Castro’s leadership on this issue. If passed, the ARMAS Act would undoubtedly save lives.” said Nick Wilson, senior director for Gun Violence Prevention at the Center for American Progress. “A gun purchased in the United States is as likely to be used to murder someone in Mexico and other nations of Latin America as in the United States itself. The ARMAS Act will finally move the federal government to concretely address the overwhelming impacts of the U.S. gun market south of the border,"" said John Lindsay-Poland, who coordinates Stop US Arms to Mexico, a project of Global Exchange. “March For Our Lives is pleased to support the ARMAS Act, and we’re encouraged by this effort to put safety and human life over gun manufacturers profits,” said Elena Perez, Senior Policy Associate of March For Our Lives. “Nearly three-quarters of weapons recovered from Mexico and the Dominican Republic originated from the United States and it’s time we take accountability for our actions and demand higher standards from the gun industry. The trafficking of firearms from the United States is a pervasive problem, and one that demands our attention. We have a responsibility to save lives, not only within our borders but also by addressing how American gun culture and the American gun industry’s loose business practices bleed across our borders. It's time to hold the gun lobby accountable and tighten our laws.” The ARMAS Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-25), Dina Titus (NV-01), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesús G. “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), and Seth Magaziner (RI-02), and endorsed by the Center for American Progress, Newtown Action Alliance, March for Our Lives, Stop U.S. Arms to Mexico (a project of Global Exchange), Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), and Global Action on Gun Violence.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-applauds-us-house-passage-home-act,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Applauds U.S. House Passage of the HOME Act,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,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, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the HOME Act, which includes her bill, the Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act. The Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act, introduced by Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick in January 2023, would support veterans experiencing homelessness by providing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) permanent flexibility to provide housing, transportation, and communication devices to those in need. These flexibilities — which allowed VA to permanently house over 40,000 veterans — ended due to the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. “Today’s passage puts us one step closer to ensuring that the phrase 'homeless veteran' is one of the past. My bipartisan legislation will get veterans off the street and help put a roof over their heads,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “We cannot leave these brave men and women behind on the very soil they volunteered to protect and defend. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and get it to President Biden as soon as possible. Veterans experiencing homelessness cannot wait any longer.” “I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick's Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act and am very glad to see it pass the House with strong bipartisan support,” said Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano. “VA recently announced that it housed over 40,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in 2022, surpassing its goal of housing 38,000 veterans. That tremendous accomplishment can be directly attributed to the authorities Congress put in place during the pandemic. Re-instituting these efforts will continue the work to transition veterans out of homelessness successfully with access to basic resources like food, clothing, and transportation.” The Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act has been endorsed by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV), and Minority Veterans of America (MVA).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-hres-894,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on H.Res. 894,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement after House passage of H.Res. 894, a Republican-led resolution condemning and denouncing the drastic rise in antisemitism in the United States and around the world, that falsely equated anti-Zionism with antisemitism. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “I have and always will continue to strongly condemn antisemitism in all shapes and forms in Florida, across our nation, and across the world, which is why I voted “yes” to support our Jewish brothers, sisters, and siblings who are fearfully watching antisemitism rise in our country. “But I disagree with the statement in this resolution that “anti-Zionism is antisemitism” and I do not believe that being critical of Israel’s actions is inherently anti-semitic. The intent of moving this resolution forward by the Republican majority was to undermine Democrats, not support the Jewish community, by including an unnecessary and divisive line equating anti-Zionism to antisemitism. “While I voted yes in order to send a clear message to my community that I stand against antisemitism, the intent of the author of the resolution was to attack and silence any criticism of the Israeli government under the guise of condemning antisemitism while taking advantage of the pain and suffering of the Jewish community. “Voicing criticisms of Zionism, and critiquing the actions of the Israeli government is not inherently antisemitic. By including this unnecessary line in the resolution, the Republican majority is using the pain and suffering of the ongoing war to score points. It's a despicable tactic that only endangers Jewish communities across the country, takes advantage of Palestinian suffering, and only seeks to divide us at a time where we need to be united to achieve peace and end hate.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/florida-leads-nation-book-bans-congressman-maxwell-frost-introduces-bill-fight,"As Florida Leads Nation in Book Bans, Congressman Maxwell Frost Introduces Bill to Fight Bans and Support Educators",2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Watch the Press Conference Here WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), joined by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) and Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), introduced the Fight Book Bans Act, legislation aimed at taking a stand against censorship by giving school districts the funding they need to oppose challenges to educational and library materials that has kept over 3,000 books off school bookshelves in the last year. Frost, who stood alongside Members of Congress from Texas who are fighting off similar attacks on education, as well as leaders from PEN America, the Interfaith Alliance, and Color of Change, underscored that intimidating state laws have forced school districts across the nation to pull thousands of important books from classrooms and libraries, whether districts want to or not, and without regard for the wishes of most parents and students. The Fight Book Bans Act, which already has the support of 50 members of Congress, would enable the Department of Education to provide grants to school districts to cover expenses they might have incurred while they are fighting off a bad book ban, including the cost of retaining legal representation, the cost of traveling to hearings on the bans, and the logistics for those hearings, as well as the cost of obtaining expert research and advice while trying to fight off a book ban. The legislation would address the problem facing thousands of school districts that cannot fight book bans because the costs incurred are beyond their budgets. The Department of Ed would be able to provide up to $100,000 for a school district with the total appropriations capped at $15 million over five years. “Book bans in Florida and in states across the nation are a direct attack on our freedoms and liberties everywhere. As my home state shamefully leads the country in book bans, we cannot let this censorship and dismantling of our education system go unchecked,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “What we are seeing in Florida and states like Texas, Utah, and Missouri are loud and clear attempts by far-right conservative leaders to silence and erase our Black, brown, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ communities. The Fight Book Bans Act takes a stand against censorship to firmly stand on the side of history, education, our students, teachers, and schools who don’t deserve to suffer the consequences of radical politics in the classroom. This is about protecting our libraries and protecting truth and history.” “America is in the middle of an escalating book ban crisis that requires our full attention and a strong response,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “Sinister campaigns to remove books from our schools and libraries are a hallmark of authoritarian and fascist regimes. Many books are being targeted for censorship these days simply because they address the historical realities of racism and white supremacy or address LGBTQ+ issues. I’m proud to join Rep. Frost to introduce this critical legislation, which will provide much-needed resources to the freedom-loving teachers, school librarians and school administrators working to keep books on our shelves.” “Book bans stain the integrity of our educational institutions, contradicting the very principles of freedom our nation upholds. In Florida alone, over 1,000 books have been banned, disproportionately targeting works by Black or LGBTQI+ authors. As a former teacher and principal, I can only imagine the struggle current school teachers and librarians must be facing when trying to educate our children in light of attempts by our state to shove right-wing propaganda down our children’s throats,” said Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. “If true freedom is to prevail in Florida and beyond, we must eradicate the censorship imposed by book bans. That’s why I’m proud to join Congressman Maxwell Frost to fight back against authoritarian tactics to ban books by empowering our schools to challenge autocratic book bans. This fight transcends politics; it’s about the future of our nation and whether we stand with censorship or champion freedom. I for one, will always champion freedom.” “Banning books in schools is not only unpopular; it’s expensive. As school districts around the country divert resources to address widespread efforts to curtail students’ freedom to read, it is once again students who ultimately suffer the most. PEN America thanks Congressman Frost, Congressman Raskin, and Congresswoman Wilson for their leadership in introducing the Fight Book Bans Act, which will help school districts as they work to get school library books back on the shelves,” said Laura Schroeder, Congressional Affairs Lead at PEN America. “Banning books in public schools is a dangerous infringement on students’ First Amendment right to access information,” said Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union. “Robust and diverse school libraries are critical to ensuring that all students, regardless of their family’s income, education, race, or geographic location, have free and open access to the vast world of information each book contains. We thank Rep. Frost for working to ensure that schools have the resources they need to fight censorship and preserve the freedom to read.” “Access to diverse books and critical ideas are vital to the nation’s history as a multicultural democracy,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “The Fight Book Bans Act would help school districts fight back against book ban attempts and defend diversity in literature for students. We thank Congressman Frost for his leadership on this issue.” “Christian nationalists have launched a coordinated campaign to censor our classrooms, demonize teachers, and erase diverse perspectives – all in the name of their extreme religious views,” said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. “People of faith across the country hold the freedoms of religion and expression to be sacred and will not tolerate the abuse of faith to justify discrimination and censorship. With the Fight Book Bans Act, Representatives Frost, Raskin, and Wilson are taking a strong stand to protect American schools from censorship and create healthy learning environments for our teachers and children. We are grateful for their leadership.” “The Fight Book Bans Act is a step towards protecting our nation’s history. Our elected officials owe the children of their state the best education possible. A great education is an inclusive, truthful and well-rounded one that does not exclude Black, hispanic, religious or LGTBQ+ books and courses due to bigotry. LGBTQ communities and young students benefit greatly from the freedom to explore their identities and others through literature,” says Brandon Tucker, Senior Policy Director of Federal Policy, Color Of Change. “By supporting the Fight Book Bans Act, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access materials that promote acceptance, understanding, and personal growth.” “Book bans are an affront to students’ rights. We deserve to make decisions regarding our education, not politicians who seek to undermine our liberty to learn,” said Cameron Samuels, Executive Director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT). “Censorship dictates our understanding of history and what is acceptable, reinforcing an unjust status quo and impacting our futures. Our nation's youngest generation must maintain the freedom to explore our curiosities, follow our passions, and discover ourselves through the lens of literature. Book bans won’t help students succeed, but empowering students and facilitating constructive collaboration between families and educators will cultivate the future our youth deserve.” The Fight Books Bans Act has been endorsed by PEN America, ACLU National, American Library Association, Interfaith Alliance, The Trevor Project, Catholics for Choice, Color of Change, National Urban League, UnidosUS, Equality Florida, Florida Freedom to Read Project, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), and NAACP DC. The legislation has been cosponsored by Reps. Adams (NC-12), Aguilar (CA-33), Bera (CA-06), Blumenauer (OR-03), Bowman (NY-16), Brown (OH-11), Carson (IN-07), Casar (TX-35), Casten (IL-06), Castor (FL-14), Castro (TX-20), Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Clarke (NY-09), Crockett (TX-30), Frankel (FL-22), Garcia (CA-42), Goldman (NY-10), Horsford (NV-04), Ivey (MD-04), Jackson Lee (TX-18), Jacobs (CA-51), Johnson (GA-04), Khanna (CA-17), Lee (CA-12), Lee (PA-12), Moskowitz (FL-23), Norton (DC), Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Peters (CA-50), Pettersen (CO-7), Pocan (WI-02), Porter (CA-47), Pressley (MA-07), Ramirez (IL-03), Schakowsky (IL-9), Sewell (AL-07), Soto (FL-9), Stansbury (NM-01), Takano (CA-39), Thanedar (MI-13), Titus (NV-01), Tlaib (MI-12), Tokuda (HI-02), Velázquez (NY-07), Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Williams (GA-05).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3117,"Wasserman Schultz, Carter, Schrier, Miller-Meeks Introduce Social Media Child Safety Bill",2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Earl “Buddy” Carter (GA-01),Kim Schrier (WA-08), andMariannette Miller-Meeks(IA-01) announced the introduction of Sammy’s Law, critical child safety legislation which would help parents be better informed about a child’s dangerous interactions on social media, and fills in critical access and awareness gaps when children face problems on popular platforms. Watch the entire press conference here. The bill is named afterSammy Chapman, who family and friends described as a sweet, funny, curious A-Student. His parents worked hard to keep him away from danger but had no idea drug dealers stalked children via social media. On February 7, 2021, a seller reached out to Sammy on social media and delivered drugs to him at home, which tragically, were poisoned with a lethal dose of the opioid fentanyl. Sammy, aged 16, lost his life that day. “All parents worry about what their child is seeing or receiving on social media. As the mother of three children who grew up with the world at their fingertips, I constantly worried about what my children were exposed to online, on social media, and through apps that profit from sharing messages which are intentionally designed to disappear without a trace,” said CongresswomanWasserman Schultz. “I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to give parents a more balanced level of access to supervise and manage their kid's social media and online presence during the most vulnerable stages of a child’s life.” “Parents have the right to know when their child is engaging in dangerous online activity,” said CongressmanCarter. “There are sick, evil people who will prey on our youth to make a quick buck by selling illicit, sometimes fentanyl-laced, drugs. Sammy’s life was worth living and this bill will help parents get the information they need to keep their children safe.” “Parents should have every tool at their disposal to keep their children safe. With children spending more and more time online, it's become imperative for parents to know if and when their kids are exposed to dangerous activity online,"" said CongresswomanSchrier. ""Social media platforms are filled with harmful content for children, and this bill directly addresses this issue by empowering families. As a mother and a pediatrician, the health and well-being of our children is always top of mind, which is why I'm incredibly proud to support this legislation.” Millions of children and teenagers are susceptible to the adverse effects of social media every day,” said CongresswomanMiller-Meeks, M.D. “I am proud to join my colleagues on Sammy’s Law, a commonsense solution that would give parents the freedom to safeguard their children’s online presence, especially in this ever-changing social media landscape. This legislation gives parents options for third-party safety apps that can alert them when dangerous content is shared with their children and provide mental health resources for children if needed.” Sammy was one of the millions of young victims of social media-related dangers this past year. According to numerous studies, about 46 percent of students experienceCyberbullying, with victims 2.6 times more likely to attemptsuicide. In addition to suicide,self-harm increases the more time that children spend on social media. It also leads to an increase inpsychological distress and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents. About 43% of young adults recently reported seeing self-harm content on Instagram, and about 32 indicated they performed the same or similar behavior as a consequence. On top of these dangers,traffickingoccurs on platforms, as many child sex crimes now originate on social media sites where predator learn about victims’ likes and habits. This legislation would create a parental right to know about dangerous or concerning interactions children under the age of 17 may have online. Social media companies would be required to provide access to data pertaining to a parent’s child through registered third-party safety apps. These apps can provide alerts to parents when dangerous content is shared through children’s social media accounts, enabling life-saving interventions at critical moments. For example, if a child is expressing thoughts of suicide via social media, then a parent, who has received an alert through a third-party safety app, can immediately provide mental health support. We know from the data that these alerts have already protected millions of children. “We extend our deepest gratitude for the bold, bipartisan leadership shown today by Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Carter, Schrier, and Miller-Meeks in introducing Sammy's Law.” saidMarc Berkman, CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety. “It is unconscionable that some social media platforms block third-party safety software, a proven effective intervention, while so many children continue to be severely harmed, even killed, yearly in using those social media platforms. We call on Congress to expeditiously pass Sammy's Law, bipartisan common-sense legislation that will finally give parents the choice to use third-party safety software to protect their children.” “If social media platforms gave our family the choice to use third-party safety software, Sammy might still be alive.” said Dr.Lauran Berman andSam Chapman, parents of Sammy Chapman. “We urge Congress to pass this vital legislation without delay to protect the millions of children at risk on social media every day. The original bill text can be foundhere and the one-pager here. ####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-kim-respond-un-women-finally-condemning-hamas-october,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Kim Respond to UN Women Finally Condemning Hamas’ October 7 Attacks and Sexual Violence",2023-12-02,2023,2023-12,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, U.S. Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20) and Young Kim (R-CA-40) released a joint statement after United Nations (UN) Women finally publicly condemned Hamas’ attacks on October 7. UN Women’s response comes after Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Kim led 87 bipartisan colleagues in urging them to publicly condemn Hamas’ barbaric attacks, including sexual violence against women.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404397,"Castor, Soto, Frankel, Frost, González Colón Introduce Bipartisan REBATE Act",2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,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-14), Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10), and Jenniffer González Colón (R-PR-At Large) introduced H.R.6536, the Reforming Energy-Efficient Buildings and Appliances Tax Exemptions (REBATE) Act to amend the Inflation Reduction Act and allow local governments to receive federal grants to carry out high-efficiency electric home rebate programs. “Floridians are being gouged by electric utilities in Florida, and Governor DeSantis’s veto of energy rebates has made it even more expensive for Florida families. Floridians could enjoy lower energy bills if we can unlock the resources to weatherize homes and purchase energy-efficient appliances as the residents of other states are enjoying right now,” said Rep. Castor. “To put money back into the pockets of our neighbors, the REBATE Act enables local governments to receive and implement energy rebates and discounts in their communities. Democrats in Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act to provide energy cost savings to our neighbors. The REBATE Act would deliver those savings and avoid the higher costs imposed by Gov. DeSantis. Lower electric bills, new energy-efficient appliances and less pollution in the Sunshine State – a win, win, win.” “I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan REBATE Act to allow Florida families access to programs that provide tax incentives if they transition to clean energy,” said Rep. Soto. “We passed the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — both bipartisan measures – to benefit working families and improve our nation for future generations. In Florida, we refuse to let politically-motivated vetoes get in the way of access to these programs.” “The Inflation Reduction Act has provided millions of Americans with the opportunity to save money on energy-efficient appliances and home upgrades,"" said Rep. Frankel. ""This bill would allow Florida communities to access the nearly $346 million in savings available to our state, helping families lower their energy costs and their carbon footprints."" Earlier this year, due to a budget veto by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Office of Energy was forced to withdraw their application for these rebate programs and leave $346 million in eligible federal funds made available through the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on the table. With the REBATE Act, families in the state will have the opportunity to receive tax incentives if they upgrade their homes with energy-efficient appliances and transition to clean energy. For the full text of the bill, please click .",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404398,Castor Leads No Hidden FEES Act to Improve Hotel Cost Transparency,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the No Hidden Fees on Extra Expenses for Stays (No Hidden FEES) Act of 2023 (H.R 6543) to improve cost transparency for stays in short-term lodging, such as hotels, motels, and inns. This bill prohibits unfair or misleading price advertising for places of short-term lodging and requires accurate price listings that include all mandatory and resort fees. “Hidden ‘junk fees’ added to hotel room bookings often confuse or deceive consumers and take a bite out of the family vacation budget. As a top vacation destination, Florida families and visitors need relief from these hidden junk fees,” said Rep. Castor. “Excessive junk fees have driven up costs and left millions of Americans on the hook for tens of billions of dollars each year while stifling competition, hurting consumers, workers, small businesses and entrepreneurs. Our No Hidden FEES Act will improve transparency to ensure travelers can make fully informed decisions without being deceived by hidden junk fees.” “As Americans pay more for everything due to persistent high inflation, the last thing families need after budgeting for trips is to be hit with costly last-minute fees,” said Rep. Kim. “The No Hidden FEES Act would right this wrong and help provide cost transparency for consumers, so they know how much they are paying for lodging upfront. I will keep fighting to make life more affordable for families in Southern California and throughout our nation.” “From holiday travel to visiting family and friends, Americans are often shocked by the true price of lodging. Deceptive advertising hides fees from travelers, often resulting in them paying much more than they initially expected. I applaud Rep. Young Kim’s work to deliver price transparency and honesty to this industry so people can save money and make informed decisions that best suit them and their families,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “The No Hidden FEES Act creates a single standard for mandatory fee display across the lodging industry – from short-term rental platforms to online travel agencies, search engines, metasearch sites, and hotels. This legislation would ensure that wherever consumers shop for lodging, mandatory fees are included in the price they see. AHLA is grateful for the leadership of Reps. Kim and Castor in fighting to level the playing field for all types of lodging providers and distributors. We look forward to helping get this important legislation to the president’s desk,” said Chip Rogers, President and CEO, American Hotel Lodging Association (AHLA). The bill is also supported by Consumer Reports and the National Consumers League. Read the full bill text .",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-senator-blumenthal-urge-department-veterans,"Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick, Senator Blumenthal Urge the Department of Veterans Affairs to Issue ACA Antidiscrimination Rules for VA Health Programs and Activities",2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,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, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) led a letter with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough that urges the creation of antidiscrimination rules for VA health programs and activities under Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). “It is unconscionable that any American who answered the call to service would face discriminatory hurdles to quality and comprehensive care. They deserve nothing but the best service possible,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “Alongside Senator Blumenthal, I urge Veterans Affairs to send a clear, resounding, and enforceable message that no form of discrimination is ever to be tolerated.” “Minority veterans are all too often victims of discrimination and harassment at the VA,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). “I am proud to lead my colleagues in calling on the VA to combat barriers to equal health care by issuing critical rulemaking – our veterans deserve nothing less."" “It is incumbent that the VA take proactive steps to enforce the Affordable Care Act’s antidiscrimination regulations within the veteran healthcare system. These rules should be diligently communicated, leaving no room for ambiguity, and enforced across all levels of the organization,” said Rachel Branaman, Interim Executive Director of the Modern Military Association. “By addressing and rectifying the observed disparities of care by VA medical providers across the country, we not only uphold the principles of fairness and justice but also fulfill our duty to those who have served our nation with honor and valor. Veterans, regardless of their background, deserve healthcare experiences that are uniformly positive, accessible, and responsive to their unique needs.” “Veterans have rightfully earned access to VA health care through their dedicated service to this country,” said Lindsay Church, Executive Director of Minority Veterans of America. “Many veterans encounter discrimination and harassment while seeking their deserved benefits with fewer protections than their civilian counterparts utilizing government-funded health care. The Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet provided guidance in alignment with Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which bars discrimination against veterans based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, a mandate that's been the law since 2010. It is imperative for the VA to fulfill its legal obligation by promptly implementing comprehensive anti-discrimination policies to safeguard all those who have selflessly served and worn the uniform.” “This harassment has occurred at VA facilities across the country, from California to Florida to Connecticut to right here in D.C.,” said K.N. McCleary, a law student at the Yale Veterans Legal Services Clinic. “These veterans have been left with few options to address the harassment they have experienced. Although VA is working to make its facilities more welcoming, the reality is that minority veterans constantly face obstacles to accessing the care they have earned.” “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) previously issued regulations implementing the antidiscrimination protections of Section 1557 for other federal health programs it funds or operates. However, VA's failure to do the same places veterans at risk of discrimination every day. We appreciate the critically important health care that the VA provides, but unfortunately, minority veterans frequently experience discrimination when seeking care at VA facilities,” the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers continued, “Discrimination based on a veteran's sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, remains particularly widespread within the VA health care system. Recent studies show that one in four women veterans experienced harassment when seeking care at VA facilities. Women and LGBTQI+ veterans report the highest rates of harassment, disrespect, and substandard care. Adopting regulations under Section 1557 is a clear and necessary means to preventing mistreatment.” The full text of the letter can be found here. The letter has been endorsed by the Disabled American Veterans, the Minority Veterans of America, the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School, and the Modern Military Association of America. Additional House signatories of the letter include Reps. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Dwight Evans (D-PA), André Carson (D-IN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), James McGovern (D-MA), Frank Mrvan (D-IN), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Troy Carter (D-LA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Alma Adams (D-NC), Jason Crow (D-CO), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Dina Titus (D-NV), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Colin Allred (D-TX), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-kim-urge-un-women-condemn-hamas-attacks-against-women,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Kim Urge UN Women to Condemn Hamas’ Attacks Against Women in Israel and Gaza",2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,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, U.S. Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20) and Young Kim (R-CA-40) led 87 colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging the United Nations (UN) to publicly condemn Hamas for its brutal October 7th attack on innocent Israelis that included the murder, torture, rape and sexual violence against Israeli women and women of other nationalities. “As Israeli women deal with the traumatic fall out of sexual violence, UN Women’s mission to protect women remains critically important. As the world just observed the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, UN Women cannot expect to be viewed as an honest advocate for women’s rights if it continues to ignore Israeli women and women of other nationalities brutalized by Hamas terrorists on October 7th in an attack that claimed the lives of 1200+ Israelis and injured thousands more,” the members wrote. The members also highlighted how UN Women has taken action to support Palestinian women in Gaza, while not doing the same for Israeli women, adding that, “On October 20th, UN Women released a report titled 'UN Women rapid assessment and humanitarian response in the Occupied Palestinian Territory' addressing the effect of Israel’s ground invasion in Gaza on Palestinian women. The report does not address any gender-based violence, sexual abuse or mutilation directed at Israeli women or women of other nationalities targeted by terrorists on October 7th. It also does not mention any assessment about the wellbeing of the many women – Israeli, American and other nationalities – being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, including a pregnant foreign worker who is presumed to have given birth in captivity by now.” Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Kim were joined in sending the letter by Reps. Colin Allred (TX-32), Mark Amodei (NV-02), Kelly Armstrong (ND-At Large), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Don Bacon (NE-02), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Shontel Brown (OH-09), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Larry Bucshon (IN-08), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Ben Cline (VA-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Christopher Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jared Golden (ME-02), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-At Large), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Michael Guest (MS-03), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Erin Houchin (IN-09), Darrell Issa (CA-48), David Joyce (OH-14), David Kustoff (TN-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Susie Lee (NV-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Carol Miller (WV-03), Max Miller (OH-07), Blake Moore (UT-01), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Mike Rogers (AL-03), John Rose (TN-06), C. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Adam Schiff (CA-30), Brad Schneider (IL-10), David Scott (GA-13), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Mike Simpson (ID-02), Eric Sorenson (IL-17), Darren Soto (FL-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Michelle Steel (CA-45), Bryan Steil (WI-01), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), William Timmons (SC-04), Dina Titus (NV-05), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), David Trone (MD-06), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Mike Waltz (FL-06), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Susan Wild (PA-07), Brandon Williams (NY-22), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Rudy Yakym (IN-02).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-castor-frankel-frost-gonzalez-colon-introduce-bipartisan-rebate-act,"Soto, Castor, Frankel, Frost, González Colón Introduce Bipartisan REBATE Act",2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Reps. Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10) and Jenniffer González Colón (R-PR-At Large) introduced H.R.6536, the Reforming Energy-Efficient Buildings and Appliances Tax Exemptions (REBATE) Act to amend the Inflation Reduction Act and allow local governments to receive federal grants to carry out high-efficiency electric home rebate programs. “I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan REBATE Act to allow Florida families access to programs that provide tax incentives if they transition to clean energy,” said Rep. Soto. “We passed the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — both bipartisan measures – to benefit working families and improve our nation for future generations. In Florida, we refuse to let politically-motivated vetoes get in the way of access to these programs.” “Floridians are being gouged by electric utilities in Florida, and Governor DeSantis’s veto of energy rebates has made it even more expensive for Florida families. Floridians could enjoy lower energy bills if we can unlock the resources to weatherize homes and purchase energy efficient appliances as the residents of other states are enjoying right now,” said Rep. Castor. “To put money back into the pockets of our neighbors, the REBATE Act enables local governments to receive and implement energy rebates and discounts in their communities. Democrats in Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act to provide energy cost-savings to our neighbors. The REBATE Act would deliver those savings and avoid the higher costs imposed by Gov. DeSantis. Lower electric bills, new energy-efficient appliances and less pollution in the Sunshine State – a win, win, win.” “The Inflation Reduction Act has provided millions of Americans with the opportunity to save money on energy-efficient appliances and home upgrades,"" said Rep. Frankel. ""This bill would allow Florida communities to access the nearly $346 million in savings available to our state, helping families lower their energy costs and their carbon footprints."" “The Inflation Reduction Act is a down payment on the clean energy future we deserve, empowering working people to be able to afford to make the transition to clean energy,” said Rep. Frost. “Governor DeSantis’s harmful decision to block hundreds of millions of federal dollars to help Florida families adopt clean energy makes it clear we cannot count on our state leadership to help us fight the climate crisis but we won’t take no for an answer. The REBATE Act is a critical step in ensuring that Floridians aren’t forced to pay the price of Ron DeSantis’s inaction to protect our planet.” Earlier this year, due to a budget veto by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Office of Energy was forced to withdraw their application for these rebate programs and leave $346 million in eligible federal funds made available through the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on the table. With the REBATE Act, families in the state will have the opportunity to receive tax incentives if they upgrade their homes with energy-efficient appliances and transition to clean energy. For the full text of the bill, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3116,"Wasserman Schultz, Salazar Introduce Bill to Bolster Miccosukee Tribal Housing",2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,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. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) introduced the Tigertail Historical Tree Island Repatriation Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill that would improve housing options for the Miccosukee Tribe, the historic stewards of the Everglades, an environmental treasure and critical water resource. “Our friends in the Miccosukee Tribe are good stewards and protectors of America’s Everglades, an American jewel that helps supply drinking water to millions of Floridians.” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’m proud to partner with the Tribe and my Florida colleague on this bill so they can continue to flourish in South Florida.” “The Miccosukee Tribe are an integral part of the south Florida Community,” said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. “This bill will ensure the Miccosukee can use their resources as they need to while protecting our environment and preserving the health the Everglades.” Since the 1800s the Miccosukee Tribe has lived in the Florida Everglades, first seeking refuge from colonizing forces, and over time, forming a deep connection with the land and water there. Today, the Tribe’s cultural traditions remain connected to the health of the Everglades ecosystem, which is intrinsically intertwined with a vast network of canals and levels built by the Army Corps of Engineers to manage Central Florida water flow on throughout the Everglades. The Tigertail Historical Tree Island Repatriation Act would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to realign a portion of the levee located within the Tigertail Camp to give Miccosukee Tribe members options to provide more housing for members of the Tigertail Camp family.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/wilson-gimenez-introduce-jump-act-to-waive-repayment-requirements-for-americans-evacuated-from-israel,"Wilson, Gimenez Introduce JUMP Act to Waive Repayment Requirements for Americans Evacuated from Israel",2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,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) and Congressman Carlos Gimenez (FL-28) jointly filed the Justifiable Use of Money for Peace (JUMP) Act, a bill that waives the current U.S. State Department's repayment requirement for Americans evacuated from Israel. This legislation allows Americans who were victims of the Hamas attack and those wishing to evacuate to return home to the United States without the need for repayment to be evacuated. ""In times of crisis, the last thing we should burden our fellow Americans franticly trying to evacuate Israel with is bureaucratic red tape and financial strain as they flee the horrors inflicted by Hamas terrorists,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""The JUMP Act is a beacon of compassion, recognizing the unimaginable pain and trauma victims face. By waiving the U.S. State Department's repayment requirement, we're offering solace to those grieving, allowing them to begin the healing process without the added weight of repayments. This bill is a call for empathy, and I urge my colleagues to stand with us in prioritizing the well-being of Americans escaping Hamas terror."" The JUMP Act addresses the urgent needs of Americans who have found themselves caught in the crossfire of the recent conflict, particularly those affected by the reprehensible actions of Hamas terrorists. This legislation offers a compassionate response to the harrowing experiences faced by victims of the Hamas attack, allowing them to return home to the United States without the financial burden of repaying evacuation services. Congresswoman Wilson introduced the bill with Congressman Gimenez as an original cosponsor. ""On October 7, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel's sovereign borders, indiscriminately killing, kidnapping, and torturing thousands of civilians while leaving countless others in desperate need of evacuation back to the United States,"" said Congressman Carlos Gimenez. ""As the law is written, US citizens and permanent residents that take U.S. government transport are required to repay the cost of their transportation. A victim of Hamas terrorism in the midst of an evacuation should not be burdened by cumbersome paperwork or be forced to repay their transportation. I am proud to work with my fellow South Florida colleague Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24) to introduce a bill that waives this onerous requirement and allows victims to mourn without a costly repayment looming."" One of the key provisions of the JUMP Act is the elimination of the U.S. State Department's repayment requirement, recognizing the exceptional circumstances that necessitate swift and uncomplicated repatriation. The bill is designed to ease the burdens faced by Americans, both in terms of financial obligations and the complex legal documentation typically associated with reentry. The JUMP Act reflects a bipartisan effort to streamline the repatriation process and demonstrates a commitment to standing with Americans in times of crisis. For the full bill text of the JUMP Act, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404396,Castor Announces her 2023 Nominations to U.S. Military Academies,2023-11-28,2023,2023-11,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 the 21 Tampa Bay area students who received a nomination for admission into our nation’s prestigious military academies: Air Force Academy (USAFA), Naval Academy (USNA), West Point (USMA) and the Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). These outstanding student leaders hail from more than ten local high schools in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. “These talented student leaders are crucial to the future of America. Their interest in serving our country brings great pride to our patriotic Tampa Bay community,” said Castor. “I’m grateful for the service of my diligent Nomination Committee, which thoroughly reviews every application and interviews interested students. I am confident that this year's nominees will represent Tampa Bay and our nation well in all their future endeavors.” 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 2023 competitive nomination process. The nominees who receive an appointment from a U.S. military academy will attend their respective academies in the 2024-2025 school year. U.S. Rep. Castor granted her nomination to the following students for one or more of the U.S. military academies: Felix Fudge Jr., Shorecrest Preparatory School – USMA Tayten Moore, Canterbury School of Florida – USMA Aiden Smith, Northeast High School – USNA Elyna Brackin, St. Petersburg High School – USMA Gabe Long, Hillsborough High School – USMA Katherine Merrill, Academy of the Holy Names – USNA and USAFA Logan Virgil, Robinson High School – USMA and USAFA Jack Wittmer, Robinson High School – USAFA Jake Prabhakaran, Jesuit High School – USNA and USMA Isabel Salas, Academy of the Holy Names – USMA and USAFA Jace Jreisat, Bayshore Christian Academy – USMA and USAFA Rogan Kane, Plant High School – USAFA (not pictured) Terry Weaver Jr., Jesuit High School – USMA and USAFA Gavin Paglieri, Jesuit High School – USNA Adrian Salazar, Steinbrenner High School - USNA Cayleigh Reid, Berkeley Preparatory School – USNA and USAFA Logan Kijanski, Plant High School – USAFA Grayson Stone, St. Petersburg High School – USNA Danielle Donis, Plant High School – USNA Sean Murphy, Plant High School – USAFA Ella Kirk, Stuggart High School – USMA (not pictured)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-statement-regarding-deal-between-israel,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Statement Regarding Deal Between Israel-Hamas Brokered by the United States,2023-11-22,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"TAMARAC, FL - Today, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), a permanent member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the United States-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas to free Israeli hostages in Gaza in an exchange for a temporary humanitarian pause. “Since the devastating October 7th terrorist attack, the Biden Administration has worked tirelessly with our partners in the region in order to free the hostages taken by Hamas,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick. “I am pleased that this deal allows for the release of at least 50 hostages, including Americans, while also providing the civilians in Gaza with needed humanitarian assistance. This deal is a testament to the tireless diplomacy and determination of the Biden Administration to free all of the hostages being held by Hamas, while surging humanitarian aid into Gaza.” “While this deal is an encouraging step forward, it will not serve as a permanent solution to the conflict until all the hostages are released and Hamas is no longer a threat to the state of Israel. I urge the Israeli government to ensure that any future military action is part of a long-term strategy to ensure lasting stability and peace in the region.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-applauds-us-department-defense-cornerstone-award-289-million-osceola,Soto Applauds US Department of Defense Cornerstone Award of up to $289 Million to Osceola County,2023-11-21,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"KISSIMMEE, FL – Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Defense to award Osceola County a five-year Cornerstone award with an initial funding allocation of $3.65 million and a spending ceiling of $120 million. This positions Osceola County at the forefront of the nation's efforts to produce next-generation microchips for the U.S. military, simultaneously transforming the lives and fortunes of the community. Notably, the contract offers options for an additional $169 million, potentially resulting in a total award of $289 million. “In FL-09, we are leading the way to develop next generation aerospace microchips, create new high-paying jobs, and defend our nation. We are proud to see Osceola County receive a Cornerstone award by U.S. Department of Defense contract to help our nation continue moving towards a strong, secure domestic semiconductor industry. Through their public-private partnership with SkyWater and BRIDG, the county will have the opportunity to expand their state-of-the-art semiconductor packaging capabilities at NeoCity and establish Central Florida as a hub for this technology,” said Rep. Soto. “As work begins on projects funded through this contract, numerous high-quality jobs in research, development, manufacturing, and more will become available to Central Floridians and help keep our local economy strong.” NeoCity serves as the conduit for changing lives in Osceola County and the region as whole, which is why there has been united support from the business community, academia, and everyday citizens. NeoCity acts as the engine for cultivating a highly skilled workforce, capable of claiming high-paying careers that are being created. This, in turn, augments the tax base and empowers the county to enact essential infrastructure enhancements while improving the overall quality of life. Nearly a decade ago, Osceola County embarked on a mission to redefine its economic destiny. This mission entailed forging partnerships spanning the local and global landscape, involving leaders in the high-tech industry, academia, and influential figures in federal and state government, as well as numerous community partners. This collective endeavor gave rise to NeoCity, a master-planned 500-acre technology campus. BRIDG and SkyWater Technology are important partners in the journey, including the recent DoD award. The organizations’ leadership is key in the development of NeoCity as a center attracting investment, researchers, and manufacturers from around the world. With this award, the county’s campus will spearhead the nation’s semiconductor advanced packaging manufacturing – a key component of the United States’ efforts to base next generation microchip manufacturing on the U.S mainland. This award includes components to develop the needed workforce for production and will ultimately lead to more jobs for Osceola County and Central Florida. The substantial, and strategic, investment of hundreds of millions at NeoCity is yielding tangible results. Just last year, Osceola County and its partners were recipients of a substantial $50.8 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Furthermore, the County-led coalition has emerged as finalists for a prestigious and lucrative National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines grant. The DoD's Cornerstone award carries the potential to infuse Osceola County job creation efforts, heralding a profound community transformation. This shift marks a departure from a historical reliance on agriculture and tourism, charting a path toward a more diversified and prosperous future. The county and its partners continue to expand capabilities. The coalition behind last year’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant known as Building Central Florida’s Semiconductor Cluster for Broad-Based Prosperity continues plans for workforce development, job creation and improvements to the fabrication facility. County Manager Don Fisher is chairman of the coalition. The federal government has called for a stronger, more secure domestic semiconductor industry. In response to such a critical national need, Osceola County, in collaboration with BRIDG and SkyWater Technology, put forth a groundbreaking and comprehensive set of proposals aimed at establishing cutting-edge capabilities in wafer preparation and advanced packaging in its application for the Cornerstone award. Osceola County will contract with BRIDG and SkyWater to implement the award. The BRIDG-led activities focus on chip design and processes while the Osceola County and SkyWater-led activities will focus on offering domestic advanced packaging services. Both of these capabilities are required for the advanced packaging of microchips. Additional details about SkyWater’s program and the technology being developed at the Center for Neovation will be released upon the fully executed contract with the county. These proposals continue to establish the infrastructure for Osceola County and the Center for Neovation to grow its leadership position in semiconductor microchip packaging and integration — providing for enhanced functionality and improved operating characteristics. Nearly a decade into its vision for NeoCity, Osceola County and its partners will continue to reap the rewards of its vision and investment. In its announcement, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) DoD note that the award is part of Re-shore Ecosystem for Secure Heterogeneous Advanced Packaged Electronics (RESHAPE) efforts, and directly supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s initiatives to strengthen America’s supply chains as outlined in Executive Order 14017, America’s Supply Chains. Community partners continue to collaborate at NeoCity and share their support: SkyWater CEO Thomas Sonderman “The DoD’s collaboration with Osceola County, SkyWater Florida and BRIDG signifies a unique public-private partnership that supports domestic advanced packaging and helps to secure the U.S. semiconductor supply chain. The county and SkyWater will enter into an agreement for SkyWater to execute all aspects of the initial award of up to $120 million and stand up our fan-out wafer level packaging capabilities. We are pleased this partnership continues to fortify the efforts of the County to build a thriving community in Central Florida designed for advancing the next generation of technologies here in the U.S.” BRIDG Chief Technical Officer, Dr. John Allgair “Recognizing the strategic importance of growing and maintaining U.S. owned microelectronics advanced packaging capabilities, BRIDG has been working with Osceola County, SkyWater, the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment team and additional partners to establish an exemplary regional manufacturing capability key to multiple industries, along with the supporting workforce development, This investment will complete the equipment buildout for the Center for Neovation, positioning the center and its current and future partners to drive sustainable, exemplary and inclusive regional economic development in these critical manufacturing fields.” BRIDG President Jim Vandevere ""BRIDG joins our partners in celebrating this momentous award that leverages an established and growing semiconductor ecosystem at NeoCity. With little to none of the critical advance packaging activities currently taking place in the U.S., BRIDG is proud to help fill a role in this vital sector to address economic and national security vulnerabilities.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3115,"Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick Lead Bipartisan Push for Appropriators to Fund Fight Against Antisemitism",2023-11-21,2023,2023-11,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 (FL-25), founder and co-chair of the Interparliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, authored a letter to top House and Senate appropriators requesting funding to implement the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, in response to an unprecedented increase in hostility toward the Jewish community amid Israel’s war against Hamas. “We hope that the strong bipartisan and stakeholder support for the President's plan to reverse the spread of hatred will be reflected in our nation’s budget.…Congress must step up and deliver funding to support the American Jewish community.” The letter was signed by a total of 51 bipartisan members, including Wasserman Schultz and Fitzpatrick as well as Reps. Gabe Amo, Jake Auchincloss, Don Bacon, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Vern Buchanan, Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette Clarke, Gerald Connolly, Angie Craig, Donald Davis, Lloyd Doggett, Lois Frankel, Maxwell Frost, Daniel Goldman, Jenniffer González-Colón, Josh Gottheimer, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Derek Kilmer, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Greg Landsman, Barbara Lee, Susie Lee, Ted Lieu, Nicole Malliotakis, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Grace Meng, Marcus Molinaro, Jared Moskowitz, Jerrold Nadler, Jimmy Panetta, Dean Phillips, Jamie Raskin, Patrick Ryan, Maria Salazar, Janice Schakowsky, Bradley Schneider, Terri Sewell, Darren Soto, Haley Stevens, Eric Swalwell, Ritchie Torres, David Trone, Juan Vargas, Marc Veasey, Susan Wild, and Nikema Williams. The letter, addressed to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME), as well as House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), is supported by the ADL, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish on Campus, and Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. The letter highlights a range of activities mentioned in the National Strategy, including the Education Department’s enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which protects Jewish students and faculty from campus discrimination, Nonprofit Security Grants to safeguard synagogues and Jewish organizations, and prevention and prosecution of hate crimes by the Department of Justice. “President Biden and Vice President Harris have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to protecting American Jews from harm,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “The National Strategy provides a roadmap for how government, interfaith leaders, and community members can respond to antisemitism flourishing in our schools, our streets, and our social media feeds. If we fail to provide resources to these objectives, the result will be more pain and devastation for the Jewish community.” “Antisemitism has no place in America, period. The rise of antisemitism on college campuses and in public spaces after Hamas’ brutal, unprovoked attack on Israel is disturbing,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Antisemitism. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan letter to House and Senate appropriators urging them to prioritize funding for the national strategy to combat antisemitism. Congress must stand with the Jewish community in the face of the vile antisemitism that is plaguing our nation.” In addition to her membership in the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, Rep. Wasserman Schultz is a co-chair of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus and the Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations. The full text of the letter is below: ________________________________________ Dear Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, Chair Granger, and Ranking Member DeLauro, As you enter into negotiations to reconcile House and Senate Fiscal Year 2024 spending measures, we write to urge robust funding to implement the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. We hope that the strong bipartisan and stakeholder support for the President's plan to reverse the spread of hatred will be reflected in our nation’s budget. Antisemitism is on the rise. Last year, the Anti-Defamation League tracked 3,697 antisemitic incidents, from propaganda to bomb threats to armed assault, the highest number on record — a mark that has been eclipsed three times in the past five years. The FBI documented a 37% increase in antisemitic hate crimes in 2022. Antisemitism has become commonplace on college campuses, with many Jewish students fearing that they will be targeted for discrimination. The rise of antisemitism has been accelerated by digital platforms that profit from hateful content, with 85% of Jewish young adults reporting firsthand experience with online antisemitism, according to the American Jewish Committee. All of this took place prior to Hamas terrorists’ horrific assault on Israelis, which has led to even more prevalent antisemitic conspiracy theories, disinformation, and incitement of violence in our country and around the world. ADL preliminary data indicates that following the October 7 massacre by Hamas, incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault increased by 388 percent. In response to these alarming statistics, President Biden presented a comprehensive blueprint for how our government and society can eradicate antisemitism, and subsequently ordered all relevant federal agencies and departments to apply Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to curb discrimination against Jews. Congress must step up and deliver funding to support the American Jewish community. We urge you to provide funding in excess of the President’s request for the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, which is on the front lines of the fight against antisemitism and plays a central role in enforcing Title VI protections for students and faculty. Education is a powerful tool for preventing hate from taking root, but these efforts cannot succeed in an environment where antisemitism is tolerated. We also strongly support funding for programs that provide America’s public schools with resources to teach K-12 students about historic and modern antisemitism, the Holocaust, and the positive contributions of Jewish Americans. We strongly recommend including funding in excess of the President’s request for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which offsets the cost of physical security enhancements for religious, educational, and nonprofit community institutions, including Jewish organizations. Synagogues and schools have been targeted with vandalism, destruction, and violent attacks by extremists who hold Jews collectively accountable for Israel’s actions, striking fear into congregations and civil society leaders. We are grateful that both chambers of Congress have supported this program and we share the President’s desire for updates to improve access. In addition to defending Jewish spaces, we must work together to provide state and local law enforcement with the capacity to bring an end to surging hate crimes against Jews. An important part of this work is fully funding Department of Justice grants dedicated to monitoring, preventing, and prosecuting hate crimes so we can protect our communities from being victimized by offenders who might otherwise avoid consequences. As digital platforms allow hate to spread without regard for borders, we also emphasize our support for efforts to advance the global fight against antisemitism in the State Department, led by the Offices of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism and the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. We ask that you fund these critical programs at the appropriate levels to demonstrate to the American people that Congress is united and unequivocal in its dedication to the fight against antisemitism. ####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-statement-regarding-the-agreement-between-israel-and-hamas-to-release-multiple-hostages,Congresswoman Wilson's Statement Regarding the Agreement between Israel and Hamas to release multiple hostages.,2023-11-21,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement regarding the agreement between Israel and Hamas to release multiple hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a humanitarian pause and the release of Palestinian prisoners. ""After hearing the cries and anguish of American and Israeli families for over a month, I'm grateful for the release of many of the hostages in Gaza as part of a humanitarian pause deal brokered under President Biden's leadership between Israel and Hamas. ""I'm also glad that much-needed aid will be allowed to flow into Gaza to address the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. While this deal does not mark the end of this conflict, we have taken a monumental step toward our shared goal of securing the release of the hostages held by Hamas. I thank the President for his instrumental role in brokering this agreement. As we acknowledge this progress, my unwavering support remains with Israel's ongoing efforts to secure the release of all hostages still held by Hamas."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3114,"Interparliamentary Task Force To Combat Online Antisemitism, ADL Convene Tech and Jewish Community Leaders to Tackle AI Challenges",2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington D.C. — This week, the Interparliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism partnered with ADL to convene experts and global leaders on the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GAI) on the spread of online misinformation and antisemitism. The meeting was first announced in the Biden Administration’s first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and brought together Parliamentarians, leaders in the field of artificial intelligence, global Special Envoys on combating antisemitism, civil society leaders, and White House officials. The meeting was attended by Task Force co-chairs U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Canadian Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather, European Parliament Member David Lega from Sweden, U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider and Kathy Manning, and Costa Rican Deputy of the Legislative Assembly Eli Feinzaig. Director of Domestic Policy Council Neera Tanden represented the White House and was joined by U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt. The Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism for Israel, Michal Cotler-Wunsh, and National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism for The Netherlands, Eddo Verdoner, also attended. They were joined by industry representatives from Microsoft, OpenAI, Modulate, Google, and Meta. The conversation focused on the threats posed by antisemitic actors and entities who have GAI tools at their disposal, shortfalls in existing efforts by some social media platforms to moderate AI-generated and manipulated content, and how large language models (LLMs) can be employed to identify, flag, and remove hateful posts. This global meeting was announced before Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7th. However, the session allowed for a fuller discussion on the opportunities and challenges posed by the use of AI and GAI in combating the overall spike in online antisemitism, often in the guise of anti-Zionism, as well as the explosive proliferation of disinformation about the war. “The spread of hate on social media platforms was disturbingly on the rise before the Oct. 7th Hamas attack on Israel, and in its aftermath, it has exploded. Alarmingly, AI technology is only proving to be a super-spreader of animus and intolerance. I am grateful to the ADL for partnering with the Task Force on such a critical component of our collective effort to combat online antisemitism,” said Wasserman Schultz. “This closed-door meeting allowed government officials and lawmakers from around the world to engage with industry leaders to have frank but necessary conversations on how we can work together to ensure bad actors are not allowed to exploit technology to expel hate onto all corners of the internet.” “Since Oct. 7, antisemitic incidents have risen to astounding levels across the world,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “Much of this hate is being fomented online – in chat rooms, on social media, and through AI and generative artificial intelligence. For that reason, this gathering of the Interparliamentary Task Force could not be more timely. Our research shows that promoters of conspiracy theories and hate use AI and GAI to create misleading content about the Israel-Hamas war. This amplifies confusion and hate and causes misinformation to proliferate online. We know, too, that GAI's sophisticated technology is fueling extremist ideologies, antisemitism and hate. Congress and governments around the world must take action to curb the proliferation of this dangerous content and build in guardrails for these systems.” “I deeply appreciate the exchanges our Interparliamentary Task Force had with the Biden Administration and the platforms,” said Housefather. “We have had conversations and interchange with the platforms over the last three years but this week was the first time that I truly believe we made significant progress in our goals of transparent reporting of antisemitism and agreements on what constitutes antisemitism and the obligation of the platforms not to amplify it. The use of AI can be both helpful and incredibly harmful and these meetings were a chance to get out in front of the issue. I left feeling very encouraged that social media companies will start collaborating in partnership with us to tackle the explosion of antisemitism we are facing.” Co-chaired by Wasserman Schultz and Housefather, the Interparliamentary Task Force consists of a multi-partisan group of parliamentarians from around the world, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the European Union, Costa Rica, and Israel. ####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-announces-over-1-million-returned-central-floridians,Congressman Maxwell Frost Announces Over $1 Million Returned to Central Floridians through Office’s Constituent Services,2023-11-16,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, FL — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) announced that his office has helped return over $1 million in money owed to constituents of Florida’s 10th Congressional District from various federal agencies. Since assuming office in January of this year, Congressman Frost’s constituent services team has successfully resolved over 1,500 cases, ranging from Social Security issues to immigration assistance, exemplifying their commitment to serving the Orlando-area. “Despite the dysfunction we see happening in Washington, our Central Florida office is hard at work each and every day, making a positive impact on the lives of local Floridians through our commitment to always fighting for our communities,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “This $1 million returned back to our constituents is only the beginning, our office is always here to serve!” “I recently went to the Bithlo Neighborhood Center for Families and ran into Congressman Frost's team, who helped my wife and I with a Social Security issue. Thanks to Congressman Frost's team, we found out through an audit that we were rightfully owed hundreds of dollars and received a refund. I'm very grateful for the hard work that was put into helping us with this issue. After working our entire lives, we are now finally able to retire because of the additional Social Security support."" said FL-10 Constituent, Henry Z. Constituents needing help with a federal agency can submit a request online at frost.house.gov or call the Congressman's Orlando office at 321-388-9808.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/florida-democrats-celebrate-two-years-passage-historic-bipartisan,Florida Democrats Celebrate Two Years Since Passage of Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,2023-11-15,2023,2023-11,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, Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-25), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Darren Soto (FL-09), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) celebrated two years of President Biden’s landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivering for Floridians. “Two years in, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is producing billions of dollars in historic and lasting investments in Florida's infrastructure. From modernizing transit and making internet more affordable, to delivering cleaner water systems and restoring the Everglades—all while generating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs statewide,” said the Members. “President Biden and Congress delivered on the promise to upgrade our infrastructure, and these projects are improving quality of life for Floridians, creating new jobs, and growing the economy across our state for years to come.” Since the law’s passage, more than $14 billion in investments have been announced for over 389 specific projects across the state, including: $15.4 million to increase safety at railroad crossings and reduce deadly collisions in Broward County; $8.7 million to modernize and upgrade Palm Beach International Airport; $1.1 billion to accelerate critical Everglades restoration projects; $1.274 billion for Miami-Dade public transit and to upgrade and modernize Miami International and Opa-Locka Executive Airports; Over $2 billion across federal and state funds for the I-4 “Beyond the Ultimate” expansion, from Osceola Parkway to U.S. 27, to help fix traffic in Central Florida; Over $16.1 million to buy battery electric buses, electric cutaways, and charging equipment in Central Florida to replace diesel and gas vehicles that have reached their useful life; $12.6 million to expand and diversify Port Tampa Bay.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3654,Florida Democrats Celebrate Two Years Since Passage of Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,2023-11-15,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-25), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Darren Soto (FL-09), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) celebrated two years of President Biden’s landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivering for Floridians. “Two years in, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is producing billions of dollars in historic and lasting investments in Florida's infrastructure. From modernizing transit and making internet more affordable, to delivering cleaner water systems and restoring the Everglades—all while generating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs statewide,” said the Members. “President Biden and Congress delivered on the promise to upgrade our infrastructure, and these projects are improving quality of life for Floridians, creating new jobs, and growing the economy across our state for years to come.” Since the law’s passage, more than $14 billion in investments have been announced for over 389 specific projects across the state, including: $1.1 billion to accelerate critical Everglades restoration projects; $1.274 billion for Miami-Dade public transit and to upgrade and modernize Miami International and Opa-Locka Executive Airports; Over $2 billion across federal and state funds for the I-4 “Beyond the Ultimate” expansion, from Osceola Parkway to U.S. 27, to help fix traffic in Central Florida; Over $16.1 million to buy battery electric buses, electric cutaways, and charging equipment in Central Florida to replace diesel and gas vehicles that have reached their useful life; $15.4 million to increase safety at railroad crossings and reduce deadly collisions in Broward County; $12.6 million to expand and diversify Port Tampa Bay; $8.7 million to modernize and upgrade Palm Beach International Airport. For more information on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering in Florida, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404376,Castor Statement on Fifth National Climate Assessment,2023-11-14,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), former Chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, released the following statement on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5): “Carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels is inflicting significant harm and raising costs on American families. The Fifth National Climate Assessment and the hundreds of scientists who collaborated on it help us understand the impacts and solutions to a heating world. Dangerous heatwaves, catastrophic hurricanes, severe droughts and floods are costing us more than $165 billion per year and risking lives. In Florida, where we now regularly break heat records, property insurance is sky-high, coastlines are shrinking and stronger storms are upending communities. “The science is clear: if we fail to take decisive action to slash toxic carbon pollution from dirty fossil fuels, the devastating and deadly impacts of climate change will worsen and heat the planet to unlivable levels. “The good news is the U.S. is making progress in fighting climate change through critical investments in clean energy, mitigation, adaptation and resilience policies recommended by my Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. These smart policies are working. Regions across the country are experiencing a manufacturing revival as solar, wind, and battery companies build new plants and uplift communities. We’re harnessing American ingenuity to innovate and expand the production of clean energy technologies while creating good-paying jobs and rapidly reducing energy costs. “The NCA5 underscores the importance of our historic investments in fighting climate change and protecting our communities. For the first time, the report extends beyond climate science and dives into the real-world actions communities are taking to respond to the changing climate. The American people, our country and the world cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal now. I will continue working with my colleagues and the Biden Administration to protect these critical investments and build on their incredible success.” The National Climate Assessment – mandated by Congress – provides the scientific foundation to support informed, evidence-based policies across the United States. The NCA5 was thoroughly reviewed by government experts, external experts and the public throughout the report’s development, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicines.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404377,Castor and Democrats Vote to Avoid a MAGA Republican Government Shutdown - Again,2023-11-14,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement after voting to avoid a government shutdown: “House Democrats voted to save military paychecks, critical services like Meals on Wheels, small business loans, and critical functions of the U.S. government today as MAGA Republicans took the country to the brink of another government shutdown right before Thanksgiving. Instead of working across the aisle, House Republicans for months have used defaults and shutdowns to force extreme MAGA Republican policies – like a national abortion ban - on the American people. “The best pathway to avoid a government shutdown is a bipartisan path, and today, House Democrats once again stood by our word. The Continuing Resolution (CR) we passed today will avoid significant harm to families, our military, our economy and our national security while preserving historic investments and blocking extreme MAGA Republican policy riders. “House Democrats continue to stand ready to work with House Republicans to pass all government funding bills that reflect the framework that was signed into law in June with the passage of the Bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act. I encourage my Republican colleagues to work in good faith with Democrats and end their partisan and costly shenanigans.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/after-calling-emergency-property-insurance-roundtable-hear-constituents,"After Calling Emergency Property Insurance Roundtable to Hear From Constituents, Congressman Maxwell Frost Demands Meeting with Gov. DeSantis",2023-11-14,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) sent a letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis calling on the Governor to meet with him to discuss Central Floridian’s concerns and deliver better outcomes as Florida’s property insurance market continues to collapse, leaving hundreds of homeowners uninsured in the face of unaffordable, skyrocketing costs. Frost’s letter to Gov. DeSantis comes just days after the Congressman hosted an emergency roundtable where local home and business owners, as well as aspiring homeowners shared their struggles to make ends meet while covering the rising costs of insurance and calls out the Governor’s failure to address this crisis during last week’s emergency special session of the Florida Legislature as the Governor rakes in millions from the industry he is supposed to help regulate. “These testimonies are just a small sample of the stories from residents of Florida’s 10th Congressional district,” wrote Congressman Frost. “What I heard emphasized the harm directly caused to Floridians by your lack of leadership to properly regulate the insurance industry, mitigate the destruction of extreme weather events, and make informed legislative decisions to solve the problem. I request an urgent meeting to discuss my constituent’s concerns and hear your plans for a solution to this crisis.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-statement-on-the-continued-resolution,Congresswoman Wilson's Statement on the Continued Resolution,2023-11-14,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement in response to the Continued Resolution, to which she voted yes: ""Once again, at the eleventh hour, Democrats are bailing Republicans out because, after all the political games and stunts Republicans pulled, they realized you need both parties to govern. I voted yes on this continued resolution because we need to keep the government open. Today marks a victory for the American people, avoiding a catastrophic shutdown and sidestepping some of the harsh consequences of Republican proposals aimed at criminalizing abortion, cutting social security and Medicare, and dismantling public education. ""Governing is no simple task, but shirking that responsibility by prioritizing politics over people is not the solution. Republicans have wasted weeks on political theatrics, from failing to choose a Speaker to pushing forward heartless appropriations bills. But today, Democrats led the effort to put people over politics, and the American people won.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3113,Wasserman Schultz on the Flawed GOP 'Laddered CR',2023-11-13,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington D.C. – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) issued the following statement on the flawed House Republican Continuing Resolution proposal that puts our families and economy in jeopardy: “This ‘laddered CR’ proposal is yet another spending bill driven by the extremist, irresponsible House Freedom Caucus, and one that recklessly opens the door to a double whammy shutdown and is intended to hold vital funding hostage to fulfill extreme Republican funding goals. This cavalier stopgap bill kicks the serious domestic and international challenges facing our nation into next year. This approach lacks urgency and demonstrates the absence of both understanding and caring about the importance of expediting the completion of our work to avoid leaving our military and American families twisting in the wind. It has no emergency assistance for our allies confronting vicious attacks by terrorists and despots. It also lacks emergency funds for women and infant nutritional needs, and basically tells Americans that Republicans are fine if road work and repairs are halted, critical Everglades restoration efforts stall, and we turn our backs on commitments we made to servicemembers, veterans, and their families by doubling the likelihood of a government shutdown. This gives Republicans more opportunities to hold critical priorities hostage in exchange for keeping the government open. Worse, as global democracies face violent assaults, this ‘laddered CR’ leaves the departments of State and Defense inadequately resourced until February and potentially longer. I urge Republicans to work with us to pass a singular, clean Continuing Resolution and work with Democrats on a full-year funding agreement that abides by the budget that they already agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. We must provide vital emergency assistance immediately, before the MAGA Party further jeopardizes American families, democracies and careens our economy over a cliff.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3112,"Wasserman Schultz, Díaz-Balart Lead Florida Delegation in Push for GSP Renewal to Boost Local Economy, Lower Consumer Prices",2023-11-10,2023,2023-11,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-25) and Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) led the majority of Florida’s congressional delegation in authoring a letter to Members of the House Ways and Means Committee requesting that Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (MA-01) to boost the economy and cut consumer costs by advancing legislation to reauthorize the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which has been expired for nearly three years. They were joined by bipartisan Florida Members including Reps. Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchana, Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Neal Dunn, Lois Frankel, Scott Franklin, Maxwell Frost, Carlos Gimenez, Laurel Lee, Brian Mast, Jared Moskowitz, John Rutherford, Maria Salazar, Darren Soto, Daniel Webster, and Frederica Wilson. “Renewing GSP is a win-win proposition for consumers, workers, and local businesses, especially in Florida,” said Wasserman Schultz. “In addition to lowering operating costs and prices, preferential trade policies promise to continue lifting millions out of poverty and reducing China’s influence on U.S. supply chains. I’m proud to help lead the bipartisan consensus in support of these objectives.” “I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort supporting the retroactive renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The GSP program, a cornerstone of U.S. trade policy for over 45 years, reduces our nation’s growing reliance on China by encouraging a much-needed shifting of supply chains out of China through nearshoring and reestablishing competitive trade relationships. The GSP renewal benefits American families and businesses all over the country, including Florida, by lowering tariffs on global imports and thereby helping U.S. manufacturers and importers stay competitive in international markets. Historically, South Florida has benefited greatly from the international trade industry, bringing jobs to our port cities and well into the heart of our state. By reauthorizing GSP, we would revitalize our communities, bolster our economy, and counter China’s influence in our hemisphere” said Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart. “We are grateful to the Florida Congressional Delegation for leading the charge to urge the Ways and Means Committee to reauthorize the Generalized System of Preferences,” said Rodrigo Leiva, President of the Florida Association of Floral Importers. “The floral industry is a vital economic engine in Florida, and the absence of GSP has resulted in a significant financial strain to our industry, stunting growth, and impeding job creation. The renewal of GSP isn't just about tariffs; it's about fortifying global relations and securing the industry's role in bolstering the U.S economy.” The extended lapse in authorization for GSP has led to higher tariffs on imports from developing countries, increasing procurement costs for businesses in Florida’s trade-intensive economy. Over $3 billion in extra tariffs have been paid in total, with Florida businesses accounting for roughly $300 million. While businesses have done everything possible to prevent price hikes, many have warned that the tariff hikes are unsustainable. The full text of the letter is below. Dear Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Neal, and Members of the Ways and Means Committee: On behalf of our constituents and Florida businesses, we urge the Ways and Means Committee to take up and advance legislation to reauthorize the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). We appreciate Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith’s leadership on this issue, as demonstrated by the recent hearing on the topic, which has generated significant interest in resuming this essential program. The GSP program, a cornerstone of U.S. trade policy for over 45 years, has played a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and development in low- and middle-income countries while benefiting American consumers, businesses, and workers. Strategically waiving U.S. tariffs on approximately 3,400 products from 120 countries incentivized increased trade, promoted global development, and strengthened the U.S. economy. This program is a testament to the power of trade to enhance foreign relations and bolster our nation's economic prosperity. Regrettably, the GSP authorization lapsed on December 31, 2020, resulting in significant financial strain on American companies nationwide. This expiration has imposed over $3 billion in extra tariffs, with Florida-based businesses bearing the weight of approximately $300 million of this burden. The impact on the floral industry, a vital component of Florida's economy and job market, has been particularly severe. Importing flowers supports over 6,000 jobs in South Florida and more than 200,000 jobs throughout the United States, spanning various sectors and industries. Furthermore, nearly 90% of flowers consumed in the United States pass through Miami International Airport, Port Miami, and Port Everglades in South Florida. To date, the Florida floral industry has paid over $66 million in tariffs, crippling U.S. companies that have borne these costs. The absence of GSP renewal has halted business expansion, hindered job creation, and prevented crucial investments in operations and infrastructure. The extended period of expiration—nearly three years—has left this financial burden unresolved. And while Florida continues to bear the brunt of this disruption, the ripple effects of inaction is bound to harm consumers across our country and hurt employment prospects in Latin America and the Caribbean, which is a key driver for migration. Moreover, the expiration of GSP benefits has unintended consequences, particularly regarding China. The imposition of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese products has compelled many U.S. companies to explore alternative suppliers. However, the expiration of GSP benefits now subjects most of these products to higher tariffs for GSP countries. In Florida, an astounding 99% of GSP imports would face Section 301 tariffs if sourced from China, further exacerbating the tariff burden on our industry. The reauthorization of the GSP program will have a significant positive impact on various other sectors of the U.S. economy, including: · Travel Goods, Handbags, Etc. ($133 million): Lowering tariffs through GSP benefits will help businesses in this sector remain competitive in the global market. · Plywood, Veneered Panels, Etc. ($20 million): Reauthorizing GSP will reduce costs and promote economic growth in the import and distribution of these products. · Aluminum Bars, Rods & Profiles ($6.3 million): GSP renewal will encourage investment, expansion, and job creation in this industry. · Precious Metal Jewelry & Parts ($4.0 million): Lowering tariffs through GSP benefits will support manufacturers and retailers in the precious metal jewelry sector. Given these compelling reasons, we respectfully urge the House Ways and Means Committee to pass long-term, retroactive GSP legislation as expeditiously as possible. The uncertainty surrounding the GSP program's renewal inhibits strategic planning for companies hesitant to reconfigure their supply chains, especially in light of the program's history of extended expiration. A full retroactive reauthorization would refund the $300 million (and growing) in tariffs paid on imports into Florida. Furthermore, we support modernization of outdated GSP rules, such as ""competitive need limitations"" (CNLs), which can re-impose tariffs if imports from a GSP country rise, discouraging diversification of sourcing away from China. These rules also reduce countries' incentives to meet eligibility criteria and impose real costs. While GSP has been expired, imports into Florida faced up to $88 million in non-refundable tariffs due to current CNL rules. We hope that you share our belief that the GSP program's reauthorization is paramount to various industries in Florida and the broader U.S. economy. It will provide critical relief to businesses, support job creation, and foster economic growth. We look forward to working with you to lower costs and strengthen American businesses while reducing global poverty and deepening our relationships with key trading partners.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-senator-elizabeth-warren-big-investors-gun,"Congressman Maxwell Frost, Senator Elizabeth Warren to Big Investors in Gun Manufacturing: “The American People Deserve to Know If You Are Profiting Off of Gun Violence”",2023-11-09,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C — Today, weeks after the deadliest shooting of the year claimed the lives of 18 innocent people in Lewiston, Maine, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent letters to six major financial institutions calling on them to provide critical information on their efforts, or lack thereof, to end their financial investments in the gun industry. In 2018, following the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that saw a 19-year-old gunman open fire on students and staff, claiming the lives of 17 people and injuring 17 others, some financial institutions began investigating how their business practices inadvertently contributed to the gun violence epidemic. Yet by the end of September of that same year, Wells Fargo had issued a $40 million line of credit to firearm manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Company, in addition to the $431 million it lent to gunmakers since the 2012 Sandy Hook Shooting – begging the question of how deeply entrenched big banks are with the gun industry. The letters, sent to BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase, Vanguard, Bank of America, Blackstone, and Wells Fargo, call out these powerful financial institutions for their individual roles in bankrolling the manufacturing and sale of dangerous weapons used to carry out some of the most horrific instances of gun violence. These six institutions are among the largest investors in the gun industry in America. Some of them have made prior commitments to change their involvement with gun manufacturers, while others have made no commitments. In a joint statement, Rep. Frost and Senator Warren said: “The American people deserve to know if some of the most powerful financial institutions in our country are in bed with gun manufacturers and, in turn, profiting off of the gun violence epidemic that has claimed countless innocent lives,” said the Members. “With the tragedy we witnessed in Maine just last month, 2023 is on track to be one of the deadliest years in recent history when it comes to gun violence. These prominent financial institutions have a moral responsibility to play a leading role in helping to end this crisis.” The letters to CEOs of BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase, Vanguard, Bank of America, Blackstone, and Wells Fargo can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-and-democratic-womens-caucus-leaders,Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Democratic Women’s Caucus Leaders Push Back Against Proposal to Eliminate DOL’s Women’s Bureau,2023-11-08,2023,2023-11,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, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair for Diversity & Inclusion, along with DWC Chair Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Vice Chairs Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Nikema Williams (D-GA), urged the House Appropriations Committee to reconsider House Republicans’ proposal to eliminate the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau — the only federal agency mandated to represent the needs of working women. “The elimination of the Women’s Bureau would be a tremendous setback for the more than 77 million working women across the country,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “Since its inception, this agency has been at the forefront of ensuring that women have a real shot at the American Dream. These proposed funding cuts would deal a devastating blow to a growing sector of the U.S. workforce.” “Republicans are on a quest to diminish women’s economic independence,” said DWC Chair Lois Frankel. “Their mission includes cruel restrictions on reproductive freedom, cutting child care assistance, and defunding the Department of Labor Women’s Bureau whose goal is to advance employment opportunities for women.” “We write today to urge you to restore funding for the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau in the House Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Bill. The Women’s Bureau has been creating access to better and safer jobs for women for the past century. However, the proposed House budget would eliminate the Women’s Bureau completely, which would have a devastating impact on women and families across the country,” wrote the Members. “There is no justification to eliminate the Women’s Bureau. The termination of the Women’s Bureau would strip the federal government of the only agency mandated by Congress to represent the needs and interests of working women. We urge you to reconsider this cut and restore funding for the Women’s Bureau as the FY24 LHHS bill moves forward,” added the Members. “If Congress defunds the Women’s Bureau at the Department of Labor, it’s another step backward toward equality,” said National Organization for Women (NOW) National President Christian F. Nunes. “Since 1920, this bureau has been the government’s only resource that understands the true challenges working women face. The bureau’s data around equal pay and childcare costs and its grant programs, not only educates but empowers working women. There is absolutely no reason for eliminating the Women’s Bureau. NOW thanks Representatives Cherfilus-McCormick and Frankel for their leadership and implores the House Appropriations leadership not to deny support to more than 50 percent of the American workforce as they contribute their share to the U.S. economy.” “The U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau has played an essential role in improving the status of working women and moms throughout our history, and that work is especially important right now as women – and especially women of color and moms – face a devastating wage gap, a child care crisis, and harms caused by our failure to provide paid family and medical leave,” said Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising. “Defunding the Women’s Bureau would send a chilling message to everyone who cares about women and our economy and would rob the country of a powerful advocate for workforce fairness and opportunity. We urge you to reconsider this cut and restore its funding.” “Slashing all funding for the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau would be devastating for all women, particularly women of color, and their families. As the only federal bureau with the sole mission of focusing on the interests of women in the workforce, its elimination could hurt women’s labor force participation, and make it harder for women to have access to workplaces that are safe and free from discrimination,” said Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The National Partnership for Women & Families is proud to stand with lawmakers urging House Appropriations leadership to demonstrate their commitment to women in the workplace and restore funding for the Women’s Bureau immediately.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/frost-webster-hurricane-preparedness-legislation-crosses-major-hurdle-science,"Frost, Webster Hurricane Preparedness Legislation Crosses Major Hurdle As Science, Space, and Tech Committee Includes it in Weather Act, Passes Committee",2023-11-08,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10) announced that his bipartisan bill with Congressman Daniel Webster (R-FL-11), the Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act (H.R. 6080), was successfully included as an amendment to the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, focused on strengthening the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) work to advance the U.S. weather system. The Frost, Webster bill, which passed the Committee unanimously as an amendment, would ensure that hurricane preparedness tools, alerts, and planning systems would address the needs of seniors, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and rural and urban populations by requiring NOAA to review how these populations receive and react to emergency notifications and evaluate how these folks are able to prepare themselves in the event of a hurricane. “The Weather Act Reauthorization is lifesaving legislation which will allow our communities to be better prepared for all kinds of weather,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost. “I’m proud that my bipartisan bill with Rep. Webster, the Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act, was successfully included in this large legislative package to ensure that vulnerable folks like seniors, those with disabilities, and non-English speakers have the knowledge and tools they need to safely make it through a hurricane or any other kind of severe storm. This legislation will save Floridian lives and I look forward to it being passed by the full House and signed into law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-hres-798,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on H.Res. 798,2023-11-07,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, FL — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) released a statement regarding his vote on H.Res. 798. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “After days of reflection, multiple conversations with my constituents and local leaders, and a difficult, but important listening session with students at UCF Hillel’s chapter — I have come to realize that I should have voted differently on H.Res. 798, to send a clear message that I stand against antisemitism. “As an organizer and someone who has spent countless hours on college campuses fighting for gun violence prevention efforts and for the right to protest, I took issue with a few of the falsehoods included in H.Res. 798 and was hoping I’d have the opportunity to vote on the Senate resolution condemning antisemitism, that passed unanimously, but didn’t include those falsehoods. “I truly worried that this would open the door for Republicans to infringe on the free speech of students and young people. Which is why I chose to support and co-sponsor the House version of that same Senate resolution. “I now realize that I did not properly prioritize the message this resolution was intended to send — that antisemitism has absolutely no place on college campuses or anywhere in our communities. A sentiment I have and always will firmly believe in. “As someone who has taken every opportunity to condemn the vile acts of antisemitism we’ve seen in Central Florida and across the state, I stand firmly with my Jewish brothers, sisters, and siblings who are fearfully seeing antisemitism rise across our country. “I realize that ending antisemitism will take more than my condemnation. And I know that if allowed to grow and spread in even the smallest corners of our world, history has proven how vile and horrific the pain and suffering of the Jewish people has been as a result of this hate. “I am and always will be committed to fighting bigotry, and for peace and safety for all. And remain committed to hearing, listening, and learning more from all of my constituents.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3110,Wasserman Schultz Launches Campaign to Secure Release of Cuban Artists Jailed Since July 11 Protests,2023-11-07,2023,2023-11,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 (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus and a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, announced in a House floor speech that she will partner with Freedom House and Amnesty International to advocate for the immediate and unconditional release of two artists and human rights advocates who have been wrongfully imprisoned by the Cuban communist regime. With the support of the Defending Freedoms Project, Wasserman Schultz will highlight the injustice faced by Latin Grammy-winning rapper Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez, a co-author of protest anthem “Patria Y Vida” and visual and performance artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a fierce advocate for free expression and human rights. The Congresswoman will also engage with the Biden Administration to ensure that an end to Maykel and Luis Manuel’s political imprisonment is a top priority in any present future engagement with Cuba. “I’m grateful the Biden Administration granted humanitarian parole to both Luis Manuel and Maykel, but for the Cuban regime, exiling these patriots isn’t enough. Their very existence is a threat,” said Wasserman Schultz. “If we truly intend to live up to our nation’s values, we must work tirelessly to liberate those who continually sacrifice their freedom for others.” After announcing her campaign in both English and Spanish, Rep. Wasserman Schultz entered a letter from Luis Manuel published by the Miami Herald and a profile of Maykel from Rolling Stone into the Congressional Record to raise awareness among her colleagues and constituents. Listen to her full floor remarks here. “We welcome Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s critical and timely advocacy on behalf of Luis Manuel and Maykel. Their work to spotlight human rights abuses in Cuba through their art deserves our attention now more than ever as they continue to languish in prison in deplorable conditions,” Margaux Ewen, Director of Freedom House’s Political Prisoners Initiative. “We join Rep. Wasserman Schultz and Amnesty International in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Luis Manuel and Maykel, in addition to the 780+ political prisoners that remain unjustly incarcerated in Cuba.” The Congresswoman’s complete remarks are below, along with background information on both Maykel and Luis Manuel. Mr. Speaker, I rise to demand the immediate release of two Cuban prisoners of conscience. Two years ago, thousands of Cubans peacefully demonstrated for their basic rights, and their corrupt rulers responded with a brutal, indiscriminate crackdown. Maykel Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara both helped forge the historic and resurgent pro-democracy movement on July 11th. They’ve been imprisoned ever since. Maykel, a Latin Grammy-winning rapper, co-authored the song “Patria Y Vida,” an anthem for the mass demonstrations. Luis Manuel, an Afro-Cuban visual artist, has fought passionately for free expression and against censorship. Maykel disappeared from public view after being detained without a warrant on May 18, 2021, and a kangaroo court sentenced him to nine years in prison. The U.N. reports Maykel remains imprisoned “solely for his pro-democracy activism”, enduring inmate threats, solitary confinement, and denied family visits and medical attention. Yet he still rebels however he can. On the anniversary of the July 11 protests, he sewed his mouth shut and tattooed “Patria Y Vida” on his arm. Maykel told friends: “I have enough strength to keep bleeding…I prefer with great pride to descend in a coffin than to bow.” Luis Manuel’s despicable treatment is compounded by the jarring legacy of anti-Black racism in Cuba. On July 11th he too was arrested after posting a video on his plans to join Cuba’s mass democracy demonstrations. Like Maykel, he was tried behind closed doors, thrown in a maximum-security prison. Due to abuse, bad medical care, and denial of food and water, Luis Manuel is suffering from extreme weight loss and severe medical issues. I’m grateful the Biden Administration granted humanitarian parole to both Luis Manuel and Maykel, but for the Cuban regime, exiling these patriots isn’t enough. Their very existence is a threat. While these cases are egregious, thousands of peaceful pro-democracy protesters have been jailed, tortured, or killed. If we truly intend to live up to our nation’s values, we must work tirelessly to liberate those who continually sacrifice their freedom for others. As co-chair of the Cuba Democracy Caucus, I proudly join forces with Freedom House and Amnesty International to demand justice for Maykel and Luis Manuel through the Defending Freedoms Project. I intend to use my platform to ensure their unconditional release is a top priority in any discussion of Cuba policy. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me. Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez is a Cuban rapper and artist who has received two Latin Grammy awards. Along with several other Cuban artists, he co-authored and released the song “Patria Y Vida” which became the anthem for the mass demonstrations in Cuba on July 11, 2021. Maykel was arbitrarily detained at his home by state security officials without a warrant on May 18, 2021, according to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Following his detention, he forcibly disappeared and subsequently was transferred to the high security 5 y Medio prison in Pinar del Río on May 31, 2021 where he currently remains. Following a closed-door trial with significant police presence, Maykel was sentenced in June 2022 to nine years in prison. In response to a complaint by seven international NGOs to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions, the United Nations found that Maykel “has been imprisoned solely for his pro-democracy activism” and demanded his release. The Cuban regime has not given any indication that he will be released. Cuban authorities haven’t responded to the request of Castillo Pérez to leave the country with his family. He and his family were approved to travel to the United States under humanitarian parole at the beginning of 2023. Maykel has been subject to punishment cells, suspension of family visits, solitary confinement, delays in providing him necessary medical attention, threats from other inmates, and constant interrogations from state security. Since the beginning of April 2023, the organization started receiving reports that Maykel has been harassed and threatened by other prisoners to harm him after authorities installed a camera in the area where he is detained. On July 12th of 2023, Maykel sewed his mouth shut and tattooed ""Patria y Vida"" (on his arm to protest threats to his life from fellow inmates and state security agents that he has been receiving for months. The next day, the authorities removed the stitches from Maykel's mouth and informed him that he would be denied visits from his family. He was placed in solitary confinement on 14 July. In his latest call to his friends on 18 July, he said: ""It's not enough because I have enough strength to keep bleeding… It's not enough that they lock me up in a prison, lying to my people, extorting my career. I prefer with great pride to descend in a coffin than to bow (…)"" Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a self-taught Black Cuban visual and performance artist and member of the anti-censorship San Isidro Movement who was arrested while attempting to participate in the peaceful protests of July 11, 2021. On July 11th of 2021, Luis Manuel posted a video online, saying he would be joining one of the largest demonstrations Cuba had seen in decades. Luis Manuel was arrested and taken to Guanajay maximum security prison, where he remains to this day. His trial, like Maykel’s, was conducted behind closed doors and in violation of the essential guarantees of judicial impartiality, transparency, and independence. Luis Manuel is in a declining state of health. He has suffered a dislocated knee, is having problems with one of his eyes and has had circulatory problems. Like Maykel, he has lost a great deal of weight in recent months, according to information provided to Amnesty International. The United Nations Committee against Torture has already expressed its concern at the overcrowding, lack of ventilation, poor medical care, malnutrition, and insufficient provision of water in Cuban prisons. Like Maykel, Luis Manuel has been approved to enter the United States under humanitarian parole, but Cuba has not allowed him to leave the country. Along with hundreds of others, he is being arbitrarily detained simply for exercising his right to free expression. In a letter published by the Miami Herald, he stated: “Today every young Cuban is a political prisoner. A censored artist. An exile inside and outside Cuba… as I approach the age of 35 behind bars, I reflect on the loss of youth under a dictatorial system.” ####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/one-year-out-2024-elections-congressman-frost-announce-new-votes-act-ensure,Congressman Frost Announces New VOTES Act to Ensure All Servicemembers Can Participate in Elections,2023-11-06,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, FL — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) was joined by local Central Florida leaders as he unveiled the Voting Overseas Treated Equally for Servicemembers (VOTES) Act, legislation to support and protect the right to vote of servicemembers serving overseas. Specifically, Congressman Frost’s bill would fix a gap in federal law that only allows “active duty” servicemembers stationed overseas to request an absentee ballot, excluding potentially thousands of overseas servicemembers who might have a different duty status such as “active service” or “inactive duty-training.” These servicemembers may be members of the Reserve or National Guard who are deployed as part of military drills or critical training exercises but who never receive “active duty” status. In 2021 alone there were over 760,000 Reserve and National Guard servicemembers and it’s unclear how many of those folks were stationed overseas and unable to participate in our democracy. Frost stood alongside Pernell Bush, a local U.S. Marine veteran, and Michael Adams from the City of Orlando’s Veterans Advisory Council in calling the VOTES Act an important opportunity to reaffirm our support for the brave people currently protecting our very democracy. “As it stands right now, thousands of service members, many of whom have put their lives on the line and sacrificed being close to their families and friends in order to serve this country, are unable to participate in elections,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “It is a huge oversight of our government that these servicemembers doing their honorable duty to defend and protect our democracy are currently being excluded from our democratic process. The bipartisan VOTES Act is our opportunity to extend the guarantee of being able to participate in democracy to all servicemembers, not just some.” The VOTES Act has been endorsed by American Legion, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, National Guard Association of the United States, and VoteVets. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-maxwell-frost-and-cory-mills-partner-new-bill-crackdown-untracked,Congressmen Maxwell Frost and Cory Mills Partner on New Bill to Crackdown on Untracked Defense Spending,2023-11-03,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10) and Congressman Cory Mills (R-FL-07) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation called the Defense Spending Oversight Act (H.R. 6187), a bill that would play a critical step in securing accountability and avoiding waste, fraud, and abuse in defense spending. Specifically, the Frost, Mills legislation would require Inspectors General to create reports evaluating the net financial benefit of budget oversight investigations to crack down on the billions of unaccounted for taxpayer dollars being given to the DoD and military contractors with insufficient accountability. In 2022, the Federal Times reported that the Pentagon officials recovered $13.2 million in just six months from a hotline that helped uncover wrongdoing from private contractors. A figure which underscores the need for Frost and Mills’ bill to further support the critical work of Inspectors General who aid in auditing government agencies and recuperating these funds. “Waste, fraud, and abuse in defense spending is too common,” said Rep. Frost. “Congressman Mills and I both know that adequate funding to ensure our national defense is entirely different from writing a blank check at the cost of Florida's taxpayers. Our bipartisan bill is an important part of cracking down on wasteful spending and recouping our tax dollars to hold bad actors accountable in the long run.” “The American people have a right to know their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being used effectively,” said Rep. Mills. “I’m pleased to join my colleague, Rep. Frost, in this bipartisan effort to ensure there is proper transparency and spending oversight of the DOD. We must strive towards eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse from our federal agencies.” Earlier this year, Congressman Frost was successful in including similar language as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024. The introduction of this bill with Rep. Mills further underscores the bipartisan commitment Congress must have to cracking down on wasteful spending without accountability.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/wilson-and-lalota-introduce-bill-to-increase-transparency-at-fema,Wilson and LaLota Introduce Bill to Increase Transparency at FEMA,2023-11-03,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, House of Representative members Frederica Wilson (FL-24) andNick LaLota (NY-01) introduced the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act. This bill would hold the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) accountable for the case management staff turnover rate and require FEMA to provide information on what they are doing to improve retention rates. ""As a proud South Florida native, our resilient community has weathered decades of natural disasters, forging a close partnership with FEMA as they help support Floridians recovering from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and much more. During times of uncertainty, it is essential that FEMA provides disaster assistance to families who have endured unimaginable losses, offering them the relief they need to recover without the fear of their cases getting lost in the bureaucratic shuffle, particularly in the face of high staff turnover,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""I'm proud to join Representative LaLota in co-introducing the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act, which marks a significant stride in ensuring FEMA's commitment to accountability concerning the turnover rate among its case management staff. We must guarantee that this vital agency not only responds promptly to disaster survivors but also works to improve staff retention and provide the critical support families need to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of these devastating events."" ""My constituents are incredibly familiar with FEMA given our history of natural disasters and storms, especially the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. FEMA has one of the higher turnover rates of any federal agency, which is troubling given the important work they do with victims of natural disasters to help get lives back on track,"" said LaLota, a member of the Homeland Security Committee. ""My FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act would ensure cases, disaster relief, and recovery funding do not fall through the cracks when a new caseworker comes on. We must ensure we have a transparent government which works for the people, not against them."" To read the full text of the resolution, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404363,U.S. Rep. Castor Statement in Support of Humanitarian Aid and Security Assistance,2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement on passage of House Republicans’ fiscally irresponsible and partisan bill that delays aid to Israel and Ukraine and omits humanitarian assistance: “In a maneuver that harms America’s national security, House Republicans are stalling swift passage of security assistance to Israel and deserting our allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific at a time that they need us most. The House GOP’s bill immorally excludes humanitarian aid for innocent Palestinians who are used as human shields by Hamas terrorists. The GOP bill also appallingly attempts to shield rich tax cheats and increases the federal deficit. “Republican chaos in the House, default and shutdown threats, and wasteful, partisan bills are all a result of the far right MAGA extremists who careen from crisis to crisis. It’s irresponsible, and it’s dangerous. “Meanwhile, House Democrats and the U.S. Senate are ready to move forward on bipartisan legislation to help our allies defend themselves and prevent a humanitarian crisis in partnership with President Biden. Defense aid to Israel has always been bipartisan, and the GOP shouldn’t let MAGA extremists break that bond.” “Denying humanitarian assistance to millions of innocent civilians in Gaza and across the region would undermine Israel’s security and stability in the region. It is in America’s national security interest to ensure that the conflict does not widen as Israel defends itself after the barbaric terrorist attack. America can and should help our democratic allies defend themselves and rally other nations to support the humanitarian response.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormicks-statement-israel-security-supplemental,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick’s Statement on the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act,2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,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, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) issued the following statement on the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act. “While I unequivocally support security assistance for Israel, House Republicans led by Speaker Johnson put forward an extremist and reckless supplemental package. Their proposal would increase the deficit by $12.5 billion over the next decade, slash IRS funding, and allow millionaires to cheat on their taxes. Not only is it a disaster for working families, but it also establishes an alarming precedent by conditioning national security needs on partisan poison pill provisions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3655,Rep. Frankel Statement on Supporting Israel Funding Package,2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,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-22) released the following statement after voting in favor of a package to send over $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. ""The United States has a moral duty and national security urgency to aid Israel in defending herself,"" said Rep. Frankel. ""Make no mistake, Hamas terrorists and others in the region are out to destroy Israel and kill all Jews. We must send an unequivocal message to the world that we stand with Israel."" The bill passed the House by a vote of 226-196.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3108,"Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Leaders Denounce Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia for Severing Diplomatic Ties to Israel",2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), was joined by fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Tony Gonzales (R-TX), and the co-chair of the Congressional Colombia Caucus Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), in issuing the following statement in response to recent diplomatic actions taken by Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia: ""We are appalled by the decision of the Governments of Chile and Colombia to recall their Ambassadors from Israel and Bolivia's unilateral suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel. We concur with the Israeli governments assessment that these decisions mark ""a surrender to terrorism and to the Ayatollah's regime in Iran."" ""The United States Congress and the American people strongly support Israel's right to defend itself, as do the overwhelming majority of Latin American Jews, who have condemned the use of antisemitic rhetoric and incitement of violence by Colombian President Petro, Chilean President Boric, and Bolivian President Arce. We stand in solidarity with these communities who have been ignored by their leaders. ""After meeting with Colombia's Ambassador to the U.S. last week and expressing our disdain for President Petro's unceasing stream of antisemitic, defamatory statements, such as accusing Israel of genocide and comparing Colombian Jews to Nazis, we warned that this destructive behavior was unacceptable from a Major non-NATO ally of the United States. ""As leaders of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus and the Congressional Colombia Caucus who have prioritized improving trilateral relations between the U.S., Latin America, and Israel, this evident contempt for Israel and the Jewish people is a deeply disappointing setback that we will endeavor to reverse."" #### Líderes del Caucus Latino-Judío del Congreso denuncian a Chile, Colombia, y Bolivia por romper lazos diplomáticos con Israel Washington, D.C. – Hoy, la Representante Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), se unió a los co-presidentes del Caucus Latino-Judío de la Cámara de Representantes, los Representantes Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), y Tony Gonzales (R-TX), y el co-presidente del Caucus a favor de Colombia de la Cámara de Representantes, el Representante Henry Cuellar (D-TX), para emitir la siguiente declaración en respuesta a las recientes acciones diplomáticas tomadas por Chile, Colombia, y Bolivia: ""Estamos consternados por la decisión de los Gobiernos de Chile y Colombia de retirar a sus embajadores de Israel y la suspensión unilateral de las relaciones diplomáticas de Bolivia con Israel. Estamos de acuerdo con la evaluación del Gobierno israelí de que estas decisiones representan “una rendición al terrorismo y al régimen de los Ayatolás en Irán”, declararon los miembros. ""El Congreso de Estados Unidos y el pueblo americano apoyan firmemente el derecho de Israel a defenderse, al igual que la abrumadora mayoría de los judíos latinoamericanos, quienes han condenado el uso de retórica antisemita e incitación a la violencia por parte del Presidente colombiano Petro, el Presidente chileno Boric y el Presidente boliviano Arce. Nos solidarizamos con estas comunidades que han sido ignoradas por sus líderes”, continuaron los miembros. ""Después de reunirnos con el Embajador de Colombia en Estados Unidos la semana pasada y expresar nuestro desprecio por la continua corriente de declaraciones antisemitas y difamatorias del Presidente Petro, como acusar a Israel de genocidio y comparar a los judíos colombianos con los nazis, advertimos que este comportamiento destructivo era inaceptable por parte de un aliado estratégico no miembro de la OTAN de Estados Unidos”, continuaron los miembros. ""Como líderes del Caucus Latino-Judío de la Cámara de Representantes y del Caucus a favor de Colombia de la Cámara de Representantes, quienes han priorizado mejorar las relaciones trilaterales entre Estados Unidos, América Latina e Israel, este evidente desprecio por Israel y el pueblo judío es un retroceso profundamente decepcionante que nos esforzaremos por revertir"", concluyeron los miembros. ####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3109,Wasserman Schultz On Israel Security Aid Vote,2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington D.C. – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) issued the following statement on Republicans’ partisan Israel supplemental funding bill: “The safety and security of Israel is paramount, especially in her time of crisis. I was appalled at the gross politicization of this critical funding and an unprecedented conditioning of emergency aid to Israel by Speaker Johnson. All week, I worked to rid this bill of the poison it contained, including offering an amendment that would have ensured a clean bill, but they were rejected by Republicans. I urged many of my colleagues to vote against this bill because of the horrendous precedent it set and the urgent need to pass the full emergency supplemental proposed by President Biden. For me, as a Jew, as a Zionist and as the representative of a large Jewish community, I personally needed to cast my vote to stand by Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people, in this moment of crisis. I will continue to work closely with the White House, the Senate, and bipartisan colleagues in the House to ensure America provides vital humanitarian aid and security assistance for our allies in Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404359,U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Statement on Nomination of Judge Julie Sneed to U.S. Court for Middle of District of Florida,2023-11-01,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"TAMPA, FL – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement on President Joe Biden’s nomination of Tampa-based U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie S. Sneed for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida: “I am thrilled that President Biden has nominated the well-respected Tampa Bay area federal Magistrate Judge Julie Sneed for the U.S. Court for the Middle District of Florida. Judge Sneed is widely respected for her proven commitment to fairness and the rule of law. Throughout her career, Judge Sneed has worked to ensure justice is served in a fair and impartial manner. “The Middle District Court is one of the busiest judicial districts in the country, and it is in the midst of a judicial emergency. It’s critical we fill vacancies quickly to ensure that the wheels of justice turn efficiently. “The nomination of a new federal judge is a momentous occasion that underscores the importance of the judicial system in upholding the rule of law and the values we cherish as Americans. This moment signifies the culmination of a meticulous evaluation of Judge Sneed's unimpeachable qualifications, experience and legal expertise. “President Biden’s nomination of Judge Sneed builds on the President’s commitment to fulfilling his promise to ensure the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country – in terms of personal and professional backgrounds. “I look forward to the U.S. Senate’s swift confirmation of Judge Julie S. Sneed for the U.S. Court for the Middle District of Florida.” Judge Julie S. Sneed has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Florida since June 2015. She previously worked as a partner at Akerman LLP from 2012 to 2015; an associate and later a partner at Fowler White Boggs Banker, P.A. from 2004 to 2012; and a litigation associate at Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O’Neill & Mullis, P.A. from 1997 to 2000. Judge Sneed served as a law clerk for Judge James D. Whittemore on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida from 2000 to 2004 and Judge Chris W. Altenbernd on the Florida Second District Court of Appeal from 1995 to 1997. She received her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law in 1994 and her B.S. from the University of Florida in 1991. Judge Sneed is married to Dr. Kevin Sneed, Dean of the University of South Florida’s College of Pharmacy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3103,"Wasserman Schultz, Salazar Condemn Recent Assault on Venezuelan Democracy",2023-11-01,2023,2023-11,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 (D-FL), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, was joined by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, in the releasing the following joint statement in response to recent developments in Venezuela: ""We strongly condemn the decision by Venezuela's regime-controlled court to suspend the democratic opposition's primary election process, which mobilized 2.4 million Venezuelan voters who nominated María Corina Machado as the opposition candidate for the 2024 presidential election. This assault on democracy is a severe breach of democratic principles and a clear violation of the Maduro regime's recent agreement with the opposition Unitary Platform and the Biden Administration.” ""The criminalization of this legitimate political process, which was overseen by independent election observers and coordinated in compliance with international norms, reflects a well-established pattern of disdain for genuine electoral independence and repression of political opponents, as illustrated by the regime’s ban on opposition candidates and parties. ""The court's requirement that the independent National Primary Commission turn over documents identifying Venezuelan voters is especially grave, considering the regime's history of retaliating against dissent through arbitrary imprisonment, extrajudicial killings, torture, marginalization, and denial of social services. We are horrified by the prospect that Venezuelan Americans who participated in the primary vote, including many of our constituents, could become targets of the regime. ""The Biden Administration should use all available tools to enforce the terms of the October 17 agreement, which promised the reimposition of sanctions in the event of a violation, and ensure that Ms. Machado has the opportunity to run in a free, fair election. Every effort must be undertaken to protect Venezuelan voters, including Venezuelan Americans, from retaliation for exercising their right to vote.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404355,"Castor, Florida Democratic Congressional Delegation Urge CMS to Protect Access to Health Coverage for Floridians",2023-10-30,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"TAMPA, FL – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and the entire Florida Democratic Congressional delegation urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to use every tool at its disposal to aid Florida families who are being cut off from their health coverage by the State. The delegation urges CMS to examine the substantial numbers being disenrolled from health coverage and assess whether or not the State of Florida properly follows federal rules and regulations related to Medicaid redeterminations. If they are not, CMS should take action to prevent any unnecessary and improper loss of coverage. “Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) has redetermined eligibility for over 2.2 million individuals since the end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. Of the nearly 675,000 individuals who have been terminated from the program, 72% of them were for procedural reasons, not because the individual was no longer eligible for the program,” the lawmakers write. “We are particularly concerned that through October 2023, Florida has disenrolled 201,078 children from the Medicaid program, while the net enrollment in KidCare – Florida’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – has only been 25,281.” “We strongly encourage CMS to investigate whether the state is complying with all federal rules and regulations regarding Medicaid redetermination,” the lawmakers concluded. “If necessary, we urge you to use every tool at your disposal, including potentially exercising statutory authorities to issue corrective action plans or pause procedural terminations, to ensure the state remedies serious flaws in its redetermination process.” The full letter is available .",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/cherfilus-mccormick-florida-democratic-congressional-delegation-urge-cms,"Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida Democratic Congressional Delegation Urge CMS to Protect Access to Health Coverage for Floridians",2023-10-30,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20) and the entire Florida Democratic Congressional delegation urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to use every tool at its disposal to aid Florida families who are being cut off from their health coverage by the State. The delegation urges CMS to examine the substantial numbers being disenrolled from health coverage and assess whether or not the State of Florida properly follows federal rules and regulations related to Medicaid redeterminations. If they are not, CMS should take action to prevent any unnecessary and improper loss of coverage. “Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) has redetermined eligibility for over 2.2 million individuals since the end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. Of the nearly 675,000 individuals who have been terminated from the program, 72% of them were for procedural reasons, not because the individual was no longer eligible for the program,” the lawmakers write. “We are particularly concerned that through October 2023, Florida has disenrolled 201,078 children from the Medicaid program, while the net enrollment in KidCare – Florida’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – has only been 25,281.” “We strongly encourage CMS to investigate whether the state is complying with all federal rules and regulations regarding Medicaid redetermination,” the lawmakers concluded. “If necessary, we urge you to use every tool at your disposal, including potentially exercising statutory authorities to issue corrective action plans or pause procedural terminations, to ensure the state remedies serious flaws in its redetermination process.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-launches-district-20-advisory-board,Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Launches District 20 Advisory Board,2023-10-30,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"TAMARAC, FL – Today, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick launched the Congressional District 20 Advisory Board, which will collectively leverage the expertise and lived experiences of constituents across a wide range of industries and sectors. “Direct input and firsthand accounts from community leaders across Florida’s 20th Congressional District are integral to my work in Washington,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick. “The District 20 Advisory Board will harness constituents’ lived experiences to support district-wide initiatives and legislative solutions that best meet the needs of FL-20. I thank all of the Advisory Board members for their service and look forward to working with them hand in hand.” A full roster of board committee members can be found below: Business & Labor Advisory Board Sandra Christie-Brown Rodney Davis Dymond Franklin Makeba Gassant Taniel Koushakjian Sergio Piedra Sylvia Sharps Peter Mason Amy Moore Housing, Transportation & Urban Development Board Paul Calvaresi Luciene Gomes Gregory Gryczan Karina Ramirez Dmitri Kryjanovski Donald Campbell Natasha Britton Healthcare Advisory Board Li Kruszka Barbara Martin Annalynn Schooley Targol Tarahomi Natalie DeLeon Martine Senatus Veterans Advisory Board Christopher Jhon Makissa Lewis Edna Frazier S. “Ray” Martin Faith Leader Advisory Board Sheila Harvey Madline Noel Tyrielle Jarmon Garry Paxinos Seniors Advisory Board Stewart Webster Nashika Jackson-Ogilvie Paola Pouponneau-Nisbett",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3102,Wasserman Schultz on Speaker Johnson's Jeopardizing Israel Security Aid,2023-10-30,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington DC – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) released the following statement regarding Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson’s insistence on unprecedented offsets for approval of any Israel security aid: “Support for defending Israel should not come with conditions, be it cutting foreign military financing by 30% or offsetting aid in a time of crucial need. I am deeply disturbed by Speaker Johnson playing political games with Israeli emergency funding, something our nation has never done in a time of crisis. This extreme tactic undercuts our credibility and feeds the absurd notion that America must choose between providing for our neighbors and pushing back against genocidal terrorists who kill and kidnap Israelis and Americans. We cannot afford to politicize the battle against Hamas and Iran, giving ammunition to anti-Israel extremists around the world. When your neighbor’s house is on fire, you don’t haggle over the price of the garden hose. Speaker Johnson's political games are offensive to all pro-Israel Americans, and I hope he reverses course immediately.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-maxwell-frost-daniel-webster-partner-bipartisan-bill-fix-gaps,"Congressmen Maxwell Frost, Daniel Webster Partner on Bipartisan Bill to Fix Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness for Floridians",2023-10-27,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10) and Congressman Daniel Webster (R-FL-11) announced the introduction of their bipartisan bill, the Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act (H.R. 6080) to save lives in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. The legislation, which marks Frost’s first bipartisan bill, would ensure that hurricane preparedness tools, alerts, and planning systems would address the needs of seniors, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and rural and urban populations. Specifically, the Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act would require the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to review how these populations receive and react to emergency notifications and evaluate how these folks are able to prepare themselves in the event of a hurricane. Closing these gaps have proven to be critical as two-thirds or more of the fatalities from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Florence in 2018, and Hurricane Ian in 2022 were people over 60 years old. And all of Hurricane Dorian’s Central Florida fatalities were people aged 56 to 86. “With Florida and our people on the frontlines of worsening hurricanes and storms, the Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act will help pave the way for new steps that will help protect the most at-risk folks from the worst of a natural disaster,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost. “Our emergency communications and preparations systems need to meet Floridians where they are at – whether you’re a senior, someone living with a disability, or a non-English speaker – you deserve to have the knowledge and tools necessary to protect yourself from a hurricane, and this bill does just that.” “As Floridians, we are not strangers to the terrible power and ravages of hurricanes and tropical storms, and we recognize the need for emergency relief when such tragedies occur,” said Rep. Daniel Webster. “In the wake of natural disasters, seniors, people with disabilities and those in rural areas are often most vulnerable. The Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act will help federal agencies evaluate how these harder to reach populations receive emergency notifications and identify shortcomings to improve preparedness and assure that assistance will swiftly reach those at the time of need.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-ciscomani-sponsor-new-bipartisan-effort-support,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ciscomani, Sponsor New Bipartisan Effort to Support Community College Nursing Programs",2023-10-26,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20) and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) introduced new bipartisan legislation this week to support additional funding for nursing programs at community colleges. Full text of the legislation is available here. The Grants for Resources in Occupational Workforce Training for Healthcare (GROWTH) Act expands eligibility to the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR)—Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (PRNP) grants under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to include community colleges. The bill would also prioritize allocating up to 50 percent of total funds to community colleges or partnerships with community colleges. Currently, a large majority of these grants go to 4-year institutions. “The national nursing shortage has hit health facilities hard and compromised access to quality care,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick. “That is precisely why we must make it easier for community college students to pursue a successful career in nursing, without worrying about financial hurdles. I am proud to introduce the bipartisan GROWTH Act, which will bolster our healthcare system and address this critical workforce shortage.” “As a proud graduate of Pima Community College, I know how crucial these institutions are to students, the workforce, and our communities,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “These students should have the same opportunities and funding as their counterparts at a 4-year university. This bill strengthens our nursing workforce while improving the programs offered by our community colleges.” Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Ciscomani are joined on the bill by Reps. John James (R-MI-10), David Trone (D-MD-06), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03). This legislation is also supported by American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Families USA. “Community colleges make an essential contribution to the country’s nursing workforce, conferring 75% of all associate nursing degrees in 2019-20,” said Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, the President and CEO of the AACC. “The community colleges’ highly qualified graduates work across the nation contributing greatly to local and regional workforce pipelines while earning family sustaining wages. These community college nursing programs play a critical role in the nation’s workforce but receive virtually no funding through the basic federal nursing program. This important legislation would help these colleges secure badly needed resources to support and expand these costly educational programs while helping to broaden the nation’s nursing workforce and enhance patient care.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-announces-over-100-million-federal-dollars-help,Congressman Maxwell Frost Announces Over $100 Million in Federal Dollars to Help Lower Air Conditioning Costs for Millions of Floridians,2023-10-26,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) announced that Florida has been awarded $106,028,700 in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this funding will help working Floridians and low-income families pay their home cooling bills in the summer and heating costs this winter. The money can also help folks, especially seniors, weatherproof their homes to make them more energy efficient, and mitigate energy emergencies during disasters and extreme weather like hurricanes and heat waves. The funding comes after Congressman Frost sent a letter earlier this year calling for increased funding for LIHEAP toprovide states in the South with the resources they need to help families pay their electricity bills and stay cool during the record-breaking heat waves. “Florida families should never have to choose between living in extreme heat or putting food on the table, but that’s exactly the choice too many working people are facing in our state,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “Over $100 million coming to Florida means warmer winters, cooler summers, and safer homes for low-income households, particularly those with seniors, individuals with disabilities, and young children. Thanks to President Biden and our Democratic colleagues in Congress, Florida families are going to see their energy costs go down and their quality of living go up.” Individuals interested in applying for LIHEAP can visit energyhelp.us or?call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at:?1-866-674-6327.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-votes-in-favor-of-resolution-to-support-israel,Congresswoman Wilson Votes in Favor of Resolution to Support Israel,2023-10-26,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), member of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and Congressional Democratic Israel Working Group Caucus, released the following statement reacting to the Resolution to stand with Israel. ""Today, Congress set aside partisanship and stood in solidarity with Israel during a time of significant hardship for the nation. Hundreds of Israelis have lost their lives at the hands of Hamas. To this day, Hamas still holds Israeli and American hostages, perpetuating fear among the people. I am proud to vote for the bipartisan resolution to let the world know the United States stands with Israel. Democrats and Republicans understand the dire situation in Israel, and we must stand with one of our closest allies. This resolution states loudly that when Israel is strong, America is strong. Our national security and commitment to democracy and freedom depend on our support for Israel. I am pleased to see the House of Representatives united in standing with Israel. I look forward to allocating the necessary funds to ensure Israel's self-defense against all attacks."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404348,Castor Statement on Election of New Speaker of the House from Extreme Right Wing,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today released the following statement after Republican Rep. Michael Johnson (LA-04) was elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives after weeks of GOP chaos: “From the moment Republicans gained a majority in the House, Americans have endured unnecessary and costly chaos at the hands of extreme MAGA Republicans. Republicans have used default and shutdown threats to force a radical agenda on American families. Now, the MAGA wing has elevated one of its most extreme members to Speaker. “Speaker Johnson’s record is very concerning for my Tampa Bay neighbors as he has voted to gut Social Security and Medicare, criminalize abortion, repeal marriage equality, and abandon our allies. Johnson was intimately involved in the effort to throw out fairly-cast votes in 2020 Election, which should be disqualifying to serve as Speaker. “Time is of the essence to address the many challenges facing Americans. I will continue to urge a bipartisan path forward in the coming days to end the chaos caused by MAGA extremists, and do the work we were sent here to do.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404349,Rep. Castor Statement on Passage of House Resolution in Support of Israel’s Right to Defend Itself Against Barbaric Hamas Terrorist Attacks,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement upon passage of a resolution in support of Israel’s right to defend itself and condemning Hamas and other terrorist organizations. ""I stand with Israel and the Jewish people in the wake of the barbaric attack by Hamas terrorists. I am deeply saddened by the brutal murders, rapes and hostage-taking of innocent people. I pray for all of those who've been injured and for all the innocent people in harm's way. “In the coming days, the Congress will consider approving additional security assistance to Israel, humanitarian aid for the innocent people in Gaza and other critical needs. It is in the national security interests of the United States to work to prevent escalation of a wider war as President Biden works to free hostages and provide safe passage for critical supplies.” H.Res. 771 passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, including every member of Florida’s Congressional Delegation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3652,Rep. Frankel Statement on House Republicans Handing the Gavel to MAGA Extremism,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after House Republicans elected Rep. Mike Johnson to become the next Speaker of the House. “With their vote today, Republicans have once again turned the House over to MAGA extremism,” said Rep. Frankel. “Mike Johnson was a central architect of the former President’s dangerous, shameful effort to overturn the 2020 election, has supported numerous bills to ban abortion nationwide, and proposed a budget to cut Social Security benefits. With my House Democrats, I remain committed to putting People Over Politics—working to lower everyday costs, defend reproductive freedom, and protect our national security.” By a vote of 220-209, Rep. Johnson was voted Speaker of the House. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-election-rep-mike-johnson-speaker-house,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on Election of Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement following the election of Congressman Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House of Representatives. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “For the last 22 days, the American people have had a front row seat to the embarrassment that is the House Republican Conference as they’ve fought one another to select a new leader more extreme than the last. “Well today they have succeeded in doing just that. Mike Johnson is an election denying, LGBTQ+ hating, extremist conservative who wants to slash your Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and supports banning abortion so that women are forced to give birth to provide more “able-bodied workers” for our workforce. “He was the chief architect to overturn the 2020 election, voting to appease a seditious movement that aimed to destroy our democracy for personal gain. “Mike Johnson isn’t here to govern on behalf of the American people – he’s here to impose his ultra conservative will onto our nation, to drive our economy to the brink of a shutdown if we don’t agree to slash and burn critical federal programs, and to bow down to his self-proclaimed leader – the indicted former president. “The clown show continues, and it’s working folks across Florida and our country who suffer.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-announces-106-million-for-florida-to-help-households-with-home-energy-costs,Congresswoman Wilson Announces $106 Million for Florida to Help Households with Home Energy Costs,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) announced that Florida was awarded $106 million in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered through the Administration for Children and Families Office of Community Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this funding will help individuals and families with low incomes pay their home heating costs this winter and with cooling bills in the summer. LIHEAP can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient and during disasters and extreme weather to mitigate energy emergencies. Today's funding release includes funds appropriated by Congress from the Continuing Appropriations Act 2024 and $100 million appropriated for FY 2024 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. ""LIHEAP funding has been a lifeline for South Florida families, ensuring all our residents feel safe and can escape scorching temperature, especially during scorching heatwaves that seem to get hotter and last longer every year,"" Congresswoman Wilson said. ""I'm thankful to the Biden Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services for helping Florida families have the support they need to stay cool, safe, and secure. With these critical funds, we're not just providing financial relief; we're offering peace of mind to Floridians when they most need it."" Maintaining safe indoor air temperatures is critical, particularly for households that include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and young children. By helping to reduce the costs of home heating and cooling bills, reconnecting energy services that have been disconnected, preventing energy shutoffs, and providing minor energy-related home repairs, LIHEAP helps make sure that our neighbors can meet their home energy needs and stay safe in their homes. Individuals interested in applying for LIHEAP can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at 1-866-674-6327. Not sure whether you qualify? Households can easily identify if they may be eligible for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us. In addition to releasing the funding, ACF's Office of Community Services (OCS) has updated its LIHEAP heating season toolkit to help grant recipients and stakeholders effectively reach households in need of assistance. To access the toolkit's outreach materials including flyers, social media templates, and animated videos, visit the OCS Website. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-reaction-to-the-election-of-mike-johnson-as-speaker-of-the-us-house-of-representatives,Congresswoman Wilson's Reaction to the Election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on the election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House of Representatives. ""I want to congratulate our new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. As we emerge from the turbulence that has gripped the House for the past 22 days, I hope we can put the partisanship aside and work together, as Democrats and Republicans, to deliver for the American people. Speaker Mike Johnson has the opportunity to bring fresh leadership to this House of Representatives and, by extension, the nation. The office of Speaker transcends any individual or political party. In the United States of America, it is our duty to champion America and maintain our values of democracy and freedom. I look forward to working with Speaker Mike Johnson, as it is our shared responsibility to serve the American people and uphold our position of leadership on the global stage."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3101,"Blumenthal, Wasserman Schultz Lead Reintroduction of Youth E-cigarette & Tobacco Prevention Legislation",2023-10-24,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Millions of young people are using harmful e-cigarettes & other flavored tobacco products [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) reintroduced their bicameral Preventing Opportunities for Teen E-Cigarette and Tobacco Addiction (PROTECT) Act to address tobacco use by millions of American teens. E-cigarettes and other tobacco products with nicotine have been found to be harmful to long-term health and adolescent brain development. “This bill will help prevent yet another generation from getting hooked on tobacco,” said Blumenthal. “The scourge of e-cigarette and tobacco use among teens and young adults poses a real, dangerous threat to their long-term health and development. JUUL, Puff Bar, and other e-cigarette manufacturers have taken a page right out of Big Tobacco’s playbook, using deceptive marketing tactics and preying on impressionable youth by promoting extravagant flavors and products. By improving research, education, and outreach, the PROTECT Act would equip the CDC as well as states and localities with the funds and tools necessary to protect young people from the e-cigarette industry’s manipulative practices.” “The profit-driven, predatory drive to hook America’s young people on e-cigarettes and tobacco products demands an aggressive counterattack, and this bill would arm parents, healthcare providers, schools, and policymakers with the vital tools we need to defeat the perils children face with this ongoing epidemic,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Through research, guidance, and messaging, this legislation would develop targeted strategies to aggressively address the dangers caused by e-cigarettes. At all costs, we need to ensure our young people do not become addicted to these harmful products. I am proud to help lead this important legislation that takes a bold step toward addressing this urgent public health issue.” The PROTECT Act would establish a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative that authorizes $500 million over five years for enhanced research and education about the harmful effects of tobacco products. The bill would also identify effective messaging aimed at teens and young adults, and allocate funds via grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to state, local, tribal, and national organizations for preventing and reducing youth e-cigarette use. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), as well as U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA). The PROTECT Act is endorsed by a number of organizations, including American Lung Association, American Heart Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, LUNGevity Foundation, QuitDoc Foundation, and Tobacco Free Partnership of Broward County. “Youth vaping continues to be a serious public health concern with more than 2.5 million middle and high school students reporting that they have used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days, according to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Steps must be taken by parents, educators and especially policymakers to end the youth e-cigarette epidemic,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “The introduction of the PROTECT Act will give us the tools we need to help kids quit and prevent another generation of young people from becoming addicted to tobacco.” “The PROTECT Act would fund what the tobacco industry has spent years working to prevent: independent, rigorous scientific research on e-cigarette use and effective interventions that health care providers and schools can use with youth and young adults addicted to e-cigarettes,” said Mark Schoeberl, Executive Vice President of Advocacy at the American Heart Association. “The American Heart Association thanks Sen. Blumenthal and Rep. Wasserman Schultz for their leadership in confronting the e-cigarette epidemic and working to protect our nation’s children from a lifetime of tobacco use and nicotine addiction.” “The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids strongly supports the Preventing Opportunities for Teen E-Cigarette and Tobacco Addiction (PROTECT) Act. This legislation recognizes that youth e-cigarette use remains a serious public health problem in the United States and that CDC requires additional resources to help bring this crisis to an end,” said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “We applaud the sponsors of the legislation, Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), for their leadership in working to stop tobacco companies from addicting kids with e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products.” “On behalf of the millions of families whose lives have been upended by the youth vaping epidemic, we are grateful to Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) for their continued support in addressing this vital issue,” said Dorian Fuhrman and Meredith Berkman, co-Founders of Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes. “Big Tobacco has proven to be nimble in introducing new products and skirting regulations. The Preventing Opportunities for Teen E–Cigarette and Tobacco Addiction Act (PROTECT Act) would give the CDC tools to reduce teen e-cigarette use and address much-needed cessation strategies for young people addicted to nicotine.” “Our organization has been waiting for a long time for federal legislation designed to reverse the youth vaping epidemic created by the tobacco industry,” said Dr. Barry Hummel, a Pediatrician and Co-Founder of the QuitDoc Foundation. “The PROTECT Act will provide the resources necessary to fight this battle on two fronts. The bill not only focuses on the prevention services designed to prevent the initiation of vaping by underage minors, but recognizes the need to create adequate intervention and cessation services for children and teens to help the overcome nicotine addiction.” The text of the Senate version of the bill is available here. The House introduced an identical version of the legislation. -xxxx-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-hosts-stakeholder-roundtable,Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Hosts Stakeholder Roundtable on Multinational Security Mission,2023-10-20,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – On October 16, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) hosted a roundtable discussion with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Barbara Feinstein on the recent United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing a multinational security mission in Haiti. “This roundtable served as an opportunity for the Haitian Diaspora to discuss a path forward for Haiti and define the multinational security mission’s rules of engagement and safeguards. I am grateful that Deputy Assistant Secretary Barbara Feinstein was able to join this important and much-needed dialogue, and I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for their firm commitment to respecting Haitians’ self-determination,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “The distinctive backgrounds, expertise, and cultural competency of the Diaspora are essential to engagement and will ensure that we do not make the same mistakes of the past during this defining moment in Haiti’s future. As Deputy Assistant Secretary Feinstein highlighted during the roundtable, I share the view that this mission is an important first step for Haiti but will be insufficient without political consensus on the ground.” “The Haitian Diaspora is a vital partner in supporting Haiti on a path towards improved security, prosperity, and a return to democratic order. I applaud Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s vision in convening Haitian American leaders to discuss the multidimensional crisis in Haiti. Their valuable and frank insights, expertise and know-how will continue to inform our approach at this critical time,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Barbara Feinstein. The roundtable served as an open discussion with Haitian Diaspora community leaders in South Florida on the multinational security mission and the role that civil society can play in this effort, as well as on other relevant topics including justice, governance, and arms trafficking. This roundtable is an ongoing conversation and part of a larger series of discussions around what it will take to move Haiti forward. Attendees included representatives from the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, the City of Miami Gardens, the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON), the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce, Community Alliance Relief & Empowerment Services (CARES), Pathways to Wellness Foundation, the Family Action Network Movement in Action, and other key representatives from the Haitian Diaspora. Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick ― the only Haitian American Member in Congress ― proudly serves as a permanent member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a co-chair of the Haiti Caucus and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Haiti Working Group.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3100,Wasserman Schultz on Biden Administration Push for Venezuela Democracy Reforms,2023-10-19,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, released the following statement on an agreement between the Maduro regime, Venezuela’s democratic opposition, and the United States: “President Biden’s Venezuela policy is based on the fact that negotiations are the best path to end the political crisis. This has informed his application of tough sanctions to secure must-have concessions on free elections, political prisoners, and humanitarian access. “I’m confident that the President will swiftly reimpose sanctions if Maduro falls short of his commitments. After reviewing the terms of the deal, I believe that the U.S. maintains more than enough leverage to enforce compliance. It’s imperative that the U.S. responds immediately and forcefully with snapback sanctions to any violation of this accord, bearing in mind the regime’s repeated failures to live up to its promises. “Sanctions are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Most of the penalties are staying in place until the regime follows through. This is a “prove it” deal: one last shot for Maduro to deliver the reforms his people deserve. “This agreement is a clear demonstration of President Biden’s dedication to the restoration of democracy and prosperity for the Venezuelan people through free elections and a framework for a transition away from the era of dictatorship. “The work is not yet done. But this progress would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of opposition leaders and candidates in the Unitary Platform, the National Assembly, and the presidential primary field. I hope that this framework will give them the opening they need to lead their country back to freedom. I look forward to following developments in the country closely to ensure that we see substantial progress for Venezuelans.” En Español “La política del presidente Biden en Venezuela reconoce que las negociaciones son el mejor camino para poner fin a la crisis política. Esto incluye la aplicación de duras sanciones para garantizar concesiones imprescindibles en materia de elecciones, prisioneros y acceso humanitario. “Confío en que el presidente volverá rápidamente a imponer sanciones si Maduro no cumple con sus compromisos. Después de revisar los términos del acuerdo, creo que Estados Unidos mantiene una influencia más que suficiente para hacer cumplir el acuerdo. Es imperativo que respondemos inmediatamente y enérgicamente con sanciones ""snapback"" a cualquier violación de este acuerdo, teniendo en cuenta los repetidos fracasos del régimen a la hora de cumplir sus promesas. “Las sanciones son un medio para lograr un fin, no un fin en sí mismas. La mayoría seguirán vigentes hasta que el régimen cumpla con sus obligaciones. Este es un acuerdo para “demostrarlo”: una última oportunidad para que Maduro implemente reformas. “Este acuerdo es una clara demostración de la dedicación del presidente Biden a la restauración de la democracia y la prosperidad para el pueblo venezolano a través de elecciones libres y un marco para una transición que salga de la era de la dictadura. “El trabajo aún no está terminado. Pero este progreso no habría sido posible sin los esfuerzos incansables de los líderes y candidatos de la oposición en la Plataforma Unitaria, la Asamblea Nacional y las primarias presidenciales. Espero que este marco brinda la oportunidad que necesitan para llevar a su país de regreso a la libertad. Espero seguir de cerca los acontecimientos en el país para asegurar que veamos un progreso sustancial para los venezolanos.” ####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-gop-dysfunction-house-remains-speakerless,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on GOP Dysfunction as House Remains Speakerless,2023-10-17,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement following the continued failure of House Republicans as the GOP conference was yet again unable to elect a new Speaker of the House. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “For weeks, our country has watched the Republican conference flounder and fight internally just to get to this very point, where once again we see the GOP be unable to unite behind a Republican Speaker, while democrats are united behind Leader Hakeem Jeffries – who continues to have the most votes for speaker. “Republicans have proven since day one that they are and remain unserious about our country’s challenges and the work we need to get done. “The people of Central Florida are watching $11.3 million in community funding projects slip out of our grasp because House Republicans can’t get their act together. Every minute we waste on Republican dysfunction is a minute gone by without offering real solutions to the problems we’re facing in Florida.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-violence-gaza,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on Violence in Gaza,2023-10-17,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement following the continued violence in Gaza. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “Our goal is for lasting peace, security, and self-determination, and with that in mind we must push for an urgent end to the bloodshed of innocent civilians in Gaza and Israel. “I support Israel’s need to end the campaign of terror by Hamas, but the current tactics have led to the death of thousands of innocent people in Gaza. At this time, I am calling for Israel to suspend their bombing campaign in order for more innocent civilians to evacuate, to establish a humanitarian safe zone, and for humanitarian aid, which has been championed by the Biden Administration, to be able to enter Gaza. “I acknowledge that it is unrealistic to expect that Hamas will heed this call to stand down due to their intent for violence and chaos. “But Hamas is not fighting on behalf of the Palestinian people’s rights to dignity and self-determination, but rather for the complete destruction of Israel and the death of the Jewish people, and innocent Palestinian civilians cannot be the target for Israel’s defense. “Ending senseless violence on our communities and children has been the fight of my life. I believe all people, Palestinian or Israeli, women and children, deserve that safety.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3098,Wasserman Schultz on Biden Administration Push for Venezuela Democracy Reforms,2023-10-17,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, released the following statement in response to reports of a tentative agreement between the Maduro regime, Venezuela’s democratic opposition, and the United States: “As the Representative for one of the largest concentrations of Venezuelans in the U.S., I have been forthright in my stance that sanctions against the Maduro dictatorship must be upheld until there are clear, rock-solid commitments from the regime. “These conditions ¬– free and fair elections, release of political prisoners, an end to state corruption and violence, and restoration of judicial independence – have remained elusive, driving the displacement of over eight million Venezuelans in the last decade. “I am grateful for President Biden’s steadfast position that sanctions relief is contingent on these objectives and his recognition that negotiation is the best path to achieve them. I also appreciate the leadership exemplified by the Unitary Platform and Venezuela’s opposition presidential candidates under arduous conditions. “While I hope that this deal will result in tangible improvements, I remain concerned about the Maduro regime’s record of dodging its obligations and I look forward to engaging with all parties to ensure that any agreement includes mechanisms to ensure the regime’s compliance and punish its contravention.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-statement-hamas-terrorist-attack,Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Statement on Hamas Terrorist Attack Against Israel,2023-10-12,2023,2023-10,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, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick issued the following statement on the attack from Hamas against Israel. “I am holding in my heart the people of Israel, who have endured a barbaric and unconscionable cascade of violence. Our strongest ally in the Middle East has been forced to confront a heartbreaking and senseless act of terror — one which has taken over a thousand innocent lives across the country. Dozens of Israelis, including women and children, have been kidnapped at the hands of a vile terrorist organization. The images and videos that continue to come out of Israel are gut-wrenching and painful for all Americans. Let me be clear, I condemn this immoral, inhumane, despicable, and unprovoked violence. Hamas continues to impose its reign of terror over not just Israelis, but also the Palestinian people in Gaza. For too long, Palestinians have been forced to endure a tyrannical and violent regime. My heart is with the innocent civilians who have found themselves in the middle of this conflict. I trust that Israel will do everything possible to prevent the loss of civilian life as it has done in the past. My hope is that both Israelis and Palestinians can one day live a life, free of fear, without Hamas terrorizing them.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-ciscomani-introduce-bipartisan-effort-expand-cross,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ciscomani Introduce Bipartisan Effort to Expand Cross-State Disability Exam Providers for Veterans",2023-10-12,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20) and Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) introduced legislation today to expand the pool of providers eligible to cross state lines when conducting disability exams for veterans. Both representatives are members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) contracted physicians have had ability to practice across state lines since 2016. In 2020, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act gave temporary authority to VBA-contracted nurse practitioners, physician assistants, audiologists, and psychologist. This legislation, titled the Veterans Exam Expansion Act, would expand that authority to include dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists. Full text of the bill is available here. “By allowing VA-contracted medical providers to perform disability exams across state lines, more veterans will be able to quickly get the benefits they deserve and have earned — reducing barriers to benefits nationwide,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. “I am introducing this bipartisan legislation with my House Veterans’ Affairs Committee colleague so that the VA can better serve veterans, including those in rural and underserved communities which face limited access to medical care and examinations.” “Time and time again, I hear of the burdens our veterans face when it comes to receiving their benefits, from bureaucratic red tape to lengthy wait times,” said Rep. Ciscomani, whose district is home to over 70,000 veterans. “By expanding who and where our veterans can go for disability exams, it will be easier and faster for our veterans to get the disability benefits they rightfully deserve.” The legislation is supported by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). “With more veterans seeking the benefits they’ve earned, it’s imperative that VA-contracted examiners are allowed to see veterans regardless of state licensing requirements,” said Jim Marszalek, DAV National Service Director. “Extending this expiring authority and adding more medical professionals to the list for license portability will ensure the VA can serve more veterans, particularly those in rural areas, by allowing examiners to work wherever needed. With more examiners seeing more veterans, the Veterans Exam Expansion Act will also help reduce the VA claims backlog. DAV is proud to support this crucial legislation, and we thank Rep. Ciscomani and Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick for their leadership in introducing the bill.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-files-transportation-assistance-for-individuals-with-disabilities-act,Congresswoman Wilson Files Transportation Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act,2023-10-12,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), a senior Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member, introduced the Transportation Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (TAID Act). This bill directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to implement a program that provides funding for protection and advocacy programs to advocate for individuals with disabilities to have access to transportation and other purposes. ""Every individual, regardless of their abilities, deserves the right to explore our great nation and travel through our communities,"" said Congresswoman Wilson. ""The disability community, like any other, should have unfettered access to these enriching experiences, whether embarking on a bus, train, or plane. The TAID Act will empower and provide the necessary financial resources for our communities to improve the accessibility of their transportation systems. It signifies a substantial step towards forging a world that is truly inclusive and accessible for everyone."" Congresswoman Wilson was also one of five original cosponsors of the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill that included many provisions to make the United States' infrastructure more accessible to all Americans. ""Every day our network receives complaints from people who were forced to miss work because paratransit could not accommodate their schedule, from patients who had to cancel doctor's appointments because no wheelchair-accessible rideshares were available, or from family members who missed loved one's celebrations because the lift on their bus did not work"" said Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network, Marlene Sallo. ""This bill will enable the Protection and Advocacy Network to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to have greater access to their communities. We thank Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Molinaro for leading the charge to address the transportation barriers people with disabilities face."" The TAID Act will: Establish a grant program for advocacy systems to support accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities. Provide grants of $110,000 annually for five years, with the Secretary of Transportation selecting 10 recipients. Recipients have authority under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance Act, and selection considers demographics. Provide a $100,000 training grant and authorizes $1,200,000 in appropriations annually from 2023 to 2028. This bill is also cosponsored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Congressman André Carson (IN-07), Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-01), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-30), Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02). To read the bill text for the TAID Act, click here. To read a one-page summary of the bill, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-statement-on-the-bipartisan-resolution-standing-with-israel,Congresswoman Wilson's Statement on the Bipartisan Resolution Standing with Israel,2023-10-12,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), a member of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and Congressional Democratic Israel Working Group Caucus, released the following statement in response to the bipartisan Meeks-McCaul Resolution standing with Israel and condemning Hamas' brutal war against Israel. ""In the face of extreme Hamas terrorism, Democrats and Republicans stand with Israel because unity is our strength. The world should have no doubt about where the United States stands with Israel, and Congress must act decisively to protect Israel's right to defend itself. That's why I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Meeks-McCaul resolution because Israel cannot wait as Hamas continues its reign of terror. No matter how divided Congress may seem, my colleagues understand the need for unity, compassion, and unwavering support for our Israeli allies. This is not about political parties; this is about the security of the world and the future of democracy. While the House of Representatives may have many disagreements, our unwavering support and unity towards Israel symbolizes the unbreakable bond between Israel and the United States. When Israel is strong, America is strong."" Congresswoman Wilson represents one of the largest Jewish communities in Florida. The resolution includes 390 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. The full text of the resolution can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-statement-on-the-continued-resolution-to-fund-our-government,Congresswoman Wilson's Statement on the Continued Resolution to Fund Our Government,2023-10-12,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement regarding her vote on the Continuing Resolution passed out of the House of Representatives: ""Today, I cast my vote in favor of the continuing resolution, for a very simple reason: we must keep our government open. This resolution offers us an additional 45 days, a brief window of opportunity for Speaker McCarthy and his Republican colleagues to fulfill the promises they made to the American people. ""A government shutdown is not an abstract concept. It has real and dire consequences for our fellow citizens. It jeopardizes vital programs like SNAP and WIC, programs that countless families rely on to put food on the table. It forces our brave servicemembers to work without the compensation they rightfully deserve. Such a shutdown would inflict severe harm upon our economy and our nation, and we simply cannot allow that to come to pass. ""Let me be clear though: I will not vote to criminalize abortion, I will not vote to bully the LGBTQ+ community, I will not vote to cut public education funding, I will not vote to slash social security, and I will not vote to cut public safety. These are the proposals extreme MAGA Republicans want, and Democrats will not stand for that. ""As we enter this extended 45-day period to deliberate and negotiate a final budget, it is essential to recognize that House Republicans find themselves isolated on an island by themselves. What we are witnessing is a civil war within the Republican party, a divisive struggle that must be resolved so that we can return to the urgent task of serving the needs and aspirations of the American people."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-s-statement-on-the-unprovoked-attacks-against-israel-by-hamas-terrorists,Congresswoman Wilson's Statement on the Unprovoked Attacks against Israel by Hamas Terrorists,2023-10-12,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), member of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and Congressional Democratic Israel Working Group Caucus, released the following on the unprovoked attacks against Israel by Hamas Terrorists. ""The Democratic State of Israel is under attack, facing unprovoked and despicable assaults by Hamas terrorists. These brazen acts of violence demand the strongest condemnation, as there is no justification for launching over 2,200 missiles in a brutal assault raining down upon innocent citizens. Democratic nations worldwide must unite to support Israel, as unity is our strength in the face of united terrorism. ""Israel stands as the United States' closest friend and ally, and our nation's strength is intertwined with theirs. My prayers are with the people of Israel today, and as Israel prepares for war in these dark hours, the United States stands ready to support Israel's right to defend itself. Our commitment to Israel is unwavering. "" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-cherfilus-mccormick-castro-salazar-and-frost-lead-letter-asking-president,"Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Castro, Salazar, and Frost Lead Letter Asking President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and Director Jaddou to Redesignate TPS Status for Nicaraguans",2023-10-11,2023,2023-10,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, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) led a letter with Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) to President Biden, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ur Jaddou asking the Biden Administration to redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaragua. ""Nicaragua is enmeshed in a dire socio-political and humanitarian crisis that has grown considerably worse,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “Nicaraguans residing in the United States cannot safely return to their country, and it would be both irresponsible and cruel to send them back into harm’s way. I strongly urge the Biden Administration to redesignate TPS for Nicaragua and uphold our nation’s values of democracy, human rights, and compassion.” “As the Ortega-Murillo regime becomes increasingly authoritarian and brutal, there is no safe way for hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans to return home,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX). “Redesignating TPS for Nicaragua will save lives and protect the families who have fled from oppression and violence to find refuge in the United States.” “The blood-stained Ortega-Murillo regime and the Sandinistas are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses and acts of religious persecutions in history,” said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL). “Hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans have fled this tyranny and are seeking refuge in the United States. I call on the Department of Homeland Security to redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaraguans who are continuing to flee from the Ortegas, the Sandinistas, and the horrors of Socialism of the 21st Century.” “Nicaragua is facing a devastating political and humanitarian crisis that is forcing hundreds of thousands of innocent people to make the difficult decision to leave their homes in search of true freedom,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL). “As a beacon of democracy, the U.S. has a responsibility to acknowledge this crisis and offer a more permanent solution to the thousands of Nicaraguans living in Florida and across our country. An extension of TPS falls short of what this moment calls for — I urge the Administration to redesignate TPS for Nicaragua as soon as possible.” “We commend the Biden Administration’s decision to re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the United States. However, an 18-month extension of TPS for Nicaragua instead of TPS redesignation falls short of the response needed to address the multiple ongoing and emergent crises. We are hopeful that the Biden Administration will continue to evaluate the situation and ultimately make the correct decision in light of the impact it would have on approximately 450,000 Nicaraguans in the United States. On September 11, 2023, Secretary Mayorkas stated that the Department of Homeland Security does not “have any intention right now to re-designate Nicaragua for Temporary Protected Status,” but added that they “continuously review the country conditions.” We expect that a closer examination of the dire humanitarian situation in Nicaragua and the uncertainty of thousands who reside in the United States – including more than 200 who have been rendered stateless – will lead to a finding that TPS redesignation is necessary for Nicaragua. Given this and the deteriorating rule of law situation, we urgently request your administration to re-designate TPS for Nicaragua,” the Members stated. According to the Pew Research Center, Florida has the highest concentration of Nicaraguans nationwide, with an estimated 37% of the U.S.-based Nicaraguan population residing in the state. Redesignation would provide security and opportunity to the over 400,000 Nicaraguans living in the United States and waiting in legal limbo. The text of the letter can be found here. Additional signatories of the letter include Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Lou Correa (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Abigail Spanberger (D-NJ), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), David Trone (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-frost-castro-cherfilus-mccormick-and-salazar-lead-letter-asking-president,"Reps. Frost, Castro, Cherfilus-McCormick, and Salazar Lead Letter Asking President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and Director Jaddou to Redesignate TPS Status for Nicaraguans",2023-10-11,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL), led a letter with Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) to President Biden, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ur Jaddou asking the Biden Administration to redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaragua. “Nicaragua is facing a devastating political and humanitarian crisis that is forcing hundreds of thousands of innocent people to make the difficult decision to leave their homes in search of true freedom,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “As a beacon of democracy, the U.S. has a responsibility to acknowledge this crisis and offer a more permanent solution to the thousands of Nicaraguans living in Florida and across our country. An extension of TPS falls short of what this moment calls for — I urge the Administration to redesignate TPS for Nicaragua as soon as possible.” “As the Ortega-Murillo regime becomes increasingly authoritarian and brutal, there is no safe way for hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans to return home,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “Redesignating TPS for Nicaragua will save lives and protect the families who have fled from oppression and violence to find refuge in the United States.” ""Nicaragua is enmeshed in a dire socio-political and humanitarian crisis that has grown considerably worse,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick. “Nicaraguans residing in the United States cannot safely return to their country, and it would be both irresponsible and cruel to send them back into harm’s way. I strongly urge the Biden Administration to redesignate TPS for Nicaragua and uphold our nation’s values of democracy, human rights, and compassion.” “The blood-stained Ortega-Murillo regime and the Sandinistas are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses and acts of religious persecutions in history,” said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. “Hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans have fled this tyranny and are seeking refuge in the United States. I call on the Department of Homeland Security to redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaraguans who are continuing to flee from the Ortegas, the Sandinistas, and the horrors of Socialism of the 21st Century.” “We commend the Biden Administration’s decision to re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the United States. However, an 18-month extension of TPS for Nicaragua instead of TPS redesignation falls short of the response needed to address the multiple ongoing and emergent crises. We are hopeful that the Biden Administration will continue to evaluate the situation and ultimately make the correct decision in light of the impact it would have on approximately 450,000 Nicaraguans in the United States. On September 11, 2023, Secretary Mayorkas stated that the Department of Homeland Security does not “have any intention right now to re-designate Nicaragua for Temporary Protected Status,” but added that they “continuously review the country conditions.” We expect that a closer examination of the dire humanitarian situation in Nicaragua and the uncertainty of thousands who reside in the United States – including more than 200 who have been rendered stateless – will lead to a finding that TPS redesignation is necessary for Nicaragua. Given this and the deteriorating rule of law situation, we urgently request your administration to re-designate TPS for Nicaragua,” the Members stated. According to the Pew Research Center, Florida has the highest concentration of Nicaraguans nationwide, with an estimated 37% of the U.S.-based Nicaraguan population residing in the state. Redesignation would provide security and opportunity to millions of Nicaraguans living in the United States and waiting in legal limbo. The text of the letter can be found here. Additional signatories of the letter include Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Lou Correa (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Abigail Spanberger (D-NJ), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), David Trone (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-presents-city-orlando-15-million-community-violence,Congressman Maxwell Frost Presents City of Orlando with $1.5 Million Community Violence Intervention Grant from Department of Justice,2023-10-09,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, FL — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), joined Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, to present the City of Orlando with a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Justice as part of their Office of Justice Programs Community Violence Intervention Initiative. This funding will help expand the City of Orlando's Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Program into historically underserved communities in Orlando to reduce violent crime and promote public safety. This funding comes just weeks after President Biden's announcement to create the first-ever federal office of Gun Violence Prevention. The CVI program will collaborate with various community-based organizations, law enforcement agencies, and academic institutions to identify and engage targeted beneficiaries, especially those who are marginalized and adversely affected by inequality. “It's time to put an end to the loss of lives due to senseless violence before we lose another precious member of our Orlando community,"" said Congressman Maxwell Frost. ""We're immensely proud to witness the proactive stance taken by local leaders in the City of Orlando. Their action in launching the Community Violence Intervention Program – and expanding it via this important grant - marks a significant step towards addressing the root causes of this pervasive issue. These interventions are taking place not in an office but in our most vulnerable communities, working with the folks who are most likely to commit or fall victim to it. The CVI program provides residents with a renewed sense of safety and will save lives. We look forward to its transformative impact on creating a future characterized by safety and a profound sense of community.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3651,Rep. Frankel Statement on Hamas’s Attack on Israel,2023-10-07,2023,2023-10,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, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement on Hamas’ attack on Israel. “I am horrified and outraged at the news of Hamas’s hateful and deadly attack on the Israeli people, including the murder and kidnapping of children,” said Rep. Frankel. “No question, I stand firmly with Israel. Terrorism is unacceptable.” According to Israel’s national rescue service, at least 70 people have been killed and hundreds more are wounded. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3094,Wasserman Schultz on Hamas Terror Attacks on Israel,2023-10-07,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The vicious terrorist organization, Hamas launched premeditated terror attacks this morning that sent thousands of rockets from Gaza, with terrorists invading Southern Israel, killing, maiming, and kidnapping innocent civilians. Reports of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza are unconscionable. Israel is at war, not by choice, and has every right to defend itself and its people against this barbarous onslaught. The United States stands in solidarity with Israel not only during this tragic day but every day. “The vicious terrorist organization, Hamas launched premeditated terror attacks this morning that sent thousands of rockets from Gaza, with terrorists invading Southern Israel, killing, maiming, and kidnapping innocent civilians. Reports of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza are unconscionable. Israel is at war, not by choice, and has every right to defend itself and its people against this barbarous onslaught. The United States stands in solidarity with Israel not only during this tragic day but every day. This outrageous, heinous attack is devastating, and my heart and my resolve is with all Israelis today and going forward. I will work with my colleagues in Congress and the Biden Administration to ensure Israel has the resources needed to repel these cowardly terrorists and protect its people. Am Yisrael Chai!”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-criticizes-biden-administration-decision-build,Congressman Maxwell Frost Criticizes Biden Administration Decision to Build Additional Border Wall,2023-10-05,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement criticizing the Biden Administration's decision to bypass 26 federal laws to build an additional stretch of border wall in Rio Grande Valley. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “As our nation witnesses humanitarian and authoritarian crises across Central and South America, building a border wall is equivalent to sticking our heads in the sand. “A wall does not stop these innocent migrants from making the difficult personal decision to flee their home countries, it just makes their treacherous journey in search of freedom even more painful and dangerous. “To expand the border wall would be to continue the harmful, despicable immigration practices of the previous administration. The answer to the crisis at the southern border cannot be to renege on our promise of pursuing a compassionate, comprehensive immigration system. I am deeply disappointed in the Biden Administration for this hazardous move as the climate crisis looms and the humanitarian crisis deepens. “There has to be another way. Congress must act.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3093,Wasserman Schultz Statement on Reports of Resumption of Venezuelan Repatriation,2023-10-05,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington DC -- U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) released the following statement in response to reports that the Biden Administration will resume direct repatriation flights for Venezuelans who unlawfully enter the country: “I applauded the Administration’s recent decision to extend TPS and provide humanitarian parole for Venezuelan migrants, each vital steps that recognize the scale of fear and despair inflicted by Maduro’s regime, and the reality that many no longer have a home to return to. For similar reasons, I oppose resuming costly repatriation flights to Venezuela, as well as any step towards resuming commercial travel, without ironclad commitments from Maduro’s regime to address the causes of this displacement crisis: corruption, state violence, and assaults on democracy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404343,Rep. Castor Statement on Motion to Vacate Speaker of the House,2023-10-03,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Ever since Republicans gained a majority in the House of Representatives nine months ago, Americans have been subjected to unnecessary chaos and economic uncertainty. We deserve better. Extreme MAGA Republicans use default, shutdowns, and abortion bans in an effort to gain political advantage, while the wishes of the vast majority of Americans for bipartisanship and stability are ignored. Democrats will stay focused on what is important to our neighbors, like lowering costs, growing the middle class, and ensuring our communities are safe. People come before politics, and hopefully, new leadership in the House will join us in that commitment.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-statement-removal-kevin-mccarthy-speaker-house,Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on Removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House,2023-10-03,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released a statement following the successful House vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. In a statement, Rep. Frost says: “You reap what you sow, and Kevin McCarthy only has himself to blame. “McCarthy will go down as one of the weakest speakers in the history of our nation, all because he sold his soul to hold the gavel and, in that process, abandoned his own values and the ability to govern. “I will never vote to save a Speaker that refuses to act while innocent children are murdered at the hands of gun violence, while LGBTQ+ are under attack for who they love, and while working folks struggle to make ends meet under rising housing costs. “House Democrats are united in the call for Leader Hakeem Jeffries to be our next Speaker. And while we are ready to get to work on behalf of our communities and the American people, House Republicans are in disarray.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-applauds-adoption-unsc-resolution,Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Applauds Adoption of UNSC Resolution on Haiti,2023-10-02,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,FL,Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,C001127,cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov,cherfilus-mccormick,https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick applauded the adoption of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution authorizing a multinational security mission in Haiti. “The adoption of this UNSC resolution is a welcome step forward to addressing widespread gang violence and promoting long-term stability in Haiti. I am grateful for the steadfast leadership of President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, who have been unwavering in their commitment to this international effort. I have consistently advocated for a multinational security mission for over a year, as this remains the most immediate solution to restore order. It is also firmly in line with Haitian self-determination, as the vast majority of Haitians support a multinational force to assist the Haitian National Police. In addition, this mission must lay the groundwork for a competent transitional government — one that does not include Prime Minister Ariel Henry — to ensure that Haiti can return to a sense of normalcy. The security mission marks an important first step, but as the Biden Administration has made clear, it is not a substitute for progress to address the ongoing political crisis in Haiti.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404342,U.S. Rep. Castor Statement on House Passage of Continuing Resolution,2023-09-30,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement after voting to pass a bipartisan Continuing Resolution to keep the government open with uninterrupted disaster relief: “The best pathway to avoid a government shutdown is always a bipartisan path, and today a large bipartisan majority prevailed over the extreme MAGA Republicans who try to force their radical agenda on America at every turn. “The Continuing Resolution (CR) passed today will avoid furloughs and harm to military families, Coast Guard and other public servants. Critically, the CR will ensure families and small businesses impacted by Hurricanes Idalia and Ian can access disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and extend the National Flood Insurance Program so Floridians can purchase or renew their coverage. “I’m disappointed that 10 of my Republican colleagues from Florida were among the 90 Republicans who voted against the disaster aid for our neighbors. CRs are no way to govern, but today’s vote was necessary to avoid economic pain and harm to Florida families. I stand ready to work with my colleagues to make meaningful investments that create jobs, lower costs, strengthen our schools, and protect our air and water without extreme abortion bans or cuts to social security."" The full Florida Delegation's vote tally can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z