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://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-host-house-energy-commerce-chairman-brett-guthrie-tampa-bay-health,BILIRAKIS TO HOST HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE CHAIRMAN BRETT GUTHRIE FOR TAMPA BAY HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY ROUNDTABLE,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"TAMPA, FL - On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) will host House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) for a regional roundtable with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) focused on expanding access to high-quality, affordable health care and ensuring vulnerable patients do not fall through the cracks. The discussion will bring together leaders from community health centers throughout the Tampa Bay region to showcase the innovative work they are doing to deliver high-quality care while keeping services affordable and accessible for the patients and families who need them most. Importantly, the roundtable will give local health care providers and patients an opportunity to bring their real-life experiences directly to one of our nation’s leading health policy makers. Patient stories will help illustrate the challenges families face accessing affordable care and inform a broader discussion about how Congress can strengthen community-based care, address barriers to access, and ensure federal health policy works for patients on the ground. The event will also highlight an innovative partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay that recognizes the important connection between nutrition and health. Through this model, health care and community partners are working together to address patients’ dietary needs and combat food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the discussion.

WHAT: Regional Federally Qualified Health Center Roundtable on Health Care Affordability and Access

WHO: U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Federally Qualified Health Center leaders from throughout the Tampa Bay region, Local patients and community partners

WHEN:Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 10:00 a.m.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-joins-mount-sinai-new-emergency-center-opening-highlights-healthcare,"SALAZAR JOINS MOUNT SINAI FOR NEW EMERGENCY CENTER OPENING, HIGHLIGHTS HEALTHCARE RECORD",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, Fla. — U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) joined Mount Sinai Medical Center leaders, healthcare professionals, and members of the South Florida community for the ribbon cutting of Mount Sinai’s new Emergency Center in Westchester, located in Florida’s 27th Congressional District.

The new four-story facility will expand access to emergency treatment, advanced diagnostic imaging, and behavioral health services for families in Westchester and surrounding communities. It is scheduled to open to patients in October.

“Quality healthcare has to be both accessible and affordable,” said Rep. Salazar. “That means having excellent care close to home, enough doctors to see patients, access to the treatments people need, and costs families can actually afford. I am proud to join Mount Sinai for this important expansion and will continue working across the aisle to strengthen healthcare for South Florida.”

""When we broke ground here, we made a commitment to the Westchester community that nationally recognized care was coming. Today, it is here,” said Gino R. Santorio, President and CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center. “Families in this community now have emergency care close to home, with advanced imaging on site so patients get answers during their visit rather than a referral and a second trip. And this is only the beginning. We are grateful to Congresswoman Salazar for standing with us today and for her continued support of Mount Sinai and the patients we serve across South Florida.""

The Emergency Center marks the first phase of Mount Sinai’s broader expansion at the site. Future phases are expected to add inpatient and observation beds, surgical services, cardiac care, and additional specialty services.

SALAZAR’S RECORD ON HEALTHCARE

In Congress, Rep. Salazar has built a bipartisan healthcare record focused on lowering costs, expanding access, strengthening the medical workforce, and bringing federal healthcare investments home to South Florida.

She has secured nearly $15 million in direct federal investments for healthcare and medical research in South Florida, including:

$7.65 million for resilience improvements at Mount Sinai Medical Center to help protect critical hospital operations during hurricanes and other emergencies.

$2.5 million for Banyan Community Health Center to expand access to care in underserved communities.

$1 million for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to expand pediatric mental-health care, plus $450,000 for genetic testing to help doctors identify safer and more effective medicines for children.

$3.13 million for Florida International University to advance cancer research and precision medicine.

Salazar has also worked across the aisle to make healthcare more affordable for working families, supporting efforts to lower insurance premiums, prescription-drug costs, and out-of-pocket expenses while expanding access to Health Savings Accounts.

She has made addressing healthcare-worker shortages another priority, working across the aisle to strengthen South Florida’s healthcare workforce and pushing for continued funding for programs that train doctors in community-based and underserved settings.

Her healthcare work also includes efforts to improve cancer screening and early detection, expand care for patients with rare diseases, strengthen pediatric genomic testing, and support mental-health and addiction-treatment services.

The $7.65 million Salazar previously secured for Mount Sinai supported resilience improvements at its Miami Beach medical center and is separate from the new Emergency Center.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/support-for-senator-moodys-legislation-to-locate-u-s-space-academy-in-florida-grows-reps-donalds-and-haridopolos-file-companion-bill-in-the-u-s-house/,Support for Senator Moody’s Legislation to Locate U.S. Space Academy in Florida Grows—Reps. Donalds and Haridopolos File Companion Bill in the U.S. House,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Support for Senator Ashley Moody’s legislation to locate the new U.S. Space Academy in Florida is growing. Rep. Byron Donalds, with the aid of Rep. Mike Haridopolos, recently filed companion legislation to Senator Moody’s STARS Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Thank you, Representative Donalds and Representative Haridopolos, for introducing the STARS Act to bring the new U.S. Space Academy to the Sunshine State. Momentum for our mission is growing, and Florida is unified in this effort to ensure our state remains the leader in space innovation and exploration,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.

Senator Moody recently filed the legislation in the Senate. In addition to filing this legislation, Senator Moody has been working with state partners to address the RFI put out by the Administration to encourage the establishment of the new Space Academy in Florida.

Earlier this month, Senator Moody rallied space industry leaders to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy.

Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500%since 2016.

Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.

The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.

Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.

The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.

Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs.

Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center where the crew thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians, and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.

# # #",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-flafo-act-to-rein-in-warrantless-flock-safety-surveillance/,Rep. Steube Introduces FLAFO Act to Rein In Warrantless ‘Flock Safety’ Surveillance,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Facilitating Liberty and Accountability for Flock Observations (FLAFO) Act, legislation prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or sharing data with networked Automated License Plate Reader surveillance systems without a judicial warrant. The bill also conditions Department of Justice federal grant funding for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on the adoption of substantially similar privacy regulations.

“The Fourth Amendment is not optional. Americans should not be tracked everywhere they drive without a warrant,” said Rep. Steube. “Flock Safety’s surveillance network is expansive, and we have seen several instances across the country where this technology is too easily abused. The FLAFO Act limits warrantless surveillance by ALPR systems because the government has no business tracking law-abiding Americans.”

Automated license plate reader systems, or ALPR systems, utilize cameras, sensors, or associated hardware or software systems to automatically capture, record, analyze, process, aggregate, or store a motor vehicle license plate, image, location, date, time, or other identifying vehicle information or characteristic. Flock Safety is the industry leader, accounting for more than 80 percent of ALPR systems operating in the U.S., but the FLAFO Act would also cover any other company utilizing ALPR systems.

Automated license plate reader technology has expanded from localized tools for identifying criminal activity into large-scale surveillance mechanisms capable of aggregating sensitive location information across jurisdictions. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, covered ALPR systems aggregate vehicle data into centralized databases, enabling detailed tracking of individuals’ movements, associations, and daily routines without individualized suspicion.

The need for strict safeguards and federal oversight has been underscored by widespread reports of law enforcement officers abusing Flock camera networks to spy on personal acquaintances and conduct unauthorized searches. Recent investigations in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, have exposed officers using ALPR databases improperly, leading to administrative suspensions, resignations, and criminal reviews. Investigations across multiple law enforcement agencies have documented alleged misuse of Flock Safety technology, highlighting the severe gaps in centralized surveillance databases.

Commercial operators and government entities have deployed networked ALPR systems across multi-jurisdictional databases with limited safeguards, allowing users to conduct historical searches across jurisdictions and track vehicles based on visual characteristics beyond license plate numbers. Federal agencies should not provide support or authorization for surveillance practices that infringe upon constitutionally protected civil liberties.

The FLAFO Act closes that gap by prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or supplying data to covered ALPR systems without a judicial warrant, while preserving limited exceptions for immediate threats to life, safety, and national security.

The full text of the FLAFO Act is available here.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rutherford-statement-2026-south-atlantic-red-snapper-season,Rutherford Statement on the 2026 South Atlantic Red Snapper Season,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,John H. Rutherford,R000609,rutherford.house.gov,rutherford,https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) released the following statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ announcement of the 2026 recreational red snapper fishing season in the South Atlantic in which the agency issued new Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) requested by Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Florida’s red snapper recreational fishing season in the South Atlantic will open for fourteen days this year from October 9th through October 22nd.

“Finally, the long-awaited South Atlantic red snapper season is here, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of Florida’s beautiful waters and go fishing,” saidRutherford. “While it is fewer days than we hoped for, this season is a great opportunity for us to learn more about the red snapper fishery, collect high-quality data, and lay the groundwork for a longer and more predictable recreational season in 2027 and the years to come.

“As a co-chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I remain committed to advocating for proven methods of collecting reliable data, expanding sustainable harvests, and supporting our coastal economies that depend on this fishery. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, Governor DeSantis, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) to fight for recreational anglers in our community and across the Great State of Florida. Together, we can Make Fishing Great Again.""",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-legislation-to-lower-diesel-prices-and-boost-american-refining-capacity/,Rep. Steube Introduces Legislation to Lower Diesel Prices and Boost American Refining Capacity,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced the American Fuel Affordability Act, legislation to lower diesel prices immediately and expand American refining capacity to bring down fuel costs for the long term.

“Americans are paying far too much for diesel, and that cost gets passed down to families on just about everything they buy,” said Rep. Steube. “My bill gets rid of the federal diesel tax to bring prices down now and makes it easier to build new refineries here at home. We have the energy and the resources, and we should be producing and refining more of it.”

The American Fuel Affordability Act repeals the federal excise tax on diesel fuel that is currently 24.3 cents per gallon. This legislation keeps the Highway Trust Fund and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund whole through general fund transfers.

To expand American refining capacity, the bill creates a 35 percent tax credit for investment in the construction of new U.S. refineries and a 5-cent-per-gallon production credit for gasoline and diesel produced at qualifying new facilities during their first 10 years of operation. Property used in qualifying new refinery construction would be 100 percent expensable under the American Fuel Affordability Act.

The American Fuel Affordability Act takes a supply-side approach to fuel affordability by incentivizing additional domestic refining capacity without imposing export restrictions that could discourage refinery utilization and production.

The full text of the American Fuel Affordability Act is available here.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-cosponsors-legislation-to-protect-ratepayers-from-energy-consuming-data-centers/,Senator Moody Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Ratepayers from Energy-Consuming Data Centers,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House of Representatives 417-3. Senate Democrats Blocked it.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody is cosponsoring legislation to protect Americans from possible rate increases caused by new data centers. The Ratepayer Protection Act was introduced by Senator John Husted (R-OH) and blocked from passage on the Senate Floor by Democrats:

“I’m cosponsoring the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure Americans are protected from increased costs associated with new data centers. If billion-dollar tech companies want to build a massive data center, Floridians should not be left to foot the bill. It is disheartening to see Senate Democrats block the Ratepayer Protection Act from passing. While Democrats continue to play politics over the issue, I’ll keep fighting to get this common-sense legislation passed,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody has a staunch record with regard to where she stands on data centers and local communities having the ultimate say over where they go.

The Ratepayer Protection Act would require state utility regulators and unregulated utilities to consider adopting large load standards ensuring cost recovery for the “full, incremental” cost of any generation, transmission or distribution upgrade needed to serve the large-load customer.

It would also require large loads to provide financial assurances before grid upgrades are made and guaranteed cost recovery if a large load exits its power supply contract early.

# # #",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-introduces-bipartisan-time-act-modernize,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Introduces Bipartisan TIME Act to Modernize International Movement of Competition Horses,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) and Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) introduced H.R. 10611, the Temporary International Movement of Equines (TIME) Act of 2026. The bipartisan bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to modernize the rules governing the temporary entry of international competition horses and racehorses. It would establish a science-based framework aligned with internationally recognized standards while keeping strong safeguards in place for the domestic equine population.

""Marion County is the Horse Capital of the World, and the best horses on the planet should be able to come here and compete without getting tangled up in red tape,” said Congresswoman Cammack. ""The TIME Act brings our rules in line with proven international standards and keeps strong protections in place for the horses already here. I'm proud to partner with Congressman Tonko on this bill and to keep working with the American Horse Council to get it across the finish line.""

""Aligning with international safety standards benefits fans, athletes, economies, and the sport as a whole, which is what drove me to introduce the TIME Act,"" said Congressman Tonko. ""This bill prioritizes equine health and safety while pushing venues like my district's own Saratoga Racetrack and its athletes further onto the international stage. I thank Congresswoman Cammack for joining me to champion this bill and urge my colleagues to join us in this effort.""

As the United States prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and a growing slate of international equestrian and racing events, current import requirements can create obstacles for horses traveling here temporarily to compete. Today's top equine athletes already travel under rigorous health, identification, and biosecurity protocols. Florida is a leading hub for global equestrian sport and Thoroughbred activity, and Marion County's thoroughbred breeding and training industry is a major economic driver for North Central Florida.

The TIME Act is based on the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) High Health, High Performance (HHP) framework for the temporary international movement of elite competition horses. The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) has formally urged USDA to recognize HHP horses as a distinct subpopulation and to use the WOAH framework to implement the concept in the United States. The House Appropriations Committee also included report language in its FY2027 Agriculture Appropriations bill encouraging USDA to explore approaches consistent with the HHP framework.

Specifically, the TIME Act would:

Direct USDA to establish regulations governing the temporary international movement of high-health, high-performance horses.

Implement a risk-based system incorporating identification, traceability, and biosecurity measures.

Provide expedited entry procedures and modified quarantine protocols consistent with international best practices.

Improve the efficiency of USDA animal health oversight by reducing duplicative requirements and allowing agency personnel to focus resources on higher-risk disease concerns.

The TIME Act is supported by the American Horse Council, which represents more than 1.6 million horse owners across all 50 states, as well as the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, The Jockey Club, and the Breeders' Cup.

""We applaud Representatives Tonko and Cammack for their bipartisan leadership in advancing the TIME Act. Their willingness to listen to the equine community and champion this issue marks an important step toward ensuring the United States remains a leading destination for international equine competition for years to come,"" said Julie Broadway, President of the American Horse Council.

""The Breeders' Cup World Championships are built on bringing together the best horses and their connections from around the globe, and efficient international movement is essential to making that possible. The world's elite horses are also among the most rigorously tested, health-certified, and examined equine athletes, with extensive veterinary oversight surrounding their international movement and participation. We support the TIME Act's effort to modernize the process for high-performance horses while maintaining rigorous protections for equine health and biosecurity. A science-based framework that reflects the realities of international competition will help strengthen the United States' position as a destination for world-class racing and other equestrian sports,"" said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited.

""The US Equestrian Federation looks forward to working collaboratively with the USDA to improve policies for international movement of high-performance horses. In our capacity as a national governing body via the Ted Stevens Act, we recognize the complexities that come with temporary international travel overseas and similar challenges for competitors from other countries. The United States has become one of the largest international competition hosts in the world. Our goal is to keep all horse populations safe and healthy, and the proposed joint partnership between government and private resources is a big step in the right direction,"" said David O'Connor, Olympic medalist and US Equestrian Chief of Sport.

""Modernizing these requirements means a reduction in quarantine time and post-arrival restrictions for the temporary entry of competition and racehorses that are already among the healthiest and most closely monitored in the world. That's a win for equine welfare and for the health of horses,"" said Dr. Sarah Reuss, President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

""The TIME Act recognizes that modern identification, traceability, and biosecurity tools can support both horse welfare and international competition. By creating a framework for the temporary movement of high health, high performance horses, this legislation would reduce unnecessary barriers to international participation in U.S. racing while maintaining rigorous animal health safeguards. As the United States prepares to host some of the world's premier racing and equestrian events, a science-based approach to equine movement helps ensure our entire equine industry remains competitive on the global stage while protecting the health and welfare of horses,"" said Kristin Werner, Vice President of Thoroughbred Strategy & Industry Initiatives at The Jockey Club.

###",1,2026-09-27T10:23:37Z,2026-09-27T10:25:08Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/24/buchanan-marks-final-100-days-in-office-pledges-to-keep-fighting-for-florida/,"Buchanan Marks Final 100 Days in Office, Pledges to Keep Fighting for Florida",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"Enters Final Months Building on Two Decades of Delivering Results for Florida

WASHINGTON — Today marks the start of Congressman Vern Buchanan’s final 100 days in office. Buchanan, who announced his retirement in January after 20 years representing Florida, is highlighting his signature legislation that passed the House this Congress while focusing on the work that lies ahead this fall.

“Fighting for Florida over the last 20 years has been the honor of my life, and I’m continuing in that fight over my last 100 days in office,” said Buchanan. “I didn’t come to Washington to let down the people who sent me here: our seniors, veterans, small business owners, and hardworking families. I came here to ensure the American Dream that was possible for me is still possible for them, and for our children and our grandchildren. There are still bills to pass and problems to solve, and I’m not leaving any of that on the table. Until my very last day, I’ll keep championing legislation for the people of Florida’s 16th Congressional District like I’ve done every day since first elected to serve.”

Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, enters his final 100 days with a record of results this Congress. His bipartisan Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act passed the House unanimously in March 2025, allowing employers that offer high-deductible health plans to cover certain services for common chronic illnesses before the deductible kicks in. In December 2025, the House unanimously passed his bipartisan Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, which extends the successful Hospital at Home program through 2030. That was followed in June 2026 by unanimous House passage of his Healthcare Efficiency Through Flexibility Act, which gives Accountable Care Organizations more options for reporting on quality of care. In July 2026, the House passed his Sunshine Protection Act in a bipartisan vote to make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly clock change.

More of Buchanan’s bills are advancing. The Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced his bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act last week, which would expand Medicare coverage for early Alzheimer’s detection and now has 219 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also advanced an amended version of his SAFE Act, which would ban the transportation of horses for slaughter for human consumption, and is headed to the House floor as part of the bipartisan five-year surface transportation reauthorization. Buchanan also secured 10 amendments in the House-passed FY27 National Defense Authorization Act.

Over the coming months, Buchanan will build on that momentum as he helps Congress finish strong on the work still ahead and continues to author legislation for the people of Florida’s 16th Congressional District. Buchanan leaves office as the longest-serving Republican to represent Southwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives, with 51 of his bills and initiatives signed into law under four presidents.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-sounds-the-alarm-on-the-dangers-of-illicit-chinese-vapes-targeting-americas-youth/,"VIDEO: Senator Moody Sounds the Alarm on the Dangers of Illicit, Chinese Vapes Targeting America’s Youth",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Senator Ashley Moody, a member of the Senate HELP committee, called for a commitment from Dr. Hedi Overton to address the dangers presented to young Americans by illicit, Chinese-made nicotine vape products.

“As a mom, I am always concerned with the health and safety of my family. These illicit vapes are a widespread danger specifically targeting America’s youth. I am calling on the FDA and Administration to take these illicit devices seriously because the health of our kids depends on it,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

During a confirmation hearing, Senator Moody pressed then-FDA nominee Dr. Marty Makary on dangerous, illegal Chinese vapes. Senator Moody has also engaged with HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. about China flooding the U.S. market with illegal, addicting vapes.

This is not a new issue for Senator Moody, as Florida’s Attorney General, Moody fought fiercely to stop vape companies from addicting minors:

During her first year in office as Attorney General, upon learning that Florida just experienced a dramatic increase in the use of e-cigarettes among Florida youth, then-AG Moody launched a statewide listening tour to hear from parents, teachers and law enforcement about the growing problem of youth vaping.

Moody took legal action against Juul for targeting minors to purchase addictive nicotine products following leading amultistate investigation;

Moody took legal action against two Florida vaping companies marketing to minors;

Moody launched the most comprehensive state vaping investigation publicly acknowledged to date into more than 20 vape companies doing business in Florida;

Moody warned parents that illicit fentanyl may appear in illicit vape pods in a back-to-school warning;

Moody worked with lawmakers to pass FL HB 1007, to remove illegal vape products that are addictive and attractive to minors from being sold in Florida.

Moody urged President Trump to raise the issue of illicit Chinese vapes flooding the U.S. market during the meeting between President Trump and President Xi this week.

# # #",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-introduces-screen-act-to-help-protect-american-kids-from-foreign-predators,Sen. Rick Scott Introduces SCREEN Act to Help Protect American Kids from Foreign Predators,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott introduced the Strengthened Checks for Reliable Evaluation of Entrants Nationwide (SCREEN) Act to help keep foreign child predators from obtaining visas and gaining access to American children.

The bill would give the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. State Department access to data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Currently, the NCMEC can only share reports with certain designated law enforcement agencies.

Recent reports have indicated that several cruise lines hired foreign workers admitted on C-1/D visas who were later found with Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The SCREEN Act would help both DHS and the State Department weed out child predators like these during the visa application process.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The greatest country in the history of the world should have 100% certainty that we aren’t letting child predators come here on work visas. It’s inexcusable that we have let bureaucracy fail our children and put them in danger. It’s time to fix that. Interagency coordination is vital to both our national security and the safety of American children, and we need more of it. I’m proud to join with my colleagues like Sen. Budd and Rep. Gimenez to fix this glaring oversight and keep American kids safe from these despicable people.”

Representative Carlos Giménez introduced companion legislation today in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Senator Ted Budd is an original cosponsor of the bill.

Senator Ted Budd said, “Those who prey on children represent the very worst of society. I am proud to join Senator Scott and my colleagues to ensure that State and DHS have access to critical NCMEC data to identify travelers and visa applicants in possession of illicit material exploiting children and prevent these criminals from entering the United States.”

Representative Carlos Giménez said, “The criminals who exploit innocent children online cannot be allowed to hide behind our borders or take advantage of gaps in our screening systems. The SCREEN Act gives the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State access to critical information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help identify dangerous predators before they can enter or remain in our communities. I am proud to work with Senator Rick Scott to close this gap, protect our children, and keep dangerous predators out of our communities.”

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/no-more-blank-checks-appropriators-white-house-direct-un-accountability,"No More Blank Checks: Appropriators, White House Direct UN Accountability",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"September 23, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – From Congress to the White House, the Republican agenda has been clear: disrupting the broken status quo.

From FY26 appropriations signed into law by President Trump to the FY27 bills advanced out of the full committee, with multiple passed across the House floor, there have been fundamental shifts in how Washington does business:

Blank checks have been replaced by accountability.

Wasteful programs have been replaced by disciplined, results-driven investments.

Weakness and soft rhetoric have been replaced by decisive leadership.

Progressive mandates and excess have been replaced by America First priorities.

Foreign wish lists have been replaced by U.S. interests and security.

This realignment extends across the whole of government, and this week’s United Nations General Assembly brings it into focus. American foreign policy should put U.S. interests first, account for geopolitical and security realities, and distinguish genuine threats from strategic opportunities.

Those priorities are reflected in the FY26 and FY27 bills of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Subcommittee that I chair. The FY26 NSRP bill – which is enacted law – cut UN funding by double digits, conditioned funds based on accountability measures, prohibited funds to UNRWA, and required UN voting records be assessed in deciding assistance to countries. The House-passed FY27 NSRP bill built on these measures with the following:

Ending the UN Blank Check: Provides no funding for the UN regular budget. Further assessed contributions are not justified without additional reforms.

No Resources Without Reform: The FY27 bill withholds UN and international organization funding unless entities meet transparency and accountability requirements, including public audits, U.S. access to audits, whistleblower protections, restrictions on premium travel, action against anti-Israel bias and antisemitism, disclosure of diversion, and terrorist-affiliation vetting.

Real U.S. Oversight: American investments demand accountability. Prohibits funding to international organizations that refuse to commit in writing to giving U.S. Inspectors General and the GAO access to information relevant to American contributions.

Peacekeeping Discipline: Sharply constrains peacekeeping funding, requires advance justification of new or expanded missions, requires mission-by-mission accountability certifications, and specifically directs the State Department and the UN to evaluate missions and consider drawdowns when their goals have been substantially achieved.

UNRWA: Prohibits assessed and voluntary U.S. contributions to UNRWA and includes additional measures designed to discourage funding from outside donors. In addition, conditions other UN resources until the Secretary-General provides assurances against invoking immunity in terrorism, material support, and serious human-rights cases involving UN personnel.

UN Human Rights Council and OHCHR: Prohibits funding to the UNHRC, its Israel Commission of Inquiry, and OHCHR – directly reinforcing the Trump Administration’s withdrawal and accountability policy.

ICC and ICJ: Expressly backs the Trump Administration’s ICC sanctions and prohibits funding for the international courts.

WHO: Prohibits funds to the World Health Organization (WHO) and blocks funding for the pandemic accord absent Senate approval.

Curbing Liberal Climate: Directs the State Department to defend U.S. energy and commercial interests in international maritime negotiations and ensures international fuel rules do not put American producers at a disadvantage. Prohibits funds to the Green Climate Fund and Clean Technology Fund. Provides no funding for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Provisions align with the Trump Administration’s opposition to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) carbon-tax approach and broader withdrawal from international climate structures.

Stopping Anti-Israel Bias and Antisemitism: Resources are conditioned on credible action to combat anti-Israel bias, with detailed reporting required on antisemitism and systemic bias across UN entities, personnel, experts, and procedures.

UN Voting and Burden Sharing: Directs the State Department to weigh countries’ UN voting records and support for Taiwan when making assistance decisions. The Department is further encouraged to take into account migration cooperation, opposition to U.S. adversaries, and allied burden sharing. Countries seeking American assistance should be expected to stand with American interests and shoulder their share of the responsibility.

Cutting Off U.S. Dollars to Adversaries: American taxpayer dollars should never bankroll our adversaries. Prohibits UN and multilateral procurement of Russian goods and services and restricts funding to international organizations chaired by Chinese Communist Party-endorsed Chinese nationals. The broader FY27 bill also prohibits funding for the PRC and Chinese Communist Party and requires opposition to multilateral development bank lending to China.

Strengthening American Influence, Demanding Accountability: U.S. leadership at the UN should be measured by influence, not dollars spent. Calls for placing more Americans in international organizations and UN leadership positions while imposing stricter accountability and oversight requirements on institutions receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars.

President Trump has made clear his focus of making the United Nations Great Again and putting America First at the UN, and House Republican Appropriators are supporting that agenda through reinforcing investments to advance U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and strategic interests. We accomplish more while also spending less. My FY27 NSRP bill cuts $2.7 billion in unnecessary spending, building on FY26's historic 16 percent reduction while directing resources to the highest-impact priorities that strengthen America.

Through enacted NSRP measures, advancing FY27 bills, a field hearing with U.S. Ambassador to the UN, and renewed leadership through President Trump and the Executive Branch, all levers are being used to restore discipline, enforce consequences, and promote freedom. The President has expressed that the United Nations has great potential and that one day it will eventually live up to that promise. It's long overdue, and House Republicans are driving that reset into motion.

###",1,2026-09-24T10:30:22Z,2026-09-24T10:31:42Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-teams-up-with-female-athletes-in-nationwide-call-to-protect-womens-sports/,Senator Moody Teams Up with Female Athletes in Nationwide Call to Protect Women’s Sports,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody is teaming up with female athletes to protect women and girls in sports. At a Senate Judiciary Committee and briefing with national media, Senator Moody defended female athletes and pushed for fairness, opportunity, and safety in women’s sports.

“Male athletes have no business competing in women’s sports, and it’s mindboggling that in 2026 we must pass legislation to protect meaningful opportunity for girls to compete. I am excited to join the many female athletes here today calling for fair competition and a real opportunity to excel in the sports they love,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody joined female athletes to emphasis the importance of protecting women and girls in sports following a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing today titled “Standing Up for Women in Sports: Ensuring Opportunity, Fairness and Safety for Female Athletes.

As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody led a multistate challenge to the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX regulation changes, arguing that the changes undermined protections for women and girls.

In 2021, Florida enacted the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, legislation that restricts individuals assigned male at birth from participating in sports teams or competitions designated for women or girls.

Senator Moody is a cosponsor for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, that would generally prohibit school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women and girls.

Senator Moody also cosponsored the Title IX Clarification Act of 2026, which would expressly define sex under Title IX as biological sex, either male or female, and make clear that gender identity does not change that classification.

View Senator Moody’s full hearing remarks here.

# # #",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/senator-rick-scott-fights-to-end-birth-tourism-from-communist-china-but-democrats-block-legislation,"Senator Rick Scott Fights to End Birth Tourism from Communist China, but Democrats Block Legislation",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Rick Scott tried to pass his Stopping Adversarial Foreign Exploitation of Kids in Domestic Surrogacy (SAFE KIDS) Act by unanimous consent.

Senate Democrats blocked the bill despite a series of recent legacy media headlines highlighting exploitation of birth tourism by citizens of America’s enemies – specifically Communist China.

Watch Senator Scott’s full speech by clicking HERE or on the image above.

Senator Rick Scott said, “In July, I came to the floor and warned about Chinese birth tourism based on a story in my home state of Florida. It was a real story hurting one of my constituents, and I wanted to raise the alarm. I warned this body months ago of this national security threat. Here's what has happened since: this story from my state, and others like it, have made national headlines. The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, and CBS News have all run major stories about birth tourism since I last brought this to the floor. We can’t ignore it anymore, and we know it is not a conspiracy theory.”

“American citizenship is not for sale, and our enemies cannot be allowed to buy it. This country, its sovereignty, and its future are worth protecting. Everyone in this chamber should believe that and support this bill.”

This is the second time this year Senate Democrats have blocked Senator Scott’s bill.

BACKGROUND

The SAFE Kids Act prevents adversarial nations, including Communist China, from using American surrogates to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children and traffic infants abroad. It is the first bill of its kind to curb this practice and establish accountability for brokers who facilitate commercial surrogacy contracts with America’s foreign adversaries: Communist China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea.

International commercial surrogacy raises serious national security and human trafficking concerns, but there are currently no U.S. laws on the books to address these issues. The SAFE KIDS Act addresses a gap in U.S. surrogacy law by:

Invalidating any commercial surrogacy agreement that is entered into with citizens of a foreign adversarial nation; and

Creating a misdemeanor for brokers—not surrogates—who knowingly or recklessly facilitate a prohibited commercial surrogacy agreement with citizens of a foreign adversarial nation.

Read more about Communist China’s birth tourism in America:

The Wall Street Journal: A Florida Surrogate, a Father in China, and the Babies Caught Between

CBS News: ""Who do we hand the baby to?"" Loopholes and shady practices taint U.S. surrogacy industry

New York Magazine: Whose Babies are these?

The New York Post: Meet the US Army vet running a California baby factory for Chinese nationals to have American kids

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://donalds.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2638,Donalds Introduces the STARS Act,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Byron Donalds,D000032,donalds.house.gov,donalds,https://donalds.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) is leading the effort in the House to secure Florida as the permanent home for the newly established United States Space Academy through the introduction of the ""Securing the Advancement of Rising Spacefarers (STARS) Act"".

The ""STARS Act"" is the 28th piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Donalds in the 119th Congress and is co-led by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) in the Senate. Congressman Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) is an original co-sponsor in the House.

This piece of legislation directly answers President Trump's August 28 Executive Order, establishing a federal commission tasked with planning a dedicated, NASA-led academy to train the nation's military, civilian, and commercial space workforce.

""Florida is the birthplace of American space exploration and has led the world in spaceflight for decades. The Sunshine State has built an unmatched, fully integrated space ecosystem that bridges operational launch infrastructure, military space command assets, and tier-one research universities. Establishing the Space Academy on Florida's Space Coast forges an immediate talent pipeline and creates an unmatched competitive advantage, offering cadets daily exposure to NASA personnel, Space Force leaders, and private industry innovators,"" said Congressman Byron Donalds. ""To ensure American space superiority in an increasingly competitive domain, our future leaders must be educated at the very nexus of global space operations. I am proud to stand alongside Senator Moody in this effort to further strengthen and elevate Florida’s ever-emerging space landscape and solidify our nation’s strength and security beyond Earth’s orbit for generations to come.""

BACKGROUND:

WHAT THIS BILL DOES:

This bill recommends the Space Commission to locate the Space Academy in Florida. Specifically, it suggests that the location be within reasonable distance to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral.

Additionally, this bill outlines that the selection and implementation of the Space Academy be done in coordination with the Governor of Florida and include academic and operational partnerships with Space Launch Delta 45 and Patrick Space Force Base.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://mast.house.gov/press-releases?ID=EA940509-BA0F-41D5-A0B9-F99484C28AEA,Mast Recognizes National Estuaries Week,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Brian J. Mast,M001199,mast.house.gov,mast,https://mast.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Brian Mast (FL-21) introduced a resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 19 through September 25, 2026 as “National Estuaries Week.”

“Florida is truly blessed with one of the most unique ecosystems in the entire world. The Everglades and the coastal estuaries provide Florida with both environmental and economic benefits,” said Rep. Brian Mast. ""The problems facing the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie, Caloosahatchee and Lake Worth Lagoon is a reminder of the importance of these critical habitats. Our work to protect and restore our waterways and environment is not over, the public health and our economies depend on it.""

First recognized in 1988 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Estuaries Week raises awareness on the critical habitats for wildlife, as well as the economic and environmental benefit they bring to our communities.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-a-former-judge-files-legislation-to-scrap-swampy-outdated-restriction-and-clean-up-some-federal-d-c-circuit-courts/,Senator Moody—a Former Judge—Files Legislation to Scrap Swampy Outdated Restriction and Clean Up Some Federal D.C. Circuit Courts,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody, a former circuit judge, is filing legislation to clean up two federal courts in Washington, D.C. Senator Moody’s Better Bench Act would allow nominees and active judges on the Court of Federal Claims and the Federal Circuit – both courts with nationwide jurisdiction – to reside anywhere in the United States by doing away with an outdated residency requirement that limits service to those in the D.C. area. Senator Moody is joined in this bipartisan effort by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware.

“For a court that covers the entire country, we should be considering nominating judges from everywhere in America based on merit—not their proximity to the D.C. bubble. My Better Bench Act removes an outdated residency requirement to expand the pool of qualified Americans who can serve and allows our courts to be a better reflection of the nation as a whole,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“Americans deserve the best, most qualified judges, especially in areas like intellectual property law where expertise is key to understanding complex cases and fairly deciding the future of many entrepreneurs’ businesses,” said Senator Chris Coons. “For too long, we have limited the pool of judges available to take on the toughest IP and federal contract cases to those willing to uproot their lives and move to Washington, D.C. No longer. This bipartisan bill ensures that courts of national jurisdiction can draw from a pool of national talent.”

BACKGROUND:

The Federal Circuit’s residency requirement is substantially more restrictive than those governing the regional courts of appeals. While judges on the regional circuits generally may reside anywhere within their circuits once each state is represented by at least one active judge, judges on the Federal Circuit and the Court of Federal Claims must reside within 50 miles of Washington, D.C. despite both courts having nationwide jurisdiction.

Senator Moody’s Better Bench Act:

Removes the current requirement that judges on the Federal Circuit and the Court of Federal Claims reside within 50 miles of the District of Columbia;

Authorizes the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to ensure that judges that reside outside of the Washington D.C. area have adequate facilities in or near their home districts.

For bill text, click here.

# # #",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/senator-rick-scott-rolls-out-rescuing-america-platform-to-increase-american-homeownership,Senator Rick Scott Rolls Out “Rescuing America” Platform to Increase American Homeownership,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott continued rolling out his “Rescuing America” project with a video about the homeownership crisis facing the country – especially young Americans.

Watch Senator Scott’s video by clicking HERE or on the image above.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I agree with Zohran Mamdani on one thing: homeownership has become nearly impossible and too many young families are struggling. But his socialist agenda is wrong and will only create more of the failed big government spending and regulation that made it that way and is killing the American Dream. Washington has been robbing the American people blind for decades while making everything from homeownership to opening a business harder. President Trump has been using every tool he has on this problem, but it’s time for Congress to get government the heck out of people’s lives so hard-working Americans’ money can go a lot further. That’s the best way to make sure young families can own an affordable home and have a shot at the American Dream.”

BACKGROUND:

This video is the latest of a series in Senator Scott’s “Rescuing America” project that lays out a platform to revive the American Dream based on three simple principles:

Balancing the budget

Cutting regulations

Creating jobs

Earlier this week, Senator Scott laid out his goals for the project in an op-ed published in Newsweek titled, “How To Rescue America From the Spread of Socialism.”

More information can be found here and here.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-urges-air-force-to-make-florida-home-of-blue-horizons-2/,Senator Moody Urges Air Force to Make Florida Home of Blue Horizons,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody is fighting to get Blue Horizons relocated to the Sunshine State. Senator Moody is urging General Kenneth Wilsbach, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, to move Blue Horizons to Orlando, where the proximity to Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station can provide the program with direct access to strategic leaders and mission partners across the joint force.

“Blue Horizons is the innovation hub for our Air Force, and there is no better place for the program to relocate than Florida. Orlando’s world-class modeling and simulation industry, cutting-edge research at our universities, and proximity to our Space Force installations make our state an ideal new home for Blue Horizons. The Sunshine State stands ready to serve as the new home for the future of innovation for the United States Air Force,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Blue Horizons is the Air Force’s premier forum for exploring transformational ideas and capabilities for the future.

University of Central Florida is the nation’s leading supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry and is home to nationally recognized programs in modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence, digital engineering, and national security research.

Florida is home to three combatant commands, giving Blue Horizons direct access to strategic leaders and mission partners across the joint force.

Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s servicemembers, veterans, and military families.

Last year, Senator Moody secured more than $851 million for Florida’s military bases through her work on the National Defense Authorization Act.

As Florida Attorney General, Senator Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program.

Read the letter here.

# # #",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/what-they-are-saying-sen-rick-scott-s-rescuing-america-plan-tackles-affordability-offers-alternative-to-socialism,"WHAT THEY ARE SAYING… Sen. Rick Scott’s ‘Rescuing America’ Plan Tackles Affordability, Offers Alternative to Socialism",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rick Scott penned an op-ed in Newsweek, How To Rescue America From the Spread of Socialism, detailing his three-part plan to tackle affordability issues hurting Americans: balance the federal budget, slash red tape, and create new jobs.

The op-ed follows the release of Senator Scott’s “Rescuing America” campaign to restore the American Dream for younger generations, which was announced last week.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING…

Politico: Rick Scott launches ‘Rescuing America’ economic messaging plan

Florida’s Voice: “Scott launches ‘Rescuing America’ project, warns socialism will kill the American Dream”

Breitbart: “Sen. Rick Scott announces 'Rescuing America' plan for affordability”

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott Launches 'Rescuing America' Economic Plan

Just the News: Rick Scott to debut 'Rescuing America' midterm economic message

UPI: Sen. Rick Scott announces 'Rescuing America' plan for affordability

###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/21/buchanan-urges-trump-administration-to-take-action-on-sulfur-shortage-threatening-american-fertilizer-production/,Buchanan Urges Trump Administration to Take Action on Sulfur Shortage Threatening American Fertilizer Production,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“What Hurts American Phosphate Hurts the American Farmer and Costs American Families”

Sulfur Prices Have Surged Nearly 600 Percent as Domestic Fertilizer Producers Cut Production and Jobs

WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging immediate action to address the severe disruption in sulfur supply putting American phosphate fertilizer production at risk.

“Sulfur is the backbone of domestic phosphate fertilizer production, and right now American producers cannot afford it,” said Buchanan. “What hurts American phosphate hurts the American farmer and costs American families. More than 200 workers have already lost their jobs, and every day the interagency process drags on puts more of them at risk. The Administration has the tools to act, and I am urging them to use them now to support and protect our farmers. This isn’t one company’s problem or one state’s problem. It’s whether America can feed itself without depending on foreign suppliers. I’m not willing to leave that to chance for our children and grandchildren.”

Sulfur is a critical raw material for domestic phosphate fertilizer production. The letter warns that the shortage has already forced significant production curtailments and that the more than 200 workers who lost their jobs a few weeks ago may be the first of many.

Recent geopolitical and shipping disruptions have constrained global sulfur supplies and driven prices to historic levels. The ten-year average price for sulfur in Tampa is $172 per long ton. Since May, prices have surged more than $1,000 per long ton and are currently approximately $1,100 to $1,200, a nearly 600 percent increase.

The disruption affects thousands of contractors, suppliers and communities that depend on these operations every day. This is not a challenge that can be fixed by one company, state or industry. Losing domestic fertilizer production would increase America’s reliance on foreign sources for an essential agricultural input.

The letter calls on the Administration to act quickly to support American farmers and the domestic fertilizer industry they depend on.

Read the full letter here or below:

Dear President Trump and Secretary Lutnick,

I write requesting immediate, high-level action to address the severe disruption in sulfur supply and affordability. Sulfur is a critical raw material in phosphate fertilizer production in the United States. Without sulfur, there is no domestic phosphate fertilizer production. Without phosphate-based fertilizers, American agriculture, food security and supply chains are at risk.

Thousands of American workers rely on the American fertilizer industry, and this challenge is already forcing production curtailments. A few weeks ago, hundreds of those workers lost their jobs, threatening the domestic fertilizer supply farmers rely on. Elemental sulfur is essential to converting phosphate rock into crop nutrients. No affordable sulfur means less fertilizer and lower crop yields, resulting in an impacted food supply.

What hurts American phosphate, hurts the American farmer, and costs American families.

Recent geopolitical and shipping disruptions have constrained global sulfur supplies and driven prices to historic levels. The ten-year average price for sulfur in Tampa is $172 per long ton. Since May, prices have surged to $1,000 per long ton and are currently approximately $1,100 to $1,200, a nearly 600 percent increase.

These disruptions also affect the thousands of contractors, suppliers, and communities depending on these operations. It’s important to note once production capacity is lost, it cannot be quickly restored. Every day America produces less fertilizer amounts to lost volumes for future planting seasons. This is a direct impact to American agriculture.

More broadly, this is not a challenge fixed by one company, state or industry. It is a critical national supply chain and food security issue. Losing domestic fertilizer production would increase our reliance on foreign sources for an essential agricultural input at a time when Congressional Republicans are working with your Administration to bolster domestic manufacturing and strengthen American supply chains.

The interagency process, while appreciated, falls short of moving at a speed commensurate with the urgency of the situation. Immediate engagement at the highest levels is needed. Your Administration has a range of lawful tools to increase the near-term availability of competitively priced sulfur, including authorities under the Defense Production Act; voluntary coordination with domestic refiners and sulfur marketers; transportation, storage, and logistics solutions; trade or financing tools; and engagement with allied suppliers. Any action should be targeted and account for potential impacts on energy markets and other domestic sulfur users.

Market forces alone cannot resolve this challenge quickly enough. Every day of disruption threatens more jobs, fertilizer production, and U.S. agricultural resilience. Prompt action can help protect a critical domestic industry and the farmers who depend on it. We stand ready to partner with your Administration in pursuing practical solutions and respectfully request to be kept informed of next steps.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-diaz-balart-hosts-19th-annual-service-academy-day,Congressman Díaz-Balart Hosts 19th Annual Service Academy Day,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, and member of the Defense Subcommittee, hosted his 19th Annual Service Academy Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at U.S. Southern Command.

Academy Day offers high school students and their parents the opportunity to learn more about pursuing a military career. Attendees have the opportunity to speak with representatives from the U.S. Service Academies and learn more about the application, nomination, selection, and appointment processes. This year's event welcomed more than 100 students and their families.

Díaz-Balart said, ""It is always a source of pride for me to host young men and women from Florida's 26th District interested in serving their country. Preparing future Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Guardians to become dedicated, disciplined leaders with a strong understanding of core military values and institutional knowledge ensures a steady supply of capable officers for one of our country's most important missions: protecting our national defense.

I am especially grateful to General Francis L. Donovan for hosting us, and to the representatives from the United States Service Academies for sharing valuable insights with those eager to serve our great nation.

I look forward to nominating outstanding candidates for appointments and to following their continued success.""

Additional Information:

A service academy is a four-year, tuition-free college that admits a select number of qualified candidates and provides them with a world-class education, rigorous leadership training, and physical training, resulting in a commission as an officer in a specific branch of the U.S. military.

The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. For more information, please click here.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-backed-change-act-improve-early-alzheimers-detection-advances-out,Bilirakis-Backed CHANGE Act to Improve Early Alzheimer’s Detection Advances Out of Committee,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) applauded the House Ways and Means Committee’s unanimous advancement of bipartisan legislation containing provisions of the Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act, which Bilirakis introduced with Representatives Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA). The CHANGE Act is designed to promote earlier detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by directing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify cognitive impairment detection tools that can help clinicians more effectively detect cognitive decline and connect patients with appropriate follow-up care. Earlier this week, the CHANGE Act was amended into H.R. 6130, the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, which the Ways and Means Committee approved by a unanimous 40-0 vote. The broader package seeks to improve early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. More than seven million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, and for many patients, a diagnosis comes only after the disease has already taken a significant toll. Advances in testing and treatment have increased the importance of identifying Alzheimer’s and related dementias at earlier stages.

“Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that has touched my family personally, so I understand the tremendous toll it takes not only on patients, but also on the loved ones who care for them,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “As promising new treatments continue to emerge, early detection and diagnosis are more important than ever. The bipartisan CHANGE Act will help ensure patients and their doctors have better tools to identify cognitive decline earlier, when interventions may have the greatest impact. I am pleased to see this important legislation advance out of Committee as part of a broader package, bringing us another step closer to improving care, preserving quality of life, and ultimately finding a cure for this terrible disease.”

“Alzheimer’s touches millions of families, and identifying the disease early can make a meaningful difference for patients and their loved ones,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The CHANGE Act brings us closer to giving healthcare providers the tools to recognize the warning signs sooner and connect families with the care and support they need. I’m proud this bipartisan legislation is moving forward so more families can have more time, better care, and greater hope.”

“This is deeply personal for me. I lost both of my parents to Alzheimer’s, and I know firsthand how much earlier detection could have meant for our family,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Advancing this bill out of committee brings us one step closer to giving other families that chance. I’m grateful to my Ways and Means colleagues for passing our bipartisan bill and will keep fighting to get it signed into law.”

“Alzheimer’s impacts millions of Americans, and we must do everything we can to support the search for a cure. This bipartisan bill provides help to patients and clinicians through expanded early detection support and improved data collection,” said Congressman LaHood. “The CHANGE Act, coupled with the ASAP Act, will strengthen existing tools to help streamline and broaden the ability for earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.”

The CHANGE Act is supported by a broad coalition of patient, provider and aging organizations, including UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, the American Academy of Neurology, Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Alliance for Aging Research, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Gerontological Society of America, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Latinos Against Alzheimer’s and USAging.

Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Mark Warner (D-VA) have also introduced companion legislation in the Senate.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1934,Franklin Statement On House Passage Of Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia And Iran Act,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) issued the following statement after supporting House passage of H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026:

“Russia continues to finance its war in Ukraine through energy exports while relying on countries that help Moscow evade sanctions. That money allows Russia to strengthen its military and continue waging hostilities.

“Using America’s economic strength to cut off that funding is commonsense national security. This bill increases pressure on Russia’s energy and financial sectors and imposes consequences on countries that continue major purchases of Russian energy or help Moscow get around U.S. sanctions. It also maintains important sanctions against Iran.

“A stronger Russia has more resources to challenge the United States and our allies, while Iran continues to fund terrorism and threaten American interests. Making it harder for our adversaries to finance those activities reduces their ability to threaten Americans, our service members and our allies.

“I’m pleased to see this bill pass both the House and Senate and head to President Trump’s desk for his signature.”",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-honors-former-prisoner-of-war-with-national-pow-mia-recognition-day-congressional-resolution/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Honors Former Prisoner of War with National POW/MIA Recognition Day Congressional Resolution,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Senator Ashley Moody is introducing a Senate Resolution to honor all service members missing in action or captured and held prisoner by enemy forces. At a ceremony in Sarasota at VFW Post 3233 today, Senator Moody presented the resolution to former prisoner of war, Seaman Richard J. “Rick” Rogala—highlighting Seaman Rogala’s story as an example of what POWs face when captured while serving our country.

“Our service members who were taken prisoner or who remain missing in action made a tremendous sacrifice for our nation. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we renew our solemn promise to remember every American who was captured or went missing in action. As a member of a military family and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, this responsibility is deeply personal to me. I will always stand with our veterans, and I’m honored to recognize former POW Rick Rogala for his service to our country on this special day,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

Seaman Rogala served aboard the USS Pueblo in the United States Navy. In January 1968, North Korean forces attacked and took control of the ship. One sailor, Fireman Duane Hodges, was killed in the attack. Seaman Rogala and the rest of the crew were held in North Korea for 11 months and subjected to brutal treatment. Today, Senator Moody honored Seaman Rogala with a congressional resolution.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody continues to serve Florida’s more than 1.3 million veterans. Recent actions of support include the following:

Leading efforts to designate a Florida museum as the only National POW/MIA Museum and Memorial in the Country;

Cosponsoring the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. The Veterans Bill of Rights Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights regarding VA-administered health care, benefits, and services;

Cosponsoring the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans;

Supporting the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans;

Supporting the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans;

Holding a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans;

Recognizing 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussing the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more.

# # #",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-introduces-legislation-to-combat-illegal-southern-border-tunnel-crossings,Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislation to Combat Illegal Southern Border Tunnel Crossings,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott introduced the Subterranean Border Defense Act in the U.S. Senate to bolster the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to find and shut down illegal cross-border tunnel operations used for trafficking and smuggling.

The bill amends the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012 by directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to submit a yearly strategic report on its efforts to counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations.

This legislation, first introduced by Rep. Eli Crane, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2025.

Senator Rick Scott said, “For four miserable years, Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet for human traffickers, drug smugglers, and other international criminals to illegally enter and terrorize our country. Our communities were flooded with drugs brought through border tunnels, and Americans paid the price. Under President Trump, fentanyl deaths have plummeted, and our neighborhoods are safer, but we need to make sure it stays that way – and that no future president can bring back the chaos. This bill is a strong step to keeping America and her people safe in the long run.""

Rep. Crane said, ""I'm grateful to Senator Rick Scott for leading the Subterranean Border Defense Act in the Senate. This legislation strengthens our deterrence posture by increasing oversight of illicit cross-border tunnels. With the Trump administration successfully halting illegal crossings at our border, it's never been more important to block alternative routes into our homeland. We owe it to the American people to do everything in our control to eliminate human trafficking, drug smuggling, and unlawful entries. This bill already passed the House in an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, and today's introduction in the upper chamber brings us one step closer to becoming law.""

BACKGROUND:

In June of this year, a Homeland Security Task Force investigation uncovered a web of cross-border tunnels between San Diego and Tijuana containing 2,200 pounds of cocaine worth roughly 45 million dollars.

Since 1990, officials have discovered more than 140 tunnels that have breached the U.S. border, with tunnel activity increasing by 80% since 2008.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-host-20th-annual-veterans-resource-fair-senators-scott-and-moody,Bilirakis to Host 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fair with Senators Scott and Moody,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PASCO COUNTY, - Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) will host his 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fair on Saturday, September 26, 2026. This year’s event will be jointly hosted by U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody. For two decades, this annual Veterans Resource Fair has brought together organizations and agencies from throughout the community to help Veterans and their families connect directly with the benefits, services, and support they have earned. This year’s fair will feature resources related to Veterans claims assistance and education benefits, healthcare, job placement and employment services, housing assistance, social services, and more.

“Serving those who have served our nation is one of my highest priorities, and I’m incredibly proud that we are celebrating the 20th year of bringing this important event directly to our local Veterans and their families,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “Our Veterans have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms, and we have a responsibility to ensure they can access the benefits, healthcare, opportunities, and support they have earned. Too often, Veterans simply don’t know about all of the resources available to them or where to turn for help. That’s exactly why we bring these organizations together under one roof - to make it easier for Veterans and their families to get answers, make connections, and access the assistance they deserve. I’m grateful to Senators Scott and Moody for joining me this year as we continue working together to serve those who have served us.”

Senator Rick Scott said, “As a Navy veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, I know firsthand the service and sacrifice our veterans and their families make – and the toll those sacrifices can take long-term. As Florida’s U.S. Senator, it is crucial to me that our federal government stands with them and that every veteran can access the benefits he or she has earned. That starts with ensuring our veterans and their families have the information, resources, and help they need to make the process as easy as possible. That starts with ensuring our veterans and their families have the information, resources, and help they need to make the process as easy as possible, which is why I am grateful for Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ leadership and I am glad to join him and Senator Ashley Moody in hosting the 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fair. I encourage veterans and their families in Florida’s 12th Congressional District to come learn more about your benefits.”

“Our veterans answered the call to serve our nation, and we have a responsibility to stand with them when they return home. I’m happy to cohost Congressman Bilirakis’s 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fairs to help connect those who served with the benefits, resources, and support they’ve earned. I’ll always fight to ensure Florida’s veterans and their families are supported and never forgotten,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

The event is free and open to Veterans and their families. Attendees will have an opportunity to speak directly with participating organizations, ask questions, learn more about available programs, and receive assistance identifying resources that may meet their individual needs. Veterans are encouraged to RSVP by calling 727-232-2921.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Veterans Resource Fair Jointly Hosted by Representative Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody

WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-secures-major-tampa-bay-and-nature-coast-water-infrastructure,Bilirakis Secures Major Tampa Bay and Nature Coast Water Infrastructure Priorities in House-Passed WRDA,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Gus Bilirakis announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, which includes several priorities he requested to strengthen water infrastructure, improve storm resiliency, protect natural resources, and support communities throughout Florida’s 12th Congressional District and the greater Tampa Bay region.

WRDA is Congress’s biennial legislation authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and studies related to water infrastructure, ports and harbors, flood and storm risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, and other critical water-resource needs.

“Florida is growing rapidly, and we have to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace while protecting the natural resources that make our communities such special places to live, work and raise a family,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “I worked closely with our local partners to identify their most pressing water infrastructure and resiliency needs, and I’m pleased that the House-passed WRDA includes each of the priorities we submitted. These provisions will help address water and wastewater needs, strengthen our defenses against hurricanes and flooding, protect and restore important ecosystems, and lay the groundwork for future investments throughout our region. I’ll keep working to get these priorities across the finish line.”

At Bilirakis’s request, the House-passed legislation includes:

Pasco County Ecosystem Restoration and Water Supply: Authorizes a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study examining opportunities for ecosystem restoration and water supply improvements in Pasco County.

Lower Withlacoochee River Watershed Restoration: Authorizes a feasibility study focused on ecosystem restoration of the Lower Withlacoochee River Watershed, an important natural resource for the Nature Coast.

$29.6 Million Authorization for Hernando County Water Infrastructure: Authorizes a new environmental infrastructure project of up to $29.6 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Hernando County, including stormwater management and environmental restoration.

$400,000 Authorization for Pasco County Water Infrastructure: Authorizes a new environmental infrastructure project for water and wastewater infrastructure, including distribution systems, in Pasco County.

$100 Million Regional Water Infrastructure Authorization: Authorizes up to $100 million for water infrastructure, including water-supply projects, serving Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.

Port Tampa Bay and McKay Bay Storm Protection: Directs the expedited completion of a feasibility study for hurricane and storm-damage risk reduction at Port Tampa Bay, including McKay Bay. The study is intended to help identify potential measures to better protect critical infrastructure and surrounding communities from hurricanes, storm surge, and flooding.

The legislation also contains an additional provision benefiting the Tampa Bay region by directing the expedited completion of a feasibility study for hurricane and storm-damage risk reduction and ecosystem restoration in the vicinity of MacDill Air Force Base.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1933,Franklin Statement On House Passage Of Water Resources Development Act,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026:

“Water management isn’t an abstract issue in Florida. Decisions involving Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, flood control and our coasts directly affect our communities, agriculture, environment and economy. WRDA is one of the most important tools Congress has to set priorities for the Army Corps and keep critical water infrastructure projects moving.

“This bill advances several major Florida priorities. It moves the Central Everglades Planning Project and Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir forward, supports continued work on Lake Okeechobee and strengthens federal support for beach renourishment and flood-risk reduction. It also includes reforms to Corps project delivery and coordination so important projects aren’t held up by unnecessary delays.

“As a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, I’m focused on making sure these priorities have the resources and direction needed to move from authorization to construction. Congress can authorize important projects, but we must also ensure the Corps can execute them efficiently and keep long-term work on schedule.

“Florida’s water challenges require sustained attention. Restoring the Everglades, managing Lake Okeechobee, protecting communities from flooding and maintaining our coasts are long-term commitments. The House has done its work, and I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can move WRDA forward and get these critical Florida water priorities across the finish line.”",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lee-introduces-unleash-american-pipelines-act-reform-natural-gas,Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces the Unleash American Pipelines Act to Reform Natural Gas Pipeline Judicial Review,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the Unleash American Pipelines Act, legislation to reform the judicial review process for natural gas pipeline certificates of public convenience and necessity issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The legislation would provide greater certainty for federally approved pipeline projects by limiting legal challenges to parties that can dictate direct and irreparable economic harm, establishing a clear and convincing evidence standard for overturning FERC’s expert determinations, and consolidating challenges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

“Florida families and businesses depend on affordable, reliable energy, and natural gas powers nearly three-quarters of our state’s electricity,” said Rep. Lee. “When a pipeline has undergone extensive federal review and received approval from FERC, outside groups should not be able to use endless litigation to delay critical energy infrastructure indefinitely. The Unleash American Pipelines Act will bring greater certainty to the permitting process while preserving judicial review for those directly affected. This is a commonsense step to strengthen American energy infrastructure, lower costs, and ensure Florida has the reliable energy supply we need to continue growing.”

""Florida relies on interstate pipelines for nearly all of the natural gas that powers homes and businesses across the state,” said CEO of Florida Power & Light Company, Scott Bores. “Reliable pipeline infrastructure is essential to providing affordable, reliable electric service for our customers and supporting Florida's continued growth. We appreciate Congresswoman Lee's leadership on this important issue.""

“TECO Energy applauds Congresswoman Lee for focusing on the right things: making government more efficient and effective to protect consumers and save customers' money. In Florida, natural gas is the backbone of the electric generation system, and smart policy that unleashes these investments promotes reliability and economic benefits,” said TECO. “We look forward to working with her on this legislation to improve the bureaucratic process to get much needed infrastructure built that supports growth in Florida.”

“Ensuring customer affordability and reliability has been and remains at the heart of everything Duke Energy does - from our operations to investments to our public policy engagement” said Louis Renjel, Chief Executive Officer of Duke Energy Florida and Midwest. “To that end, this legislation will help increase access to lower-cost gas supplies, strengthen energy reliability for Floridians and keep customer costs as low as possible.”

Florida’s dependence on natural gas makes reliable pipeline infrastructure especially important. The state produces less than one percent of the natural gas it consumes, meaning nearly all of the fuel used to power Florida homes and businesses must reach the state through interstate pipelines. When approved projects are tied up in years of litigation, the resulting uncertainty can increase financing and construction costs, discourage investment, and make it more difficult to build the infrastructure needed to meet growing energy demand.

Background:

Natural gas accounts for nearly 73 percent of Florida’s electricity generation. Yet Florida produces less than one percent of the natural gas it uses, leaving the state heavily dependent on interstate pipelines to deliver its supply.

Before an interstate natural gas pipeline can be built, developers must receive a certificate of public convenience and necessity from FERC. That approval comes after an extensive federal review process.

Under current law, however, receiving a FERC certificate does not necessarily provide certainty that an approved project will be completed. Third-party organizations that are not landowners or otherwise directly economically affected by a project can challenge a certificate in federal court, potentially adding years of litigation after the federal review process has already concluded.

Those delays have consequences beyond individual pipeline projects. Pipeline construction is capital intensive, and years of potential litigation create additional financial risk for developers and investors. That uncertainty can result in more expensive financing, higher required returns, and projects that become too costly to build. For projects that do move forward, additional costs incurred during years of litigation can ultimately affect the utilities that rely on pipeline capacity and the families and businesses paying their energy bills.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline illustrates the consequences of prolonged litigation. The 303-mile pipeline was approved by FERC and originally scheduled for completion in 2018 at an estimated cost of $3.5 billion. After years of litigation and delays, the project’s cost grew to approximately $7.85 billion—more than double its original estimate. Congress ultimately had to intervene to allow construction to be completed.

With electricity demand and utility costs increasing across the country, the Unleash American Pipelines Act would provide greater certainty after FERC completes its review and approves critical pipeline infrastructure.

The Unleash American Pipelines Act enacts three targeted reforms.

Standing Reform: Limits legal challenges to parties who have suffered direct and irreparable economic harm from the specific pipeline certificate at issue. Organizations may only bring claims if every individual member independently satisfies that standard, ensuring judicial review is available to those who are genuinely affected.

Heightened Standard of Review: Requires courts to apply a clear and convincing evidence standard before overturning FERC's expert determinations, reflecting the depth and rigor of the Commission's review process and preserving the appropriate role of agency expertise.

Exclusive D.C. Circuit Jurisdiction: Consolidates all pipeline certificate challenges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, eliminating forum shopping and creating a single, predictable appellate forum for all parties.

This legislation is supported by Duke Energy, TECO, and Florida Power and Light.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-patronis-votes-to-advance-legislation-to-protect-consumers-from-rising-utility-costs-driven-by-ai-data-centers,Congressman Patronis Votes to Advance Legislation to Protect Consumers from Rising Utility Costs Driven by AI Data Centers,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Jimmy Patronis,P000622,patronis.house.gov,patronis,https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late Wednesday evening, Congressman Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) voted to advance H.R. 9340 the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure hardworking Americans aren’t footing the bill for AI data centers.

Congressman Patronis said, “If Big Tech wants to build a massive data center and use massive amounts of electricity, they should pay for the power and infrastructure they need, not hardworking families and small businesses. I don’t want families in Northwest Florida footing the bill for someone else’s investment opportunity.”

The Ratepayer Protection Act would:

Give states the tools to protect ratepayers.

Create a federal standard for large-load customers, like data centers, to pay for the power and grid upgrades they need.

Create a framework to protect families from the bill if a data center leaves.

The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House by a vote of 417-3 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

To view the Ratepayer Protection Act, click here.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steubes-bill-to-strengthen-taxpayer-rights-passes-house-heads-to-u-s-senate/,"Rep. Steube’s Bill to Strengthen Taxpayer Rights Passes House, Heads to U.S. Senate",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON–On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Greg Steube’s H.R. 9498, the Taxpayer Advocate Participation Act (TAPA), under suspension of the rules. Introduced by Rep. Steube (R-Fla.) alongside Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), the bipartisan legislation authorizes the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) to appear as amicus curiae in federal tax cases on issues that may broadly affect taxpayer rights.

“American taxpayers deserve someone in their corner when their rights are at stake in federal court,” said Rep. Steube. “The National Taxpayer Advocate already fights for taxpayers across the country, but current law does not authorize the Advocate to weigh in on court cases that could impact millions of Americans. My bill closes that gap and makes sure the taxpayer’s voice is heard. I’m pleased to see the House pass TAPA, and I urge the Senate to get it to President Trump’s desk.”

“The National Taxpayer Advocate plays an important role in championing the interests of American taxpayers,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “However, current law prohibits the Advocate from doing so when taxpayer rights are at stake in litigation before a court of law. This is a serious weakness in the office’s ability to carry out its mission. With the Taxpayer Advocate Participation Act, Representative Steube has identified a targeted solution and one that is reflective of his ongoing, successful work to advance the interests of American taxpayers.”

“American taxpayers deserve to have an independent voice represent them in court, especially in cases that could impact them and their tax bill. This bipartisan bill will allow the National Taxpayer Advocate to weigh in on behalf of millions of Americans in these vital cases,” said Rep. DelBene. “I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their efforts to get this through the Ways and Means Committee and now the House so we can better advocate for taxpayers.”

Under current law, the NTA is barred from submitting amicus briefs in federal tax litigation, even in major precedent-setting cases. TAPA closes this statutory gap by amending Section 7803(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, granting the Advocate targeted amicus authority modeled after recommendations in the NTA’s 2026 Purple Book.

The bill does not authorize the NTA to represent individual taxpayers, but ensures the Advocate’s systemic expertise can inform judicial proceedings. TAPA is backed by key organizations, including the National Taxpayers Union, Small Business & Entrepreneurship (SBE) Council, Intuit, 60 Plus Association, and National Association of Consumer Advocates.

The bill unanimously passed the House Committee on Ways and Means on July 1, 2026. Following this week’s passage in the House, TAPA now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

Watch Rep. Steube’s remarks on the House floor here.

Background: Protecting taxpayers and strengthening taxpayer rights has been a consistent focus of Rep. Steube’s work on the Ways and Means Committee. In the nearly forty years since the landmark Tax Reform Act of 1986, Rep. Steube is one of only two Members of Congress who did not chair the committee to have sponsored tax legislation signed into law by presidents of both parties. The House passage of TAPA is another example of what Congress can accomplish when taxpayers are put first.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-blasts-socialists-looking-to-dismantle-our-nations-founding-document-on-constitution-day/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Blasts Socialists Looking to Dismantle Our Nation’s Founding Document on Constitution Day,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody sent a searing message to radical socialists looking to dismantle our nation’s founding principles—not on her watch. On Constitution Day, Senator Moody took to the Senate Floor to honor this remarkable document and urge colleagues to join her in defending the freedom it secures.

“As our nation celebrates America’s 250th anniversary, Constitution Day reminds us that the promise of liberty declared in 1776 was preserved through the Constitution just a few short years later. Through this transformational document, our Founders created a system of limited government, separated powers, and checks and balances designed to protect our God-given rights and preserve liberty for generations to come,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “While there is a growing movement on the Left that seeks to dismantle the guardrails to liberty enumerated in the Constitution, we as Americans must continue to defend the freedom it secures and pass on its principles to the next generation.”

BACKGROUND:

Throughout Senator Moody’s career, she has served in each of the three branches of government—from serving as a judge to leading a state executive agency as Florida Attorney General, and now a member of the legislative branch in the U.S. Senate.

Senator Moody is fighting to protect Floridians:

Protecting Religious Freedom: Senator Moody cosponsored the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act, which would restrict U.S. visas for foreign government officials, terrorists, and other actors responsible for violations of religious freedom.

Second Amendment Rights: Senator Moody champions the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow people with concealed-carry privileges in their home state to exercise them in other states that permit concealed carry, subject to the destination state’s laws.

Protecting Civil Rights: Senator Moody introduced the RECLAIM Act, which would allow federal funds to be clawed back from higher-education institutions found to have violated students’ civil rights.

Fighter for Servicemembers’ Property Rights: Senator Moody introduced theServicemember Residence Protection Act, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act so that state adverse-possession or “squatters’ rights” laws would not apply to servicemembers’ homes in the circumstances covered by the bill.

Veterans’ Rights: Senator Moody is a cosponsor of the Veterans Bill of Rights Act, which would require the VA to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights concerning VA health care, benefits, and services.

Senator Moody is working to instill patriotism in the next generation with her PLEDGE Act, which would require students and staff in Washington D.C. schools to begin each day with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Americans’ constitutional rights were being infringed, Moody, as Florida’s Attorney General, fought to protect Floridians’ freedoms—challenging federal mask and vaccine mandates, fighting CDC restrictions that harmed Florida’s cruise industry, and supporting efforts to safely reopen Florida’s businesses and schools.

View Senator Moody’s full floor remarks here.

# # #",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/media-advisory-congressman-diaz-balart-host-service-academy-day-us,Media Advisory: Congressman Díaz-Balart to Host Service Academy Day at U.S. Southern Command,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, will host his annual Service Academy Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at U.S. Southern Command:

On this day, representatives from the U.S. Naval, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Military, U.S. Merchant Marine, and U.S. Coast Guard Academies will meet with and inform prospective students about educational and career opportunities at the service academies.

Event Details:

RSVP is required due to security restrictions. A valid government ID and media credentials must be presented at the checkpoint for admittance. Please RSVP to Dietwin Smoli.

WHAT:

Service Academy Day

WHO:

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26)

Representatives from the United States Service Academies

WHEN:

Saturday, September 19, 2026

8:30 a.m. ET

WHERE:

U.S. Southern Command

9301 NW 33rd Street

Doral, FL 33172",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/once-again-diaz-balart-delivers-big-905-m,"Once Again, Diaz-Balart Delivers BIG $90.5 M",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026:

""My record is clear. I consistently deliver for South Florida, and WRDA 26 builds on it. I am grateful to Chairman Sam Graves, for working with me to secure a critical provision that makes PortMiami eligible to compete for federal reimbursement of approximately $90.5 million for the Miami Harbor Deep Dredge project.

Since my time in the Florida Legislature, and now as a member of Congress, I have long fought for our state's seaports. As the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Subcommittee on Appropriations in 2019, I created the first-ever dedicated pot of money specifically for seaport infrastructure development. Despite Miami-Dade County’s many challenges at the Port, I have always understood the need to provide our ports with adequate resources to fit the needs of our growing economy, and the Miami Harbor Deep Dredge project did just that. This project created and continues to support thousands of jobs, has furthered the Port’s cargo growth, surpassed one million TEUs for 11 consecutive years, and made its mark as the 11th largest container port in the United States of America.

Chairman Graves understands the vital importance of strengthening our nation’s water infrastructure, supporting our ports and waterways, and advancing projects that benefit both our economy and our environment. Working alongside my Florida colleagues, Rep. Daniel Webster and Rep. Brian Mast, Chairman Graves leadership in navigating Florida’s waters and delivering restoration for America’s Everglades does not go unnoticed.

WRDA 26 directs the U.S. Army Corps to expedite completion of various studies and projects for Everglades restoration efforts in South Florida, as well as new authorization for feasibility studies in the region:

Central & South Florida Project

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration

Central & South Florida Resiliency Study – Broward Basins for the project for flood risk management

Flood Risk Management, Coastal Storm Risk Management, and Ecosystem Restoration in the back bay system of Broward County, Florida

These efforts are vital to restoring the Everglades and protecting South Florida’s water supply, communities, and economy.

A summary of the bill is available here.

Bill Text is available here.

Background:

Diaz-Balart secures Miami Harbor Deep Dredge project authorization in WRDA 2007.

Diaz-Balart applauds then-Governor Rick Scott for commitment to job creation and economic growth for the region. (March 2011)

Diaz-Balart champions modification authorization for the Deep Dredge Project at PortMiami in WRDA 13 (July 2013; / October 2013)

Diaz-Balart, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, secures amendments to the authorized limit for the PortMiami Deep Dredge Project in the final FY2014 E&W Appropriations Bill. (January 2014)

PortMiami Deep Dredge Project was completed in 2015 – ahead of schedule, and positioned PortMiami as the first U.S. port in the Southeast with a -50/52 foot controlling draft.

Since completion, cargo activity has risen by 25.3% overall, and by as much as 43% in FY2011, the busiest year in the Port’s history. PortMiami has surpassed one million TEUs for eleven consecutive years and welcomed more than 2,120 Neo-Panamax vessels. These vessels previously could not dock at the Port because of draft limitations.

Today, PortMiami is the nation’s 11th largest container port and a major economic driver for South Florida, supporting 340,000 jobs and contributing $61 billion annually to the regional economy.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/watch-chairman-diaz-balart-delivers-opening-remarks-subcommittee,WATCH: Chairman Díaz-Balart Delivers Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing with U.S. Trade and Investment Agencies to Empower Economic Growth and Strategic Partnerships,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, delivers opening remarks at Subcommittee hearing with U.S. Trade and Investment Agencies to Empower Economic Growth and Strategic Partnerships:

Chairman Díaz-Balart's opening remarks as prepared here

""Acting Director Hardy, Acting Chief of Staff Petrie, and Head of Investments, Mr. Coleman, thank you for appearing today to testify on the President’s 2027 budget request.

Your agencies are important instruments of American economic statecraft and commercial diplomacy that advance our national security.

I would note that this is also an important year for the Export-Import Bank of the United States. While we invited the agency to testify today, they unfortunately could not accommodate our schedule.

With a $30 trillion economy accounting for 26% of global GDP -- up from 24% in 2021 -- the United States remains the largest, most innovative, and resilient country in the world.

Advancing the security and prosperity of Americans is fundamental to United States foreign policy and drives the funding priorities of this Subcommittee.

President Trump and Secretary Rubio have made strengthening the economic security of Americans and advancing U.S. commercial interests overseas a top foreign policy priority.

In that regard, this Subcommittee strongly supports the important efforts by your agencies to further strengthen the economic and strategic position of the United States around the world, such as in the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific.

This includes financing and technical assistance to—

combat the influence of the PRC and Chinese Communist Party;

secure access to critical minerals;

nearshore strategically important manufacturing supply chains; and

identify commercial opportunities for our vibrant private sector;

all while supporting partners that champion freedom.

This was showcased with great success last week in the Philippines at the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum.

Each of your agencies, along with the Department of State and in partnership with the Philippines, demonstrated what a well-coordinated, focused foreign policy initiative in support of U.S. national security looks like. I look forward to discussing this initiative more when we get to questions.

Congress supported the creation and recent reauthorization of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in part to help counter the PRC’s aggressive use of infrastructure finance to advance Beijing’s strategic goals and to partner with the private sector to expand U.S. economic opportunities abroad.

Mr. Coleman, I hope you can address the DFC’s budget request in the context of available program balances, as well as prioritization of critical minerals, nuclear energy technology and artificial intelligence, and the recent legislative requests for the FY27 appropriations process.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) plays a unique role among U.S. trade and investment agencies by providing competitive, eligibility-based funding to accelerate economic growth, including through infrastructure and other high-priority investments in countries that take demonstrable steps to support personal and economic freedom.

Mr. Petrie, I hope you can address how the FY27 request will enable MCC to work effectively with partner countries to achieve strong economic growth in ways that align with the America First strategy, as well as help create new opportunities for the United States economy.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has the mission of helping U.S. companies create American jobs by connecting the private sector with infrastructure and development projects in emerging economies.

This includes the use of feasibility studies, technical assistance, and pilot projects in significant sectors and countries of strategic importance to the United States.

Director Hardy, I trust you will inform the Subcommittee on how the FY27 budget request supports the mission of USTDA, including by helping to strengthen the foundation of American economic power and leadership abroad.

Before I conclude, let me thank you for your service to our country, and note how much we appreciate the dedication of the men and women in your agencies.

I’ll turn now to the ranking Member for her opening remarks.""

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-celebrates-house-passage-am-radio-every-vehicle-act,Bilirakis Celebrates House Passage of AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) applauded House passage of the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, legislation he supports to ensure Americans continue to have access to AM radio in new vehicles. AM radio remains an important source of news, weather, emergency information, and community programming for millions of Americans. It is particularly critical during hurricanes and other natural disasters when power, cellular networks, and internet service may be disrupted. The legislation would require automakers to maintain access to AM broadcast radio in new vehicles without an additional charge to consumers.

“Here in Florida, we know firsthand how important it is to have reliable access to emergency information before, during, and after a hurricane,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “When the power goes out, cell towers are overwhelmed, or internet service is disrupted, AM radio can be a lifeline. It also remains an important source of news and information for seniors, rural communities, and millions of Americans traveling our roads each day. As technology continues to evolve, we should not eliminate a proven, reliable communications tool that helps keep people informed and safe. I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and pleased to see it pass the House.”

AM radio also plays an important role in the nation’s emergency communications infrastructure. Because AM signals can travel long distances and reach broad geographic areas, local broadcasters can provide critical information to residents throughout a region during an emergency.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to include AM radio in new passenger vehicles as standard equipment and ensure consumers are not charged an additional fee for access.

“Public safety should never take a back seat to technological trends,” Bilirakis continued. “Floridians deserve access to every reliable tool available when disaster strikes. I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can send this commonsense legislation to the President’s desk.”

Congressman Bilirakis has consistently supported efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness, protect consumers, and ensure communities have access to reliable communications during disasters.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/16/house-ways-and-means-committee-advances-buchanan-bill-to-expand-medicare-coverage-for-early-alzheimers-detection/,House Ways and Means Committee Advances Buchanan Bill to Expand Medicare Coverage for Early Alzheimer’s Detection,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease is Key to Giving Families More Time, Options and Hope”

The ASAP Act Would Provide Medicare Coverage for Preventive Alzheimer’s Detection

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, announced that his bipartisanAlzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (H.R. 6130) advanced out of the committee in a unanimous vote. Buchanan’s bill is co-led by Congressman Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

“Early detection of Alzheimer’s is key to giving families more time, options and hope,” said Buchanan. “Having served as a caregiver to an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s and with nearly 200,000 seniors in my district, this issue is deeply personal to me. Expanding access to early detection will give millions of Americans the opportunity to plan ahead and seek preventative care. I’m grateful to the committee for advancing my Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act and call on my colleagues in the House to pass it and ensure every American can benefit from these lifesaving innovations.”

“More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and for too many families, a diagnosis comes only after the disease has already taken a serious toll,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “Today, we have blood-based tests that can help detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms even appear, but outdated Medicare rules stand between seniors and access to these tools. As Chairman of our Health Subcommittee, Representative Buchanan has prioritized policies that improve health outcomes for Americans, informed in part by his own experience caring for his parent. His ASAP Act will help make sure seniors and their families can benefit from earlier detection and have more information as they navigate this devastating disease.”

“Many promising and potentially lifechanging advancements are being made in Alzheimer’s diagnoses, treatment, and care; but they will mean little unless patients are able to access and afford them,” Congressman Tonko said. “This is where Congress can and must act. I was proud to join Congressman Buchanan to introduce the ASAP Act, which builds a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA approved blood biomarker screening tests that help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. I urge my colleagues to join us in advancing this bipartisan legislation that keeps Congress at pace with these exciting new innovations and ensures they are accessible to those who need them.”

The ASAP Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide a pathway for Medicare coverage for FDA-approved or cleared blood-based biomarker tests for the early detection of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Under current law, Medicare can only cover preventive services that Congress has specifically authorized or that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. That can delay coverage for years after a screening test receives FDA approval.

With 7.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s nationwide and more than 580,000 Floridians facing the disease, the ASAP Act aims to give families more time to plan ahead, seek care sooner and preserve their quality of life as blood-based screening technology continues to advance.

Buchanan’s bill is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement and has secured 215 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. Senators Susan Collins(R-Maine) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate which has already secured 50 bipartisan cosponsors.

Buchanan is a leader in advancing legislation to support Alzheimer’s patients, caregivers and families. In June 2026, he introduced a bipartisan resolution alongside Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), recognizing June 2026 as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lees-safe-cloud-storage-act-passes-house,Rep. Laurel Lee’s Safe Cloud Storage Act Passes the House,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Laurel Lee’s bipartisan Safe Cloud Storage Act, legislation to modernize how law enforcement securely stores and processes digital evidence in child sexual exploitation investigations.

Rep. Lee introduced the House legislation alongside bipartisan co-leads Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Brad Knott (R-NC). Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led the Senate legislation, which passed the Senate in May.

The legislation addresses a growing challenge facing law enforcement as the volume of digital evidence in child sexual exploitation investigations continues to increase. Many agencies still rely on physical storage systems such as thumb drives, external hard drives, and local servers to manage highly sensitive evidence. The Safe Cloud Storage Act removes a legal barrier that has limited law enforcement’s ability to work with trusted cloud service providers while maintaining strict security and accountability requirements.

“Every minute matters when law enforcement is working to identify a child being exploited and bring the predator responsible to justice,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “Our investigators should have access to modern, secure technology that helps them do that work as quickly and effectively as possible. The Safe Cloud Storage Act removes an unnecessary legal barrier that has prevented law enforcement from fully utilizing trusted cloud technology while maintaining strong safeguards for this incredibly sensitive evidence. I am proud that this bipartisan legislation has now passed both chambers of Congress, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

“We must do everything in our power to protect children from abuse and prosecute those who commit such despicable crimes — that requires modernizing how law enforcement stores sensitive information so that they can bring more abusers to justice,” Rep. Dean said. “Many police departments still rely on older technology like thumb drives to store materials for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) investigations, which slows down investigations and lets criminals stay one or two steps ahead. Our bipartisan bill is a commonsense measure enabling law enforcement to use secure cloud-based storage, helping them to track, stop, and prosecute more of these heinous crimes. I am thrilled that the Safe Cloud Storage Act will become law, and I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for their efforts in its passage.”

“I'm proud to work with Congresswoman Lee on this critical legislation, and I'm pleased to see it pass the House today with strong, bipartisan support,” said Congressman Brad Knott. “As a former federal prosecutor who worked investigations and in courtrooms, I know how essential it is to modernize evidence handling and production in these cases. This bill will help ensure that heinously criminal offenders are brought to justice more efficiently, that victims see accountability, and that strict standards govern the storage and use of this evidence. I look forward to seeing it move through the Senate.”

The Safe Cloud Storage Act provides limited civil and criminal liability protections to approved cloud service providers contracted by federal, state, and local law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies to securely store and process digital evidence related to child sexual exploitation investigations. The legislation requires covered providers to comply with cybersecurity requirements and establishes exceptions to its liability protections for certain misconduct.

The legislation builds on the framework established by the bipartisan REPORT Act, which was signed into law in 2024 and provided limited liability protections for vendors contracted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to store and transfer child sexual abuse material for investigative purposes.

The Safe Cloud Storage Act is supported by law enforcement, child protection, and victim advocacy organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Fraternal Order of Police, Thorn, Raven, the Child Rescue Coalition, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, and International Justice Mission.

Key Provisions of the Safe Cloud Storage Act:

Modernizes Evidence Storage: Enables law enforcement-approved cloud service providers to securely store and process digital evidence used in child sexual exploitation investigations.

Provides Limited Liability Protections: Protects approved vendors from certain civil and criminal liability when handling qualifying evidence on behalf of law enforcement.

Maintains Accountability: Preserves liability in circumstances excluded by the legislation and ensures protections are limited to qualifying vendors acting within the scope of their work with law enforcement.

Strengthens Cybersecurity: Requires approved vendors to comply with stringent cybersecurity requirements to protect highly sensitive evidence.

By allowing investigators to securely use modern cloud-based technology, the Safe Cloud Storage Act will help law enforcement more efficiently manage growing volumes of digital evidence and support investigations aimed at identifying victims and holding offenders accountable.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-maria-elvira-salazar-delivers-24-million-key-biscayne-flood-protection-and,REP. MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR DELIVERS $2.4 MILLION FOR KEY BISCAYNE FLOOD PROTECTION AND COASTAL RESILIENCE,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) visited Key Biscayne to deliver more than $2.4 million in federal funding she secured for two projects that will help address flooding around Key Biscayne K-8 Community School and explore a long-term solution to shoreline erosion.

Joined by Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco and Village leaders, Rep. Salazar presented $2 million for stormwater improvements around Key Biscayne K-8 and $412,500 for an offshore barrier reef study in collaboration with the University of Miami.

“Leadership means seeing a problem before it becomes a crisis and doing the work to solve it,” said Rep. Salazar. “When our streets flood and our coastline is threatened, families feel the consequences. In Congress, my job is to turn those challenges into action: secure the resources, hold federal agencies accountable, and deliver results on the ground. That is the standard I have set across South Florida, and I will keep raising it.”

“These investments give Key Biscayne the opportunity to address the flooding challenges we face today while planning responsibly for the future of our shoreline,” said Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Salazar for securing these federal resources and to the University of Miami for bringing its expertise to this effort. Strong partnerships like these are essential to keeping Key Biscayne safe and resilient for generations to come.”

Flooding around the school can reach two to three feet during severe rain events, disrupting access for families, school buses, first responders, and the more than 1,000 students who attend Key Biscayne K-8. The $2 million secured by Rep. Salazar will help install a new pump-based drainage system designed to move water out more effectively, reduce flooding, and improve safety in the surrounding neighborhood.

Rep. Salazar also delivered $412,500 for the Village’s Offshore Barrier Reef for Shoreline Stabilization Study, a collaboration between Key Biscayne and the University of Miami. The study will examine whether a hybrid offshore reef could help reduce beach erosion while limiting unintended environmental impacts and reducing the need for repeated beach renourishment.

The $2,412,500 in Community Project Funding was secured by Rep. Salazar through the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, signed into law in February 2026.

Watch Rep. Salazar’s visit to Key Biscayne and learn more about the projects HERE.

Mire la visita de la representante Salazar a Key Biscayne y conoce más sobre estos proyectos AQUÍ

REP. SALAZAR’S RECORD ON FLOOD PROTECTION

Rep. Salazar has secured more than $20 million for flood mitigation and stormwater projects across South Florida, including:

$14 million for the City of Miami

$2.3 million for Pinecrest

$2 million for Cutler Bay

$2.9 million for Key Biscayne

$1.4 million for Miami-Dade County

Together, these investments reflect Rep. Salazar’s broader focus on strengthening South Florida’s infrastructure before the next major storm. From drainage and flood mitigation to coastal resilience, she has prioritized projects that protect neighborhoods, improve public safety, and help communities prepare for the challenges ahead.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-appointed-to-serve-as-member-of-united-states-coast-guard-academy-board-of-visitors/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Appointed to Serve as Member of United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody has accepted an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors. The Board of Visitors provides the Commandant of the Coast Guard independent advice and recommendations on the operation and other matters relating to the Academy. Members are appointed by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House.

“The U.S. Coast Guard plays an indispensable role in protecting our homeland—securing our maritime borders, interdicting illegal drugs, conducting lifesaving search and rescue missions, and responding when disaster strikes. As a member of a military family, supporting the brave men and women who serve our country is deeply personal to me, and it is an honor to continue this important work as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody is a proud supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and military families. Since becoming a United States Senator, Moody has:

Recently cosponsored the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. The Veterans Bill of Rights Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights regarding VA-administered health care, benefits, and services.

Cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans;

Supported the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans;

Supported the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans;

Held a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans;

Recognized 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussed the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more.

Senator Moody recently joined the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Last month, Senator Moody stood with more than a hundred of Florida veterans at a VFW Post in Orlando to spotlight the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act she is cosponsoring.

Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s military members. As Florida Attorney General, Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families who encounter scams or fraud.

Senator Moody is proud to be part of a military family.

# # #",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairwoman-salazar-leads-house-hearing-nicaragua-warns-growing-us-national,"Chairwoman Salazar Leads House Hearing on Nicaragua, Warns of Growing U.S. National Security Threat",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, convened a hearing titled “Confronting the Totalitarian Ortega-Murillo Regime,” examining the dictatorship’s repression of the Nicaraguan people, its growing cooperation with America’s adversaries, and the threat it poses to U.S. national security.

“Nicaragua is not forgotten. Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have spent years dismantling democracy, persecuting the Church, crushing political opposition, and acting as if the country were their private property. Now they are opening Nicaragua wider to China and Russia, giving America’s adversaries a dangerous foothold in our own hemisphere. That is not only a tragedy for the Nicaraguan people; it is a national security concern for the United States. Congress is watching, the Administration is paying attention, and Ortega and Murillo should consider themselves warned,” said Chairwoman Salazar.

In her opening remarks, Salazar pointed to a major shift in U.S. policy toward Latin America under President Trump and made clear that Nicaragua must remain part of America’s renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere.

She highlighted the Administration’s posture toward Venezuela and Cuba before turning to Nicaragua, where Ortega and Murillo have dismantled democratic institutions, jailed political opponents, driven hundreds into exile, targeted the Catholic Church, destroyed civil society organizations and universities, and moved to eliminate meaningful elections.

During the hearing, Chairwoman Salazar questioned Ana Quintana-Lovett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central America and Migration Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, about China’s growing strategic and economic presence in Nicaragua and the consequences for American security.

Salazar raised particular concern over China’s involvement in the $500 million expansion of Punta Huete, an airfield originally built to accommodate strategic bombers. She questioned the national security implications of Beijing gaining access to strategically significant infrastructure so close to the United States.

She also highlighted China’s expanding economic footprint in Nicaragua, including mining concessions granted to Chinese interests and Beijing’s involvement in critical infrastructure projects such as the modernization of Puerto de Corinto.

Chairwoman Salazar questioned what more the United States can do to prevent the Ortega-Murillo regime from handing increasingly important pieces of Nicaragua’s economy and strategic infrastructure to China.

Salazar also examined the growing level of cooperation between the Ortega-Murillo regime and Russia, raising concerns about Moscow’s expanding presence and freedom of movement in Nicaragua and what that relationship could mean for U.S. national security.

The hearing underscored that Nicaragua can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of political repression and human rights. As the Ortega-Murillo regime deepens its relationships with China and Russia, Nicaragua is increasingly becoming a strategic concern for the United States and the security of the Western Hemisphere.

To watch Chairwoman Salazar’s opening statement click here.

CHAIRWOMAN SALAZAR'S RECORD ON NICARAGUA

Chairwoman Salazar has been one of Congress's leading voicesfor democracy, religious freedom, and human rights in Nicaragua. Since coming to Congress, she has consistently worked to expose the abuses of the Ortega-Murillo regime and increase pressure on the dictatorship through sanctions, congressional oversight, and legislation.

Rep. Salazar was an original House leader of the bipartisan RENACER Act, landmark legislation enacted in 2021 to strengthen sanctions against the Ortega regime, increase scrutiny of international lending to Nicaragua, and expand U.S. tools to respond to electoral fraud, corruption, and human rights abuses. The legislation also required greater reporting on Russian influence and security cooperation in Nicaragua.

In January 2026, she introduced the Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act alongside Rep. Chris Smith. The legislation would strengthen sanctions on the Ortega-Murillo regime, prohibit U.S. investment that benefits the dictatorship, oppose international financing that strengthens the regime, support political prisoners and people of faith targeted by the government, and increase assistance for democracy and human rights programs in Nicaragua.

Chairwoman Salazar has been a vocal defender of Nicaragua's political prisoners, exiled dissidents, journalists, and religious leaders. She has repeatedly condemned the regime's persecution of the Catholic Church and warned that Ortega's growing partnerships with China, Russia, and Iran pose a threat not only to the Nicaraguan people but also to U.S. interests and democratic stability throughout the hemisphere.

As Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Rep. Salazar has made Nicaragua a central focus of the Subcommittee's oversight efforts, highlighting the regime's democratic backsliding, attacks on civil society, growing foreign influence, and ongoing human rights abuses. She has consistently called for free and fair elections, accountability for regime officials, and stronger U.S. support for those fighting for freedom in Nicaragua.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-files-legislation-to-locate-new-u-s-space-academy-in-florida/,Senator Moody Files Legislation to Locate New U.S. Space Academy in Florida,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody today filed legislation to locate the new U.S. Space Academy in Florida. Last month, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the U.S. Space Academy. Senator Moody immediately vowed to file legislation to bring the academy to Florida as soon as she returned to Washington. Today, Senator Moody delivered on that promise, introducing the STARS Act.

“I’ve just officially filed the STARS Act to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Florida. Florida is America’s gateway to the final frontier – that’s why it’s so important that the next generation of space leaders are trained in the Sunshine State,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.

In addition to filing this legislation, Senator Moody has been working with state partners to address the RFI put out by the Administration to encourage the establishment of the new Space Academy in Florida.

Earlier this month, Senator Moody rallied space industry leaders to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy.

Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500%since 2016.

Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.

The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.

Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.

The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.

Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs.

Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis IIat Kennedy Space Center where the crew thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians, and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.

# # #",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-questions-fbi-director-about-combatting-violent-crime-fighting-fraud-and-curbing-flow-of-fentanyl/,"VIDEO: Senator Moody Questions FBI Director About Combatting Violent Crime, Fighting Fraud, and Curbing Flow of Fentanyl",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Senator Ashley Moody questioned FBI Director Kash Patel during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the Administration’s success in combatting violent crime, going after criminals, and curbing the flow of fentanyl into the country:

“During the last administration, violent crime, senior fraud and fentanyl overdoses skyrocketed. As Florida’s Attorney General, I was on the frontlines pushing back against the terrible policies that allowed this chaos to spread. Now as U.S. Senator, I continue to look for ways to build on the success we have seen over the past two years in reversing crime trends, fighting fraud, and removing fentanyl from our communities,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

View Senator Moody’s full hearing remarks here.

Senator Moody highlighted the drop in violent crime nationwide—from 2024 to 2025, the violent crime rate fell by 9.3 percent. That is the largest single-year decline in the nation’s history.

Senator Moody also highlighted the pivotal role the FBI plays in going after the cartels and foreign actors who are guilty of poisoning Americans with fentanyl.

In 2025, seizures of fentanyl increased by more than 30 percent and fentanyl overdose deaths fell by 20 percent nationwide. Florida recently announced a 46% drop in fentanyl-related deaths.

To help law enforcement efforts against fentanyl, Senator Moody introduced the PRESS Act, which would criminalize the intentional importation of pill press equipment and unlisted precursor chemicals when they are intended to be used to manufacture illicit drugs.

Senator Moody also cosponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, which is now law. The Act permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

Senator Moody also champions Tyler’s Law, which would require HHS to issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose.

Senator Moody also highlighted the importance of protecting seniors from fraud.

During Senator Moody’s time as Florida Attorney General, Moody created Florida’s first-ever Senior Protection Team to bring together experts from across the state to identify these schemes, pursue the fraudsters behind them, and recover millions of dollars for victims.

As Senator, Moody has introduced the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, which would help establish dedicated elder justice task forces bringing together local, state, and federal law enforcement to combat these crimes.

Senator Moody also introduced the SWIPES Act to jack up the sentence for anyone who defrauds a senior American on purpose.

# # #",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-announces-project-to-tackle-america-s-cost-of-living-crisis,Sen. Rick Scott Announces Project to Tackle America’s Cost-of-Living Crisis,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott announced his new project to urge Washington to finally tackle America’s affordability crisis. Through a series of speeches, videos, and a presentation, Senator Scott will outline a roadmap to counter the rising popularity of socialism and reinvigorate the American Dream by giving everyone more opportunities to live, work, and raise a family in a safe community.

To watch the first video in Senator Rick Scott’s affordability series, click HERE or on the image above.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The generation coming of age today has inherited Washington’s failures and are paying for them every day. They’re walking into a world where the starter home their parents bought doesn’t exist for them anymore. They’re abandoning the idea of having children because they simply cannot afford it. More young Americans following socialists like Zohran Mamdani because the status quo has failed and they’re desperate for change. We must be clear that socialism isn’t the answer. It will kill the American Dream.”

“I put together a project with one goal: to be honest with the American public about how our economy has drastically changed, how the American Dream is out of reach for so many, and most importantly - how we can fix it. Socialism will destroy America if we let it take root. If we don’t act now, the American Dream will not exist for young people today, our kids, or our grandkids.”

“Stay tuned.”

# # #",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-secures-50-million-water-infrastructure,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Secures $50 Million in Water Infrastructure Authorizations and Horseshoe Beach Storm Protection Study in House-Passed WRDA,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) secured $50 million in new and expanded federal water and wastewater infrastructure authorizations for Columbia, Suwannee, Marion, and Gilchrist Counties, along with a coastal storm risk study for Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County, in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R. 9497), which passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 415 to 9.

The House-passed bill:

Authorizes up to $39.3 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Columbia and Suwannee Counties.

More than doubles Marion County's existing authorization, from $10 million to $20.5 million, providing an additional $10.5 million in authorized capacity.

Authorizes up to $200,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure, including stormwater management, in Gilchrist County.

Directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study coastal storm risk management for the town of Horseshoe Beach, including shoreline damage prevention and mitigation.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-barragan-cammack-auchincloss-kean-mullin-introduce-bipartisan-bill,"Bilirakis, Barragán, Cammack, Auchincloss, Kean & Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Permanently Protect Rare Pediatric Disease Drug Development Program -Legislation Provides Long-Term Certainty to Encourage Investment in Lifesaving Treatments for Childr",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Bilirakis, Barragán, Cammack, Auchincloss, Kean & Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Permanently Protect Rare Pediatric Disease Drug Development Program

-Legislation Provides Long-Term Certainty to Encourage Investment in Lifesaving Treatments for Children with Rare Diseases-

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today, U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) Program, an important incentive for developing treatments for children with rare and devastating diseases. Since its creation in 2012, the program has helped bring treatments to market across 47 rare pediatric diseases - only four of which had an FDA-approved treatment before the program existed. The program, currently scheduled to sunset in 2029, awards a transferable priority review voucher to companies that successfully develop and receive FDA approval for qualifying treatments. Because rare-disease drug development can take as long as 15 years, permanent authorization would provide the long-term certainty needed to encourage continued investment in treatments for small patient populations that might otherwise struggle to attract research and development resources.

“Parents of children battling rare diseases should never have to hear that promising research was abandoned because there wasn’t enough incentive to pursue a treatment,”said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “Medical innovation is advancing at an incredible pace, but no child should be left behind simply because their disease affects too few patients to attract traditional investment. Drug development takes years, and innovators need certainty when making research decisions today. By making this successful program permanent, our bipartisan bill will encourage continued investment in lifesaving treatments and give hope to families who are desperately waiting for the next breakthrough.”

“We should not let a rare disease become a death sentence simply because the market is too small,”said Rep. Nanette Barragán. ""The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program has helped bring treatments to children who face devastating diseases that previously had few or no options. That is why I am joining Congressman Bilirakis in introducing bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize this program and create certainty for researchers and investors who need to make decisions today for families and children who cannot afford to wait.”

“Every child deserves a chance at life, no matter how rare their disease,” said Congresswoman Kat Cammack. “A rare diagnosis should never mean that a child is left behind in the search for a treatment or cure. The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program encourages America’s innovators to take on these devastating diseases and pursue breakthroughs that can give children and their families hope. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to make this important program permanent.”

“Every child deserves a shot at a healthy future,” said Congressman Mullin. “The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program is bringing lifesaving treatments to kids who desperately need them, and we can’t let that progress stall. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to make the program permanent and give families hope that more rare pediatric treatments will be developed. When a child’s life is on the line, we can’t afford to wait.”

""Children with rare cancers need cures just as much as everyone else. Yet, many companies who want to develop those cures can’t find the necessary financing for such a small group of patients. The Rare Pediatric Disease PRV program provides these companies a vital incentive to invest millions of dollars to find cures for only a handful of children. Congress must permanently reauthorize this program to help these kids and give families hope that treatments and therapies will continue to advance for these devastating conditions,”said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr.

“The medical science to cure pediatric diseases has never been more promising. The vouchers have been an important tool to turn that science into therapies. Congress must not abandon what's working – we should make the vouchers permanent,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss.

Although the program does not sunset until 2029, investment decisions are being made now. During the program’s lapse from December 2024 to February 2026, the Rare Disease Company Coalition identified roughly 200 therapies at risk of losing eligibility and reported that investors were pulling back from the space. Permanent authorization would provide greater certainty for continued investment in rare pediatric disease research. The legislation is supported by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), Rare Foundation (formerly EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases), Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), and Rare Disease Company Coalition (RDCC).

“The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher program is a proven, budget-neutral incentive that spurs innovation and supports the development of new therapies for children living with rare diseases,”said Chris Porter, Chair of the Rare Disease Company Coalition. “During the program's lapse from December 2024 to February 2026, over 200 pipeline assets were at risk of not receiving a priority review voucher, representing more than $4 billion in potential lost reinvestment capacity. Permanently reauthorizing the program will provide the certainty and predictability rare disease innovators need to continue investing into rare disease research and development for patients with few or no existing options. The Rare Disease Company Coalition applauds Representatives Bilirakis, Auchincloss, Barragán, Cammack, Mullin and Kean for their leadership and for taking action to make the PPRV program a permanent part of our nation’s rare disease innovation ecosystem.”

“For families facing a rare pediatric disease, time isn't a luxury. The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program has proven to be one of the most effective tools we have for enabling companies to translate promising science into new treatments. Developing a treatment for a devastating pediatric disease takes years, sometimes decades. Making the PRV permanent gives drug developers and the patient communities counting on them the certainty to make that long-term bet. The RARE Foundation, formerly known as the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, is grateful to Representatives Bilirakis, Barragán, Cammack, Auchincloss, Kean, and Mullin for introducing the Priority for Pediatric Cures Act so that we can build on the incredible momentum of the first 14 years of the PRV Program, which has enabled over 70 new treatments for pediatric rare diseases,” Annie Kennedy, Chief Mission Officer, Rare Foundation.

“The Rare Pediatric Disease PRV program provides critical incentives for rare disease research and development at no cost to taxpayers. Permanent reauthorization of this vital program would bring hope to children and families touched by rare disease who have no more time to wait, and stability and confidence for biotech innovators who are leading the way in the discovery of breakthrough treatments,” said BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley. “Previous lapses in the PPRV program have devastated families who have run out of treatment options. We are grateful to Representatives Bilirakis, Barragan, and the bipartisan leadership of all the bill’s cosponsors for making the PRV permanent on behalf of pediatric patients and their families.”

Background

Roughly one in ten Americans lives with a rare disease. Of the more than 10,000 known rare diseases, approximately 95 percent still have no FDA-approved treatment, and half of all patients diagnosed with a rare disease are children. Because rare diseases affect relatively small patient populations, promising treatments can struggle to attract the investment necessary to support years of costly research and development.

The Rare Pediatric Disease PRV Program helps address that challenge by awarding a priority review voucher following FDA approval of a qualifying treatment. The voucher may be used for another eligible application or transferred to another company. FDA has awarded 63 vouchers to date, with more than 90 percent going to therapies for indications that previously had no approved treatment. Making the program permanent would provide greater certainty for continued investment in treatments and cures for children with rare diseases.",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/14/icymi-buchanan-reflects-on-the-25th-anniversary-of-september-11/,ICYMI: Buchanan Reflects on the 25th Anniversary of September 11,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“Everyone Remembers Where They Were on September 11, 2001”

Op-Ed Remembers 9/11 and the Importance of Continued Action to Protect our Nation

WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan recently penned an op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reflecting on his firsthand experience on 9/11 and warning that Congress cannot let its guard down on funding the agencies and first responders who protect the country from the next attack.

“America’s darkest day was September 11,” said Buchanan. “Its brightest was September 12, when the country stood together. We honor that unity best not with speeches alone, but by making sure the people and agencies standing between us and the next attack have what they need, every year, not just this one.”

Read the full op-ed HERE or below:

Twenty-five years after 9/11, remembering is not enough

Congressman Vern Buchanan

Everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001. Twenty-five years later, I still remember every detail of that morning. I was at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, in the district I would one day represent, waiting to greet President George W. Bush after his visit to Emma E. Booker Elementary School just a few miles away. It was supposed to be an ordinary morning, a handshake and a photo with the president.

Instead, a Secret Service agent pulled me into a back room. He told me a small plane may have gotten off course and struck one of the towers at the World Trade Center in New York. He said the President would be with me shortly. At that point, everybody still thought it was an accident. A terrible accident, but an accident.

Minutes later he came back. A second plane had hit. We were under attack.

Air Force One was sitting on the tarmac right in front of me. The president was abruptly rushed into his motorcade and loaded aboard. I watched as the plane climbed almost vertically off the runway. I had never seen an aircraft climb like that. I stood there and watched it go, and I did not know where he was going or when any of us would know anything again. You cannot imagine, standing on a runway in Sarasota on a Tuesday morning, that someone would fly an airplane into a building full of people. Nearly 3,000 of them never made it home. Twenty-five years later, I still remember every detail of that morning as if it happened yesterday.

The children President Bush was reading with at Booker Elementary School that morning were seven years old. They are in their thirties now. Some of them have children of their own who have never known what our nation was like before.

I have thought a lot about how different this country was the day before. On September 10, there was no Department of Homeland Security. There was no TSA. People boarded airplanes without giving it a second thought, because we did not live like a country that expected to be attacked at home. All of it was built afterward, at a terrible price. In the years right after 2001, this country spent whatever it took to safeguard our nation, but then time passed and the funding fights got harder.

That day taught me a hard lesson. The men and women who protect us, our first responders, our intelligence professionals, the agencies that stand watch over our airports, borders and infrastructure, cannot do their critical job without sustained support from Congress. Homeland security is not a line item we fund once and set aside. It is a continuing obligation.

That obligation does not stop at a speech for me. It shows up in how I vote. In 2019, I voted for the Never Forget the Heroes Act, which was signed into law by President Trump and permanently funded the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund so that responders and survivors who got sick from their work at Ground Zero would never have to worry about their care being cut off or delayed by Washington.

That same principle has to guide how we fund homeland security today. The threats have changed since 2001, from hijacked airliners to cyberattacks on our power grids, hospitals and water systems, but the need for round-the-clock vigilance has not. TSA screeners, Coast Guard crews, cybersecurity personnel and local fire and EMS departments are the modern front line of the fight that began on 9/11. That day deserves more than a tribute. It deserves sustained funding for the agencies and first responders who carry that mission forward today.

This year, I once again cosponsored the 9-1-1 SAVES Act, which would finally classify 911 dispatchers as first responders. They are the first voice you hear on the worst day of your life. We ought to call them what they are. Every year in this district, I host a ceremony to honor our fire, rescue and EMS crews, because the people who run toward the emergency deserve more than one day.

America’s darkest day was September 11. Its brightest was September 12, when the country stood together. We honor that unity best not with speeches alone, but by making sure the people and agencies standing between us and the next attack have what they need, every year, not just this one.

###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/president-trump-signs-rep-steubes-disaster-tax-relief-bill-into-law/,President Trump Signs Rep. Steube’s Disaster Tax Relief Bill Into Law,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced that President Donald Trump signed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act into law, delivering critical tax relief and certainty to Americans recovering from federally declared natural disasters. The legislation extends federal disaster tax relief for Americans impacted by federally declared disasters between July 4, 2025, and December 31, 2026.

“This delivers long-overdue certainty to Americans rebuilding after natural disasters. Disaster victims should be focused on rebuilding their homes, businesses, and communities, not worrying about an unexpected tax burden on the assistance they receive,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “I’m grateful to President Trump for signing this important legislation into law and ensuring families across the country receive the relief they deserve. Congressman LaMalfa worked tirelessly to get this legislation across the finish line, and it is fitting that his legacy of service will live on for years to come.”

“Thanks to bipartisan leadership in Congress and President Trump, disaster victims now have the certainty they need to rebuild their lives. Families who lose their homes to a wildfire or a hurricane should not also lose a sizable piece of their recovery resources to the IRS. I commend Congressman Steube for his tireless efforts to see this bill across the finish line, and I want to recognize our late colleague Doug LaMalfa, whose years of advocacy for disaster victims in California made this law possible,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith.

“After disaster strikes, impacted Americans should be focused on rebuilding their lives and their communities – not surprise changes to their tax bills. After speaking with so many Americans in Florida and across the country impacted by natural disasters, including meeting Spencer Pratt at his burned-down home and touring the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, I knew we had to do something. Now that President Trump has signed this bill into law, I’m grateful to have worked with Spencer, Rep. Steube, and Sen. Schiff to ensure those affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters continue to receive the real tax relief – and the peace of mind – they deserve,” said Senator Rick Scott.

“The last thing families and communities recovering from natural disasters should have to worry about is an additional tax burden when they’re trying to get back on their feet,” said Rep. Panetta. “I’m proud that our bipartisan legislation has been signed into law to ensure that wildfire relief payments and hurricane losses continue to qualify for fair tax treatment. This new law will provide disaster-impacted Americans with the certainty, time, and tools they need to rebuild and move forward.”

“Surviving a natural disaster can place an enormous financial burden on families. It is critical that we support victims of devastating disasters like the wildfires in California and across the country. That’s why I was proud to team up with Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Greg Steube, Mike Thompson and Jimmy Panetta to provide tax relief to the victims of natural disasters and why I am so grateful to see our bipartisan bill signed into law. We must ensure that those hit the hardest when disaster strikes receive the support and the tax relief they need to recover. And in seeing our bill become law, we affirm a vital part of the late Doug LaMalfa’s legacy,” said Senator Adam Schiff.

TheDoug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act allows Americans impacted by federally declared disasters to deduct qualified casualty losses without having to itemize deductions. The legislation also ensures certain disaster relief payments are not treated as taxable income.

The legislation was led in the upper chamber by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), with Representatives Steube, the late Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) leading in the House. The legislation was originally introduced as the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025, but was later renamed in honor of the late Congressman LaMalfa, who spent years championing disaster tax relief for Americans recovering from catastrophic events and passed unanimously.

The Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act builds on Rep. Steube’s Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, which delivered billions in tax relief to Americans recovering from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and other federally declared disasters. By extending these tax provisions through December 31, 2026, the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act provides continued certainty for disaster victims as they rebuild and recover.

With multiple pieces of standalone tax legislation now signed into law by both Presidents Trump and Biden, Congressman Steube has continued to demonstrate his ability to overcome Washington gridlock and deliver meaningful results for the American taxpayer.

Congressman Steube is one of five House Republicans not on the Ways and Means Committee Leadership to bring two taxpayer bills into law in over fifty years.

###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-leads-south-atlantic-congressional-delegation-in-urging-the-department-of-commerce-to-approve-new-fishing-permits-for-red-snapper/,Senator Moody Leads South Atlantic Congressional Delegation in Urging the Department of Commerce to Approve New Fishing Permits for Red Snapper,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody, along with Representative John Rutherford, is leading the South Atlantic congressional delegation in support of new Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications. Following a DC Court halting the prior EFPs on the eve of the state’s approved May season, Florida has worked collaboratively with NOAA to develop even stronger EFP applications. These new permits will represent an important opportunity to improve recreational access, strengthen conservation through best available science, and support the coastal economies that depend on this fishery.

“South Atlantic anglers deserve more than a two-day red snapper season. We have already seen the success of state-led management in the Gulf, where Florida’s red snapper season grew to 126 days in 2025 while maintaining healthy fish stocks. That’s why I am leading an effort to ensure we can manage our own red snapper season and continue strengthening our recreational fishing opportunities,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND

Joining Senator Moody and Rep. Rutherford are Senator Rick Scott and Reps. David Rouzer, Aaron Bean, Earl ‘Buddy’ Carter, Russell Fry, Randy Fine, Darren Soto, Austin Scott, Ralph Norman, Byron Donalds, Rick W. Allen, Mike Haridopolos, Daniel Webster, María Elvira Salazar, Gus Bilirakis, and Scott Franklin.

The Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications were submitted by Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to improve state data collection efforts and advance state-led management of the recreational red snapper fishery in federal waters in the South Atlantic.

During President Trump’s first term, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved the state management EFP’s for red snapper in the Gulf of America.

As a result, there has been improved data collection, strengthened accountability, and substantially longer recreational fishing seasons while maintaining healthy fish stocks.

In 2025, Florida’s Gulf red snapper season lasted 126 days, a dramatic improvement from the three-day federal season anglers experienced before state management began.

Read the entire letter here.

In March, Senator Moody led the effort that resulted in the approval of a 39-day Atlantic snapper fishing season.

# # #",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/photos-senator-moody-honors-the-thousands-of-lives-lost-in-the-9-11-terrorist-attacks-on-the-25th-anniversary/,PHOTOS: Senator Moody Honors the Thousands of Lives Lost in the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the 25th Anniversary,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"TAMPA, Fla.—At a memorial service at U.S. Special Operations Command this morning, Senator Ashley Moody honored the thousands of lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Senator Moody, along with community officials and law enforcement officers placed a yellow rose in remembrance of those lost and in honor of the heroism police officers, firefighters, and other first responders showed on that tragic day 25 years ago.

“Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, our nation experienced one of the darkest days in American history. But on that terrible day, we also saw the very best of America. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders ran toward danger to help others. They risked – and in far too many cases, gave – their own lives to save people whom they had never met,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “Today, we remember every precious life lost. We honor the heroes who answered the call and we stand with the families who still carry the weight of that loss. May we never forget September 11th, and the courage and unity America showed in its aftermath.”

# # #",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/president-trump-signs-sen-rick-scott-s-disaster-tax-relief-bill-into-law,President Trump Signs Sen. Rick Scott’s Disaster Tax Relief Bill into Law,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – Today, President Donald Trump signed Senator Rick Scott’s Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act into law.

The new law will provide meaningful, long-overdue tax relief for victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters and ensure they have immediate access to it. It was recently renamed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act to honor Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away in January of 2026.

This law also extends victims’ ability to make tax-deductible payments from wildfire settlements, which often happen many years after a disaster, through January 1, 2027. Senator Scott introduced the bill in the Senate with bipartisan co-lead Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) led in the House, with original co-sponsors Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Jimmy Penetta (D-Calif.), and the late Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.).

Senator Rick Scott said, “After disaster strikes, impacted Americans should be focused on rebuilding their lives and their communities – not surprise changes to their tax bills. After speaking with so many Americans in Florida and across the country impacted by natural disasters, including meeting Spencer Pratt at his burned-down home and touring the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, I knew we had to do something.

“Now that President Trump has signed this bill into law, I’m grateful to have worked with Spencer, Rep. Steube, and Sen. Schiff to ensure those affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters continue to receive the real tax relief – and the peace of mind – they deserve.""

Senator Adam Schiff said, “Surviving a natural disaster can place an enormous financial burden on families. It is critical that we support victims of devastating disasters like the wildfires in California and across the country. That’s why I was proud to team up with Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Greg Steube, Mike Thompson and Jimmy Panetta to provide tax relief to the victims of natural disasters and why I am so grateful to see our bipartisan bill signed into law. We must ensure that those hit the hardest when disaster strikes receive the support and the tax relief they need to recover. And in seeing our bill become law, we affirm a vital part of the late Doug LaMalfa’s legacy.”

Full text of the bill can be found here.

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-sen-moody-urge-army-corps-to-preserve-charlotte-county-septic-to-sewer-authorization/,"Rep. Steube, Sen. Moody Urge Army Corps to Preserve Charlotte County Septic-to-Sewer Authorization",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senator Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) today sent a joint letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to preserve Charlotte County’s eligibility to seek federal funding for septic-to-sewer conversion projects.

Rep. Steube worked to increase the amount in federal funding that Charlotte County could seek from $3 million to $33 million in 2022 to address nearly 2,600 failing septic systems harming water quality in the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary and the Gulf of America. Federal funds have yet to be dispersed for the project, but the lawmakers say that reflects bureaucratic delay, not a lapse in need. Charlotte County has since completed the Manasota Key Shoreline Protection Study and is now positioned to pursue a roughly $400 million wastewater conversion program, with the county planning to request Congressional support for septic-to-sewer conversions in the upcoming funding cycle.

Rep. Steube and Sen. Moody warn that removing Charlotte County’s eligibility for federal support now would strip the county of its ability to seek funding for this work going forward, undoing years of Congressional effort to address failing septic systems and improve water quality throughout Southwest Florida.

The full letter is attached here.

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-secures-more-than-2-3-billion-for-florida-communities-affected-by-disasters/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Secures More than $2.3 BILLION for Florida Communities Affected by Disasters,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody continues working to secure long-sought FEMA disaster funds for hard-hit Florida communities. Since taking office, Senator Moody has recovered more than $2.3 billion for Florida. Senator Moody stood with local emergency officials in Fort Myers Beach to break the news today on the peak day of hurricane season. Included in the $2.3 billion secured for statewide projects are more than $64.9 million for projects in Lee County.

“When I got to Washington, Florida was still owed billions of dollars for projects dating back years. We quickly went to work to cut through the bureaucracy and make sure our communities received the money they were owed. Today, we announced that our total recoveries have officially surpassed $2 billion. This is a major milestone, but our work isn’t over yet. We will keep working to deliver the federal support Floridians need,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Statewide, Senator Moody has secured more than $2.3 billion in FEMA public assistance funding. Included in these funds are more than $64.9 million secured for Lee County, with $5.5. million designated to help reconstruct the pier destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The replacement is planned to stretch roughly 1,000 feet into the Gulf, more than 70% longer than the one destroyed.

These grants will be distributed along with the previously announced funds through FEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs to support more than 500 recovery projects across the state. This money is disbursed to the state and local communities for disaster recovery projects.

These projects include repairs to educational facilities, restoration of critical infrastructure, debris removal, and costs incurred during emergencies to protect life and property.

Senator Moody introduced the TRACK Act (Transparency in Recovery Assistance & Claims Knowledge Act) to bring more transparency to the FEMA disaster aid process, which has now been passed into law.

The TRACK Act mandates a status tracker on the FEMA website, so victims of a disaster have easily available knowledge and insight of their claim’s progress.

Sept. 10 represents the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Senator Moody created webpage aggregating hurricane preparedness and recovery resources for Floridians. Click here to learn more.

# # #",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/09/icymi-buchanan-warns-of-looming-national-debt-crisis-in-sarasota-herald-tribune-op-ed/,ICYMI: Buchanan Warns of Looming National Debt Crisis in Sarasota Herald-Tribune Op-Ed,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“Florida families balance their budgets every month. It is about time Washington does the same.”

Op-Ed Details the $40 Trillion National Debt and Buchanan’s Balanced Budget Amendment

WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan recently penned an op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune warning that the national debt, now surpassing $40 trillion, is on pace to leave the next generation with a bill they never agreed to and cannot afford.

“I spent more than 30 years running businesses before I ever set foot on the House floor,” said Buchanan. “In the business world, there is a simple rule that never changes: you cannot spend more than you take in year after year and expect to stay open. Every entrepreneur and small business owner in Florida knows this. So does every family balancing a checkbook. It’s time Washington learned it too.”

Read the full op-ed HERE or below:

The Next Generation Shouldn’t Inherit Washington’s Spending Problem

Congressman Vern Buchanan

I spent more than 30 years running businesses before I ever set foot on the House floor. In the business world, there is a simple rule that never changes: you cannot spend more than you take in year after year and expect to stay open. Every entrepreneur and small business owner in Florida knows this. So does every family balancing a checkbook. It’s time Washington learned it too.

The national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, a number so large it’s difficult to picture. To put it in perspective, that’s more than $300,000 owed for every household in America, a bill no family ever agreed to, and no family should have to afford. The debt now stands at more than 100 percent of the size of our entire economy, a level that warrants extreme concern. Additionally, interest on the debt is growing out of control as it surpasses defense to become the federal governments second largest expense. We’ve borrowed against the future before, but always to win a war or survive a depression, never simply to avoid making a hard choice.

If Washington continues on its current course, with no more wars, no recession and no major new programs, the debt is projected to hit a staggering $64 trillion within the next decade. Add more than $80 trillion in unfunded promises to Social Security and Medicare and the picture becomes even more sobering. These are promises we’ve made to seniors who spent their whole lives paying in, and to young people who haven’t even cast their first vote yet. As representatives of the American people, we are here to serve their best interest, and there is nothing in their interest about handing the next generation a bill this country can’t afford.

In January 2007, the national debt stood at just under $9 trillion. In less than two decades, it has more than quadrupled. Think about that. It took this country more than 230 years, through two world wars, the Great Depression and the Cold War, to reach $9 trillion in debt. It has taken us less than 20 years to add more than $31 trillion more on top of it.

This did not happen under one party or one president. Both sides of the aisle share the blame, and both sides need to be part of the solution. That is why I authored H.J. Res. 3, a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget, as both my first piece of legislation when I arrived in Congress and my first bill to introduce in each Congress since. I believe nothing else we can do in Washington matters much if we do not get our fiscal house in order first.

A balanced budget amendment simply says what every Florida family and every small business already lives by: Congress cannot spend money it does not have without a real plan to pay it back. It would force Washington to set priorities, cut what does not work and stop kicking the hardest decisions down the road to our kids and grandkids. This is not a Republican idea or a Democratic idea. It is widely understood, and it deserves support from members on both sides of the aisle who care about the country the next generation will inherit.

I’ve heard the argument that we can simply tax our way out of this problem. But I don’t believe the answer is to reach deeper into the pockets of the people who are already carrying this country. The math does not support it either. Even the most aggressive tax increases on the wealthiest Americans would not come close to closing deficits of this size, let alone pay for the new spending some in Washington keep proposing. Working families and small businesses didn’t run up this debt, and they shouldn’t be the ones to foot the bill for it. The only honest path forward is to control spending, grow the economy and stop treating the congressional credit card as if it has no limit.

I did not come to Washington to leave behind a bigger problem than the one I found. I came here to run government the way I ran my businesses, with discipline, accountability and an eye on long-term success. Nearly 20 years later, that mission is more urgent than it has ever been.

The debt crisis we are approaching will not announce itself with a single dramatic headline. It will show up in higher interest rates, a weaker dollar, less money for the priorities that matter and fewer opportunities for the next generation. It will reach into the everyday lives of Americans nationwide. We still have time to change course, but that window is closing quickly.

I’m asking my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in getting the national debt under control. Florida families balance their budgets every month. It is about time Washington does the same.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla) is the Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and the chairman of the Health Subcommittee. Prior to serving in Congress, Buchanan was in business for over 30 years and chaired both the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber of Commerce.

###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1932,Franklin Leads Members Of Florida Delegation In Effort To Protect Domestic Fertilizer Production,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) led members of Florida’s congressional delegation in a letter to President Trump and Commerce Secretary Lutnick urging continued action to address the supply and rising cost of sulfur, a critical input used to produce phosphate fertilizer.

“Florida is at the heart of America’s phosphate fertilizer production, and the current sulfur shortage threatens an industry our farmers and food supply depend on,” said Congressman Scott Franklin. “A reliable, affordable supply of sulfur is critical to producing fertilizer American farmers depend on. I appreciate the Trump Administration’s work on this issue, and we want to build on those efforts to protect American fertilizer production, support our farmers and reduce our dependence on foreign sources.”

Geopolitical and shipping disruptions have constrained global sulfur supplies and driven prices to historic levels. Tampa sulfur prices have risen sharply from a previous average of $172 per long ton. Since May, prices have exceeded $1,100 per metric ton. This increase has put significant pressure on domestic phosphate fertilizer production.

Domestic phosphate producers have already reduced operating rates and idled facilities as sulfur costs and supply constraints have intensified. Further disruptions could threaten American jobs, tighten fertilizer supplies, increase costs for farmers and leave the United States more dependent on foreign fertilizer.

The Trump Administration has convened an interagency process to examine the issue. Franklin and his colleagues encouraged continued engagement and outlined potential options to increase access to competitively priced sulfur, including coordination with domestic refiners and sulfur marketers, addressing transportation and logistics constraints, using appropriate trade and financing tools and engaging allied suppliers.

The lawmakers also encourage the Administration to designate a senior official to coordinate the federal response and work with Congress on any additional authorities or resources that may be needed.

Cosigners include: Reps. Byron Donalds (FL-19), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Laurel Lee (FL-15), Greg Steube (FL-17) and Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13).

Read the full letter here.",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/photos-senator-moody-honors-law-enforcement-heroes-ambushed-while-responding-to-a-womans-call-for-help/,PHOTOS: Senator Moody Honors Law Enforcement Heroes Ambushed While Responding to a Woman’s Call for Help,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"TAMPA, Fla.— Senator Ashley Moody today gave special recognition to multiple Hillsborough County deputies who were ambushed and intervened while responding to a woman’s call for help. In July, a suspect ambushed three HCSO deputies responding to reports that a woman had been held at gunpoint. The suspect shot Deputy Colton Daniels in the face and Sopharmony Muon in the neck. While shots were being fired, Sergeant Harrison Bashner ran toward the gunfire to stop the threat. Deputy Roody Louis and Corporal Will Barnes were also recognized for their valor connected with the response.

“Deputies Daniels and Muon were ambushed while responding to a woman’s call for help. Sgt. Bashner immediately responded, running toward the gunfire to save the two deputies. These deputies showed exceptional courage. It was an honor to surprise them today with a special recognition for their service and thank them personally for all they do to protect Floridians,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND

In July, a suspect in a hostage case fired a barrage of shots at deputies who responded to a call for help. Deputy Daniels was shot in the face, and Deputy Muon was shot in the neck before he could step out of his car. Both deputies are recovering at home. Learn more here.

Senator Moody surprised the deputies at a special ceremony at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with Sheriff Chad Chronister.

Senator Moody is a strong supporter of the men and women who serve and protect Floridians. Last week, Senator Moody received the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Senator Moody also recently received the Friends of Florida Police Chiefs Association Award.

Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has:

Introduced the Halo Act to shield federal officers from those who seek to threaten and harass them on duty.

Cosponsored the LEO K9 Act, which aims to strengthen penalties for intentionally harming law enforcement animals and expand federal protections to cover state and local police animals assisting federal law enforcement. Senator Moody recently visited Jacksonville with Congressman Bean to spotlight the legislation.

Supported the Graham Hoffman Act, which would allow the U.S. to use the full force of state and federal law to prosecute those who assault first responders and act as a deterrent to anyone considering such acts of violence.

Introduced the HELPER Act to make homeownership more obtainable for Florida heroes, including law enforcement officers.

Co-Sponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law by President Trump. The new law assists law enforcement officers in getting fentanyl traffickers off the streets and permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

Sponsored the RIPPLE Act, which would expand the 287(g) program and provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get criminal illegal aliens out of communities; and

Advanced six bills to support law enforcement, strengthen public safety and deliver critical tools to officers out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week earlier this year.

As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody created many programs to recognize the selfless efforts of law enforcement officers, including her Back the Blue, Thin Line Tribute, and Sunshine Salute programs. Moody also worked with state lawmakers to strengthen statutes to hold criminals accountable and help officers and prosecutors do their jobs.

# # #",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-rallies-space-industry-leaders-in-call-to-bring-u-s-space-academy-to-florida/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Rallies Space Industry Leaders in Call to Bring U.S. Space Academy to Florida,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"SPACE COAST, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody today stood with space industry leaders to urge the administration to select Florida for the newly announced U.S. Space Academy. Space Florida CEO Rob Long, along with members from the Space Coast Economic Development Council, and the aerospace manufacturing community joined Senator Moody to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy. Senator Moody also plans to file legislation once the Senate is back in session to solidify Florida as the Space Academy’s new home.

“We are America’s space state. Florida helped launch our nation into the Space Age, and now we are ready to lead the way into the next era of American space leadership. Today, I stood with space industry leaders on our Space Coast to make the pitch to place the newly announced U.S. Space Academy where it belongs—in Florida,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“For decades, Florida has served as our country’s epicenter for U.S. space exploration and launch activity. The Sunshine State is home to one of the most advanced space ecosystems in the world and is uniquely positioned to ensure American space dominance for generations to come. The rare combination of our elite academic institutions, a renowned industrial base, robust manufacturing capabilities, and rapidly expanding commercial space presence, coupled with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, provides an unparalleled educational opportunity for the United States Space Academy. I want to thank President Trump for his leadership in creating this vital institute, and I am proud to work alongside Senator Ashley Moody to secure its success,” said Rep. Byron Donalds.

“There is no better place to train the next generation of American space leaders than the state that has launched generations of Americans to the stars,” said Rep. Mike Haridopolos. “Florida has the infrastructure, universities, workforce, and unmatched experience to make the United States Space Academy a success. As Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am proud to support Senator Moody’s legislation to bring this new institution to Florida.”

BACKGROUND:

Rep. Donalds will lead the legislation in the House. Both Rep. Haridopolos and Rep. Donalds have announced support for Senator Moody’s proposal.

The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.

Last week, Senator Moody announced she will be introducing legislation to bring the new academy to Florida, and also co-led an effort calling on the administration to consider Florida for the new institution.

Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500% since 2016.

Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.

The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.

Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.

The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.

Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs.

Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center as they thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.

# # #",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-joins-bipartisan-effort-expand-access-child-tax-credit-working,Salazar Joins Bipartisan Effort to Expand Access to Child Tax Credit for Working Families,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) joined Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Chris Pappas (D-NH) in introducing the bipartisan Stronger Start for Working Families Act, legislation that would lower the earned-income threshold for the refundable Child Tax Credit from $2,500 to $1.

Under current law, the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit does not begin phasing in until a family earns more than $2,500. The Stronger Start for Working Families Act would allow eligible working families to begin earning the refundable credit with their first dollar of earned income. According to the Tax Policy Center, the change would provide a tax cut to nearly 3.5 million families with children in 2026.

“Raising a family is expensive, and too many parents in South Florida are doing everything right and still feeling squeezed by the cost of everyday life,” said Rep. Salazar. “The Stronger Start for Working Families Act makes a simple, commonsense change: working families should be able to start benefiting from the refundable Child Tax Credit from the very first dollar they earn, instead of waiting until they reach $2,500 in earnings. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan bill to put more of that help within reach for families paying for groceries, child care, rent, and all the everyday costs that come with raising children.”

“The Stronger Start for Working Families Act is a common-sense piece of legislation designed to help our families across the country who are struggling with the rising costs of raising a child. By lowering the earned income limit, we can ensure parents start receiving much-needed Child Tax Credit benefits from the very first dollar they earn, providing tax relief and improved peace of mind to those needing it most,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller.

“The Stronger Start for Working Families Act is a bipartisan solution for working families who have watched relief stay just out of reach. Lowering the qualifying threshold from $2,500 to just $1 means that so many families below the poverty line who were previously prevented from qualifying now have access to the assistance they deserve. That can be the difference between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. There is still more work to be done for families who need support, but this is a positive first step. I'm proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle on this much needed relief, and I will continue to ensure working families can get ahead, not just get by,"" said Rep. Horsford.

""Families in New Hampshire are working hard and still coming up short. Child care for a family with two kids costs close to $32,000 a year here, more than a quarter of our state's median family income. It makes no sense that parents who need the Child Tax Credit most are the ones missing out. This bill is a simple and straightforward fix: let families start earning the credit with their first dollar of work so we can put money back in their pockets,"" said Congressman Chris Pappas.

The Stronger Start for Working Families Act would:

Lower the earned-income threshold for the refundable Child Tax Credit from $2,500 to $1, allowing eligible families to begin earning the credit with their first dollar of earned income;

Expand access to the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit for lower-income working families;

Maintain the credit’s connection to earned income while allowing the refundable benefit to begin phasing in sooner; and

Apply the change beginning with the 2026 tax year.

The legislation is the House companion to the bipartisan Stronger Start for Working Families Act introduced in the Senate by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN).

“Parents are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, with majorities of low-income parents saying they have increased spending on groceries and utilities this year. The Stronger Start for Working Families Act will help families access a larger Child Tax Credit sooner, which helps them afford basic necessities that help children thrive and incentivizes parents to join or stay in the workforce. BPC Action commends Reps. Miller (R-WV) and Horsford (D-NV) for leading this bill in the House,” says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).

The Stronger Start for Working Families Act is supported by Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Third Way, Bread for the World, America Forward, Save the Children, Niskanen Center, Family Matters, and RESULTS.

Rep. Salazar has made affordability a priority in Congress, advancing policies to address housing costs, strengthen homeownership, and help South Florida families keep more of what they earn. She will continue working to ease the financial pressure facing parents and make it more affordable to raise a family in FL-27.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-recognizes-award-winning-constituent-services-team-for-excellence-in-service-to-thousands-of-floridians/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Recognizes Award-Winning Constituent Services Team for Excellence in Service to Thousands of Floridians,2026-09-07,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody is recognizing her award-winning Constituent Services Team for providing excellent service to thousands of Floridians. The Congressional Management Foundation named Senator Moody’s office the winner of the 2026 Democracy Award for Best of Constituent Service. Senator Moody is the first U.S. Senator to win a Democracy Award for Best in Constituent Service after one year in Congress.

“We work for the citizens of Florida. Providing Floridians with exceptional constituent service takes a compassionate, dedicated team of public servants, and we have truly assembled the best of the best. It was a privilege to share the 2026 Democracy Award for Best of Constituent Service with our team in Orlando and recognize their tireless hard work on behalf of Floridians,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Since taking office, Senator Moody’s Constituent Services Team has assisted nearly 9,000 Floridians with federal agency casework, including over 1,000 veterans and active-duty service members.

The Best of Constituent Service category recognizes offices that demonstrate outstanding dedication through effective casework, timely resolution of individual issues, personalized support, and a relentless focus on ensuring constituents receive the help they need. Winners are selected for their exceptional attention to detail, empathy, and persistence in solving complex constituent problems.

The Congressional Management Foundation is the premier bipartisan foundation dedicated to strengthening the first branch of government. The Democracy Awards are CMF’s signature program recognizing the best in congressional non-legislative achievements.

To learn more about CMF’s Democracy Awards, click here.

To learn how Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL)’s office can serve you, click here.

# # #",1,2026-09-08T09:24:24Z,2026-09-08T09:26:10Z
https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salazar-bera-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-combat-tuberculosis-worldwide,"Reps. Salazar, Bera Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Tuberculosis Worldwide",2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) co-chairs of the House Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus, introduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026. This bipartisan legislation would strengthen U.S. efforts to prevent, diagnose, treat, and ultimately eliminate tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. A group of seven bipartisan Representatives joined as original cosponsors.

“Tuberculosis has challenged humanity for centuries. It should not define the centuries ahead,” said Representative María Elvira Salazar. “TB is preventable, treatable, and curable, yet too many people still die because they cannot get a timely diagnosis or the care they need. I’m proud to co-lead the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026 to keep America leading this fight, equip our partners with better tools, and stop a preventable disease from claiming more lives. The goal is simple: find it, treat it, and end it.”

“Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable, and curable, yet it continues to take far too many lives around the world,” said Representative Ami Bera, M.D. “The End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026 ensures the United States remains a leader in this fight by focusing on proven approaches: investing in better diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines and making sure our global health programs are accountable for results. I’m especially grateful to John Green, RESULTS, and TB advocates across the country for their tireless work to raise awareness, build support, and move us closer to ending TB once and for all.”

“RESULTS is deeply grateful to Rep. Bera and Rep. Salazar for their unwavering commitment to the fight against TB, and for championing this legislation,” said Dr. Joanne Carter, Executive Director of Raise Your Voice to End Poverty (RESULTS). “Communities around the world are leading the fight against TB, and we now have a range of powerful new tools ready to deploy. The U.S. government has already set bold targets for ending TB globally, and this bill provides the framework for how we actually get there. Our volunteers across the country are ready to support Congress to get this bill enacted into law.”

“I’m so grateful to Rep. Bera and Rep. Salazar for advancing the fight against tuberculosis. This disease, curable since the 1950s, has been allowed to ravage the world for far too long,” said John Green, TB advocate and author of the New York Times best-selling book Everything is Tuberculosis. “The End TB Now Act will help reduce the burden of a terrible global scourge.”

The End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026 modernizes U.S. global TB programs to focus resources on finding, treating, and preventing tuberculosis, particularly in countries and communities with the highest burden of the disease.

The legislation would:

Expand access to TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, including active case finding, rapid diagnostics, treatment for drug-resistant TB, and preventive treatment for people at high risk of infection;

Accelerate research and development of better tools to fight TB, including new diagnostics, drug therapies, vaccines, and other technologies, while strengthening health systems and laboratory capacity;

Set clear goals and strengthen accountability for U.S. programs, including working by 2030 to reduce TB incidence by 80 percent and TB deaths by 90 percent from 2015 levels, diagnose and begin treatment for 90 percent of TB and drug-resistant TB cases, achieve a 90 percent treatment success rate, and provide preventive treatment to 30 million people; and

Require annual reporting on U.S. global TB programs and investments in research and development to track progress and strengthen accountability.

Since 2022, Representative Salazar has led bipartisan efforts in the House of Representatives to eliminate tuberculosis. Alongside Representative Bera, Salazar introduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2022, which advanced through the House Foreign Affairs Committee that year. He reintroduced the legislation in 2023, when it again passed the Committee unanimously.

As a member of congress, Salazar has consistently made the case that investing in prevention, detection, and eradication efforts abroad is also an investment in the health and security of Americans at home.

Companion legislation in the Senate was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-rallies-veterans-in-central-florida-to-combat-high-rate-of-veteran-suicide-by-improving-wellness-and-mental-health-for-former-service-members/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Rallies Veterans in Central Florida to Combat High Rate of Veteran Suicide by Improving Wellness and Mental Health for Former Service Members,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, Fla.— Senator Ashley Moody continues to rally veterans across Florida around congressional legislation to increase mental health services and outcomes. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and military veterans experience suicide rates higher than the national average. Recently, in Central Florida, Senator Moody joined more than a hundred former servicemembers at a local VFW post to discuss the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, which would establish a grant program to help states provide veterans with additional resources for recovery.

“As Florida’s newest U.S. Senator, I have crisscrossed the state to meet with thousands of our great veterans and have looked for ways to increase resources and improve outcomes. They risked their lives to protect our great nation and I will continue to fight in Washington to make sure we always honor their service,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Recently Senator Moody joined more than 100 veterans at a VFW Post in Orlando to discuss the bipartisan Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act. The Act would establish a grant program through the Department of Veterans Affairs to help states develop and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for veterans. It would authorize $10 million each year, with every approved state receiving at least $200,000 to support these programs.

View Senator Moody’s full remarks from the recent event here.

Senator Moody is a proud supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and military families. Since becoming a United States Senator, Moody has:

Recently cosponsored the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. The Veterans Bill of Rights Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights regarding VA-administered health care, benefits, and services.

Cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans;

Supported the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans;

Supported the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans;

Held a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans;

Recognized 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussed the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more.

Senator Moody recently joined the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s military members. As Florida Attorney General, Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families who encounter scams or fraud.

Senator Moody is proud to be part of a military family.

# # #",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lee-introduces-ballots-election-day-act-establish-clear-deadline,Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Ballots by Election Day Act to Establish Clear Deadline for Federal Elections,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15), Chairwoman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections and former Florida Secretary of State, introduced the Ballots by Election Day Act, legislation establishing a clear, uniform standard that ballots cast in federal elections must be received by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

The legislation is the House companion to legislation introduced by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL). It would require absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections to be received by the close of polls on Election Day, while preserving existing protections for military and overseas voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The requirement would take effect beginning with federal elections held in 2027.

As Florida’s former Secretary of State, Rep. Lee served as the state’s chief election officer and oversaw the administration of Florida’s elections. Florida already requires most vote-by-mail ballots to be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. The Ballots by Election Day Act would bring that same basic principle to federal elections nationwide: voters should know the deadline, election officials should know the rules, and Election Day should mark the end of voting.

“Having served as Florida’s Secretary of State and overseen elections across our state, I have seen firsthand that clear rules, firm deadlines, and consistent election administration work,”said Rep. Laurel Lee.“Florida has shown that we can provide voters with accessible ways to cast their ballots while maintaining a clear deadline for when those ballots must be received. Election Day should mean election results. When the polls close, voters should have confidence that the voting is over and election officials can move forward with determining the results. The Ballots by Election Day Act applies that commonsense standard to federal elections across the country and provides greater certainty for voters, election officials, and the American people.”

The Ballots by Election Day Act is a simple fix to rebuild trust in elections. The fact that some states allow ballots to pour in for days after an election is absurd. Passing our Ballots by Election Day Act would deliver results before bed,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “I’m happy to see my friend and colleague, Representative Laurel Lee, join me in this fight to bring Florida’s blueprint for elections nationwide.

BACKGROUND:

The Ballots by Election Day Act follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee, which determined that current federal law does not establish a nationwide deadline for receiving mail ballots and left the issue for Congress to address.

This bill establishes a clear deadline for when ballots cast for federal office must be received. It provides voters with consistent rules and certainty about when their ballots are due, regardless of where they live. The approach is modeled after Florida, where most vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.

The Ballots by Election Day Act would:",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-proposes-creation-of-u-s-space-academy-in-florida-americas-launchpad-to-the-stars/,Senator Moody Proposes Creation of U.S. Space Academy in Florida—America’s Launchpad to the Stars,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody is proposing legislation to bring the newly-established U.S. Space Academy to Florida—the launchpad of American aerospace innovation. Last week, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the United States Space Academy, and Senator Moody is announcing that she will file legislation when the Senate floor reopens to solidify Florida as the Space Academy’s new home.

“The newly established United States Space Academy belongs in Florida – America’s launchpad to the stars. That’s why the first thing I’ll do when I’m back in Washington is introduce legislation to bring the academy home to Florida—ensuring our nation’s next generation of space leaders is educated, trained, and prepared for a future in the final frontier right here on Florida’s Space Coast,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND

The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.

Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500% since 2016.

Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.

The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.

Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.

The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.

Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs.

Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center as they thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.

# # #",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-rep-haridopolos-lead-florida-delegation-in-letter-to-president-trump-and-nasa-administrator-jared-isaacman-to-bring-space-academy-in-florida/,"Senator Moody, Rep. Haridopolos Lead Florida Delegation in Letter to President Trump and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to Bring Space Academy in Florida",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Senator Ashley Moody along with Representative Mike Haridopolos led the Florida delegation in a letter to the President and NASA Administrator offering Florida as the home for the new United States Space Academy. Florida represents many commercial space launch providers, hosts several universities that make up the Florida Space Research Consortium, and is home to thousands of Space Force and NASA employees.

“Florida is America’s launchpad to space, and there is no better home for the new United States Space Academy. As Senator for the Space State, I’ll keep working to grow our aerospace industry and ensure that Florida is the premier state for training the next generation of explorers,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“There is no better place to train the next generation of American space leaders than the state that has launched generations of Americans to the stars,” said Congressman Mike Haridopolos. “Florida has the infrastructure, the universities, the workforce, and the unmatched experience to make the United States Space Academy a success. As Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort with Senator Moody and our Florida colleagues to make the case for bringing this important new institution to the Sunshine State.”

BACKGROUND

Joining Senator Moody and Rep. Haridopolos are Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Scott Franklin, Mario Diaz-Balart, Byron Donalds, Anna Paulina Luna, Vern Buchanan, Carlos Gimenez, Jimmy Patronis, Daniel Webster, Neal Dunn, M.D., Aaron Bean, John Rutherford, Randy Fine, Kat Cammack, Jared Moskowitz, Darren Soto, Gus Bilirakis, Laurel Lee, María Elvira Salazar, Kathy Castor, Brian Mast, and Gregory Steube.

The proposed U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.

Senator Moody has a staunch record of supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500% since 2016.

Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.

The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.

Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.

The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.

Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs.

Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center as they thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.

Read the entire letter here.

# # #",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-issues-statement-censure-rep-chuck-edwards,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Issues Statement on the Censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"""Yesterday, I voted to censure Congressman Chuck Edwards.

I read the Ethics Committee's report, and I read his letter and his lawyers' response with the seriousness they deserve. He had every right to defend himself. It did not change my vote.

The Committee found a persistent pattern of unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young women on his staff, and he did not deny much of the underlying conduct. In fact, defends it. He defends the gifts and the poetry, and he defends traveling with a young woman who had only just left his office. His argument is that none of it broke a rule, and that is precisely the problem.

I was a congressional staffer myself before becoming a Member. I understand the responsibility Members have to the people who work for us. Members of Congress hold enormous power over the people who work for us. 'Technically permitted' is a low bar. Judgment is the standard.

I co-founded the Republican Women's Caucus to raise the standard in this institution, and that starts with how we treat the people who serve alongside us. Two young women left his office, and the Committee said the House lost them because of his conduct.

Congress cannot ask the American people to trust this body if we refuse to hold ourselves accountable. Yesterday's vote was accountability after the fact. My work with Chairwoman Leger Fernández and the Democratic Women's Caucus is about making sure the next staffer never has to get that far. We will have more to share on that work soon.""",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1930,Franklin Secures $2.9 Million For Public Safety Innovation Lab At Florida Poly,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) today announced he secured $2.9 million for Florida Polytechnic University to establish a new Public Service Applied Innovation Laboratory (PSAIL).

“Florida Poly is doing important work to prepare the next generation of American innovators and tackle real-world challenges in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and public safety,” said Congressman Scott Franklin. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m pleased we were able to secure $2.9 million to help build on that work. This investment will give students valuable hands-on experience, strengthen our public safety capabilities and help develop the skilled workforce America needs to remain competitive and secure.”

“Congressman Franklin’s leadership and support are helping Florida Poly take a major step forward in developing technologies increasingly critical to our state and nation,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Polytechnic University. “This $2.9 million investment will give our faculty and students extraordinary opportunities to work at the forefront of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. It will help build a workforce ready to meet our evolving technology needs and expand Florida Poly’s capacity to address real-world challenges that impact our economy and national security. We are tremendously grateful to Congressman Franklin for his confidence in Florida Poly and his commitment to championing this important work.”

The Public Service Applied Innovation Laboratory will:

Establish an Artificial Intelligence Solutions Lab for applied AI research and partnerships;

Create a Network Operations and Security Center focused on protecting network and information technology systems;

Build secure laboratory and data spaces, including an AI prototype room and cyber range;

Provide equipment and hands-on opportunities for student interns working in each lab; and

Support collaboration with public service and public safety organizations on challenges including emergency management.

The funding, secured by Franklin through the annual appropriations process, will equip existing space on the second floor of Florida Poly’s Gary C. Wendt Engineering Building for applied research, hands-on learning and collaboration. The investment will support equipment for student interns in each lab, two secure and dedicated data spaces, an Artificial Intelligence Solutions Prototype Room and Cyber Range, an AIS Management Cockpit and a Network Operations and Security Operations Center Command Center. Together, these capabilities will give students and faculty the tools to test emerging technologies and work alongside public safety partners to develop solutions to real-world challenges.

The $2.9 million award will be administered through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and advances NIST’s federal mission under Section 272 of Title 15 of the U.S. Code to support research, education and partnerships that strengthen American innovation and workforce readiness. The project will help develop skilled talent in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other technologies increasingly important to America’s economic and national security.",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-receives-prestigious-award-for-unwavering-support-for-florida-law-enforcement/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Receives Prestigious Award for Unwavering Support for Florida Law Enforcement,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"CLEARWATER, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody is a fierce fighter for Florida law enforcement, having passed measures to help officers get fentanyl traffickers off the streets and working to provide the resources officers need to keep Floridians safe. Over the weekend, Senator Moody rallied with hundreds of officers at the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association Gala where Moody received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“From serving as a prosecutor, judge, Attorney General and now as U.S. Senator, I’ve made it a priority to stand with the brave men and women of law enforcement who pursue dangerous criminals and keep Florida families safe. Their commitment to upholding the rule of law has helped our communities and our state thrive, and as the wife of a law enforcement officer, supporting those who put their lives on the line for us is deeply personal to me. That’s why I’m incredibly humbled and honored to receive the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Lifetime Achievement Award, and I will never stop backing the men and women who selflessly serve and protect us,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-urges-dot-sec-duffy-to-correct-loophole-hurting-small-businesses,Sen. Rick Scott Urges DOT Sec. Duffy to Correct Loophole Hurting Small Businesses,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – This week, U.S. Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy asking him to fix to a Biden-era policy that unfairly harms travel agents, including many small business owners in Florida.

Currently, travel agents are required by law to refund customers within seven days of a qualified flight cancellation or delay while airlines have no such deadline. The financial burden is placed on agents, forcing them to lose thousands of dollars while they work for months to recoup the money from the airlines who hold the funds. Senator Scott’s letter requests a change in this policy that holds airlines equally accountable to provide timely refunds to their customers.

Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Travel agencies and advisors operate on slim margins, and many simply cannot afford to front refunds to their customers, particularly for group bookings worth tens of thousands of dollars, before the airline has returned the money. These small businesses are being held financially accountable for a timeline they do not control, while the airlines that actually hold the funds face no enforceable deadline. Many of these small businesses may go out of business if nothing is done. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and travel advisors and agencies play a critical role in our tourism industry.”

Read the full letter HERE or below:

Dear Secretary Duffy,

I write to request that the Department of Transportation correct a flaw in its 2024 consumer refund regulations that is placing an unsustainable financial burden on travel agencies and travel advisors, the overwhelming majority of which are small businesses.

Under the Department’s April 2024 final rule, the “merchant of record” in an airline ticket transaction must refund the consumer within seven days of a cancelled or significantly changed flight. When a travel agency or advisor books a ticket on behalf of a client, the agency is often the merchant of record, even though the cost of the ticket is immediately transferred to the airline at the time of purchase. The Department’s August 2024 final rule requires airlines to “promptly” return those funds to the ticket agent, but it does not define “promptly” or set any deadline. In practice, airlines frequently fail to return funds within the seven-day window, forcing agencies to refund customers out of their own pockets while they wait on the airline refund.

Travel agencies and advisors operate on slim margins, and many simply cannot afford to front refunds to their customers, particularly for group bookings worth tens of thousands of dollars, before the airline has returned the money. These small businesses are being held financially accountable for a timeline they do not control, while the airlines that actually hold the funds face no enforceable deadline. Many of these small businesses may go out of business if nothing is done. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and travel advisors and agencies play a critical role in our tourism industry.

I respectfully request that the Department fix this imbalance through rulemaking or other appropriate administrative action, whether by establishing a firm deadline for airlines to return funds to ticket agents, aligning the agency’s refund obligation with its receipt of funds from the airline, or another workable solution. Consumers deserve timely refunds, but that obligation should rest with the party holding the money, not with small businesses left waiting on the airlines.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,

# # #",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/01/icymi-buchanan-calls-for-usmca-reforms-to-protect-seasonal-produce-growers-in-the-hill-op-ed/,ICYMI: Buchanan Calls for USMCA Reforms to Protect Seasonal Produce Growers in The Hill Op-Ed,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“This USMCA review gives our country a real opportunity to restore fairness for our seasonal produce growers, strengthen our food security and build a food system Americans can rely on and trust.”

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan penned an op-ed in The Hill highlighting the necessity of protections for seasonal producers within the ongoing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review.

“The strength of our food supply is imperative to our nation’s strength,” said Buchanan. “During this review, the United States faces a clear choice: protect our ability to grow our own food or continue down a path of greater dependence on foreign food supplies, at the expense of our food security, our supply chains and Americans confidence in what’s on their plate.”

Read the full op-ed HERE or below:

Fairness for Growers Is Food Security for America

Congressman Vern Buchanan

Food security begins at home. That’s why the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is such an important moment for American agriculture, and for our country. During this review, the United States faces a clear choice: protect our ability to grow our own food or continue down a path of greater dependence on foreign food supplies, at the expense of our food security, our supply chains and Americans’ confidence in what’s on their plate.

As Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, I helped negotiate USMCA back in 2019 as the top Republican on the Trade Subcommittee, and even then, I pushed for accommodations for our seasonal growers. Today, the stakes for Florida are higher than ever. Agriculture is a cornerstone of our state’s economy, and the outcome of this review will help determine whether our Florida growers can keep producing the fruits and vegetables our country depends on.

For more than two decades, Mexican shippers have squeezed Florida farmers out of their own market by flooding it with low-priced produce during Florida’s own growing season. According to an October 2025 report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services report, Florida’s share of the fruit and vegetable market has fallen by nearly 50 percent over the past two decades, while Mexico’s share has surged by more than 200 percent. Bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, blueberries: entire sectors of Florida agriculture have taken steep losses in market share and revenue, even as consumer demand keeps growing. Multi-generational Florida farms, family operations that have fed this country for generations, are being forced to shut their doors.

Since USMCA took effect, the volume of these disruptive imports has only accelerated, jumping from $14 billion in 2020 to roughly $19 billion today. That surge has widened our already large agricultural trade deficit with Mexico and pushed more Florida growers to the breaking point.

The Trump administration recognizes this problem. Unchecked seasonal import volumes from Mexico are putting Florida agriculture at risk, and the administration is right to make finding a solution a priority in this USMCA review.

The solution Florida’s industry has put forward is pragmatic, measured and long overdue: seasonal, product-specific tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on Mexican produce during Florida’s marketing season. TRQs are a well-established, targeted trade tool already used across American agriculture. They strike the right balance, keeping trade flowing while preventing the seasonal surges that undercut a stable domestic supply. Any new agreement with Mexico should include this approach so we don’t further compromise Florida’s ability to grow food at home.

Florida isn’t alone. Fruit and vegetable growers well beyond our state are facing the same pressures as import volumes surge, and they’ve joined Florida in calling for a real solution. We agree: our trade agreements should never come at the expense of American agriculture’s survival.

Earlier this year, I authored a bipartisan letter to President Trump, alongside Senator Ashley Moody and members of the Florida Delegation, urging his administration to address the harm caused by these unchecked seasonal import surges. That call is even more urgent today.

At current rates, we risk permanently losing production capacity in key fruit and vegetable sectors. Once our farms, our infrastructure and generations of agricultural know-how are gone in favor of foreign production, they may never come back.

This USMCA review gives our country a real opportunity to restore fairness for our seasonal produce growers, strengthen our food security and build a food system Americans can rely on and trust. For the sake of Florida’s growers and for a food supply this country can always count on, now is the time to act.

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1929,Franklin Statement On Passage Of Continuing Appropriations Act To Avert Government Shutdown,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) today issued the following statement after House passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6500 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027:

“Today, the House took the final step to prevent another unnecessary government shutdown weeks ahead of the funding deadline. We have a responsibility to keep the government open and do our job on behalf of the American people.

“As an appropriator, I’ve been working to advance responsible spending bills through regular order, rein in wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely. The House Appropriations Committee completed its work on all 12 bills, and the House has already passed three of them individually. Meanwhile, the Senate has failed to make meaningful progress on its appropriations bills or begun to seriously engage in the process.

“That failure has left the House with two less-than-desirable options: kick the can down the road by passing a temporary continuing resolution or allow the government to shut down. A shutdown would disrupt critical services, hurt service members and federal employees and create needless uncertainty for the American people. I will not support putting them through that simply because the Senate isn’t willing to fulfill its Constitutional duty.

“This continuing resolution is necessary, but it is not the finish line. Congress still has work to do to complete the full-year appropriations process before temporary funding expires in December. I’ll continue working to cut wasteful spending, restore regular order and deliver the accountability taxpayers deserve.”",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresista-diaz-balart-celebra-la-aprobacion-de-una-resolucion,Congresista Díaz-Balart celebra la aprobación de una resolución condenando y denunciando al socialismo en todas sus formas,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – El congresista Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), vicepresidente del Comité de Asignaciones de la Cámara de Representantes y presidente del Subcomité de Seguridad Nacional, Departamento de Estado y Programas Relacionados celebra la aprobación de una resolución condenando y denunciando al socialismo en todas sus formas:

“El socialismo y el control del gobierno sobre nuestras vidas no tienen cabida en los Estados Unidos. Va en contra de nuestra forma de vida y del sueño americano.

Me enorgullece haber apoyado esta importante resolución que condena el socialismo y salvaguarda la integridad de nuestra nación. El socialismo ha causado estragos en todo nuestro Hemisferio, prueba de ello es el innegable impacto catastrófico del socialism y Cuba, Venezuela y Nicaragua son claros ejemplos de las consecuencias destructivas que un gobierno socialista puede tener sobre las sociedades y las naciones con décadas de dictadura y represión, destrucción de naciones otrora prósperas y el éxodo forzado de millones de ciudadanos de sus países de origen.

Estados Unidos se fundado sobre los principios de la libertad individual, un gobierno representativo y los derechos otorgados por Dios a su pueblo. Nunca debemos dar estas libertades por sentadas ni permitir que una ideología con un historial tan devastador se arraigue sin oposición.

Debemos mantenernos firmes en la defensa de estos principios y asegurarnos de que Estados Unidos nunca siga el camino destructivo que ha llevado a la represión y la ruina a innumerables pueblos y naciones.

Me indigna ver que 192 demócratas decidieron oponerse a esta resolución y se negaron a condenar esta ideología antiamericana responsable de tanto sufrimiento y opresión. Estados Unidos debe aprender de la historia y rechazar el socialismo en todas sus formas.

Siempre defenderé la libertad, las oportunidades económicas y los derechos constitucionales que hacen de nuestro pais una gran nacion.”

El texto de la resolucion se puede encontrar aqui.

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-diaz-balart-celebrates-passage-resolution-condemning-and,Congressman Diaz-Balart Celebrates the Passage of Resolution Condemning and Denouncing Socialism in all its Forms,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, celebrates the Passage of H. Res. 1490, Providing for the Condemnation and Denouncement of Socialism in all its Forms:

“Socialism and the government takeover of our lives have no place in America. It is anathema to our way of life and the American Dream.

I am proud to have supported this important resolution denouncing socialism and safeguarding our nation's integrity. Socialism has wreaked havoc across our hemisphere. The catastrophic impact of socialism is undeniable. Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua are vivid reminders of the destructive consequences that socialist governance can have on societies and nations: decades of dictatorship and repression, the destruction of once-thriving nations, and forcing millions to flee their homeland.

America was founded upon the principles of individual liberty, representative government, and the God-given rights of its people. We must never take these freedoms for granted or allow an ideology with such a devastating historical record to gain an unchallenged foothold.

We must remain steadfast in defending those principles, and ensuring that the United States never follows the destructive path that has brought repression and ruin to countless others.

I am appalled to see that 192 Democrats chose to oppose this resolution and refused to condemn this anti-American ideology responsible for so much suffering and oppression. America must learn from history and reject socialism in all its forms.

I will always stand for freedom, economic opportunity, and the constitutional rights that make our nation exceptional.”

Resolution text can be found here.

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-diaz-balart-commends-passage-hr-6500-continuing,"Congressman Diaz-Balart Commends the Passage of H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, commends the passage of H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act:

“I am proud to have voted in favor of keeping the American government open and ensuring that our troops, law enforcement officers, and air traffic controllers continue to receive their pay.

The passage of H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, provides important stability by extending federal funding at Fiscal Year 2026 levels through December 11, 2026, while also extending several expiring federal programs.

This unprecedented and responsible step puts the needs of the American people ahead of shutdown politics. Families, small businesses, federal employees, and communities across the country deserve a government that continues to function and deliver essential services.

While I support keeping the government open, a continuing resolution is not a permanent solution. Back in July, the House took an important step toward responsible governance by passing all 12 Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills. It is now incumbent upon the Senate and Democrats to work in good faith to advance and complete the appropriations process and provide the federal government with a responsible operating budget.

There will always be debates over how Washington spends taxpayer dollars and what our long-term priorities should be. Those debates are important and should continue. But they should not come at the expense of keeping the government open and serving the American people.

I will continue working to advance responsible spending, protect taxpayers, and make sure the federal government remains focused on the people it serves.”

Bill text can be found here.

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-on-national-police-k9-day-senator-moody-and-congressman-bean-champion-legislation-to-strengthen-protections-for-law-enforcement-animals/,"VIDEO: On National Police K9 Day, Senator Moody and Congressman Bean Champion Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Law Enforcement Animals",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—It’s National Police K9 Day, and Senator Ashley Moody is championing legislation to strengthen protections for law enforcement animals. Senator Moody and Congressman Aaron Bean recently held a ceremony with law enforcement leaders in Jacksonville to spotlight the LEO K9 Protection Act. The measure strengthens penalties for intentionally harming law enforcement animals and expands federal protections to cover state and local police animals assisting federal law enforcement.

“Police K9s are not equipment or accessories. They are highly trained members of law enforcement who charge toward dangers that send others running. I introduced the LEO K9 Protection Act to strengthen protections for these canines and hold those who intentionally harm our four-legged law enforcement heroes accountable. I will continue fighting to ensure Florida law enforcement has the support and resources needed to keep us safe—and that includes our special K9s,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“Our working K9s serve on the front lines, protecting officers and communities alike,” said Congressman Aaron Bean. “They deserve real protection, not just praise—and the LEO K9 Protection Act will provide it by strengthening penalties for individuals who use a deadly weapon to harm these heroic animals in the line of duty. We must ensure that the sacrifices of courageous K9s like Leo are never forgotten and that the next injured K9 has the best chance to return home. By enacting this bill, we can guarantee that K9s receive the urgent care they deserve and help prevent more handlers from experiencing the heartbreak of losing their partners in the line of duty.”

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody introduced the LEO K9 Protection Act, legislation aimed at strengthening penalties for individuals who use a deadly weapon to harm a federal police dog or horse in the line of duty.

The bill expands federal protections to include state, county, and local law enforcement animals assisting a federal agency.

This legislation provides a good-faith exception for individuals providing emergency veterinary care to injured law enforcement animals.

The bill directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue regulations allowing emergency medical service providers to transport injured police animals at their discretion.

This legislation was named in honor of K9 Leo, a fallen Marion County, Florida, canine deputy.

This bill was originally introduced in the House by Congressman Aaron Bean (R-FL-4).

# # #",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-calls-on-congress-to-pass-safe-kids-act-to-prevent-birth-tourism-schemes-from-foreign-adversaries,Sen. Rick Scott Calls on Congress to Pass SAFE KIDS Act to Prevent Birth Tourism Schemes from Foreign Adversaries,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott is calling on Congress to pass the SAFE KIDS Act, his bill to stop the exploitation of America’s immigration laws by hostile foreign adversaries, including Communist China.

The urgent need to pass this legislation is highlighted by two events happening today:

A Florida woman is in court in St. Augustine fighting for custody of her twins that the intended father from Communist China – who has never set foot on American soil – never picked up.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses will hold a hearing focused on highlighting suspected birth tourism abuse in the Miami area.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The case in St. Augustine is tragic, disturbing, and completely preventable. These poor children, through no fault of their own, are stuck in limbo over where their home will be — all because America’s surrogate system is ripe for abuse and exploitation. My bill, the SAFE KIDS Act, prevents our enemies from abusing our hospitality and medicine to give them a foothold in our country. It would prevent the exact tragedy playing out in Florida right now.”

“This problem will not go away if we do nothing. The fact that there are entire businesses in Florida that appear to be based around exploiting our immigration system more than speaks to that. We need to protect the most vulnerable among us from being trafficked and treated like commodities. I am grateful that Chairman Gill and the task force are taking this seriously. America’s enemies should not be able to scam their way to American citizenship. I encourage all my colleagues in the Senate to pass my bill immediately.”

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/prison-staff-safety-enhancement-act-heads-presidents-desk,Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act Heads to the President’s Desk,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Laurel Lee's legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, passed through the House. The legislation is a bipartisan and bicameral measure to strengthen safety and accountability in federal correctional facilities. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jon Osoff (D-GA) led the passage of the Senate version of the bill.

This legislation takes very important and necessary steps to improve the conditions for correctional officers, staff, and inmates by enhancing oversight, promoting safer facility operations, and addressing issues with sexual abuse and misconduct within these prisons. This bill will help to ensure all allegations are properly investigated and strengthen protections for the prison employees when the situation of an inmate assaulting an officer occurs.

“I am incredibly proud to see the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act head to the President’s desk and become one step closer to being a law,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “For far too long, too many Bureau of Prisons employees have faced sexual harassment and assault by inmates while they are just trying to do their job. This bill is a very important step toward strengthening oversight, protecting our hardworking correctional officers, and ensuring the inmates who commit these horrific crimes are held accountable to the fullest extent. I remain committed to advancing reforms that strengthen public safety, support law enforcement, and improve the justice system.”

“No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act would help us end the sexual abuse of prison staff who are simply trying to do their jobs.”

The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act was passed under suspension of the House rules and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-seniors-should-get-relief-not-insurance-companies,Bilirakis: Seniors Should Get the Relief - Not Insurance Companies,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the Part D Premium Protection Act of 2026, legislation designed around a simple principle: when Washington provides relief from rising prescription drug premiums, the benefit should go to seniors - not insurance companies. The Biden Administration created the temporary Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration after changes made under the Inflation Reduction Act threatened to drive premiums sharply higher for seniors enrolled in stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans. The demonstration lowered premiums for beneficiaries, but it also provided participating insurance companies with additional taxpayer-backed protection against losses. That additional protection for insurance companies has been eliminated, effective 2026. Insurance companies have had two years to adjust and do not need additional taxpayer protection. However, the remaining premium assistance that is helping seniors with their monthly prescription drug costs is also scheduled to disappear after 2026. Bilirakis believes seniors should not lose that relief. The Part D Premium Protection Act of 2026 would preserve the average premium relief seniors received under the demonstration for one final year in 2027, without restoring or extending the additional federal loss protections that the Biden Administration previously provided to insurance companies.

“Insurance companies have had two years to adjust and do not need additional taxpayer protection. But seniors living on fixed incomes shouldn’t be left holding the bag,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “My bill puts the relief where it belongs - with seniors. If Washington has a choice between protecting an insurance company’s bottom line and lowering a senior’s monthly prescription drug bill, I’m going to choose the senior every single time.”

Under Bilirakis’s legislation, seniors enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans would receive a uniform credit directly on their 2027 premium bills, based on the average premium relief beneficiaries received during 2025 and 2026. Every dollar of the credit must go toward lowering the senior’s premium. Insurance companies would have no discretion over the amount and would be reimbursed only for the amount actually credited to beneficiaries. Importantly, the legislation does not reinstate the Biden-era protections against insurance company losses that the Trump Administration eliminated for 2026. Instead, it preserves the portion of the temporary program that directly benefits seniors while keeping those insurer protections off the books.

“Everywhere I go, seniors tell me that every dollar matters. Groceries cost more. Utilities cost more. Insurance costs more. Healthcare costs more,” Bilirakis continued. “They worked their entire lives, paid into Medicare and Social Security, and played by the rules. They shouldn’t have to choose between filling a prescription, buying groceries or keeping the lights on. I’ll keep fighting to make Washington work for them instead of protecting the profits of big insurance companies.”

The legislation applies to beneficiaries enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and provides the premium credit for 2027, preserving relief for seniors for the final year originally envisioned under the temporary premium stabilization effort without bringing back additional taxpayer protections for insurance companies.",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-patronis-introduces-legislation-to-rename-lake-ontario-lake-america,Congressman Patronis Introduces Legislation to Rename Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Jimmy Patronis,P000622,patronis.house.gov,patronis,https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) introduced the Lake America Act, legislation to officially rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. The legislation follows President Trump’s official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, a change that was met with strong support across Northwest Florida.

“President Trump put America back on the map. Now we’re putting America on Lake Ontario,” said Congressman Patronis. “Canada can call it whatever they want, but here in America, I say we call it Lake America. I’m a proud American, and I’ve always believed there’s nothing wrong with a little more American pride. So I figured, why stop at the Gulf? Lake America sounds a whole lot better.”

The Lake America Act would:

Rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

Replace references to Lake Ontario with “Lake America” across federal laws, maps, regulations, and official records.

Direct the Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Board on Geographic Names to oversee implementation.

Require federal agencies to update their maps and documents within 180 days.

Congressman Patronis continued, “Representing Florida’s First Congressional District, including Destin and Pensacola, I saw firsthand the pride and patriotism that came with the Gulf of America. I love that energy, and I think this is another opportunity to build on it. This is another tool in President Trump’s toolbox to put America First and restore pride in our great country.”

To view the Lake America Act click here.

###",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-on-overdose-awareness-day-senator-moody-continues-fight-to-save-lives-from-deadly-illicit-opioids/,"VIDEO: On Overdose Awareness Day, Senator Moody Continues Fight to Save Lives from Deadly Illicit Opioids",2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—On National Overdose Awareness Day, Senator Ashley Moody is continuing the fight to save lives from illicit opioids. Through Senator Moody’s work as the former Florida Attorney General, Florida led the nation in fentanyl interdictions and has seen fentanyl-related deaths fall faster than the national average. Senator Moody is working now in Washington to provide federal law enforcement agencies with the tools needed to investigate, arrest and prosecute fentanyl traffickers and drug cartels.

“On Overdose Awareness Day, we pause to remember the lives lost to the opioid epidemic. Florida has made encouraging progress, with our deaths caused by fentanyl decreasing faster than the national average, but our work is far from over. I will continue fighting in Washington to hold drug traffickers accountable and support law enforcement efforts to save lives,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

By coordinating local, state, and federal partners, Florida reduced fentanyl-related deaths by 42% from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2025—greater than the estimated nationwide decrease of 22% from 2024 to 2025.

As Florida’s newest United States Senator, Senator Moody continues to combat the nation’s fentanyl crisis by cosponsoring the HALT Fentanyl Act, Tyler’s Law, and most recently the PRESS Act. Last Summer, Senator Moody joined President Trump as he signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law. The new law assists law enforcement officers get fentanyl traffickers off the streets and permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act;

Tyler’s Law would require HHS to issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose.

PRESS Act would criminalize the intentional importation of pill press machines and unlisted precursor chemicals with the intent to manufacture illicit drugs.

As Florida Attorney General, Senator Moody chaired the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse and secured a massive multibillion-dollar settlement from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.

Senator Moody is a long-time supporter of the rule of law and of law enforcement officers.

Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has also:

Introduced the HALO Act to shield federal officers from those who seek to threaten and harass them on duty;

Supported the Graham Hoffman Act, which would allow the U.S. to use the full force of state and federal law to prosecute those who assault first responders and act as a deterrent to anyone considering such acts of violence;

Introduced the HELPER Act to make homeownership more obtainable for Florida heroes, including law enforcement officers;

Sponsored the RIPPLE Act, which would expand the 287(g) program and provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get criminal illegal aliens out of communities; and

Advanced six bills to support law enforcement, strengthen public safety and deliver critical tools to officers out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week earlier this year.

As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody created many programs to recognize the selfless efforts of law enforcement officers, including her Back the Blue, Thin Line Tribute, and Sunshine Salute programs. Moody also worked with state lawmakers to strengthen statutes to hold criminals accountable and help officers and prosecutors do their jobs. Moody also created the Helping Heroes program to provide access to free naloxone for first responders statewide.

# # #",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/sen-rick-scott-in-the-wall-street-journal-the-dollar-s-global-dominance-keeps-america-first,Sen. Rick Scott in the Wall Street Journal: “The Dollar’s Global Dominance Keeps America First”,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal explaining the benefits that everyday Americans get from the U.S. dollar’s status as the global reserve currency.

In the op-ed, Senator Scott also warns about the costs and national security risks Americans would face if the dollar were to lose its premier reserve currency status.

Senator Rick Scott wrote, “A strong U.S. dollar secures three advantages for Americans: lower prices, cheaper government debt and global power. If it loses strength, so does the American consumer. Keeping the dollar as the world’s reserve currency maximizes American buying power globally, meaning Americans buy more from other countries for less. That includes wood to build houses, steel to build cars and food to eat.”

…

“Some will argue that maintaining our status as the global reserve currency makes American goods more expensive abroad, discouraging other countries from buying from us; but the data tells a different story. Thanks in part to President Trump’s trade policies, exports have increased 23%, adjusted for inflation, since he first took office in 2017—all while the dollar maintained reserve-currency status.”

…

“And while Congress’s multitrillion-dollar deficit spending needs to end, the U.S. has avoided economic catastrophe only because we made a priority of preserving the dollar’s reserve status. Everyone—individuals, corporations and governments—trusts the dollar and trusts that the Treasury will always honor its debt, which allows the U.S. to finance our $40 trillion debt.”

…

“Without reserve-currency status, America would be weaker, families would have less opportunity, and China would get a golden opportunity to rewrite and isolate American businesses on the world stage. Beijing has already made it clear it’s watching our debt situation closely.”

Read Senator Scott’s full op-ed HERE.

# # #",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-champions-skilled-workforce-and-floridas-dominance-in-space-at-aerospace-company-employing-thousands-in-tampa-bay/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Champions Skilled Workforce and Florida’s Dominance in Space at Aerospace Company Employing Thousands in Tampa Bay,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"CLEARWATER, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody held an aerospace-focused townhall today with Florida workers who are on the cutting edge of American space innovation. During the townhall event at Honeywell Aerospace in Clearwater, Senator Moody spoke with the employees and highlighted Florida’s major role as the nation’s launchpad to the stars. In addition to fighting for Florida’s space industry, Senator Moody is also working to increase the skilled workforce through expanding technical education opportunities with her new TRADES Act.

“In the interest of national security, America must remain the world’s leader in space, and Florida is center stage. That is why strengthening our state’s space industry is one of my priorities in the Senate, and why I continue fighting for resources to support Florida space operations and to help increase the skilled workforce needed to keep us shooting for the stars,” saidSenator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Work performed at the Honeywell Aerospace in Clearwater helped build NASA’s Orion spacecraft and assisted in the historic Artemis II mission, which recently took four astronauts around the Moon.

Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500% since 2016.

Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.

The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.

Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.

The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.

Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center as they thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.

Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs.

In addition to supporting Florida’s space efforts, Senator Moody is also working to increase the skilled workforce and expand technical education opportunities. Senator Moody recently introduced the TRADES Act, which would increase an existing tax on ultra-wealthy universities similar to that of the capital gains tax that Floridians already pay on their investment income. This money would then be used to provide additional funding to the Perkins Career and Technical Education grants, which currently contribute to the education of around 12 million students across the country. Perkins Career and Technical Education grants are the federal government’s primary way of funding career and technical education.

Senator Moody recently announced even more organizations and trade groups have endorsed the TRADES Act.

# # #",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/in-case-you-missed-it-sen-rick-scott-in-naples-daily-news-ai-is-here-we-need-to-protect-and-prepare-america-s-kids,In Case You Missed It: Sen. Rick Scott in Naples Daily News: “AI is Here. We Need to Protect and Prepare America’s Kids”,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott published an op-ed in the Naples Daily News calling out the risks AI poses in schools and how his Safeguard Kids Act makes it easier for teachers and faculty to address them.

The Safeguard Kids Act will educate American K-12 students on risks posed by AI and make changes to the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) federal block grant program to allow funding for AI literacy and specialized counseling programs at local schools.

Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the world around us. From the corporate world to the average household, things are already very different than they were even a couple years ago. AI has the potential to be the greatest information innovation since the printing press. Still, technology is only as good as our ability to use it well and for the right reasons − especially when it comes to our kids and grandkids.

…

Replacing human interaction with AI is a clear threat to every child’s interpersonal development. AI is a tool. It’s not supposed to be a catch-all, stand-in for therapists, doctors, lawyers, scientists, poets, or philosophers. It can never replace human connection. It does not possess the humanity we need to support one another or to override a parent’s guidance.”

…

If we want America to lead the world in innovation for the next generation, our children need to learn how to use the tools of the future. It’s up to us to make sure they can do it safely. The Safeguard Kids Act does just that; Congress should pass it without delay.”

Read Senator Scott’s full op-ed HERE.

# # #",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-shield-act-to-protect-parental-rights-in-schools/,Rep. Steube Introduces SHIELD Act to Protect Parental Rights in Schools,2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Rep. Steube Introduces SHIELD Act to Protect Parental Rights in Schools

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the School Health and Instructional Environment Limits and Disclosure (SHIELD) Act, legislation requiring local educational agencies to notify parents before distributing or disseminating information about abortion or abortion-related services to students. The bill also prohibits abortion providers and their subsidiaries from distributing or disseminating such information to students on school grounds or through a school’s virtual platforms, including social media. The SHIELD Act is endorsed by Students for Life Action, a leading national organization fighting to protect the unborn and defend the right to life.

“I believe every child, born and unborn, is made in the image of God and deserves to be protected, not managed behind their parents’ backs. No school employee should ever schedule an abortion for someone else’s daughter and tell her to keep it a secret from her own mother and father,” said Rep. Steube. “I’m fighting for the unborn and I’m fighting for parents, because those two fights are the same fight. The SHIELD Act keeps abortion providers out of our classrooms and puts parents back in charge of these conversations with their kids.”

“‘School Health and Instructional Environment Limits and Disclosure Act,’ better known as the SHIELD Act, provides long-overdue protections for students from a predatory abortion industry infiltrating classrooms to push deadly abortions – without any parental involvement. Rep. Greg Steube’s bill has SFLAction’s full support as he works to ensure that when it comes to talking with kids about life-ending abortions, parents are engaged. Planned Parenthood’s own annual report makes it clear that they start marketing early, infiltrating schools to build a customer base for life. Parents need to know what schools are teaching their children and need to be sure that when they send a child to school, their grandchildren are not being targeted by school officials who cut those who care most from a life-and-death decision. We all saw the chaos in Fairfax County, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., where Students for Life rallied against secret school abortions. We will fight to ensure that schools do not become another place for Planned Parenthood to push for abortion deaths for profit and that parents are fully informed about what their children are learning,” said Kristan Hawkins, President, Students for Life of America & Students for Life Action.

This legislation is also co-sponsored by Reps. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.), and Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.).

The need for greater parental transparency has been underscored by incidents such as one in Fairfax County, Virginia, where a public high school social worker reportedly scheduled an abortion appointment for a 17-year-old student, paid the associated clinic fees, and instructed the student to conceal the matter from her parents. The U.S. Department of Education has since opened an enforcement action against Fairfax County Public Schools.

Federal law already gives parents the right to inspect instructional materials used in their child’s curriculum and requires parental notice for certain nonemergency, invasive physical examinations or screenings administered by schools. However, no comparable requirement specifically exists when schools distribute or disseminate information about abortion or abortion-related services to students.

Organizations such as Planned Parenthood have used sex education programs, educator training, and classroom instruction to reach K-12 students on abortion-related issues, often with limited parental awareness of the content being presented. Taxpayer-funded schools should not serve as a venue for abortion providers or their affiliates to promote abortion-related information to minors without parents being informed.

The SHIELD Act closes that gap by amending the General Education Provisions Act to require parental notification before abortion-related information is distributed or disseminated to students. The legislation also prohibits abortion providers and their subsidiaries from using K-12 schools or school-operated virtual platforms to distribute abortion-related information to students. The bill defines an “abortion-related service” as any medical, surgical, or support care directly related to terminating a pregnancy.

The full text of the SHIELD Act is available here.

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-brings-hhs-secretary-kennedy-to-florida-for-roundtable-on-healthy-school-lunches-and-launches-new-harvest-to-hallways-program-and-depend-initiative/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Brings HHS Secretary Kennedy to Florida for Roundtable on Healthy School Lunches and Launches New Harvest to Hallways Program and DEPEND Initiative,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"TAMPA, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody is working to make school lunches healthier through new federal programs aimed at providing nutritional food to students. Today, Senator Moody hosted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. and local school officials for a roundtable event discussing the importance of school food nutrition. As the mother of a school aged son, Senator Moody is dedicated to improving the eating habits and health of all Florida students.

The roundtable follows the Administration’s announcement of Harvest to Hallways, a new joint initiative from The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture aimed at improving school meals, connecting more American farmers with local schools and providing schools with the infrastructure and resources needed to serve healthier food. The event also covered HHS’s new Developing Evidence for Programs to Ensure Nutrition for Development (DEPEND) initiative. DEPEND will provide funding for schools and school districts to develop and test innovative ways to provide nutritious food to students and identify effective approaches to improving school nutrition.

“As a mom of a child in school, I know parents are constantly looking for ways to improve the health of our kids. Ensuring our children are served healthy school meals is key to advancing that priority. Today, I hosted a roundtable discussion with Sec. Kennedy and important stakeholders to encourage Florida schools to join new key government programs that are now in place to create practical ways to serve healthier food that children will actually enjoy eating,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody hosted today’s roundtable discussion about the U.S. Health and Human Services Healthy Meals Incentives for Schools program.

Senator Moody emphasized the importance of providing healthy food at schools—as 30-60% of a child’s nutrition comes from school meals.

Harvest to Hallways includes up to $70 million in school cafeteria infrastructure investments, including a new $50 million investment to help qualifying schools purchase equipment, improve food safety and establish or expand School Breakfast Programs, building on $20 million in previously announced equipment assistance grants.

In addition, HHS has announced the DEPEND initiative that will support school food authorities, school districts, and individual schools pursuing innovative approaches in four key areas:

Purchasing & Supply

Workforce & Food Production

Student Demand & Meal Economics

Transforming Operations & Infrastructure

Awards are expected to range from $75,000 to $2.5 million, depending on the scope of the proposal. If the initiative is successful, HHS aims to provide additional funding in fiscal year 2027.

Earlier this year, Senator Moody spoke with the HHS Secretary during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee Hearing about the department’s efforts to improve Americans’ health via dietary changes.

Florida hosted the HHS Secretary for the recent announcement that hospitals now must serve nutritious, healthy food. Senator Moody hosted HHS again for the announcement that Tampa General Hospital is among the first to sign HHS’s Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge.

Read more about the Harvest to Hallways Program here.

Read more about the DEPEND initiative here.

For additional B-roll footage of today’s event, click here.

# # #",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/in-case-you-missed-it-sen-rick-scott-in-realclear-politics-communist-china-has-its-eyes-on-your-hospital-bed,In Case You Missed It: Sen. Rick Scott in RealClear Politics: “Communist China Has Its Eyes on Your Hospital Bed”,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rick Scott published an op-ed in RealClear Politics on Communist China’s threat to American’s private health data via unsecured data in everyday medical devices – and what can be done about it.

This comes as the FBI recently reported that the healthcare industry faced more cyberattacks in a single year period than any other critical infrastructure sector in the country.

Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Every day, Americans walk into hospitals trusting that the machines keeping watch over their hearts are working for them. Most have no idea that some of those machines may be working for Communist China.”

…

“I have spent years fighting to hold Communist China accountable because I know that as our strategic adversary, they want to harm Americans. They want to win, and they are willing to use your hospital room to do it.”

…

“American patients deserve better. They deserve to have confidence that the medical machines watching over them in vulnerable moments belong to American doctors and hospitals, not Beijing.”

Read Senator Scott’s full op-ed HERE.

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/08/25/buchanan-named-most-bipartisan-member-in-florida-in-national-congressional-scorecard/,Buchanan Named Most Bipartisan Member in Florida in National Congressional Scorecard,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"Earns an “A” Grade in Bridge Grades Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard

WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan has earned an “A” grade with a score of 96.9 out of 100 from Bridge Grades, a nonpartisan scorecard that rates members of Congress on their record of bipartisan collaboration. Buchanan’s score is more than double the House average of 44.9 and earns him the title of the most bipartisan member in the Florida congressional delegation.

“Floridians didn’t send me to Washington to fight for the sake of fighting,” said Buchanan. “They sent me to get things done and deliver results for all Americans. For nearly 20 years, I have worked across the aisle for Southwest Florida and this score reflects that approach. I believe in leading bills that bring people together, build coalitions and avoid the personal attacks that get in the way of real progress for our communities.”

Bridge Grades evaluates members of Congress based on their record of introducing and cosponsoring cross-partisan legislation, their public rhetoric around bipartisanship and whether they avoid personal attacks on colleagues, with bonus consideration for political courage and coalition building. Buchanan’s “A” grade places him among the highest-rated members of the House on the scorecard. This grading also earns Buchanan the title of the most bipartisan member of the Florida congressional delegation.

Buchanan has represented Florida in Congress since 2007 with nearly two decades of service marked by a consistent focus on creating real results for all Americans. This work includes bills such as the ASAP Act (H.R. 6130) on Alzheimer’s screening, the SAFE Act (H.R. 1661) on animal welfare, the bipartisan Stop Insider Trading Act (H.R. 7008) and continued work on the Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139).

###",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-supports-florida-veterans-with-legislation-to-improve-veterans-mental-health-through-community-and-outdoor-sports/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Supports Florida Veterans with Legislation to Improve Veterans Mental Health Through Community and Outdoor Sports,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, Fla.—Surrounded by more than a hundred veterans at a VFW Post in Orlando today,Senator Ashley Moody announced legislation that aims to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for our nation’s veterans. Senator Moody is cosponsoring the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, which would establish a grant program to help states provide veterans with additional resources for recovery. The legislation would build on the success of programs like Florida’s Operation Outdoor Freedom, which has served more than 6,800 Florida veterans since 2009.

“Our veterans risked their lives to defend this nation in some of the most dangerous places on earth. When they return home, they deserve every opportunity to build healthy, connected and fulfilling lives. The Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act is one more way we can keep our promise to those who served – by helping them reconnect, rebuild and find healing amongst their community in the country they sacrificed so much to defend,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

The bipartisan Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act would establish a grant program through the Department of Veterans Affairs to help states develop and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for veterans. It would authorize $10 million each year, with every approved state receiving at least $200,000 to support these programs.

The funding would allow states to partner with local outfitters, guides, nonprofit organizations and community groups. It would help cover equipment and program fees – removing barriers that keep some veterans from participating. Veterans would gain access to a wide range of outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, archery and target shooting, with adaptive and accessible options for veterans with disabilities.

View Senator Moody’s full remarks here.

Senator Moody is a proud supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and military families. Since becoming a United States Senator, Moody has:

Recently cosponsored the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. The Veterans Bill of Rights Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights regarding VA-administered health care, benefits, and services.

Cosponsored the Military Spouse Hiring Act to address difficulties servicemembers’ families face when looking for work;

Cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans;

Supported the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans;

Supported the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans;

Held a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans;

Recognized 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussed the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more.

Senator Moody recently joined the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s military members. As Florida Attorney General, Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families who encounter scams or fraud.

Senator Moody is proud to be part of a military family.

# # #",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://luna.house.gov/posts/rep-anna-paulina-luna-introduces-bipartisan-bill-requiring-influencers-to-disclose-payments-by-foreign-governments,Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Introduces Bipartisan Bill Requiring Influencers to Disclose Payments by Foreign Governments,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Anna Paulina Luna,L000596,luna.house.gov,luna,https://luna.house.gov/press,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), joined by co-leads Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) introduced the Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act, legislation to strengthen transparency surrounding foreign influence online by expressly including social media influencers under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The bill would amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to expressly include social media influencers within the definition of a “publicity agent.” The legislation defines a social media influencer as any person with a monetized social media account and incorporates the existing federal definition of a social media platform.

“There is a big difference between having an organic opinion and secretly acting on behalf of foreign interests to push propaganda to Americans,” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. “Foreign adversaries have been actively using disinformation and psychological operations to divide America, erode our national security, and undermine U.S. foreign policy. Americans deserve to know when the voices shaping what they see online are working on behalf of foreign interests.”

Social media has become one of the most powerful tools for shaping public opinion, political debate, and public trust. As foreign adversaries look for new ways to influence Americans online, Rep. Luna’s legislation would close a transparency gap by ensuring social media influencers are expressly included within FARA’s existing disclosure framework.

“Federal law must adapt to an ever-changing digital media landscape, especially as more Americans turn to social media for news consumption and public discourse. Our bill increases public transparency around paid partnerships between social media influencers and foreign governments to prevent deceptive practices that may hinder audiences from building a fully informed opinion,” said Congressman Gonzalez.

Key Provisions of the Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act

Brings Social Media Influencers Under FARA: Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act to expressly include “social media influencers” within the definition of a “publicity agent.”

Defines Social Media Influencers: Defines a “social media influencer” as any person who has a monetized social media account on a social media platform.

Defines Social Media Platforms: Incorporates the existing federal definition of a “social media platform” established under federal law.

Rep. Luna emphasized that the legislation is designed to strengthen transparency surrounding foreign influence operations and ensure that social media influencers acting on behalf of foreign interests are not able to conceal those relationships from the American public.

“Americans should be able to know when the people shaping conversations online are acting on behalf of foreign interests,” Rep. Luna continued. “The Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act brings foreign-backed influence operations into the light and sends a clear message that America’s public square is not for sale.”

View the full bill text here

###

Contact:

Office of Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna

(202) 225-5961 | david.leatherwood@mail.house.gov

Follow updates at luna.house.gov",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-joins-acting-labor-secretary-sonderling-highlight-no-tax-tips-address,"Salazar Joins Acting Labor Secretary Sonderling to Highlight No Tax on Tips, Address Restaurant Workforce Crisis",2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL — Today, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) joined Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling and South Florida restaurant leaders for a roundtable focused on No Tax on Tips, the pressures facing locally owned restaurants, and the industry’s need for a stable, legal workforce.

“Miami gathers around its restaurants, from the morning cafecito to the last table of the night. Behind every one of those tables is someone working hard for every tip they earn,” said Congresswoman Salazar.“That is why I helped turn No Tax on Tips into law. It allows servers, bartenders, and other restaurant workers to keep more of their earnings for the bills waiting at home, without asking small restaurant owners, already operating on tight margins, to absorb another cost.”

Under the new law, eligible workers may deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tip income from their federal taxable income. The law also provides a deduction for eligible overtime compensation.

The roundtable then turned from immediate tax relief to a longer-term challenge raised by restaurant owners: maintaining a stable and legal workforce.

According to the National Restaurant Association, nearly one in four restaurant and food-service employees (23 percent) was born outside the United States. Restaurant operators struggled to fill nearly 900,000 open positions each month in 2025, and the industry is expected to add approximately 1.7 million jobs over the next decade.

The National Restaurant Association has endorsed Salazar’s bipartisan Dignity Act (H.R. 4393), and restaurant owners participating in the roundtable expressed support for the legislation as a practical answer to the workforce uncertainty affecting their businesses.

“Restaurant owners told us directly that they have positions they cannot fill and no reliable legal workforce to fill them. At the same time, experienced workers who have lived here for years remain unable to work legally,” Salazar said. “The Dignity Act brings those realities together under strict rules. That is why the National Restaurant Association and restaurant owners support it: it replaces uncertainty with a permanent workforce solution that restaurants nationwide can use and trust.”

The Dignity Act would allow eligible, longtime undocumented immigrants to earn renewable legal status and work authorization after meeting strict requirements. Combined with nationwide E-Verify, it would help restaurants build a stable, verified workforce while protecting businesses that follow the rules. The Dignity Program provides no federal benefits or pathway to citizenship.

During the roundtable, local operators described how rising costs, narrow margins, and staffing shortages shape decisions about hours, service, and expansion. Salazar underscored her message: No Tax on Tips delivers immediate relief to restaurant employees, while the Dignity Act addresses the staffing instability holding their employers back.

Salazar thanked Acting Secretary Sonderling for bringing the conversation directly to Miami and hearing firsthand from the restaurant leaders affected by federal labor and workforce policies.

Participants included representatives from the National Restaurant Association, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Rusty Pelican, Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-A, Grove Bay Hospitality, VE Hospitality, SuViche, Novecento, Outback Steakhouse, Anna Management, Meat N’ Bone, and Wagyu Bar.",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-nonprofits-tax-exempt-status/,Rep. Steube Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Nonprofits’ Tax-Exempt Status,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Rep. Steube Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Nonprofits’ Tax-Exempt Status

WASHINGTON–U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Representative Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) today introduced the Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act, legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code and clarify that a nonprofit’s federal tax-exempt status does not constitute federal financial assistance.

“Nonprofits across the country depend on their tax-exempt status to carry out their work. That status should never be treated as a form of government assistance,” said Rep. Steube. “The Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act puts a clear, permanent rule in statute so nonprofits do not have to worry about their tax exemption being reinterpreted as a government handout.”

“Nonprofits across the country rely on clear, consistent federal rules to continue serving their communities effectively. In recent years, conflicting court decisions have created uncertainty by suggesting that nonprofits could be subject to regulations that Congress never intended for them. This bipartisan legislation would clarify that an organization’s tax-exempt status is not federal financial assistance. It would protect charities, philanthropies, community‑based organizations, and religious institutions from unnecessary regulations so they can stay focused on delivering critical services,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene.

“Nonprofit organizations are the heart of our communities. They play an essential role in supporting families and hardworking Americans, advancing research, educating students, and providing countless other public benefits, often stepping in where government and business can’t or shouldn’t. Their strength lies in their independence. The Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act protects tax-exempt organizations independent from the federal government from unnecessary and burdensome risks of litigation or bureaucratic overreach. We appreciate Congressman Greg Steube (R-FL) and Congresswoman DelBene for their bipartisan leadership so nonprofits can continue to focus on their missions,” said Community Impact Coalition Co-Chairs: Tommy Goodwin and Mary Wheatley.

“Associations are among the most trusted institutions in American life,” said Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO, American Society of Association Executives. “They set the standards that keep products safe and professions credible, train and credential the workforce, and convene the people who solve problems no single company or agency can solve alone. That work depends on their independence. The Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act makes clear what has always been true: tax exemption is not federal financial assistance, and it should never become a lever for government control over organizations that accept no federal dollars. ASAE thanks Congressman Steube and Congresswoman DelBene for introducing this important legislation and urges members of Congress to support it.”

“Representing family forestry businesses across Rural America, the Forest Landowners Association understands firsthand the important role nonprofit organizations play in strengthening communities and advancing the interests of the people and industries they serve,” said Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Association. “Tax-exempt status is not a government grant or subsidy, and it should not be treated as federal financial assistance. The Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act provides important clarity and protects organizations like FLA from unnecessary regulatory burdens that could hinder our ability to carry out our missions. FLA is proud to support this bipartisan legislation.”

“Community Associations Institute (CAI) is proud to support the Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act,” said Dawn M. Bauman, CAE, CEO of CAI. “Nonprofit organizations like CAI play an essential role in providing important resources to support the integrity and strength of America’s communities. This legislation helps ensure CAI can continue to prioritize our members and provide the education, advocacy, and resources they need to support thriving community associations. We thank Congressman Steube and Senator Lankford for their leadership on this important legislation.”

The bill amends Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code to state that a federal income tax exemption does not count as federal financial assistance for organizations described under sections 501(c), 501(d), or 401(a).

There are roughly 2 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. Many operate without any direct government assistance, thereby avoiding the compliance burdens that federal subsidies often impose. When the tax code was written, Congress intended for a clear distinction between nonprofits that do and do not accept government assistance. This bill affirms Congress’ intent and limits legal uncertainty.

The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of nonprofit organizations, including the Community Impact Coalition, Career Education Colleges and Universities, American Society of Association Executives, National Scleroderma Foundation, Women in Trucking, Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, Community Associations Institute, The Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, Inc., Household and Commercial Products Association, American Rental Association, American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, Bostrom, National Association for Regulatory Administration, Association Management Services, Inc., Association CEO, American Society for Nondestructive Testing, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and the National Emergency Number Association.

The full text of the Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act is available here.

###",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-10-organizations-trade-groups-and-a-school-district-endorse-senator-moodys-efforts-to-fund-vocational-training/,"WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: 10 Organizations, Trade Groups and a School District Endorse Senator Moody’s Efforts to Fund Vocational Training",2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody’s legislation to help ensure more educational opportunities for technical and trade students is gaining steam—receiving additional endorsements from major trade organizations. Senator Moody’s TRADES Act would increase what elite, multi-billion-dollar-endowment universities, such as Harvard and Yale, pay for their endowment income and redirect that money to career and technical education across the U.S. The Jobs and Careers Coalition—representing 33 business groups—American Dental Hygienists Association, Automotive Service Association and the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association are joining the list of endorsements for Sen. Moody’s legislation.

“It’s exciting that the TRADES Act is gaining steam—with The Jobs and Careers Coalition, American Dental Hygienists Association, Automotive Service Association and the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association joining the list of major organizations endorsing the measure. My bill supports Floridians who want to learn in-demand trades or skills, increasing America’s commitment to training the next generation for meaningful career opportunities,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“ADHA supports congressional efforts to expand investments in career and technical education and urges Congress to ensure that dental hygiene education programs are included as eligible and prioritized recipients of any new workforce development funding. Dental hygienists are essential preventive oral health providers, and strengthening the dental hygiene workforce pipeline is critical to expanding access to care in rural and underserved communities,” said the American Dental Hygienists Association.

“As I travel around the country and meet with automotive shop owners, the number one challenge our industry faces is attracting, developing, and retaining highly skilled automotive repair technicians. This legislation will help strengthen the workforce of tomorrow by investing in Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that prepare the next generation of skilled tradespeople, including automotive technicians. By expanding support for these programs, more students will have access to the hands-on training, skills, and opportunities they need to pursue rewarding, in-demand careers while helping meet our industry’s growing need for highly trained professionals,” said Automotive Service Association Chairman Dan Stander.

“As vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, the demand for highly trained technicians continues to outpace the available workforce. We believe targeted educational investments can transform lives while addressing critical workforce shortages. The TRADES Act would expand these opportunities by helping more individuals access the training they need to enter high demand careers. We appreciate Sen. Moody’s leadership in championing legislation that recognizes the value of skilled trades and addresses one of the most pressing workforce challenges facing the automotive industry today,” said National Independent Automobile Dealers Association Director of Government Relations & Compliance Patrick O’Brien.

“While the need for a skilled workforce continues to grow, funding continues to lag. Perkins State Grants have increased slightly but Career and Technical Education programs must have the resources to meet greater demand. The Jobs and Careers Coalition supports Senator Moody’s TRADES Act as a reasonable way to fix the CTE funding shortfall. The Jobs and Careers Coalition is a Washington-based business group focused on job training and workforce development. Members include employers and employer associations from a broad range of industries experiencing skills mismatches and worker shortages who know greater investment in CTE is crucial for the U.S. economy,” said Jobs and Careers Coalition Executive Director Craig Brightup.

The bill has already been endorsed by Hillsborough County Public Schools, The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, The Associated Equipment Distributors, The Automotive Service Association, The Associate General Contractors of America, and The Associated Industries of Florida.

“As the seventh-largest school district in the nation, Hillsborough County Public Schools serves more than 220,000 students and offers extensive career and technical education (CTE) programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-demand careers. Perkins funding is essential to supporting these programs by expanding access to industry-recognized credentials, modern equipment, work-based learning opportunities, and workforce-aligned instruction. As Florida’s demand for skilled workers continues to grow, additional Perkins funding would help districts strengthen career pathways and ensure more students graduate with the skills and credentials needed for postsecondary success and economic mobility.

“By directing additional resources to career and technical education, S. 4907 would strengthen workforce development opportunities for students while benefiting employers, communities, and Florida’s economy,” said Hillsborough County Public Schools.

“As a nation, we should encourage and invest in career paths that do not require a college education and its associated debt. This starts with supporting good, quality job training programs that result in guaranteed union job placement. Senator Moody’s bill sends a strong message about putting our money where our priorities ought to be,” said Sean M. O’Brien, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

“Equipment dealers across Florida and the nation commend Senator Moody for introducing the TRADES Act and her tremendous leadership in tackling the skills gap,” said Daniel B. Fisher, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Associated Equipment Distributors. “The greatest challenge facing equipment dealers remains the lack of service technicians and it is long overdue that investments in career and technical education match the extreme demand for skilled workers. The TRADES Act truly represents an investment in our future workforce, which is critical for businesses to grow, and America’s continued prosperity and competitiveness.”

“Years of underinvestment in the nation’s career and technical education programs are one of the key reasons industries like construction face significant labor shortages that delay projects and increase the cost of construction. Directing new resources to the Perkins Career and Technical Education program will help expand training opportunities, strengthen the skilled trades pipeline, and better prepare the next generation of workers for high-paying careers in fields like construction. That is why the Associated General Contractors of America supports this measure, and we encourage Congress to rapidly enact it” said Associated General Contractors of America.

BACKGROUND:

In the near future, America will need hundreds of thousands of new skilled workers to keep up with demand, including electricians, plumbers, and commercial drivers. Now more than ever, we must invest in America’s future.

The TRADES Act would increase an existing tax on ultra-wealthy universities similar to that of the capital gains tax that Floridians already pay on their investment income. This money would then be used to provide additional funding to the Perkins Career and Technical Education grants, which currently contribute to the education of around 12 million students across the country.

Perkins Career and Technical Education grants are the federal government’s primary way of funding career and technical education.

The Jobs and Careers Coalition, a business coalition comprised of the below groups, has endorsed the TRADES Act:

o Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

o American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers

o American Industrial Hygiene Association

o American Staffing Association

o American Supply Association

o Associated Builders and Contractors

o Associated Equipment Distributors

o Associated General Contractors of America

o Association of Equipment Manufacturers

o Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals

o Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation

o Building Industry Policy Roundtable

o Construction Industry Round Table

o International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

o Independent Electrical Contractors

o International Code Council

o International Franchise Association

o National Asphalt Pavement Association

o National Association of Home Builders

o National Center for Construction Education and Research

o National Roofing Contractors Association

o National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association

o Opportunity America

o Partnership for New York City

o H-E-B Grocery Stores

o IBM

o International Paper

o Realityworks Inc.

o S & B Engineers and Constructors, Ltd.

o Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.

o Universal Technical Institute

o Worley

o Zachry Group

# # #",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/08/21/icymi-alzheimers-association-highlights-urgent-need-for-asap-act-on-fox-news/,ICYMI: Alzheimer’s Association Highlights Urgent Need for ASAP Act on Fox News,2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"Advocates Call for Passage of ASAP Act with nearly 200 Bipartisan Cosponsors

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, highlights the growing bipartisan support behind the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (H.R. 6130), which currently has nearly 200 cosponsors and continues to gain record-breaking momentum heading into the end of the year.

The ASAP Act would provide a pathway for Medicare coverage of blood-based biomarker screening tests for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, expanding access to early detection and diagnosis for patients and families.

This past week, Rachel Conant, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the Alzheimer’s Association and Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), joined Fox News to discuss the policy hurdles blocking access to breakthrough Alzheimer’s treatments and the urgent need to pass Congressman Vern Buchanan’s ASAP Act. During the segment, Conant explained that while new Alzheimer’s treatments are emerging faster than ever, outdated policy barriers are keeping many patients from being able to access them in reasonable time. She pointed out early detection as the key to changing that trajectory, noting that blood-based biomarker tests now make it possible to diagnose Alzheimer’s far sooner than in the past through preventative measures. But Medicare’s current coverage restrictions prevent many seniors from getting screened before it’s too late to benefit from critical treatment.

Conant underscored that closing this gap is exactly what the ASAP Act, introduced by Congressman Buchanan, is designed to do. She called on Congress to build on its bipartisan momentum and get the bill across the finish line once and for all.

Buchanan’s ASAP Act has secured nearly 200 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. In addition to being Vice Chairman and the most senior Republican on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Buchanan serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, which has broad leadership over traditional Medicare, the Medicare prescription drug benefit program and Medicare Advantage, providing quality health resources to Americans nationwide.

###",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-on-national-fentanyl-prevention-and-awareness-day-senator-moody-renews-commitment-to-end-opioid-crisis/,"VIDEO: On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, Senator Moody Renews Commitment to End Opioid Crisis",2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, Senator Ashley Moody is recognizing the hundreds of thousands of lives stolen by fentanyl and working to end the opioid crisis. As Florida’s former Attorney General, and now as U.S. Senator, Moody has fought to hold drug traffickers accountable, secure the border, and support law enforcement efforts.

“On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, we remember the hundreds of thousands of lives stolen by fentanyl and the families forever changed by this devastating epidemic and renew our commitment to end this crisis. While Florida has seen our fentanyl-related death rate fall faster than the national average, our work is far from finished. We’ll continue fighting to save lives and build a Stronger, Safer Florida,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

By coordinating local, state, and federal partners, Florida reduced fentanyl-related deaths by 42% from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2025—greater than the estimated nationwide decrease of 22% from 2024 to 2025.

As Florida’s newest United States Senator, Senator Moody continues to combat the nation’s fentanyl crisis by cosponsoring the HALT Fentanyl Act, Tyler’s Law, and most recently the PRESS Act. Last Summer, Senator Moody joined President Trump as he signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law. The new law assists law enforcement officers get fentanyl traffickers off the streets and permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act;

Tyler’s Law would require HHS to issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose.

PRESS Act would criminalize the intentional importation of pill press machines and unlisted precursor chemicals with the intent to manufacture illicit drugs.

As Florida Attorney General, Senator Moody chaired the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse and secured a massive multibillion-dollar settlement from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.

Senator Moody is a long-time supporter of the rule of law and of law enforcement officers.

Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has also:

Introduced the HALO Act to shield federal officers from those who seek to threaten and harass them on duty;

Supported the Graham Hoffman Act, which would allow the U.S. to use the full force of state and federal law to prosecute those who assault first responders and act as a deterrent to anyone considering such acts of violence;

Introduced the HELPER Act to make homeownership more obtainable for Florida heroes, including law enforcement officers;

Sponsored the RIPPLE Act, which would expand the 287(g) program and provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get criminal illegal aliens out of communities; and

Advanced six bills to support law enforcement, strengthen public safety and deliver critical tools to officers out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week earlier this year.

As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody created many programs to recognize the selfless efforts of law enforcement officers, including her Back the Blue, Thin Line Tribute, and Sunshine Salute programs. Moody also worked with state lawmakers to strengthen statutes to hold criminals accountable and help officers and prosecutors do their jobs.

# # #",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-soto-velazquez-reschenthaler-kelly-and-hernandez-file-bill-honor,"Bilirakis, Soto, Velázquez, Reschenthaler, Kelly and Hernández File Bill to Honor Baseball Legend Roberto Clemente at U.S. Capitol",2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today, U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (D-PR) introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize the creation and presentation of a statue honoring the life and enduring legacy of baseball legend and humanitarian Roberto Clemente at the United States Capitol.

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on August 18, 1934, Clemente became one of the most accomplished and admired players in Major League Baseball history. During his 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente recorded exactly 3,000 hits, won four National League batting titles, earned 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1966, and helped lead the Pirates to two World Series championships. He also made history as the first Latin American and Caribbean player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Clemente’s impact, however, extended far beyond the baseball diamond. Throughout his career, he courageously spoke out against discrimination and dedicated himself to humanitarian causes, particularly efforts to improve the lives of children and families throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Clemente tragically died on December 31, 1972, when a plane carrying humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua crashed shortly after takeoff from Puerto Rico.

“Roberto Clemente embodied the very best of the American spirit. He was a trailblazer whose extraordinary talent changed the game of baseball, but his greatest legacy was the compassion, courage, and selflessness he demonstrated in service to others,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “As a proud Floridian who represents a vibrant Hispanic community and a lifelong Pirates fan, I know how deeply Clemente’s example continues to resonate with generations of Americans. It is fitting that we announce this bipartisan legislation on his birthday to ensure his remarkable story and enduring legacy are permanently honored at our Nation’s Capitol. I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize a true American hero whose life reminds us that greatness is measured not simply by what we achieve, but by what we do for others.”

Clemente was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1973 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003, among the Nation’s highest honors. Major League Baseball also annually presents the Roberto Clemente Award to the player who best exemplifies extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions both on and off the field.

The effort to honor Clemente with a statue at the U.S. Capitol builds upon legislation previously introduced by Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón during her tenure as Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Congress. Today’s bipartisan effort continues that work to ensure Clemente’s extraordinary contributions to our Nation and his enduring legacy of service receive permanent recognition at the U.S. Capitol.

Under the legislation, a statue of Clemente would be created and presented for permanent display at the U.S. Capitol, giving millions of Americans who visit each year an opportunity to learn about a man whose contributions transcended sports and whose example of courage, service, and compassion continues to inspire generations.

Clemente famously said, “If you have an opportunity to make things better and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.” His life embodied that principle. More than five decades after his passing, Clemente’s commitment to service, equality, and helping those in need continues to inspire people throughout Puerto Rico, across the United States, and around the world.",1,2026-08-21T05:30:57Z,2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/sen-rick-scott-calls-on-congress-to-pass-bills-to-cut-red-tape-help-small-businesses-thrive,"Sen. Rick Scott Calls on Congress to Pass Bills to Cut Red Tape, Help Small Businesses Thrive",2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – U.S. Senator Rick Scott is calling on Congress to pass a series of bills that will cut red tape and make it easier for Floridians to open small businesses. While Democrat Socialists are kneecapping the American Dream, Senator Scott is calling for Congress to unshackle workers and entrepreneurs from restrictions that big government has imposed on them.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Today’s Democrat Party is unrecognizable. My father was a teamster; Democrats used to believe in what makes America the greatest country in the world. Now, they want to open government-run grocery stores and bankroll illegal aliens. The American Dream works when the government gets out of the way and lets Americans innovate and succeed. Congress should immediately pass these bills to remove bureaucratic hurdles that discourage Floridians from opening small businesses. We should be encouraging the American Dream, not sabotaging it.”

These bills include:

Destroying Unnecessary, Misaligned, and Prohibitive (DUMP) Red Tape Act

Requires the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy to continue running the Red Tape Hotline, a website where small businesses can report complaints and issues with regulations, policy statements, or other activities to the SBA Office of Accountability.

Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act

Requires agencies to assess the economic impact of proposed regulations on small businesses and requires detailed descriptions of alternatives to a proposed rule with significant economic impact that would minimize any adverse economic impact or maximize any beneficial economic impact.

Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act

Requires all U.S. agencies issuing permits to create a page on their website for permit applicants to track the status of their permit application, along with the steps completed and those that are remaining, the timeframe expected, and contact information readily available for users.

Regulatory Decimation Act

Requires federal agencies to repeal ten existing regulations prior to issuing a new one and ensures the cost of any new regulation does not exceed the ones repealed.

Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act

Requires congressional approval of any major rule proposed by a federal agency.

Expediting Reform and Stopping Excess Regulations (ERASER) Act

Prohibits an agency from issuing a major rule unless the agency has repealed three or more rules AND the cost of the new major rule is less than or equal to the cost of the rules repealed, as certified by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act

Protects community lending by prohibiting a Biden-era rule that forced America’s community banks and credit unions to compete with the federal government to issue loans.

###",1,2026-08-21T05:30:57Z,2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/sens-rick-scott-mike-lee-marsha-blackburn-rep-young-kim-demand-investigation-into-california-s-unconstitutional-involvement-with-beijing-to-undermine-u-s-foreign-policy,"Sens. Rick Scott, Mike Lee, Marsha Blackburn, Rep. Young Kim Demand Investigation into California’s Unconstitutional Involvement with Beijing to Undermine U.S. Foreign Policy",2026-08-19,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – Today, U.S. Senators Rick Scott, Mike Lee, Marsha Blackburn, and U.S. Representative Young Kim sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for an investigation into the state of California’s numerous climate agreements with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The members wrote, “If Governor Newsom would like to assume foreign affairs authorities constitutionally vested in the federal government, that option, however quixotic, ill-conceived, and downright laughable, is theoretically available to him. As it stands, however, he is likely violating the Constitution, serving as China’s useful pawn while destroying the pocketbooks of millions of hardworking Americans.”

The Compact Clause of the Constitution gives the federal government authority over foreign affairs, and the Supreme Court has upheld that even state action with a mere ""direct impact upon foreign relations""[1]may be unconstitutional.

Dating back to former California Governor Jerry Brown, the state has an extensive history of circumventing Congressional approval and entering into agreements with CCP conduits, including:

California China Climate Institute

Founded in 2019 by Governor Jerry Brown and the CCP’s longtime global climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, the goal was to shape U.S. and subnational climate policy and advance the goals of the Paris Agreement. The California China Climate Institute was codified into law by Governor Newsom.

China-U.S. ZEV Policy Lab

Agreed upon by the University of California-Davis and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, the China-U.S. ZEV Policy Lab committed both sides to speed the commercialization of electric cars.

Read the full letter HERE or below:

Dear Attorney General Blanche and Secretary Rubio:

We write to urge the Department of Justice, in consultation with the Department of State, to open a formal investigation into whether signed agreements and other institutionalized engagements between the State of California, including its regulatory agencies and the University of California (UC) system, and organs and entities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), China’s dominant political institution, constitute agreements or compacts with a foreign power prohibited by, or requiring congressional consent under, Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution, and whether they unlawfully intrude on the President's conduct of foreign policy.[2] The National Association of Scholars' latest report, Behind the Climate Curtain, documents an alleged years-long pattern in which Governors Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom tied California's climate regulators to Beijing's Party-State, embedded PRC-linked institutions inside the state's regulatory apparatus, and deliberately structured these arrangements to circumvent President Trump's decisions in climate diplomacy.[3] These individuals appear to have engaged in unlawful, unconstitutional activity, and their efforts to support Communist China’s strategic aims – at the expense of America’s – must be confronted.

Article I, Section 10 prohibits any state from entering any ""Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation"" and bars any ""Agreement or Compact"" with a foreign power absent congressional consent. Chief Justice Taney, writing for a plurality, explained that the Framers chose the broadest possible words in order ""to cut off all connection or communication between a state and a foreign power[.]""[4] The Supreme Court has interpreted the Compact Clause to require Congressional consent for arrangements tending to increase state power in ways that ""encroach upon or interfere with the just supremacy of the United States[.]""[5] Critically, the U.S. State Department applies this test in the context of state arrangements with foreign powers.[6] The Court has also stated that ""[p]ower over external affairs is not shared by the States[,]""[7] and that even state action with a mere ""direct impact upon foreign relations""[8] may be unconstitutional.

Similarly, in Crosby v. National Foreign Trade Council,[9] the Court unanimously struck down a state law that compromised the President's capacity for effective diplomacy called for in a federal statute, and in American Insurance Association v. Garamendi[10], the Court reaffirmed that ""at some point an exercise of state power that touches on foreign relations must yield to the National Government's policy,” which may even include foreign policy embodied in executive agreements rather than statute.[11] In these and many other cases, the Court has regularly emphasized the importance of federal supremacy in foreign affairs. Instead of recognizing its own limitations under the United States Constitution, however, California’s pro-CCP state leadership decided to dig in and engage more closely with our foremost national enemy.

California has routinely employed the instrumentalities of its state government, including its university system, in service of inappropriate bilateral relations with Communist China. In 2013, then Governor Jerry Brown signed a memorandum of understanding with Xie Zhenhua, then head of China's central planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the first agreement of its kind between the PRC and a U.S. state; this agreement committed California to joint work with Beijing on carbon reduction, emissions trading, and electric vehicles. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) signed its own memorandum with the NDRC that year, building on ties to the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau dating to 2005. CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols personally attended the launch of China's cap-and-trade pilot in Shenzhen, and CARB soon began co-leading a zero-emission vehicle ""Policy Lab"" with a PRC government automotive research center through UC Davis.[12] In 2015, the UC system signed a memorandum with Tsinghua University, a PRC government academic institution, aimed at shaping bilateral climate commitments. Tsinghua University, often described as ""China’s MIT"" and from which Xi Jinping graduated, is “strongly and institutionally committed to military-civil fusion and to supporting the advancement of military applications of AI.”[13] It hosts advanced defense laboratories engaged in missile technology, rocket systems, and projects linked to China’s nuclear weapons program.[14] According to the NAS report, Tsinghua has also been tied to cyberattacks (including against Alaska’s state government), and the building of surveillance tools used in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).[15]

In 2017, President Trump lawfully announced the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. Governor Brown's response was to fly to Beijing. Then Governor Brown met behind closed doors with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, and signed an agreement with China's Minister of Science and Technology (MOST) to bypass the President's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. That same week, Brown signed multiple agreements with PRC officials, including MOST and Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces, focusing on the establishment of a California-China Clean Technology Partnership Fund (as well as agreements to promote general green energy technology and energy cooperation).[16][17] Meanwhile, then-CARB Chairwoman Nichols, the regulator responsible for enforcing California's vehicle emissions standards, pitched those same mandates to BYD, Geely, Great Wall, and other PRC EV manufacturers, positioning these firms to profit from the new California requirements.[18] What California’s political leadership has been able to do over the years is nothing short of an obscene abuse of power; they appear to have fused state regulatory power, and all associated national-level consequences, with a foreign adversary’s industrial strategy.

Consider that California, by nature of its economic size, can easily drive U.S. national standards and policies, as well as corporate behaviors, purely by nature of what it sets for state requirements.[19] This sort of outsized influence gives the PRC all the incentive needed to promote subnational agreements – especially if the end result will result in amending U.S. policy on terms that support Communist China’s strategic aims. As part of their Made in China (MIC) 2025 initiative, the PRC has sought to achieve technological breakthroughs in key sectors deemed necessary to secure global economic and technological leadership, including electric vehicles.[20] The manner in which the PRC has gained global market share of these sectors includes massive government subsidies, structural excess capacity, forced technology transfer and IP theft, market access restrictions, tax preferences, forced joint ventures and partnerships, and several other tactics that have reinforced their disproportionate market share in multiple industries. Any U.S. state, including California, would be well served by vigilance against China’s efforts to leverage its growing market influence to influence U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

In 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 39, codifying the California-China Climate Institute (CCCI) into state law and directing it, in partnership with Tsinghua University, to shape U.S. and subnational climate policy.[21] The CCCI, housed at UC Berkeley, was initially launched in 2019 under the co-chairmanship of former Governor Brown and Xie Zhenhua, former head of China’s central planning agency, the NDRC[22], and the CCP's longtime chief global climate envoy; Brown continues to lead the Institute today, with Nichols as Vice Chair. By its own account, the CCCI has helped integrate PRC experts into California's regulatory agencies.[23] Between 2021 and 2022, the CCCI and Tsinghua convened private, off-the-record discussions on the design of California's carbon market in which the head of the state's cap-and-trade program participated. Those sessions were financed by the Berggruen Institute and the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, an organization founded by a career CCP propaganda official whose leadership has included a former head of a Ministry of State Security bureau. Jamestown Foundation research has separately identified Tsinghua and China's Ministry of Ecology, California's counterparty on 2018 and 2022 memoranda, as organizations operating under the CCP’s United Front Work Department and related PRC efforts to target U.S. climate policy.[24] Entities proximate to PRC intelligence financed closed-door sessions at which California regulators discussed California regulatory design with PRC counterparts.

Governor Newsom, whose love affair with Beijing dates to a 2005 memorandum he signed as mayor with then-Shanghai mayor Han Zheng, has made the CCCI project his own. In October 2023, he met with Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, and Han Zheng, and signed a memorandum[25] with the NDRC charging CARB, the California EPA, the Natural Resources Agency, and the Energy Commission to develop a joint action plan with China's central planners. The trip yielded the first-ever Declaration of Enhanced Subnational Climate Action[26] between China and a subnational government, with the CCCI brokering the meetings. The Hewlett Foundation paid $300,000[27] for the delegation's travel while granting millions to the CCCI (and even more to Energy Foundation China, a China-based climate nonprofit).[28]

The years-long ties between California and China in climate policy have produced cascading effects, none of them good. San Francisco and Los Angeles bought Chinese BYD buses under state mandates, BYD America received $120 million in cap and trade funds[29], and Governor Newsom signed a $1 billion no-bid pandemic mask contract with BYD (later extended by another $316 million) while BYD gave $40,000 to his campaign funds.[30] On June 8, 2026, the Department of War added BYD to its Section 1260H list of Chinese military companies operating in the United States.[31] This is the predictable result of the left's mandate-driven climate program: with Beijing controlling roughly 90 percent of rare-earth refining and roughly 70 percent of global electric vehicle production, California's gas car bans and net zero mandates risk forcing American dependency on Chinese supply chains while raising costs on millions of Californians.[32] So much for affordability.

If Governor Newsom would like to assume foreign affairs authorities constitutionally vested in the federal government, that option, however quixotic, ill-conceived, and downright laughable, is theoretically available to him. As it stands, however, he is likely violating the Constitution, serving as China’s useful pawn while destroying the pocketbooks of millions of hardworking Americans. We believe these arrangements between California and Communist China exhibit many features the Supreme Court has deemed constitutionally significant: reciprocal commitments,[33] standing institutional machinery, designated state agencies executing joint plans with foreign ministries, and an avowed purpose of sustaining an agreement the President has twice repudiated, all in dual-use domains central to China's military-civil fusion strategy.[34] We therefore respectfully request that the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Department of State, as appropriate, consider the following requests:

Open a formal investigation, in conjunction with the Department of State, into whether California's climate, energy, and technology engagements with Communist China-linked entities, including the 2013 Brown-NDRC and CARB-NDRC memoranda, the 2015 UC-Tsinghua memorandum, the 2017 Ministry of Science and Technology, Jiangsu, and Sichuan agreements, the 2018 and 2022 Ministry of Ecology memoranda, the 2023 NDRC, provincial, and municipal agreements and the Declaration of Enhanced Subnational Climate Action, and the CCCI under Assembly Bill 39, violate Article I, Section 10 or otherwise impermissibly infringe on federal foreign affairs authorities.

Evaluate, if necessary, the need for civil litigation against the State of California and the UC Regents.

Issue requests for information to the Governor's Office, CARB, the California EPA, the Energy Commission, the Natural Resources Agency, the UC Regents, the CCCI, and the UC Davis ZEV Policy Lab for all agreements, action plans, correspondence, funding and travel records, minutes of the 2021 and 2022 off the record dialogues, and records identifying Communist China-linked personnel given access to California regulatory proceedings or non-public regulatory information.

Conduct a Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) review of whether current or former officials, CCCI personnel, or intermediary organizations, including the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, the Berggruen Institute's China programs, and Energy Foundation China, acted as unregistered agents of the PRC, and refer any documented access of Ministry of State Security-linked and United Front-linked entities to California regulators to the FBI for counterintelligence assessment. As part of this review, we further request that the Department identify (a) any PRC-directed or PRC-linked activity documented in the course of the review that, while raising influence or counterintelligence concerns, falls outside the scope of FARA's registration requirements or its existing exemptions; and (b) any resulting statutory gaps, including in FARA, that Congress should consider addressing through legislation.

Coordinate with the Department of Commerce and others on export control and deemed export review of technology exchanges under these agreements in batteries, grid management software, offshore wind, hydrogen, and connected vehicles. This review can also assess where current safeguards fall short in addressing Science and Technology collaboration with the PRC more broadly, including in Department of Energy research security policies, the sharing of U.S. intellectual property and know-how, and joint policy and standards development that existing restrictions don’t reach.

For two decades, Governors Brown and Newsom have treated Beijing as a partner and the elected government of the United States as an obstacle. The Constitution entrusts the conduct of foreign affairs to the federal government. Where state officials enter sustained institutional arrangements with foreign governments that may implicate Article I, Section 10 or interfere with the Nation's foreign policy, those arrangements warrant careful federal review. We cannot allow a rogue state government to place its regulators and flagship university in the service of a hostile power’s industrial strategy.

###",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z
https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/roberto-clementes-birthday-bilirakis-soto-and-valazquez-announce-bipartisan,"On Roberto Clemente’s Birthday, Bilirakis, Soto and Valazquez Announce Bipartisan Bill to Honor Baseball Legend at U.S. Capitol",2026-08-18,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — On what would have been Roberto Clemente’s 92nd birthday, U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) announced bipartisan legislation that would authorize the creation and presentation of a statue honoring the life and enduring legacy of baseball legend and humanitarian Roberto Clemente at the United States Capitol. Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on August 18, 1934, Clemente became one of the most accomplished and admired players in Major League Baseball history. During his 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente recorded exactly 3,000 hits, won four National League batting titles, earned 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1966, and helped lead the Pirates to two World Series championships. He also made history as the first Latin American and Caribbean player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Clemente’s impact, however, extended far beyond the baseball diamond. Throughout his career, he courageously spoke out against discrimination and dedicated himself to humanitarian causes, particularly efforts to improve the lives of children and families throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Clemente tragically died on December 31, 1972, when a plane carrying humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua crashed shortly after takeoff from Puerto Rico.

“Roberto Clemente embodied the very best of the American spirit. He was a trailblazer whose extraordinary talent changed the game of baseball, but his greatest legacy was the compassion, courage, and selflessness he demonstrated in service to others,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “As a proud Floridian who represents a vibrant Hispanic community and a lifelong Pirates fan, I know how deeply Clemente’s example continues to resonate with generations of Americans. It is fitting that we announce this bipartisan legislation on his birthday to ensure his remarkable story and enduring legacy are permanently honored at our Nation’s Capitol. I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize a true American hero whose life reminds us that greatness is measured not simply by what we achieve, but by what we do for others.”

“I am proud to join Rep. Bilirakis in this effort to authorize the placement of a statue honoring Roberto Clemente on Capitol Grounds. In Central Florida, Clemente's legacy lives on in our renamed streets and schools, in little league field murals, as well as in the morals we teach our children to follow,” said Rep. Soto. “From his efforts to reform American baseball to his humanitarian work, Clemente demonstrated that he practiced what he preached and dedicated his life to helping others overcome adversity. Though his life was tragically cut short, we will keep fighting to keep his spirit alive in this U.S. Capitol. ¡Wepa!”

Clemente was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1973 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003, among the Nation’s highest honors. Major League Baseball also annually presents the Roberto Clemente Award to the player who best exemplifies extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions both on and off the field. The effort to honor Clemente with a statue at the U.S. Capitol builds upon legislation previously introduced by Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón during her tenure as Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Congress. Bilirakis, Soto, and Velázquez are continuing that bipartisan effort to ensure Clemente’s extraordinary contributions to our Nation and his enduring legacy of service receive permanent recognition at the U.S. Capitol. The lawmakers’ legislation would authorize the creation and presentation of a statue of Clemente for display at the U.S. Capitol. The tribute would ensure that the millions of Americans who visit the Capitol each year have an opportunity to learn about a man whose contributions to our Nation transcended sports and whose example of service continues to inspire generations.

Clemente famously said, “If you have an opportunity to make things better and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.” His life embodied that principle. More than five decades after his passing, Clemente’s commitment to service, equality, and helping those in need continues to inspire people throughout Puerto Rico, across the United States, and around the world.",1,2026-08-19T05:29:02Z,2026-08-19T05:30:24Z
https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/08/18/buchanan-joins-torres-fitzpatrick-in-cosponsoring-bipartisan-9-1-1-saves-act/,"Buchanan Joins Torres, Fitzpatrick in Cosponsoring Bipartisan 9-1-1 SAVES Act",2026-08-18,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"Legislation Would Recognize 9-1-1 Dispatchers as First Responders

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced he is cosponsoring the 9-1-1 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act, bipartisan legislation reintroduced by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35). The bill reclassifies 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders and recognizes America’s over 100,000 9-1-1 professionals for their work to save lives.

“Every day, 9-1-1 dispatchers are the calm, steady voice on the other end of the line when Americans are facing the worst moments of their lives,” said Congressman Buchanan. “They deserve a classification that reflects the seriousness of that responsibility. I’m proud to join Congresswoman Torres and Congressman Fitzpatrick in the effort to recognize these heroes, and I’ll keep pushing to get it across the finish line.”

“As a former 9-1-1 dispatcher for over 17 years, I know firsthand the critical role dispatchers play in our public safety system,” said Congresswoman Torres. “It’s time we officially recognize their contributions. This small change will have a meaningful impact on the lives of over 100,000 dedicated dispatchers across the United States.”

“Anyone who has dialed 9-1-1 in an emergency understands the critical role of the operator on the other end of the line,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “These unsung heroes are vital to the safety and security of our communities, and it is long overdue that we honor their extraordinary service.”

Despite serving as the first point of contact in nearly every emergency, 9-1-1 dispatchers are currently classified as clerical staff. Professions, such as school crossing guards, carry the first responder designation, yet these critical roles don’t. The 9-1-1 SAVES Act corrects that at zero cost to taxpayers, recognizing the more than 100,000 dispatchers nationwide who talk callers through medical emergencies, coordinate law enforcement and fire response and are frequently the first, and only, lifeline for someone in crisis.

The bill has the backing of fire, police, 9-1-1 and public safety associations across the country.

###",1,2026-08-19T05:29:02Z,2026-08-19T05:30:24Z
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-mario-diaz-balart-attends-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-aars-new,Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Attends Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of AAR’s New Airframe MRO Facility Expansion,2026-08-17,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL - Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, attends ribbon cutting ceremony of AAR’s new airframe MRO facility expansion.

“It is a privilege to join the community and AAR today to celebrate the expansion of this Airframe MRO facility at Miami International Airport. This new hangar represents a significant investment in Miami and strengthens our region’s position as a global leader in aviation, while helping ensure that South Florida remains at the forefront of this vital industry.

This expansion will create 200 full-time jobs for Miami-Dade residents and bring additional economic activity to our community. These are the kinds of investments that make a real difference for working families and help build a stronger local economy. With more than 1,300 AAR employees already based across Florida, this project also underscores the company’s continued commitment to our state and to the skilled workforce that makes Florida a great place to do business.

Aviation is a cornerstone of our economy, and Miami International Airport is an essential gateway connecting our community to the nation and the world. Investments like this one help strengthen that gateway and position South Florida for continued success in the years ahead.

I want to congratulate AAR on this important milestone and thank Miami International Airport, as well as our federal, state, and local partners, for their collaboration in making this project possible. Projects of this scale take partnership and commitment, and I am proud to see everyone come together to deliver results for our community.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this exciting milestone and thank you for continuing to invest in the people and future of our community.""

###",1,2026-08-18T05:27:41Z,2026-08-18T05:29:06Z