url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/fourth-deadly-and-unprovoked-attack-camp-liberty-residents-underscorres-need,"Fourth Deadly and Unprovoked Attack on Camp Liberty Residents Underscores Need for Administration to Push Iraqi Government and the UN to Do More for their Protection, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-28,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Fourth Deadly and Unprovoked Attack on Camp Liberty Residents Underscores Need for Administration to Push Iraqi Government and the UN to Do More for their Protection, Says Ros-Lehtinen Miami, Florida – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement today following the latest deadly, unprovoked attack against Camp Liberty yesterday that killed two and left a number more in critical condition. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “This latest attack is the fourth of its kind on Camp Liberty this year, and those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice. For over a year now, I have urged the Administration to take immediate action to ensure that the residents of the camp are provided the safety and the security they were guaranteed in a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Iraq and the UN. Sadly, neither party has been willing to live up to its obligations and the vicious and unprovoked attacks continue, both on Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf. Both the UN and the Iraqi government must take the steps necessary to protect the residents of Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf until they can be safely relocated. This includes the installation of t-walls and other measures that can be done to make the Camps more secure. Last month I pressed Secretary Kerry to use the full leverage of the State Department and the Administration to press the Iraqi government's swift action on this installation, and will continue to do so until these residents are sufficiently protected.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=366428,The Laker/Lutz News: Mobile Office Hours for Rep. Ross,2013-12-25,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Laker/Lutz News: Mobile Office Hours for Rep. Ross f t # e Florida, December 25, 2013 The Laker'Lutz News MOBILE OFFICE HOURS FOR REP. ROSS December 25, 2013 By Mary RathmanU.S. Rep. Dennis Ross’s staff will host mobile office hours across Florida’s 15th Congressional District with a stop at the Lutz Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road on Jan. 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The staff will be on hand to assist with questions on seniors’ Social Security and disability, veterans’ VA claims and military service problems, students’ financial aid, small business loan applications, and taxpayers’ tax problems. For information, call (813) 752-4790.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/yoho-introduces-bill-to-repeal-aca-if-enrollment-numbers-are-not-met,YOHO INTRODUCES BILL TO REPEAL ACA IF ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE NOT MET,2013-12-24,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ted Yoho,Y000065,yoho.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Yoho has introduced legislation to hold the Obama Administration accountable to the enrollment goals they set for the Affordable Care Act. According to estimates put out by the Congressional Budget Office, seven million people need to be enrolled in the healthcare exchanges  by the end of the 2014 open enrollment period. The costs of insurance plans can be expected to increase if this figure is not hit, further burdening the American taxpayer. In order to hold the Administration accountable to these enrollment numbers, Congressman Yoho has introduced H.R. 3784, the Nullifying the Unconstitutional Mandate By Evaluating Results (NUMBER) Act. This legislation fully repeals the healthcare law if seven million people are not enrolled in the exchanges by March 31st. Congressman Yoho was joined by Reps. Bridenstine (OK), Duncan (SC), Franks (AZ), Graves (GA), Hall (TX), Hudson (NC), Hultgren (IL), Jones (NC), LaMalfa (CA), Massie (KY), Messer (IN), Pittenger (NC), Rice (SC), Salmon (AZ), Scott (GA), Stockman (TX), Weber (TX), Westmoreland (GA), and Wilson (SC). Upon introduction Congressman Yoho said, “The Obama Administration likes to claim that this healthcare law is hugely popular and is wanted by the American people. I disagree. If the Administration can’t even make their own target numbers then the American taxpayer should not be further burdened by this terrible law. This commonsense bill simply holds the Administration accountable to those numbers, and if they are not met the Affordable Care Act is fully repealed.” Congressman Yoho is also a cosponsor of H.R. 2300 and H.R. 3121, two alternative proposals to the Affordable Care Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/la-decisi%C3%B3n-de-la-administraci%C3%B3n-de-no-a%C3%B1adir-nuevos-nombres-de-violadores-de-derechos,La Decisión de la Administración de no Añadir Nuevos Nombres de Violadores de Derechos Humanos Rusos es un Grave Error y una Concesión Para Vladimir Putin,2013-12-23,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Decisión de la Administración de no Añadir Nuevos Nombres de Violadores de Derechos Humanos Rusos es un Grave Error y una Concesión Para Vladimir Putin “Insto a la Administración a priorizar los derechos humanos no solamente en Rusia, sino en cualquier lugar donde el estado priva a sus ciudadanos de sus libertades básicas y sus derechos humanos.” (WASHINGTON) – La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Presidenta del Subcomité del Medio Oriente y África del Norte, hizo la siguiente declaración sobre reportes que la Administración de Obama no añadirá nuevos nombres a la lista de funcionarios rusos culpables de violar derechos humanos quienes pueden ser sancionados bajo la Ley de Responsabilidad y Estado de Derecho Sergei Magnitsky. Destacó Ros-Lehtinen: “Estoy decepcionada y confundida con la decisión de la Administración, de acuerdo a informes, de no incluir nuevos nombres a la lista de funcionarios rusos culpables de violar derechos humanos quienes pueden ser sancionados bajo la ley norteamericana. Esto es un error grave que representa una concesión para Putin y un golpe decepcionante para los defensores de los derechos humanos en Rusia cuyas libertades democráticas cada vez son más limitadas por el estado policíaco de Putin. “Debemos hacer todo lo posible para proteger los derechos humanos bajo la ‘Ley de Responsabilidad y Estado de Derecho Sergei Magnitsky,’ nombrada por el abogado ruso cuyas valientes investigaciones sobre la corrupción en el gobierno le llevaron a la cárcel donde murió después de haber sido torturado. Debemos urnirnos en solidaridad y apoyar a quienes quiere silenciar el gobierno de Putin. Insto a la Administración a priorizar los derechos humanos no solamente en Rusia, sino en cualquier lugar donde el estado priva a sus ciudadanos de sus libertades básicas y sus derechos humanos.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140220234305/http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6E9A911A-C461-4D91-BCA1-0E09AEDEFF27,A Christmas Message from Steve Southerland,2013-12-23,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Steve Southerland,S001186,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"As we gather with our loved ones and reflect upon our personal blessings this Christmas holiday season, let us be mindful of those who are less fortunate. In reflection of the true Christmas spirit, please join me in reaffirming our commitment to those who are in need in our community and offering a special prayer for them this Christmas. Also as we celebrate and move into the New Year, we must not forget the American heroes who have been separated from their own families as they protect our freedoms overseas. I pray God blesses you with a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Sincerely, Steve Southerland, II",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364938,Bipartisan Budget Agreement,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"Many of you have contacted me through email, letters, Facebook, or by calling my office regarding the bipartisan budget agreement. On December 12, 2013, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan budget agreement reached between Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray by a vote of 332-94. I joined the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee in helping to pass this legislation because it will provide the Department of Defense with more than $30 billion in sequester relief over the next two-year period – allowing them to enhance our defense readiness. However, like any major bill, there were provisions I opposed. Specifically, I opposed the changes in this bill made to the retirement benefits of working-age Military retirees (younger than 62 years old). Unfortunately, amendments to the budget agreement were restricted which is why my colleagues and I immediately joined together following its passage to introduce legislation that would prevent any reductions to COLAs attached to all military retirement payments brought about by the bipartisan budget agreement. I also cosponsored legislation that would exempt all veterans who medically retire, those who receive Combat Related Specialty Compensation (CRSC), and those who receive Concurrent Receipt Pay (CRDP) from any changes brought about by the bipartisan budget agreement. Although I will urge my colleagues to help me pass these measures immediately, the changes included in the bipartisan budget agreement are still delayed from taking effect until January of 2016. That means before these changes are ever implemented, Congress will have significant opportunities to find the savings generated by this provision in other areas of the budget. For instance, there is a Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (http://www.mcrmc.gov/index.php/about) required to report by May 1, 2014. Congress will have an opportunity to use recommendations from this report, or consider policy options of our own, to address the rising costs of Military compensation in alternative ways – over the course of the following two years - before the changes contained in the budget compromise are ever implemented. However, in the end I supported the budget agreement because it was our last chance to prevent the full impact of the national security threatening sequester cuts that would harm our safety and the well-being of our men and women serving in areas of conflict across the globe. It would also reduce the deficit by $23 billion, did not raise taxes, and will help prevent a government shutdown in the future.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-cbp-pilot-program-is-innovative-will-help-grow-south-florida,"Diaz-Balart: CBP Pilot Program is Innovative, Will Help Grow South Florida Economy",2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,,,legacy,"MIAMI, FL — Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), member of the House Committee on Appropriations, released the following statement after the launch of the Reimbursable Services Program by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport. “I am pleased to be part of the launch of CBP’s Reimbursable Services Program. Miami International Airport has a serious understaffing problem, and the airport’s participation in this pilot program will be a step towards helping to fix that. My colleagues and I have been working with Miami-Dade County to support MIA and express the dire need for more staff at the airport. “This partnership will help alleviate the long wait times at MIA. The quicker we can get our international travelers through passport control, the quicker they can get to our hotels, eat at our restaurants, see our attractions, and help pump money and jobs into our local economy. Although it doesn’t solve the entire problem, it is a significant step towards addressing it. I commend CBP and the County for coming together to find a solution that is not only innovative, but will also help grow South Florida’s economy.” This pilot program, the CBP Reimbursable Services Program, was authorized as part of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, which passed Congress in March. Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) Federica Wilson (D-FL) and Congressmen Diaz-Balart and Joe Garcia (D-FL) sent a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano in May supporting the County’s request to participate in this program. See the letter here.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/administration%E2%80%99s-failure-add-new-names-russian-human-rights-violators-grave-mistake,Administration’s Failure to Add New Names of Russian Human Rights Violators is a Grave Mistake and a Concession for Vladimir Putin,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Administration’s Failure to Add New Names of Russian Human Rights Violators is a Grave Mistake and a Concession for Vladimir Putin I urge the Administration to make human rights a priority not only in Russia, but also any place where the state deprives its citizens of their basic freedoms and human rights.” (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement regarding reports that the Obama Administration will not add new names to a list of Russian government officials responsible for human rights violations who can be sanctioned under the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “I’m appalled and confounded by the Obama Administration’s refusal, according to media reports, to add new names to the list of Russian government officials responsible for human rights violations and subject to sanctions under U.S. law. This is a grave mistake that represents a concession to Putin and a disappointing blow for human rights advocates in Russia whose democratic freedoms are increasingly undermined by Putin’s police state. “We must do all we can to protect human rights under the ‘Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act,’ named after the Russian lawyer whose brave investigations into government corruption landed him in a Russian prison where he died after being tortured. We must stand with and support those who would be silenced by Putin’s apparatchik. I urge the Administration to make human rights a priority not only in Russia, but also any place where the state deprives its citizens of their basic freedoms and human rights.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-opposed-ugandan-parliament%E2%80%99s-recent-passage-discriminatory-law,Ros-Lehtinen Opposed to Ugandan Parliament’s Recent Passage of Discriminatory Law,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen Opposed to Ugandan Parliament’s Recent Passage of Discriminatory Law Dec 20, 2013 Ros-Lehtinen Opposed to Ugandan Parliament’s Recent Passage of Discriminatory Law Miami, Florida – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen made the following statement following the passage of the Ugandan parliament’s discriminatory law that unfairly targets Ugandans based on their sexual orientation. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “This is a sad day for human rights around the world. While most nations are moving toward compassion, tolerance, and non-discrimination, Uganda is unfortunately moving backward. All people deserve to live free of harassment and discrimination and should be able to express themselves without fear of persecution. All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect across every country and continent.” #######",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-obama-administrations-hypocrisy-knows-no-bounds,Bilirakis: Obama Administration's Hypocrisy Knows No Bounds,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"The hypocrisy of the Obama Administration knows no bounds, said Bilirakis. By delaying the Individual Mandate under Obamacare for some individuals and not others, the President has once again shown favoritism and unfairness under the law. This is a purely political move that echoes earlier decisions to grant political allies, unions and businesses, but not individuals, a reprieve under the President's own law. This latest delay also reinforces the fundamental problems with Obamacare it is both broken and unworkable, continued Bilirakis. I will continue to advocate for a delay of the Individual Mandatefor all Americans,not just those who have already felt the devastating effects of the President's signature legislation. I will also work with my colleagues to replace Obamacare with commonsense, market-based healthcare reforms that empower families and physicians, not bureaucrats in Washington. On July 2, 2013, the Obama Administration announced it would delay the Obamacare Employer Mandate's reporting requirements and fines until 2015. However, it chose to leave the Individual Mandate a tax requiring all individuals to purchase government-approved healthcare from government-run healthcare exchanges in place. By January 2014, more individuals are expected to have lost their health insurance coverage than have gained it under Obamacare. Yesterday's decision reinforces the reality that, under Obamacare, individuals cannot keep their plans or their doctors, as repeatedly promised. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140220234320/http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=7A228D8D-4D92-460F-912B-CCED0509BBC0,Steve Southerland says he's reaching across party lines,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Steve Southerland,S001186,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Written by Bill Cotterell (Tallahassee Democrat) President Obama’s sputtering national health care plan “looms large” in the 2014 congressional races, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland said Thursday. Southerland, a Panama City Republican targeted by the Democratic Party in his Big Bend district, also said the bad public image of Congress hurts him personally as well as politically. In a wide-ranging interview with the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board on Thursday, Southerland said he has avoided labeling in Washington — even turning down national TV interviews when asked to represent the Tea Party point of view — and has lately started reaching out to liberal Democrats in Congress. “This is a city that’s a mile wide and an inch deep,” Southerland mused. “We run so fast, we run right past each other.” As the GOP point person on food-stamp legislation, Southerland said he failed to even consult Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., the leading House Democrat on the issue. When his daughter pointed out that he and McGovern had not had so much as a phone call, Southerland said he made a point of looking him up on the House floor and arranging a dinner meeting in which they talked mainly about their families and careers — not politics. Similarly, he said, he recently hosted a reception at his Washington apartment for members of the Congressional black caucus — “no staff, no media” — along with a dozen Republicans, just to get acquainted. “In Congress, you will have a government of 535 individuals and probably 15,000 different sets of values,” he said. “The trouble is that all 535 were class presidents. They’ve all been told how smart they are, so they are not good at listening.” Southerland’s bid for a third term in the House has been challenged by Gwen Graham, the daughter of U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, who has been aggressively depicting Southerland as part of the problem with congressional gridlock. He said the low public esteem for Congress is discouraging, but something incumbents just have to run with. “Who doesn’t want to be approved? That’s natural,” said Southerland. The Bay County funeral home owner beat former Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, in 2010 in the Tea Party “wave” election. Boyd had voted against the national health care plan initially in the House, then supported the revised version that came back from the Senate. Southerland has consistently voted with the Republicans who control the House, against the health care plan. The botched rollout of the sign-up system, along with controversy over delays in coverage mandates and some exemptions, has made the health care plan politically painful for Democrats. Obama’s failed promise that citizens could keep their old insurance, and see their current doctors, has driven his approval numbers to record lows in some polls — causing some congressional Democrats to distance themselves. “It looms large,” Southerland said of his race with Graham. “The party that ushered the bill in and the party that fought against it are the parties we belong to.” After the system kicks in next year, he predicted “you’re going start seeing restricted access” to doctors and hospitals, so “I just don’t think that’s going to bode well for those who are speaking for it.” Southerland said 53 percent of Americans in one recent poll favored total repeal of the system. He said Obama has “lost the under-30 voters” who were crucial to his 2008 election. But Republicans have to counter with their own plan, he said. Southerland said health care replacement legislation will be a topic at the GOP congressional retreat next month. “We can’t just fight and say no,” he said. “We’ve got to provide a solution, a positive solution that provides access and is fair.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/fighting-for-florida?ContentRecord_id=5fbd6ac4-601f-4bf2-8c82-8de37d7ee22c,Statement On My Vote For The National Defense Authorizaton Act,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"“I supported and voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) because it’s critical that Congress clearly lay out our national security priorities for the coming year and that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend our nation. I am annoyed that several issues affecting our military and national security interests were left unresolved in this legislation, but I will continue working to address them in 2014.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=c3a79f81-2083-4edb-a8f9-a1ff1297a371,Rubio Introduces Bill Prohibiting Aid To Burma If Human Rights Conditions Fail To Improve,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), joined by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), today introduced The Burma Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2013, a bipartisan measure that would prohibit  U.S. military aid to Burma, except in cases of basic training on human rights and civilian control of the military. The bill offers no waivers and would lift the prohibition only if Burma takes concrete actions to measurably improve human rights conditions, including: establishing civilian oversight of the armed forces, addressing human rights violations by their military and terminating military relations with North Korea. The amendment would also request an annual report on the Administration’s strategy to engage the Burmese military. “For over twenty years, the United States has supported the democratic struggle of the people of Burma, and I believe we should do everything we can to support and strengthen the reform process underway in that country,” said Senator Rubio. “But while the Obama administration has continued to normalize relations, I am concerned about long overdue political and military reforms that are yet to be taken. With this bill, we can ensure that U.S. military assistance is not provided to the Burmese government until meaningful accountability reforms are taken, including the fair and equal treatment of all ethnic groups, addressing human rights abuses committed by the military, and cutting off military relations with North Korea. Until then, this bill would ensure that U.S. military engagement with Burma is strictly limited to promoting respect for human rights and civilian control of the military. With clear expectations and consequences, we can better succeed in our efforts to help the people of Burma in their struggle for political and economic freedom.” The bill’s co-sponsors include Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Bob Corker (R-TN). A PDF of the draft legislation is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364937,Tampa Bay Times: Florida Republicans face Obamacare conundrum: Take the subsidy or not,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tampa Bay Times By Alex Leary Thursday, December 19, 2013 5:58pm WASHINGTON — Rep. Dennis Ross is putting his money where his talk is on Obamacare. The Lakeland Republican has shopped for private insurance rather than participate in the federal health care marketplace, surrendering a generous taxpayer-funded subsidy. His decision underscores the uncomfortable politics that Florida Republican lawmakers, who have steadfastly opposed the law, faced this month. Rep. Steve Southerland, a conservative from Panama City, decided to enroll in the District of Columbia insurance exchange and took the subsidy. Still, he said in a statement, ""my focus remains on replacing this law for all Americans,"" citing a ""disastrous online rollout"" and other problems. Rep. Ted Yoho, a tea party favorite from Gainesville, also enrolled and took the subsidy despite co-sponsoring legislation to eliminate it. Ross and other Republicans argued the subsidy — worth up to 75 percent of monthly premiums — gave members of Congress a special privilege. ""Not accepting the contribution will cost me significantly more money,"" Ross said. ""While a lot of people receive employer contributions, I don't believe that the law was written in a way that included government contributions for members of Congress. If my constituents must suffer through the perils and unintended consequences of the horrible law, then I will be standing there with them doing the same."" The subsidy was long a perk under the previous congressional health care program. But it had become a target in the fight over Obamacare. As the law was being written, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa offered an amendment that pushed lawmakers off their existing plan and into Obamacare. Most lawmakers are electing coverage in the D.C. exchange, which allows them to keep the subsidy. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, is covered through the exchange and taking the subsidy, as is Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Okeechobee, though Rooney's spokesman said he is paying $2,500 more than before. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, enrolled in the exchange and took the subsidy. So did Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, one of Congress' richest members. Rep. Rich Nugent, R-Spring Hill, turned down federal health care benefits when he was elected in 2010 and has kept an unsubsidized plan he had with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Winter Garden, also declined federal health care when he was elected in 2010, purchasing a plan without a taxpayer subsidy. ""I didn't come to Washington for the benefits,"" Webster said. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, who also sponsored legislation to eliminate the subsidy, declined to take one. A spokeswoman, Elizabeth Dillon, did not answer repeated inquiries whether he joined the exchange. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, ""is joining the health exchange, as required by the statue in the Affordable Care Act,"" a spokeswoman said. ""He is taking the same employer contribution that has been provided to him since he was first elected to Congress in 2002. Florida's best-known politician in Washington, Sen. Marco Rubio, enrolled in the federal exchange and took the subsidy. Rubio, a father of four, has taken some heat from all sides but says he was following the law like everyone else. He said he would support legislation to eliminate the subsidy. Some Democrats are dealing with the politics as well. Rep. Patrick Murphy of Jupiter, who barely won election in 2012, enrolled in the federal exchange (he signed up as a Florida resident) but will not get a subsidy. ""He's always been very adamant that Congress should not have any special privileges,"" spokeswoman Erin Moffet Hale said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-feliz-con-la-decisi%C3%B3n-de-la-secci%C3%B3n-de-intereses-de-eeuu-en-la-habana-por,Ros-Lehtinen Feliz con la Decisión de la Sección de Intereses de EEUU en La Habana por Otorgar Visa que Ayudará a Salvar la Vida de Damay,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen Feliz con la Decisión de la Sección de Intereses de EEUU en La Habana por Otorgar Visa que Ayudará a Salvar la Vida de Damay Dec 19, 2013 Ros-Lehtinen Feliz con la Decisión de la Sección de Intereses de EEUU en La Habana por Otorgar Visa que Ayudará a Salvar la Vida de Damay Miami, Florida - La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hizo la siguiente declaración con respecto a la emisión de una visa de no-inmigrante para Alina Ortega.  Ella viajará a los Estados Unidos para donar células madre que salvarán la vida de su hermana , Damay Ortega, residente del distrito congresional 27. Destacó Ros-Lehtinen:  "" Es una alegría la noticia de la aprobación de la visa de no-inmigrante de Alina Ortega . La oportunidad de poder viajar a los Estados Unidos asegurará que Alina podrá donarle a su hermana, Damay Ortega, sus células madre para salvarle la vida. Esta familia tendrá ahora más esperanza en el futuro de poder ver como una esposa, madre y hermana ve a sus hijos crecer y envejecer junto a su esposo.  Mi oficina y yo estamos contentos de haber asistido en la obtención de la visa. Como resultado podrá darle a Damay la habilidad de continuar su camino hacia la recuperación "" . NOTA : La oficina de Ros-Lehtinen contactó la Sección de Intereses de EEUU en La Habana, después de que esta sección le negó la visa no-inmigrante a Alina Ortega.  Esta decisión de la oficina consular fue anulada y se le concedió la visa de no-inmigrante.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140220234322/http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9A98C1E9-CE9A-4984-A93A-12A6935E8FB2,Southerland Fights to Exempt Military Retirees from COLA Cuts,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Steve Southerland,S001186,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, II today joined House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) in introducing legislation to eliminate cuts in the cost-of-living adjustments for military retirees. Southerland supported the Bipartisan Budget Act last week, which reduced the federal deficit by $23 billion and limited the crushing impact of sequestration on our military, but he remained committed to removing the military retiree COLA adjustments included in the legislation before they took effect in 2015. “I voted against sequestration in 2011 because I knew it was wrong for North and Northwest Florida’s military,” Southerland said. “I voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act last week because it lessened the crushing impact of these untargeted, across-the-board cuts on America’s military readiness. That being said, I knew I could not support keeping in place COLA cuts for our military retirees. That’s why I am proud to have joined with Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Miller to ensure the federal government keeps its promises to the veterans who sacrificed so much for our freedoms.” Miller and Southerland introduced two measures: one to eliminate COLA adjustments for all military retirees, and one that focuses specifically on veterans who are medically retired, receiving Combat Related Special Compensation and/or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1ae00fe5-0aa8-47ca-b0c0-3a3c3db67b63,"Rubio, Colleagues Introduce The Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act",2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators call for a final agreement that verifiably results in the termination of Iran’s nuclear weapons program and prevents Iran from achieving a nuclear weapon capability. Washington, D.C. – Joined by 25 Senators, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act, bipartisan legislation proposing prospective sanctions on Iran should the regime violate the interim Joint Plan of Action agreed to in Geneva or should Iran fail to reach a final agreement. The legislation was co-sponsored by 26 senators, including: Senators Rubio, Ayotte, Begich, Blumenthal, Blunt, Cardin, Casey, Collins, Coons, Corker, Cornyn, Cruz, Donnelly, Gillibrand, Graham, Hagan, Johanns, Kirk, Landrieu, McCain, Menendez, Moran, Pryor, Roberts, Schumer and Warner. The prospective sanctions legislation requires further reductions in purchases of Iranian petroleum and applies additional penalties to strategic elements of the Iranian economy, to include the engineering, mining and construction sectors. Simultaneously, it gives the Administration continued flexibility and up to one year from the conclusion of an implementing agreement to pursue a diplomatic track resulting in the complete and verifiable termination of Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program. “As I’ve said before, I believe that the administration’s agreement with Iran makes a nuclear Iran more, not less likely.  However, this bipartisan bill is a first step towards ensuring that there will be serious repercussions for Iran if it violates the agreement made in Geneva or it becomes clear that, as many of us fear, Iran is not serious about fully abandoning its nuclear weapons program,” said Senator Rubio. “Even as I support this bill focused on Iran’s nuclear program, I plan to continue to work with colleagues in Congress next year to find additional ways to ensure that Iran’s continued human rights violations and its sponsorship of terrorism are highlighted and the elements of the Iranian regime responsible are penalized.” “Current sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table and a credible threat of future sanctions will require Iran to cooperate and act in good faith at the negotiating table,” said Senator Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “The Iranians last week blamed the Administration for enforcing sanctions; now, they criticize Congress. The burden rests with Iran to negotiate in good faith and verifiably terminate its nuclear weapons program. Prospective sanctions will influence Iran’s calculus and accelerate that process toward achieving a meaningful diplomatic resolution.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=fbad578d-c7b2-47b1-9af9-6fd1f17d865b,Rubio Comments On New ObamaCare Fire Sale,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement today regarding reports about the Obama administration’s announcement that it will offer hardship exemptions for Americans whose health care plans have been cancelled under ObamaCare: “The Administration is recognizing the grim reality that more Americans have lost health insurance than gained it under ObamaCare. Holding a fire sale of cheap insurance is not a responsible fix for a broken program. This is a slap in the face to the thousands of Americans who have already purchased expensive insurance through the ObamaCare exchanges. ObamaCare as originally conceived is a flawed policy and must be repealed.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364781,Ross Presented Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge to Bartow Constituent,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) presented the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge to Douglas Ackerman this morning. Ackerman served in the Florida Army National Guard and was stationed in Afghanistan as an Embedded Tactical Trainer for the Afghan National Police. Ackerman currently resides in Bartow, Fla. “One of my greatest honors is to help constituents, like Douglas, receive their medals for their service to our country,” said Ross. “We are so thankful for his willingness to serve and are forever indebted to him for his sacrifice.” Background on Bronze Star Medal, per the Department of Defense Manual: The BSM is governed by E.O. 11046 (Reference (n)), which authorizes the Secretary of a Military Department to award the BSM to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364848,WTSP: Retired Florida Army National Guard member receives bronze star,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"Click here to watch the videoWTSP - Submitted by Stefanie Fogel, Online Producer Wednesday, December 18th, 2013, 7:52pm Bartow, Florida -- U.S. Representative Dennis Ross awarded retired Florida Army National Guard member Douglas Ackerman the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge today in Bartow.Ackerman was stationed in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008, where he trained the Afghan National Police. ""The award is nice. It's a nice recognition. And having a thank you from a U.S. Congressman is a big deal,"" Ackerman said. ""But, at the end of the day, you know, when you're doing what you're doing, you're fighting for the guys that are alongside you and have the same beliefs that you have ... that's really what it means."" The award was a long time coming for Ackerman. Five years ago, when he was supposed to be given the badge, he was given a different one instead.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0cd2e601-572c-405c-a521-4efd4797897d,Rubio Discusses How Trade Benefits American Workers,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Marco Rubio Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs Hearing: “Rebalance to Asia IV: Economic Engagement in the Asia-Pacific Region” Washington, D.C. December 18, 2013 VIDEO: http://youtu.be/utihyhZ76P0 … Senator Marco Rubio: “I wanted to explore, first with you Doctor Scissors, this notion of free trade, and in particular, imports. So, I get resistance from people who believe that free trade is a destroyer of American jobs. Now obviously free trade has to be fair. And there are rules that are important because, as you’ve just described, one scenario, not exactly on point, but you described a scenario that’s a one-way street. Our values of openness have allowed the Chinese to invest here. But when we try to reciprocate, there are all kinds of impediments to that. And that’s always been a challenge for us on multiple fronts, including on the trade front. But in specific, on the issue of imports, there’s this idea that imports into the U.S., in and of themselves, destroy American jobs. But in your written statement, you have outlined why, in fact, that is not potentially the case.  That, in fact, there are also jobs created through imports from offloading. Can you just elaborate on that more? Because that’s an issue I get a lot when I go out and talk about the need to expand trade opportunities, not just with Asia, but with the entire world. Can you elaborate a little bit more on the benefits that imports, obviously we want to be able to export too, but the benefits that imports have for American jobs, particularly stable, middle class jobs.” … Rubio: “So just to describe the supply chain for this phone for a second. It says here it was innovated, designed in California, but assembled in China. Somebody built this phone over there, and then they had to ship it here. They had to off-load it at a port of entry. Those are American jobs. Then they had to be transported from the port of entry to a distribution center. Again, another set of American jobs. And then from that distribution center, there were jobs there, they were shipped out to the retailers—another group of American jobs. And then at the retail level there’s somebody selling it—another set of American jobs, at the retail level. And then, whoever buys these things is paying less than they normally would, which means whatever money you’re saving on this — the difference between how much it would have cost to do it somewhere else and do it where it’s happening now, and what you actually pay — that difference, is now available to spend somewhere else because you didn’t spend it on this. Is that an accurate description of how it plays out?” … Rubio: “My guess is that all those jobs down that supply network, that I just described, probably pay better than some of the people that were building this [iPhone].” … Rubio: “Mr. Goodman, in your testimony, you talked about something that I thought was interesting. And that is you said it was until recently popular in Beijing that TPP is part of an effort by Washington to contain China. But in fact, if they decide not to participate in free enterprise, in free commerce, in free navigation, and the benefits of this sort of barrier reductions, that’s a decision they’ve made to contain themselves. Right? My understanding of the region is that most – if not all – of the countries would like stronger integration with China, but on a set of rules based on freedom: freedom of commerce and freedom of navigation, and mutual reciprocity on rules, etc. Not on the set of rules that China would like to impose. So really, to the extent that there is anybody excluding anyone, it’s Chinese policymakers that have decided to potentially exclude themselves from this and other arrangements, because they don’t like the rules. The rules they want are actually much more one-sided to the benefit of China, and the detriment of their neighbors and perhaps the rest of the world.” …",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b77af9bd-508b-4c6c-9d64-c7b1cd5cd3f3,Rubio Hails Senate Progress On Conditioning Aid To Egypt Absent Economic And Democratic Reforms,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today hailed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s passage of legislation to condition aid to Egypt unless that country complies with various conditions to uphold its existing security agreements and protect human rights. “Our foreign policy programs have to advance America’s values as well as our interests, and this action brings us one step closer to ensuring that Egypt does not get a free pass,” said Rubio.  “Encouraging a stable Egypt at peace with its neighbors remains in our national interest, but we cannot look away when we see cases of persecution of religious minorities and women or democratic backsliding.  This bill will help ensure that the assistance we provide to Egypt encourages democratic reforms and that Egypt takes action to address these issues of concern.”  In March, Rubio introduced legislation to block two key forms of U.S. assistance to Egypt unless economic reforms and human rights safeguards are adopted, while also initiating a more thorough, longer term reevaluation of U.S. military and economic assistance to Egypt.  Several measures originally proposed by Rubio were included in the bill that was approved in committee today, including one that would block the disbursement of additional assistance until Egypt begins to enact economic reforms and the Obama administration certifies that Egypt is protecting basic freedoms and human rights, including those of religious minorities and women, who have come under significant pressure during Egypt’s recent political turmoil. ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON TODAY’S COMMITTEE- APPROVED LEGISLATION U.S. assistance to Egypt plays an important role in supporting peace in the region and furthering U.S. strategic objectives.  However, since the revolution in February 2011 that led to the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and even after the July 2013 military takeover, U.S. assistance has not been modified or adapted to the new strategic environment.  Today’s committee-approved legislation will require the administration to submit a strategy to reform U.S. military assistance to Egypt, as well as a comprehensive foreign assistance strategy, with the goal of ensuring that all U.S. assistance to Egypt is being used effectively and is advancing U.S. interests and values. Specifically, it will condition U.S. military assistance to Egypt to ensure that Egypt is: Implementing the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty; Taking necessary and appropriate measures to counter terrorism as well as smuggling into the Gaza strip; Allowing the U.S. armed forces to transit the territory of Egypt; Supporting a transition to civilian government by demonstrating a commitment to, and making progress toward, free, fair and credible elections; Respecting and protecting the political and economic freedoms of all residents of Egypt, including taking measures to address violence against women and religious minorities; Respecting freedom of expression and due process of law, including respecting the rights of women and religious minorities; Abiding by its nuclear non-proliferation commitments as a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). U.S. economic assistance to Egypt will also be conditioned on Egypt: Permitting nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups to operate freely; Demonstrating a commitment to implementing economic reforms. The bill also ensures that as long as Egypt is unable to meet the conditions above, no less than $75 million of previously appropriated U.S. economic support funds will be allocated to democracy and governance programs in Egypt.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364658,"Ross Office to Host Mobile Office Hours Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014",2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross’s (FL-15) staff host mobile office hours across Florida’s 15th Congressional District. These mobile office hours with Rep. Ross’s staff are scheduled to serve as a convenience to constituents in order to assist with federal agencies. Please contact the district office (863-644-8215; 813-752-4790) with any questions. Some of the ways that Ross’s district office can be of assistance: • Senior Citizens: Social Security and disability • Veterans: VA claims and military service problems • Students: financial aid, entrance to U.S. Service Academies • Small Business: SBA loan applications, technical assistance and interpretation of federal regulations • Local Governments: disaster assistance, regulation compliance, and federal grant application problems • Taxpayers: IRS tax problems The times and locations are as follows: Plant City - 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. City Hall 302 W. Reynolds Street Plant City, FL 33563 Brandon - 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Brandon Library 619 Vonderburg Drive Brandon, FL 33511 Temple Terrace – 1– 2 p.m. Temple Terrace City Hall 11250 N. 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617 Lutz - 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Lutz Library 101 W Lutz Lake Fern Road Lutz, FL 33548 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364709,Ross to Present Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge to Bartow Constituent,2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) will present the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge to Douglas Ackerman. Ackerman served in the Florida Army National Guard and was stationed in Afghanistan as an Embedded Tactical Trainer for the Afghan National Police. Ackerman currently resides in Bartow, Fla.It is one of the congressman’s greatest honors to help constituents receive their medals for their service to our country. Background on Bronze Star Medal, per Department of Defense Manual: The BSM is governed by E.O. 11046 (Reference (n)), which authorizes the Secretary of a Military Department to award the BSM to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/al-qaeda-iraq-aqi-was-strengthened-our-troop-withdrawal-and-it-now-severely-threatens,"Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) was Strengthened by Our Troop Withdrawal and It Now Severely Threatens U.S. National Security Interests, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) was Strengthened by Our Troop Withdrawal and It Now Severely Threatens U.S. National Security Interests, Says Ros-Lehtinen   “The Administration’s failure to find a mutually agreeable resolution to extend our presence in Iraq has severely weakened our influence in the country, and left a vacuum that is currently being filled by forces who seek to harm us and our allies.” WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement at a joint Subcommittee hearing entitled: “The Resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq.” Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Well as we know, so much as been going on with the resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Just last month, our Subcommittee on the Middle East on North Africa held a hearing on U.S. policy toward Iraq, as we tried to establish what the Administration’s strategic goals and objectives are in Iraq. And the most common theme, and cause for concern, that came up throughout our hearing was the threat posed by the resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Unfortunately, we have seen in many of our other hearings this year, al-Qaeda is resurgent throughout the Middle East and North Africa, not just in Iraq. The grim reality is that al-Qaeda is on the rise and continues to be a grave threat to U.S. national security – despite the Administration’s assessment that it is on the run. It has now been two years since we withdrew all U.S. forces from Iraq, leaving behind a fragile Iraq that perhaps was not ready to become stable. Since our departure, we have seen a drastic increase in sectarian violence at levels not seen since 2008 – with over 7,000 civilian deaths so far this year. Leaving Iraq with so much uncertainty caused irreparable repercussions to our regional and national security interests – not to mention all of the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform. The Administration’s failure to find a mutually agreeable resolution to extend our presence in Iraq has severely weakened our influence in the country, and left a vacuum that is currently being filled by forces who seek to harm us and our allies. On one side, we see a growing Iranian influence in Iraq, as the regime in Tehran strengthens its ties with the Maliki government. Nowhere is this more evident than with the unwillingness of the Iraqi government to halt the Iranians from using Iraqi airspace to ship Assad and his regime weapons, supplies and even Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, members to fight along Hezbollah and Assad’s forces. On the other hand, we have seen a dangerous rise in extremism as we witness a clear resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, AQI, – also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, ISIS, – and other groups, due to the fact that the Iraqi security forces are struggling to combat these extremists and their government is not willing to be tough on the Iranian regime.   AQI took advantage of the uncertain security situation created by U.S. disengagement in Iraq, and re-emerged stronger and more popular than before the surge. Viewed as a theater of jihad, Iraq, along with Syria, has been among one of the top destinations for foreign fighters who seek to engage in jihad. These foreign fighters pose a serious threat to our national security, that of our regional allies, and beyond, and may soon be able to create a large safe haven that spans from Syria to Iraq due to the instability and lack of security in both countries. Not only do these fighters threaten our European partners – where many of these foreign fighters come to train, to wage jihad and then take what they learn back to their home countries – they also threaten our friends and allies in the region like Israel, Jordan and the UAE; who all fear that the extremists will soon turn their attention toward them. It’s important for the Administration to not lose sight on what is going on in Iraq and the region. Instead, it must strategically implement clear, constructive and goal-oriented policies that are geared toward advancing U.S. national interests in the long run. Thank you Mr. Chairman for the time.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/reps-ros-lehtinen-and-sherman-introduce-bipartisan-bill-strengthen-congressional,Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Sherman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Congressional Oversight Over Nuclear Agreements with Foreign Nations and Add Much Needed Protections Against Nuclear Proliferation,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Sherman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Congressional Oversight Over Nuclear Agreements with Foreign Nations and Add Much Needed Protections Against Nuclear Proliferation (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee for Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, introduced H.R. 3766, which reforms the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide greater Congressional oversight of nuclear agreements with foreign countries and protect against the threat of nuclear proliferation. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “With the current Administration agreeing to an Iranian nuclear deal that is fraught with problems that undermine years of painstaking efforts to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear capacity, it’s more important than ever for Congress to have more oversight over nuclear cooperation agreements with other countries. This is why we are re-introducing legislation to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide greater Congressional oversight of agreements for peaceful nuclear cooperation with foreign countries. The continuing instability in the Middle East and the rising influence of Iran along with its collaboration with other regimes in proliferation activities represent a serious challenge to U.S. national security and the security of allies. Congress must be empowered in its oversight responsibility and this bipartisan bill will help ensure such agreements not only protect our interests, but help guard against the rising threat of nuclear proliferation.” Statement by Sherman: “This legislation will encourage the adoption of strong nonproliferation provisions in our nuclear cooperation agreements and encourage governments to forgo the most dangerous technologies. At the same time, this bill will also encourage the adoption of the liability protections necessary for US companies to compete.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7b442b34-a2eb-43aa-a0f5-dea28e0aac69,"Rubio, Hagan Introduce Legislation To Combat Human Trafficking In Child Welfare Systems",2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Kay Hagan (D-NC) today introduced The Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act, a bill to combat sex and labor trafficking in child welfare systems across the country by providing their employees with tools to identify, document, educate and counsel child victims.  A companion bill, HR 1732, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Thomas Marino (R-PA) and Karen Bass (D-CA). Research suggests that the majority of trafficked youth in the U.S. have been in and out of the child welfare system, specifically foster care. In Florida, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that 70 percent of victims are youth in the foster care system. “Earlier this year, Congress took an important step to combat human trafficking by reauthorizing landmark legislation, but significant gaps remain regarding human trafficking that targets innocents in our child welfare systems,” said Rubio. “While the vast majority of prospective foster and adoptive parents are well intentioned and eager to love these children, sadly, there are those who seek to exploit our children.  For children, adoptions and foster care should be a lifeline to a better future, not a path to hell as trafficking victims.” “North Carolina consistently ranks among the top 10 states for human trafficking, and sadly, many of the victims are children,” said Hagan. “This bill attacks the issue at its core – helping children who are often most at risk by providing child welfare employees with the tools they need to identify and support victims. I am hopeful that by passing this legislation, we can give more children a shot at the safe and healthy childhood they deserve.” This legislation also requires states to report to the Department of Health and Human Services the number of trafficking victims in their child welfare systems as well their current procedures and policies to combat this problem. The bill includes sample protocols and recommended strategies in order to identify trafficking victims and allows for the collection, documentation and data sharing in existing statewide automated child welfare information systems. This bill is supported by the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST), the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Polaris Project and Shared Hope International.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364244,Lakeland Pastor Gave the Opening Prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives Today,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) welcomed Rev. Dr. John B. (Mike) Loudon of First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland to the U.S. House of Representatives to give the opening prayer today. Rep. Ross’s remarks: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. “I rise today in gratitude that my good friend, Pastor Mike Loudon from my home church in Lakeland, Florida could give the opening prayer in the United States House of Representatives. “Pastor Mike, as he is known back home, and his wife Joyce, have lived a life of dedication to their faith and their family. Pastor Mike’s ministry serves as an inspiration to everyone. Truly, he is a great man with a legacy of what counts in life and the life hereafter. “Pastor Mike is a pillar in the Lakeland and Polk County communities. He is active in Rotary Club, and is a strong leader, a man of God, and has a fantastic sense of humor. “Pastor Mike has served churches across the country prior to coming to First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland in 1999. His messages are uplifting, encouraging, and always resonate with me. I am honored to have him as my pastor and as my friend. “I join countless others in expressing a deep thankfulness for his willing spirit to serve and the privilege of having him give the opening prayer today. “With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364339,Ross Hosted Telephone Town Hall Last Night,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) hosted a telephone town hall meeting last night. Almost 5,000 constituents from across Florida’s 15th Congressional District joined the phone conversation.If you have a question or comment for Rep. Ross or are interested in joining a future telephone town hall meeting, please email him at /contact/ or call his district office (863-644-8215; 813-752-4790). “Connecting with Floridians across the 15th District and hearing their concerns and ideas is of utmost importance to me,” said Ross. “Thanks to everyone who participated in last night’s telephone town hall.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364344,Ross Statement on Bipartisan Budget Act,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) issued the following statement in support of H.J. Res. 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013: “While this deal does not include everything I would like it to, it is a step in the right direction and reduces the deficit and does not raise taxes. It helps provide relief for MacDill AFB and other domestic priorities in Central Florida facing across-the-board sequester cuts. “We haven’t passed a budget in five years. We need to stop the destructive cycle of governing crisis-to-crisis and we need to provide certainty to families and businesses across Florida and the country. “Ultimately, we need to make serious changes to the way we spend the taxpayer’s money. This budget is a step toward that goal. I hope that in the coming months the government will adopt a zero-based budgeting system that looks at every department and agency to identify effectiveness and efficiency of all spending items so that we never have to be back at this crisis point."" Background: • H.J. Res. 59 cuts the deficit by $23 billion more than under the current sequester. • The House/Senate Budget agreement reached a compromise halfway between previously proposed House and Senate budget spending levels, setting Fiscal Year 2014 at $1.012 trillion and Fiscal Year 2015 at $1.014 trillion. • House and Senate negotiators were able to provide the $63 billion in spending cut alternatives to sequester, split evenly between defense and non-defense cuts, over the course of two years. • Rep. Ross introduced H.R. 239, the Zero-based Budgeting Ensures Responsible Oversight Act January 2013. This bill requires agency and department managers to justify and approve every line item on their budget each year, rather than just make slight changes to the previous year’s budget. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364349,Ross Statement on Short-Term Extension of Farm Bill,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) issued the below statement on the passage of the short-term extension of H.R. 3695, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill):“This short-term extension of the current farm bill will allow for the negotiations to continue,” said Ross. “It is critical that the conferees come up with a long-term solution to give our farmers, ranchers, and growers certainty.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364370,Ross Expresses Concerns to Treasury Secretary Lew on Effects of Overbearing Insurance Regulations,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ross Expresses Concerns to Treasury Secretary Lew on Effects of Overbearing Insurance Regulations f t # e WASHINGTON, December 12, 2013 U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) questioned Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in the House Financial Services Committee hearing today. Below is his statement on the hearing:“The state of Florida already has a vigorous proven insurance regulatory framework. Today, I was able to discuss with Secretary Lew the necessity of appropriately structuring federal regulations to ensure that additional compliance costs do not result in higher premiums. Policyholders in Florida are already burdened by insurance costs. The full effects of Obamacare will only add to this burden on Floridians. We need to eliminate unnecessary government intrusion in our lives.” ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364371,Lakeland Ledger: Lakeland Pastor Prays Before U.S. House Session,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"Lakeland Ledger Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 2:35 p.m.The Rev. Dr. John B. “Mike” Loudon of First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland gave the opening prayer today before the U.S. House of Representatives session in Washington, D.C. Loudon was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland. Members of Congress are allowed to sponsor a guest chaplain from their district once every two-year term. He has been pastor of First Presbyterian, which is located on Lake Hollingsworth Drive, since 1999. Loudon is a native of western Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Westminster College (PA), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and McCormick Theological Seminary. He prayed for guidance to empower the Congress and the nation to live in balance and conviction and quoted from a prayer by President Harry S. Truman: “Everlasting God help me to be and do what is right…”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-budget-saves-taxpayers-85-billion,Diaz-Balart: Budget Saves Taxpayers $85 Billion,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan budget-conference agreement presented by House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Budget Committee chairman Patty Murray (D-WA). “I’m pleased to have voted for this two-year budget agreement that will help to put our country back on a path to fiscal responsibility. By taking steps to reduce waste and enacting commonsense reforms to entitlement programs, H.J. Res. 59 saves our hardworking taxpayers $85 billion. While it doesn’t completely solve Washington’s out of control spending, this bill reduces the deficit, while sparing Americans from massive tax hikes. “I congratulate Chairman Ryan for once again putting our country first and setting aside political gimmicks to break Washington gridlock.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-calls-on-administration-to-prevent-human-rights-abusers-from,Diaz-Balart Calls on Administration to Prevent Human Rights Abusers from Entering the U.S.,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON D.C. –Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after reports that the pro-Castro band “Arnaldo y su Talismán” would be participating in a “cultural exchange” in the United States. ""According to recent press reports, members of the pro-Castro band ‘Arnaldo y su Talismán’ participated in acts of repression against pro-democracy activists in Cuba on December 10, 2013, International Human Rights Day.  Reports also indicate that these human rights abusers claim they will travel to the United States as part of a ‘cultural exchange.’ “The Obama Administration must not allow these abettors of the murderous Castro dictatorship to enter the United States.  President Obama's own Presidential Proclamation ‘Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Participate in Serious Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Violations and Other Abuses’ of August 4, 2011 prohibits aliens who have committed or assisted in human rights abuses from entering the United States.  I call on President Obama and Secretary Kerry to adhere to their stated principles and refuse to reward regime thugs with the special privilege of U.S. entry."" See the letter here.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/photo-gallery/hearing-us-citizen-pastor-saeed,Hearing on U.S. Citizen Pastor Saeed,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Miami Office 4960 SW 72 Ave, Suite 208 Miami, FL 33155 Phone: (305) 668-2285 Fax: (305) 668-5970 Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00AM-1:00PM & 2:00PM-6:00PM",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/photo-gallery/jay%E2%80%99s-goodbye-lunch,Jay’s Goodbye Lunch,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Miami Office 4960 SW 72 Ave, Suite 208 Miami, FL 33155 Phone: (305) 668-2285 Fax: (305) 668-5970 Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00AM-1:00PM & 2:00PM-6:00PM",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/american-citizen-pastor-saeed%E2%80%99s-unjust-imprisonment-emblematic-abysmal-human-rights,"American Citizen Pastor Saeed’s Unjust Imprisonment is Emblematic of Abysmal Human Rights Record in Iran; The Administration Must Do More to Ensure His Immediate Release, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"American Citizen Pastor Saeed’s Unjust Imprisonment is Emblematic of Abysmal Human Rights Record in Iran; The Administration Must Do More to Ensure His Immediate Release, Says Ros-Lehtinen   “Although we are here to discuss in particular the plight of Pastor Saeed, we must also highlight that there are other Americans languishing in Iran’s prisons or being held captive by the regime, like South Florida resident and constituent of Congressman Ted Deutch – Bob Levinson.”  (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement at a Joint subcommittee hearing with Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Subcommittee, entitled: “Iran’s Persecution of American Pastor Abedini Worsens.” Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “I’d like to thank Mrs. Abedini for joining us today. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and your husband, and we commend you for your determination and perseverance to obtain his release. Last month our Middle East and North Africa subcommittee, and then the full Foreign Affairs committee, unanimously passed H. Res. 147, calling on the Iranian regime to immediately release Pastor Saeed and condemning the regime’s ongoing persecution of religious minorities. This resolution sends a strong message on behalf of Pastor Saeed, his family, and the Iranian people whose human rights suffer under this brutal and this bill states that we stand with them in solidarity and will continue to press for his release, and calls upon the government of Iran to respect the rights of its citizens. Although we are here to discuss in particular the plight of Pastor Saeed, we must also highlight that there are other Americans languishing in Iran’s prisons or being held captive by the regime, like South Florida resident and constituent of Congressman Ted Deutch – Bob Levinson. Last month Bob became the longest-held American hostage in history, now in captivity in Iran for over six years. Earlier this week, I joined as cosponsor of H. Res. 435, introduced by Ranking Member Deutch, which calls for Iran’s cooperation and immediate return of Bob Levinson. So we’re here today because Rouhani’s empty promises aren’t only about Iran’s nuclear program, but about the reforms that he promised which have gone unfulfilled as the regime continues its policy of systematic and widespread suppression of human rights. On the campaign, Rouhani’s charming words indicated that the regime will ease its repression of social freedoms and human rights. However, we must judge this regime not by its words, but by its actions, and in this regard, it has utterly failed. Since Rouhani took office, the rate of executions in Iran has sharply accelerated, with more than 300 executions carried out since August alone. And on September 2012, Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American citizen, was convicted on bogus charges and imprisoned after being accused by the regime of undermining national security. But what were his so-called crimes? Working to establish an orphanage and practicing his Christian faith. He was supporting and ministering to churches in private homes – one of the only places in Iran where Christians and other religious minorities can practice their faith despite the fear of state persecution. In August, Pastor Saeed’s unjust eight-year sentence was upheld, and last month, as we know, he was transferred to a brutal prison reserved for Iran’s most violent criminals, where his life is in constant danger. Sadly, the plight of Pastor Saeed is not an isolated incident, but it’s symptomatic of the Iranian regime’s hostility toward religious minorities. In October, four Iranian Christians were sentenced to 80 lashes for drinking sacramental wine during communion, and this past summer an Iranian Christian convert was sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing Bibles. And it’s not just Christians who are persecuted, but others – including Muslim minorities and reformers – who also suffer for their beliefs. For example, the Baha’i community is systematically targeted and persecuted by the regime, and more than 100 members of this community and its leadership are imprisoned. In fact, under Iranian law, Baha’i members can be killed with impunity. For these flagrant violations, the U.S. has designated Iran as Country of Particular Concern since 1999. A regime that does not respect the fundamental human right of religious freedom – for many persons this is a central aspect of their identity and of their life – is a country that won’t respect other freedoms. We saw this when the regime crushed the freedoms of speech and assembly during the Green Revolution of 2009, when the Administration missed a critical opportunity to express support for the Iranian people. I was a lead sponsor of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act that was signed into law last August, which expanded sanctions related to human rights abuses in Iran, and though the Administration has selectively applied some of these sanctions, more needs to be done. We must enforce all of the sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes on regime officials responsible for committing human rights abuses. If the international community doesn’t hold this regime accountable, no one will. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses how we can help bring Pastor Saeed home, reunite him with his wife and his children, where he belongs.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ayudando-nuestros-ni%C3%B1os-ros-lehtinen-vota-para-aumentar-investigaciones-de-cuidado,"Ayudando a Nuestros Niños, Ros-Lehtinen Vota Para Aumentar Investigaciones de Cuidado Médico Pediátrico",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ayudando a Nuestros Niños, Ros-Lehtinen Vota Para Aumentar Investigaciones de Cuidado Médico Pediátrico “Nuestros niños deben tener acceso a investigaciones médicas de vanguardia. Estoy optimista que este proyecto de ley nos ayudará a tomar pasos para completar investigaciones médicas importantes y obtener tratamientos eficaces para los pacientes.” Miami, Florida – La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen votó para dar fondos federales usados para convenciones de partidos políticos a las investigaciones de cuidado médico pediátrico. El voto de Ros-Lehtinen a favor del proyecto de ley “Gabriella Miller Kids First Research” asegurará que el Instituto Nacional de Salud (conocido por sus siglas en inglés “NIH”) recibirá $126 millones de dólares para investigaciones beneficiando niños con varias enfermedades y establecerá el Fondo de Iniciativas de Investigaciones Pediátricas. La investigación de cualquier padecimiento pediátrico es elegible para estos fondos después de la aprobación de un panel del NIH. Organizaciones como Nacersano (conocido por su nombre en inglés, “March of Dimes”), la Fundación de Leucemia y Linfoma, Habla Autismo, la Coalición para Investigaciones Médicas Pediátricas, y otras organizaciones dedicadas al cuidado médico pediátrico han apoyado este proyecto de ley.  Destacó Ros-Lehtinen: “Proveer fondos adicionales a investigaciones médicas ayudará a poner a los niños afectados con enfermedades en prioridad para tratamiento más eficiente, o, ojala, eventualmente una cura. Debemos continuar trabajando para que nuestros niños puedan tener un futuro lleno de promesas.  Nuestros niños deben tener acceso a investigaciones médicas de vanguardia. Estoy optimista que este proyecto de ley nos ayudará a tomar pasos para completar investigaciones médicas importantes y obtener tratamientos eficaces para los pacientes.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/helping-children-ros-lehtinen-votes-expand-research-pediatric-care,"Helping Children, Ros-Lehtinen Votes to Expand Research for Pediatric Care",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Helping Children, Ros-Lehtinen Votes to Expand Research for Pediatric Care Dec 12, 2013 Helping Children, Ros-Lehtinen Votes to Expand Research for Pediatric Care “Our kids should have access to cutting-edge medical research. I am hopeful that this bill will help us take steps toward completing important medical research and getting effective treatments in the hands of patients.” Miami, Florida – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen voted to divert federal money used for political party conventions to instead increase pediatric medical research. Ros-Lehtinen’s vote for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act ensures that the National Institute of Health (NIH) will receive $126 million for research benefitting children with a variety of diseases and will establish a Pediatric Research Initiative Fund. The study of any pediatric disease is eligible for funding after clearance by an appropriate NIH panel. Organizations such as the March of Dimes, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation, Autism Speaks, the Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research, and other organizations focused on pediatric care have endorsed this bill. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Providing additional funds to medical researchers will help get children affected with diseases on the fast track to more efficient treatment or, hopefully, an eventual cure. We must continue to work so our children can look forward to a future full of promise. Our kids should have access to cutting-edge medical research. I am hopeful that this bill will help us take steps toward completing important medical research and getting effective treatments in the hands of patients.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/yoho-votes-for-bi-partisan-budget,YOHO VOTES FOR BI-PARTISAN BUDGET,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ted Yoho,Y000065,yoho.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Ted S. Yoho voted in favor of the Bipartisan Budget-Conference Agreement that would avoid a government shutdown and provide a stable budgeting process. The agreement would also provide certainty to businesses, families, and the economy. The agreement passed 332-94. After the vote Congressman Yoho said, “The American people are tired of Washington dysfunction. Legislating from crisis to crisis has caused a trillion dollar debt and an acceptance of the status quo. This budget resolution offers a path to reduce the deficit and cut spending in a responsible way. Getting back to a regular budgeting process allows us the opportunity to cut spending and root out wasteful programs. I look forward to breaking through the partisan log-jam and doing what the American people sent us up here to do---bring back the greatness of America. While not a perfect bill, this is an important first step in bringing our nation back from fiscal calamity.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-introduces-legislation-modernize-army-corps-engineers-permitting,Bilirakis Introduces Legislation to Modernize Army Corps of Engineers' Permitting Process,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Clean Water Act (CWA) guide the Corps' actions to protect our nation's waterways, but the permitting process has led to unnecessary and costly delays that do not balance public safety needs against appropriate environmental protections, said Bilirakis. Under current law, lawsuits against critical infrastructure projects can be filed for the cost of a postage stamp. With local governments struggling to allocate scarce taxpayer dollars for badly needed public safety projects, we must ensure the federal government properly balances public safety and environmental concerns. The Public Infrastructure Modernization Act would streamline the application process for CWA permits submitted by local governments for flood control projects and evacuation routes by creating a firm timeframe under which the Corps must complete review of these projects. It would also implement an appeals process when the Agency fails to complete consideration of these projects under the provided timeframe. In addition, it caps mitigation costs to no more than 20 percent of the project's total cost to ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Finally, this legislation does not waive NEPA and protects practical environmental review. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bilirakis-hold-google-hangout-constituents-obamacare,Congressman Bilirakis to Hold Google Hangout with Constituents on Obamacare,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"Media and others interested in watching the Congressman's Google Hangout live, can do so by clicking here. Please contact Sarah Criser, (202) 225-5755, for more information. Details for the event include the following: WHO: Congressman Gus Bilirakis WHAT: Obamacare Google Hangout WHEN: Friday, December 13, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. WHERE:Online MEDIA:For more information, contact Sarah Criser, (202) 225-5755. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140220234327/http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=24B14D9E-2452-45D0-A31E-4C164538EDC0,"Southerland Votes for Budget Agreement that Restores Certainty, Averts Shutdown",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Steve Southerland,S001186,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, II voted today for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, a two-year budget agreement that averts another government shutdown, restores certainty for hardworking families, and reduces the deficit by $23 billion – all without raising taxes. The legislation, which passed the House by a bipartisan 332 – 94 margin, now awaits consideration in the Senate. “The House acted today in a bipartisan fashion to restore the long-term certainty that hardworking families deserve,” said Southerland. “This common sense agreement cuts the federal deficit by $23 billion and strengthens the readiness of our military without increasing taxes. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a win for the American people. And by eliminating the possibility of another government shutdown in January, we are now able to keep our focus where it belongs: on improving conditions for job growth and addressing the crippling impact of the disastrous Obamacare rollout.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140221143531/http://webster.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364367,Webster Opposes Trillion Dollar Budget,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Daniel Webster,W000806,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Webster Opposes Trillion Dollar Budget f t # e Washington, Dec 12, 2013 (Washington, DC) – Representative Daniel Webster (FL-10) issued this statement today following passage of a budget that would set spending levels over $1 trillion for each of the next two years: “The bipartisan effort put into this budget is admirable, but all of the savings come way down the line – in some cases more than 10 years from now – when they are less likely to be fully realized. While imperfect, the agreement signed into law two years ago called ‘sequestration’ is a tool that has held our spending under control as we were supposed to be working towards a larger solution to get us out of the fiscal ditch we have dug for the next generation. “The simple fact is that our government spends too much. Our country remains in a crisis of excessive spending, and we cannot return to this path of trillion dollar budgets.” ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=23da544a-0f94-4ce2-81b7-7a59fbf75163,"ICYMI: Rubio Opposes Budget Deal On “The Kelly File""",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Rubio: “The fundamental problem that we have here is that we have a government that continues to spend more money than it takes in.” Senator Marco Rubio FOX News’ “The Kelly File” December 11, 2013 http://youtu.be/6AA-kaUMywo … Senator Marco Rubio: Unfortunately the budget, what it does is it increases spending by about $60 billion over the next two years. Going above this cap, that by the way Congress imposed on itself, meaning these caps now that they passed in Washington, are meaningless because they come back a year later and go over them. But here’s the problem: It raises it by $60 billion, the spending, but it pays it over ten years. Well, you know how that works. Over the next couple years they’ll forget it, and they will keep borrowing more. The fundamental problem that we have here is that we have a government that continues to spend more money than it takes in. It’s doing so at an alarming pace and our children are going to have to pay for this. Not just our children, many of the people that are around today are going to have to pay. We are going to have a debt crisis in this country. It is going to continue to destroy jobs. It’s going to disrupt the function of our government. It’s going to threaten our national security. When are we going to get serious about dealing with this once and for all? …",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5fbd5c4b-e0f8-42e6-9f3a-5b63e871002d,ICYMI: Rubio: Budget Deal Fails To Stop Washington Spending Problems,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Budget Deal Fails To Stop Washington Spending Problems By Senator Marco Rubio Breitbart December 11, 2013 http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/12/11/Budget-Deal-Fails-to-Stop-Washington-Spending-Problems Throughout our history, America has been a place where if you work hard and play by the rules, you can go as far as your God-given talents will take you. Those sacrifices help pave the way for your children and grandchildren to go even further. This is the American Dream as we know it. It’s not an abstract goal, but an achievable way of life that is ours to protect and pass on to future generations. Many Americans today are deeply worried that all this is changing for good – but not in a good way. This concern stems from the belief that the American Dream is slipping away and, with it, the chance to give our children and grandchildren a shot at an even better life. Especially over the last five years, we have been told that a bigger and more powerful federal government is the way to fix this. But it has not. Instead, it has left us with a $17 trillion national debt and 20 million people out of work. It has left us with taxes that are too high and regulations that are too complicated. And it has left us with a government too broken to function and families that are falling apart because our government undermines the values of hard work, discipline, honesty and self-control. We should never accept this as the new normal. We can reverse the insecurity, the lack of opportunity and the anxiety about the future. We can restore the American Dream. Of course, these worries won’t disappear overnight, with one speech or with one budget. But every day is filled with new opportunities to take some steps in the right direction. Unfortunately, the House-Senate budget deal announced this week fails to take any meaningful steps to achieve a government with less debt and an economy with more good paying jobs. Not achieving these goals means it will continue to be harder for more Americans to achieve the American Dream. This budget continues Washington’s irresponsible budgeting decisions by spending more money than the government takes in and placing additional financial burdens on everyday Americans. These burdens primarily come in the form of higher taxes disguised as fee increases, particularly on air travelers. Although user fees must sometimes be reevaluated to help pay for the rising costs of providing a government service, this budget deal’s fee increases are simply designed to generate more revenues for government and to pay for unrelated increased spending on government programs. In the short run, this budget also cancels earlier spending reductions that came about through the so-called sequester of 2011 in exchange for future promises of other spending reductions many years from now. In other words, we have a government that’s $17 trillion in debt, which had to borrow an additional $680 billion this year to fund its annual deficit, yet this budget deal actually increases spending by $63 billion over the next two years, supposedly for spending cuts to be named later. … Keep reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/est%C3%A9s-en-la-lista-buena-o-mala-papa-noel-no-te-traer%C3%A1-ayuda-con-problemas-federales,"Estés En La Lista Buena o Mala, Papa Noel No Te Traerá Ayuda Con Problemas Federales. Visita a La Asistenta Congresional De Ileana Para Resolver Cualquier Pregunta Federal Que Tengas Antes Del Apuro De Los Días De Fiesta!",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Estés En La Lista Buena o Mala, Papa Noel No Te Traerá Ayuda Con Problemas Federales. Visita a La Asistenta Congresional De Ileana Para Resolver Cualquier Pregunta Federal Que Tengas Antes Del Apuro De Los Días De Fiesta! “No importa en cual de las listas de Papa Noel te encuentres, él no te traerá ayuda con problemas federales este año. Por favor visita a mi asistenta, Lourdes, antes del apuro de los dias de fiesta!” Miami, Florida – Si eres un residente del distrito Congresional 27 y resides en el area de Miami Springs o Cutler Bay, por favor pasa por el ayuntamiento y permite que la asistente Congresional de Ileana, Lourdes Ruiz, te ayude con cualquier problema relacionado a una agencia federal. Lourdes estará en el ayuntamiento de Miami Springs, 201 Westward Drive en Miami Springs el martes, 17 de diciembre de 10am a 3pm y en el ayuntamiento de Cutler Bay, 10720 Caribbean Blvd en Cutler Bay el jueves, 19 de diciembre. Cualquier residente del distrito Congresional 27 con problemas como inmigración, asuntos de veteranos, Seguro Social, Medicare, vivienda, nominaciones a las Academias Militares, visitas al Capitolio en DC, y cualquier otro tema federal puede ir a ver a Lourdes para ayuda.   Martes 17 de diciembre: El Ayuntamiento de Miami Springs 201 Westward Drive Miami Springs, FL 33166 (Okeechobee Road y Westward Dive) De las 10am hasta las 3pm Jueves 19 de diciembre: El Ayuntamiento de Cutler Bay 10720 Caribbean Blvd Cutler Bay, FL 33189 (US 1 and Caribbean Boulevard) De las 10am hasta las 1pm Puede contactar a Lourdes Ruiz a su celular al (305) 934-9441, vía su correo electrónico a Lourdes.Ruiz@mail.house.gov o llamando a la oficina Congresional al (305) 668-2285.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/karzai%E2%80%99s-playing-dangerous-game-threatens-undermine-stability-afghanistan-ahead-us,"Karzai’s Playing a Dangerous Game, Threatens to Undermine Stability of Afghanistan Ahead of U.S. Drawdown, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement at a Full Committee hearing entitled: “Afghanistan 2014: Year of Transition.” Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “As Chair of the subcommittee of jurisdiction over Afghanistan, and together with Chairman Chabot and the Asia and Pacific subcommittee, we held two hearings this year that examined this very issue: the transition in Afghanistan and the way forward for the U.S., Afghanistan and Pakistan. I also led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Kabul this past Memorial Day weekend with my wonderful colleagues Mr. Kennedy and Dr. Bera, and we had the honor to meet with our brave men and women who serve our country in Afghanistan – both as Armed Services and State Department personnel – and they do a tremendous job day in and day out. While in Afghanistan we had an opportunity to speak with Mr. Karzai, and you never know what you’re going get. From our conversation, it seemed like he was pretty optimistic about the final bilateral security agreement and was looking forward to its completion. Now, however, Karzai is balking at signing the bilateral security agreement  - which his grand council endorsed - and, as recently as this past weekend,  lashed out at the U.S. and accused us of threatening him. I’m extremely concerned that these latest developments will damage our national security interests in the region, further destabilize the region, and Karzai’s flirting with Iran is quite dangerous for our national security interests so we remain perplexed and concerned. *** In our delegation we raised concerns about his neighbor the Iranian regime and the threat that poses to our interests in the region. Mr. Kennedy and Dr. Bera will probably agree with me that he dismissed the threat that Iran poses, but Pakistan, that’s the real threat to stability for Afghanistan, he said. So it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that this past weekend, Karzai and the leader of Iran, Rouhani, announced the agreement of a long-term strategic pact that ranges from political cooperation to economic and security partnerships, once again undermining and jeopardizing the U.S.-Afghanistan relationship. What is Karzai’s calculus here – is he trying to hedge his bets by cozying up to Iran and being outwardly defiant to the U.S.? What is his thinking? While in Afghanistan, and during our hearings, I also expressed my concerns about the status of our counternarcotics operations in a post drawdown Afghanistan. We were told that due to the lack of personnel, these U.S.-led counternarcotics operations will be severely limited in scope, and the latest numbers indicate that this was a record year for poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. I believe this issue of counter narcotics operations is not getting the attention it rightly deserves considering that terrorist activities are typically funded through narcotics. If we can’t conduct the kind of operations needed to reduce the poppy production and we don’t have enough manpower now to combat this issue, what are we going to do next year and post-2014 to stop the illicit drug trade that generates over 100 million dollars a year for terrorist groups? I’ve been concerned that we are allowing the post-2014 residual force size to be decided politically and that it is purely numbers driven, rather than focused on the task and what is needed, what is the mission that still needs to be done in Afghanistan. Mr. Dumont, you testify that it is a significant accomplishment that, since taking the lead, the Afghans have been increasingly able to maintain the gains made by U.S. and coalition forces: That may be true now, but what about in the post withdrawal Afghanistan when they won’t have quite a robust international force in support, or possibly with no U.S. presence at all if the President goes with the zero option – when the extremists no longer see us as an impediment to their goals and come at the Afghan forces in full force – will they be able to sustain those gains? When do you predict that the White House in coordination with the State Department will decide on the troop level number?” NOTE: This is an edited version that combines Chairman Ros-Lehtinen’s statement and questions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/whether-you%E2%80%99re-nice-or-naughty-list-santa-won%E2%80%99t-bring-you-help-federal-issues-visit,"Whether You’re on the Nice or Naughty List, Santa Won’t Bring You Help with Federal Issues. Visit Ileana’s Congressional Aide to Resolve Any Federal Questions You May Have Before the Holiday Rush!",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Whether You’re on the Nice or Naughty List, Santa Won’t Bring You Help with Federal Issues. Visit Ileana’s Congressional Aide to Resolve Any Federal Questions You May Have Before the Holiday Rush! “No matter which one of Santa’s lists you’re on, he won’t be bringing help with federal issues this year. Please visit my aide, Lourdes, before the holiday rush!” Miami, Florida – If you are a resident of the 27th Congressional District and happen to be around the areas of Miami Springs or Cutler Bay, please stop by city hall and allow Ileana's Congressional Aide, Lourdes Ruiz, to help you with any problem related to a federal agency. Lourdes will be at Miami Springs City Hall, 201 Westward Drive in Miami Springs on Tuesday, December 17th from 10am – 3pm and at Cutler Bay Town Hall, 10720 Caribbean Blvd in Cutler Bay on Thursday, December 19th from 10am – 3pm.  Any resident of the 27th Congressional District with issues concerning Social Security, immigration, Medicare, housing, Veteran’s Administration, U.S. Academy nominations, tours of the U.S. Capitol, or any other federal agency or topic should come see Lourdes as she visits their neighborhood for guidance on these topics. Tuesday, December 17th, Lourdes will be at: Miami Springs City Hall 201 Westward Drive Miami Springs, FL 33166 (Okeechobee Road and Westward Dive) From 10am to 3pm Thursday, December 19th, Lourdes will be at: Cutler Bay Town Hall 10720 Caribbean Blvd Cutler Bay, FL 33189 (US 1 and Caribbean Boulevard) From 10am to 1pm Lourdes Ruiz can be reached via her cell at (305) 934-9441, via email at lourdes.ruiz@mail.house.gov or by calling the Miami Congressional office at (305) 668-2285.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-simpson-and-weatherford-help-families-put-food-table-during-holidays,"Bilirakis, Simpson and Weatherford to Help Families Put Food on the Table During the Holidays",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"During the holidays, there are many families throughout the Tampa Bay area who may need a little extra help getting food on the table, said Bilirakis. Florida is blessed to have an abundant agricultural industry, and I am honored to be able to work with Farm Share to get this nutritious, healthy food into the hands of families who need it most. All needy families are welcome to attend. Media should contact Sarah Criser, (202) 225-5755, to RSVP and for more information. Details for the event include the following: WHO: Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Senator Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Will Weatherford WHAT: Farm Share Holiday Giveaway WHEN: Saturday, December 14 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. WHERE: Dade City Business Center 15000 Citrus Country Drive Dade City, FL 33523 Directions MEDIA: Media should RSVP to Sarah Criser, (202) 225-5755 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/sebelius-unable-provide-cost-estimate-obamacares-risk-corridors,Sebelius Unable to Provide Cost Estimate for Obamacare's Risk Corridors,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"The tab for Obamacare's risk corridors will ultimately be passed down to U.S. taxpayers, Bilirakis said. It is unacceptable for the Administration to promulgate a rule without knowing the cost that will result. Furthermore, it's irresponsible to put taxpayers on the hook for insurance company losses in the Exchange. To view the Congressman's exchange with Secretary Sebelius, watch the video below. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://desantis.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B22490BB-04C7-4A3E-8C2B-4F6AA203637D,DeSantis and Salmon on President Obama's Handshake with Castro,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ron DeSantis,D000621,desantis.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON””Chairman Matt Salmon (AZ-05) of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06), Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, issued the following statements regarding President Obama–s and President Castro–s public handshake in South Africa: “The excitement exhibited in some liberal quarters regarding the embrace of Raul Castro by President Obama ignores the millions of victims of the totalitarian Castro regime. I urge the President to secure the release of American Alan Gross from Castro–s prisons. The Cuban people have been denied liberty for more than 50 years and U.S. policy must be geared toward the establishment of a free and democratic Cuba.”?””Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06), Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere “President Obama's handshake with Cuban dictator, Raul Castro, represents the first time in over 13 years a U.S. President has publically greeted a dictator of Cuba. It was an insult to the people of Cuba who are denied liberty and oppressed daily by the Cuban dictator. The White House claiming that the handshake was not planned further demonstrates the Administration's lack of a coherent and focused foreign policy. America has always been the beacon of hope for people who live under oppressive regimes, and the oppressed have always looked to the President of the United States to advocate for their freedom around the world. President Obama failed the people of Cuba with this very public handshake.”?””Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3124ed1c-779b-46a2-9c64-0519587d354d,Obama Administration Official: Iran Wants Sanctions Relief In Exchange For No Irreversible Measures To Its Nuclear Program,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – During today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) questioned Obama Administration official Puneet Talwar on the secret negotiations conducted between the U.S. and the Iranian regime earlier this year. Mr. Talwar has been nominated to be Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs. Prior to his nomination, he has served the past four years on the National Security Staff as one of President Obama’s key Iran advisors. During the course of the exchange, Talwar validated Rubio’s belief that the Iranian regime is solely driven by its desire for sanctions relief in exchange for making no irreversible changes to its nuclear weapons program. In addition, Talwar admitted that the Iranian regime’s abysmal human rights and ongoing support for terrorism were completely ignored during the course of secret negotiations between the Obama Administration and the Iranian regime. He also confirmed that the cases of American citizens being unjustly jailed by the regime, including Floridian Robert Levinson and Pastor Saeed Abedini, have been raised during the administration’s interactions with Iran. The exchange is available on YouTube here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3fc8a373-135d-41f7-902c-ebbc89b44e3a,Rubio: Budget Deal Threatens To Open Spending Floodgates,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Rubio: “We need a government that creates less debt. We need an economy that’s creating more stable, middle-class jobs. And there are government policies that will further that. This budget does not do that.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio “The Mike Huckabee Show” December 11, 2013 Interview: http://youtu.be/Mbqxw1JREQM … Senator Marco Rubio: “This country has a very fundamental problem, where a growing number of Americans do not feel like they’re getting a chance to get ahead. And even the people who have gotten ahead and are living the American Dream are worried that their children will not get that chance. We need to respond to that. We need a government that creates less debt. We need an economy that’s creating more stable, middle-class jobs. And there are government policies that will further that. This budget does not do that. It has no long-term plan in place to deal with the very serious debt problem that threatens our future. And that’s my problem. It’s not just this budget – it’s this lack of long-term thinking around here. There are no long-term solutions apparently possible in Washington, and we are running out of time. That’s why I’ve become opposed to the deal they’ve come up with.” … Rubio: “I don’t think the sequester was the best way to reduce spending, but it’s certainly a lot better than continuing to let the debt grow or raise taxes. That was part of a budget agreement that was reached two years ago. We’re basically now walking away from that as a result of this. So I think we could have created more flexibility for the military to spend the money that it has. I think we could have looked for ways to perhaps replace the sequester on the military with some other cuts somewhere else because I think national security is important. But I think to walk away from the already agreed upon reductions in spending that were so difficult to achieve, I think opens the floodgates that really threaten to put us right back in these spending habits and really, we’re going to continue to have a government that spends more money than it takes in.” …",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/al-reconocer-el-d%C3%ADa-internacional-de-los-derechos-humanos-no-debemos-olvidar-que-11,"Al Reconocer el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, No Debemos Olvidar Que 11 Millones de Cubanos No Tienen Sus Derechos o Libertades Bajo El Régimen Castrista Dice Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Al Reconocer el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, No Debemos Olvidar Que 11 Millones de Cubanos No Tienen Sus Derechos o Libertades Bajo El Régimen Castrista Dice Ros-Lehtinen “Es nuestra obligación moral condenar a los violadores de los derechos humanos y defender los principios que protegen y garantizan la igualdad de oportunidades y las libertades fundamentales básicas para todos.” (WASHINGTON) – Reconociendo el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, la Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Presidenta del Subcomité del Medio Oriente y África del Norte, hizo la siguiente declaración mientas que activistas pacifistas a favor de la democracia como Las Damas de Blanco continúan enfrentando la represión brutal del régimen castrista. Destacó Ros-Lehtinen: ""Al conmemorar el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos y la aprobación de la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, debemos recordar que a millones de personas alrededor del mundo los regímenes represivos les siguen negando sus derechos humanos fundamentales. Es nuestra obligación moral condenar a los violadores de los derechos humanos y defender los principios que protegen y garantizan la igualdad de oportunidades y las libertades fundamentales básicas para todos. Además, debemos ser la voz de los que viven bajo regímenes represivos y no dar por sentado las libertades que apreciamos en los Estados Unidos. ""En mi tierra natal de Cuba, no hay derechos humanos. El domingo pasado marcó otro día que las pacíficas Damas de Blanco - madres, hermanas y tías de prisioneros detenidos injustamente - fueron puestos bajo arresto domiciliario y detenidas simplemente por marchar a la iglesia para orar por sus seres queridos. Hoy de nuevo caminaron y trataron de celebrar una ceremonia para conmemorar este día tan importante y para convocar por una Cuba libre, y ellas continúan de inspirar a otros que anhelan la libertad y la democracia.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ayudando-nuestros-veteranos-ros-lehtinen-apoya-proyectos-de-ley-que-mejorar%C3%A1n-la,"Ayudando a Nuestros Veteranos, Ros-Lehtinen Apoya Proyectos de Ley Que Mejorarán La Calidad de Vida de Nuestros Patriotas",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ayudando a Nuestros Veteranos, Ros-Lehtinen Apoya Proyectos de Ley Que Mejorarán La Calidad de Vida de Nuestros Patriotas “Estos hombres y mujeres lo han dado todo luchando por nuestro país y merecen nuestra eterna gratitud. Nuestros veteranos ameritan acceso a un cuidado de salud de calidad y la habilidad de una vida productiva después de su servicio a nuestra nación.” Miami, Florida – La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen anunció su apoyo a dos proyectos de ley que ayudarán a mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestros veteranos:  el proyecto de ley “Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013” permitirá alquileres de facilidades médicas en más lugares por todos los Estados Unidos para que nuestros veteranos tengan un mayor acceso al cuidado de salud; y el proyecto de ley “VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013” que dará asistencia mensual a veteranos entrenando para el equipo Paralímpico. Estos proyectos de ley asegurarán que nuestros veteranos, quienes merecen nuestro mayor respeto por sus sacrificios, puedan tener una vida productiva y tener acceso a facilidades médicas.                Dexter, el esposo de Ros-Lehtinen, es un veterano de combate en Vietnam quien voluntariamente sirvió; también su hijastro, Doug, y su nuera, Lindsay, sirvieron nuestro país como oficiales en la Marina de los Estados Unidos en Irak. Lindsay también sirvió en Afganistán.            Destacó Ros-Lehtinen: “Cuando se trata de nuestros veteranos, quienes han dado tanto para preservar nuestra libertad, expandiendo oportunidades para su cuidado  médico y su participación en nuestra comunidad deben ser prioridades continuas para nosotros. Estos hombres y mujeres lo han dado todo luchando por nuestro país y merecen nuestra eterna gratitud. Nuestros veteranos ameritan acceso a un cuidado de salud de calidad y la habilidad de una vida productiva después de su servicio a nuestra nación.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/championing-our-veterans-ros-lehtinen-supports-bills-will-help-improve-patriots%E2%80%99,"Championing Our Veterans, Ros-Lehtinen Supports Bills That Will Help Improve Patriots’ Quality of Life",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Championing Our Veterans, Ros-Lehtinen Supports Bills That Will Help Improve Patriots’ Quality of Life “These men and women have given their all to fight for our country and merit our enduring gratitude. Our veterans deserve access to quality care and the ability to live a full life after their service to our nation.” Miami, Florida – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen announced her support of two bills that work to help improve our veterans’ quality of life: the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013 would allow leases of medical facilities in more locations throughout the United States so veterans can have expanded access to care; and the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013 which would give monthly assistance to veterans training for the Paralympic Team. These bills aim to ensure our veterans, who deserve our respect for their sacrifices, are able to live their lives to the fullest and have access to medical facilities. Ros-Lehtinen’s husband, Dexter, is a Vietnam combat veteran who volunteered to serve, and her step-son, Doug, and daughter-in-law, Lindsay, served our country as officers in the US Marine Corps in Iraq. Lindsay also served in Afghanistan. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “When it concerns our veterans, who have given so much to preserve our freedom, expanding opportunities for medical care and involvement with the community should be continuous priorities for us all. These men and women have given their all to fight for our country and merit our enduring gratitude. Our veterans deserve access to quality care and the ability to live a full life after their service to our nation.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-secretary-kerry-iran-nuclear-deal-bad-deal-will-be-death-knell-sanctions,"Ros-Lehtinen to Secretary Kerry: This Iran Nuclear Deal is a Bad Deal; Will be the Death Knell of Sanctions Program and Threatens our Friends and Closest Ally, the Democratic Jewish State of Israel",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen to Secretary Kerry: This Iran Nuclear Deal is a Bad Deal; Will be the Death Knell of Sanctions Program and Threatens our Friends and Closest Ally, the Democratic Jewish State of Israel (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement at a Full Committee hearing where Secretary of State John Kerry testified on the Iran nuclear deal. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Mr. Secretary, you stated on 60 Minutes that on a nuclear deal with Iran, a bad deal is worse than no deal. Well, this deal is a bad deal. I believe that the concessions offered to Iran will be the death knell on the sanctions program as we know it. This threatens our allies, it threatens our closest ally, the democratic Jewish State of Israel. Isn’t it true that the fissile material is just one aspect, but then there is the weaponization to consider and also ballistic missiles? This Iran deal does not address these and Iran has announced a significant advancement on its ballistic missile program. Why was it decided to leave these aspects of Iran’s nuclear weapons program unaddressed in the agreement? I oppose the Administration’s acceptance of Iran’s illegitimate claim to a right to enrich uranium – Iran says that this deal does give it that right. I expect the Iranian regime to welcome in the entire international community to show that it has not violated its terms of the deal and both the Administration and the media will be effusive in their praise of Iran’s fulfillment of the deal. But we set the bar so low that Iran will probably comply, and we must not be fooled by that approach as Iran can start up the centrifuges and it will be too late to stop them. How long would it take for Iran to enrich uranium from 3.5% to 90% with its current nuclear infrastructure with the advanced centrifuges? I’ve worked, as you know, over the years to help create the Iran sanctions program that we have in place, I was the author of several Iran sanctions bills that have become law, including the toughest set of sanctions currently on the books. And it’s discouraging that many countries are now eager to do business with Iran, to get Iranian gas, and we will not be able to stop this cash infusion and get sanctions back to their current levels. Now, Jay Carney suggested that if pursuing a diplomatic resolution in Iran is disallowed or ruled out, then we’d be faced with no other option than war to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. This is a false binary choice – it’s one or the other; we’ve been increasing sanctions on the Iranian regime for a decade. Do you agree with this characterization, and do you believe that those of us in Congress who oppose this deal and seek an increase in sanctions to force Iran to give up its enrichment program – it’s not to force Iran to negotiate, it’s to force Iran to give up its enrichment program – that we are warmongers?”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-secretary-kerry-when-leader-free-world-shakes-bloody-hand-ruthless,"Ros-Lehtinen to Secretary Kerry: When the Leader of the Free World Shakes the Bloody Hand of a Ruthless Dictator Like Raul Castro, it Becomes a Propaganda Coup for the Tyrant",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen to Secretary Kerry: When the Leader of the Free World Shakes the Bloody Hand of a Ruthless Dictator Like Raul Castro, it Becomes a Propaganda Coup for the Tyrant (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement at a Full Committee hearing where Secretary of State John Kerry testified. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “And Mr. Secretary, sometimes a handshake is just a handshake. But when the leader of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless dictator like Raul Castro, it becomes a propaganda coup for the tyrant. Raul Castro uses that hand to sign the orders to repress and jail democracy advocates. In fact, right now, as we speak, Cuban opposition leaders are being detained and they’re beaten while trying to commemorate today, which is International Human Rights Day. They will feel disheartened when they see these photos.  Could you please tell the Cuban people living under that repressive regime that, a handshake notwithstanding, the U.S. policy toward the cruel and sadistic Cuban dictatorship has not weakened? Thank you.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/success-egypt%E2%80%99s-democratic-transition-depends-respect-human-rights-upholding-rule-law,"The Success of Egypt’s Democratic Transition Depends on Respect for Human Rights, Upholding Rule of Law, and Protecting Civil Society, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Success of Egypt’s Democratic Transition Depends on Respect for Human Rights, Upholding Rule of Law, and Protecting Civil Society, Says Ros-Lehtinen “The path to democracy is a difficult one, but it would be a tremendous accomplishment if the people of Egypt can implement the democratic reforms they have called for and realize a free and functioning civil society.” (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement at a Joint Subcommittee hearing entitled: “Human Rights Abuses in Egypt.” Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Thank you very much Mr. Smith, thank you for your leadership throughout the years on any issue related to human rights and thank you for shedding some light on this terrible human rights abuse that is going on in Egypt. It is an honor to hold this hearing with you, thank you sir. During the Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood-led era, we witnessed a steady increase in human rights abuses perpetrated by the Islamist government as Morsi began to solidify his power and crack down on fundamental freedoms of Egyptians. There was a precipitous increase in the arrests of journalists, a widespread crackdown on opposition demonstrators, wanton disrespect for the rule of law, and an overall deteriorating state of human rights throughout Egypt. Then, this past July, the people of Egypt grew tired of Morsi’s oppressive regime and its blatant disregard for human rights and again took to the streets en masse. Since Morsi’s removal from power, Muslim Brotherhood supporters have terrorized the Egyptian people with violent protests, and the end result has left hundreds killed and many more injured. The Egyptian military has responded in kind, and the interim authorities have moved to initiate restrictive assembly laws. And though the military has taken some steps to keep Egypt safe and secure – such as conducting operations against al-Qaeda in the lawless Sinai – the general security situation, restrictions on civil society and a lack of the rule of law and respect for human rights demonstrate that Egypt still has a long way to go toward creating a truly democratic society. While Egypt’s interim government has said that it is protecting religious minorities, we still see attacks against Coptic Christian community all the time. Though the government may not outwardly incite these attacks, it fails to provide the adequate protections to prevent them from happening. Christians have seen a drastic increase of attacks against them as they have been scapegoated by Morsi supporters. Horrifying reports of attacks against Christian communities, and of young Christian girls being abducted and forced into marriage with radical Islamists, depict the grim reality that Christians are currently facing in Egypt. But Christians aren’t the only groups that continue to suffer; Other religious minorities, such as Jews, Baha'is, Sufi Muslims, Shiites, and others have been targeted by extremists, and women’s rights are woefully inadequate. While the latest draft constitution in theory has provided more rights, in practice it is so left open to interpretation, thus not necessarily affording any more rights to those groups who need protection the most. The committee tasked with drawing up this new constitution was not truly representative of the interests of all Egyptians – of the fifty members, only five were women and only four were Coptic Christians. It is the duty of the interim government to help shepherd Egypt toward a new dawn of democracy. In order for Egypt to return to the path toward democracy, the new constitution must protect the rights of women and religious and ethnic minorities, everyone’s human rights must be recognized, and the political party process must be allowed to take root with free, fair and transparent elections. I hope that the new draft constitution will be implemented in a way that adequately addresses these concerns and is not just simply a document that can be thrown out at a moment’s notice – the ideals enshrined in this document must be the bedrock foundation that can inspire a country that is in danger of losing its way. A successful democratic transition in Egypt can only occur once those protections are respected, are solidified and enforced. In addition, Egyptian authorities must pardon the 43 NGO workers - many of whom are American citizens - who were unjustly convicted and sentenced earlier this year, and allow the NGOs to operate without fear of government reprisals as they help to support civil society. The path to democracy is a difficult one, but it would be a tremendous accomplishment if the people of Egypt can implement the democratic reforms they have called for and realize a free and functioning civil society. Without a strong basis in democracy, any elections will fail to achieve the democratic results we all hope and pray to see in Egypt. And I thank the Chairman, again, for the joint hearing.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/we-recognize-international-human-rights-day-we-must-not-forget-11-million-cubans-have,"As We Recognize International Human Rights Day, We Must Not Forget That 11 Million Cubans Have No Rights or Freedoms Under the Castro Regime, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"As We Recognize International Human Rights Day, We Must Not Forget That 11 Million Cubans Have No Rights or Freedoms Under the Castro Regime, Says Ros-Lehtinen “It’s our moral obligation to condemn violators of human rights and defend principles that protect and ensure equal opportunity and basic fundamental freedoms for all.” (WASHINGTON) – In recognition of International Human Rights Day, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement as peaceful pro-democracy advocates including the Ladies in White continue to face brutal repression by the Castro regime. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “As we mark International Human Rights Day and commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we must remember that millions around the world continue to be denied freedom and liberty by repressive regimes. It’s our moral obligation to condemn violators of human rights and defend principles that protect and ensure equal opportunity and basic fundamental freedoms for all. In addition, we must be a voice for those living under repressive regimes and not take for granted the freedoms that we cherish in the United States. “In my native land of Cuba, there are no human rights. This past Sunday marked another day that the peaceful Ladies in White – mothers, sisters and aunts of unjustly held prisoners – were put under house arrest and detained simply for marching to church to pray for their loved ones. Today they again walked and tried to hold a ceremony to mark this important day and to call for a free Cuba, and they continue to inspire others who yearn for freedom and democracy.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-applauds-houses-passage-legislation-consolidating-va-clinics-pasco,Bilirakis Applauds House's Passage of Legislation Consolidating VA Clinics in Pasco County,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today's vote is a win for all veterans, especially those living in and around the Tampa Bay area, said Bilirakis. This legislation will not only increase veterans' access to quality care, but also make it more convenient for veterans to receive the care they need. In Pasco County alone, this bill will enable the five existing clinics that are strained and spread out across the Tampa Bay area to consolidate into a convenient, one-stop facility that will serve all veterans' medical needs. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take swift action in passing H.R. 3521 and for the President to sign this legislation into law, so the VA can continue to provide quality care to our veterans. H.R. 3521 provides the necessary technical authorization the VA lacked to carry out certain medical facility leases and consolidations. To watch the Congressman's statement in support of the legislation on the House Floor, watch the video below. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-discusses-importance-protecting-coptic-christians-persecution-egypt,Bilirakis Discusses Importance of Protecting Coptic Christians from Persecution in Egypt,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"Bilirakis, who is a member of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, has been a strong advocate of religious freedom for all faiths throughout his tenure in Congress. In recent years, he has led multiple efforts to prevent the Egyptian military from using U.S. taxpayer dollars to persecute and attack thousands of Coptic Christians and other religious minorities. To view his opening statement and questions for the panelists, including Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, watch the video below. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-discusses-importance-protecting-coptic-christians-persecution-egypt-0,Bilirakis Discusses Importance of Protecting Coptic Christians from Persecution in Egypt,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"Bilirakis, who is a member of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, has been a strong advocate of religious freedom for all faiths throughout his tenure in Congress. In recent years, he has led multiple efforts to prevent the Egyptian military from using U.S. taxpayer dollars to persecute and attack thousands of Coptic Christians and other religious minorities. To view his opening statement and questions for the panelists, including Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, watch the video below. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1648d927-4a35-4fbd-9e9e-89d3e2d67631,Rubio Opposes House-Senate Budget Deal,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement today announcing his opposition to the House-Senate budget deal: “We need a government with less debt and an economy with more good paying jobs, and this budget fails to accomplish both goals, making it harder for more Americans to achieve the American Dream. Instead, this budget continues Washington’s irresponsible budgeting decisions by spending more money than the government takes in and placing additional financial burdens on everyday Americans. “In the short run, this budget also cancels earlier spending reductions, instead of making some tough decisions about how to tackle our long-term fiscal challenges caused by runaway Washington spending. I voted against sequestration because of its effect on key programs, including the defense budget, but higher spending and more revenue are not the appropriate ways to address that problem. “The American people should not be asked to choose between a strong military and responsible budgets that encourage job creation and reduce debt. They deserve better than this.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b42f5f33-5c4d-41a9-a621-91ed4db7e10a,Rubio Comments On Reauthorization Of The Undetectable Firearms Act,2013-12-09,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding The Undetectable Firearms Act, which cleared the U.S. Senate tonight and was passed last week by the U.S. House of Representatives: “I supported reauthorizing the existing common sense law banning undetectable firearms, which are intended to avoid metal detectors and jeopardize public safety. I am glad gun control groups failed in their attempts to use this vote as an opportunity to further regulate the lawful ownership of firearms, a right protected by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. “I continue to believe that the answer to gun-related violence is vigorous enforcement of existing criminal laws and enhanced efforts to address mental health problems. This is not the first time we’ve seen gun control advocates seize any opportunity to advance federal regulations, but I will continue to fight for the rights of law-abiding Americans to bear arms.” Additional Background: The Undetectable Firearms Act bans the manufacture, possession and sale of firearms that can't be detected by metal detectors and requires handguns to be manufactured in the shape of a gun so they can be screened on X-ray machines. It was originally enacted in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan and has been reauthorized under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The law was set to expire on December 9.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e598fdc8-bc4b-4eb5-a420-bbf5b2a7ec2a,Rubio Statement On WTO Trade Agreement,2013-12-07,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the agreement at the World Trade Organization’s trade negotiations in Bali: “The successful WTO negotiations in Bali mark an important first step towards reducing global trade barriers in the 21st century. American entrepreneurs and workers can compete with anyone on a level economic playing field. Expanding free and fair trade is a national imperative that will create job opportunities for our own people and help others around the world rely less on foreign assistance and benefit more from the free enterprise system. “While this successful global trade deal is a step in the right direction, we should also continue pursuing regional and bilateral trade agreements – such as the TPP with Asia and Latin America and the TTIP with Europe – that hold enormous economic promise and where overcoming some of the tougher trade obstacles are more realistic in the shorter term. “While overall the WTO agreement is welcome news, I am concerned that U.S. officials reportedly met with Cuban representatives in Bali to discuss the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba. There should be no question that the U.S. will not end the trade embargo until the Castro regime releases its political prisoners and holds free and fair elections.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2a0c3174-7288-4a51-9f4f-c84cfddc277a,Rubio Welcomes USS New York To Mayport,2013-12-06,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio today welcomed the arrival of the USS New York to Naval Station Mayport. This marks the first ship to be relocated to Mayport as part of the new Amphibious Ready Group being stationed in Florida under the direction of the U.S. Navy. In heralding the ship’s arrival, Rubio issued the following statement: “In Florida, we are blessed to have several military communities throughout our state. I am excited about the USS New York’s arrival and welcome its crew members and their families to Jacksonville’s military family. “Our state and nation are grateful for their service and sacrifices, and now we are proud to call them our neighbors. We are also humbled to now be the home port of a ship built after 9/11 with remnants of the World Trade Center. “Mayport is a crown jewel of our Navy and a key part of our national security infrastructure. The on-time relocation of the USS New York from Norfolk is a critical step toward the strategic dispersal of our naval fleet, and I will continue working to ensure the two remaining ships that will comprise the Amphibious Ready Group eventually arrive on schedule as well.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=64db33df-5f52-452c-ad97-1f55c81698f7,"ICYMI: Rubio: D.C. Dysfunction Hurting Military, Veterans",2013-12-06,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"D.C. dysfunction hurting military, veterans By Senator Marco Rubio The Tampa Tribune December 6, 2013 http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-commentary/marco-rubio-washington-dysfunction-getting-in-way-of-military-veterans-20131206/ When the Senate reconvenes next week, its dysfunction will again be on display as it considers the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), major legislation that spells out our priorities for most national security and military matters. Given the complexity of our military and the myriad security challenges we face, this should be an opportunity to have robust debates on a wide range of issues. In the past, this has normally been the case, but there is nothing normal about today’s dysfunctional Senate. In this case, the Senate’s Democratic majority leadership is drastically limiting debate and amendment opportunities on the NDAA, except for a few hand-picked issues. In the real world, this means that many worthy ideas with bipartisan — in some cases almost universal — support won’t ever see the light of day. For example, I’ve joined one Democratic colleague, Jon Tester from Montana, in an effort to raise the salaries of active duty military personnel by 1.8 percent. In its current form, the NDAA includes President Obama’s original budget request for a 1.0 percent increase — even though a 2004 law requires that this year’s increase be 1.8 percent. During this time of record debt, we believe doing right by our service members, their families and existing law is our duty to them; therefore, we’ve offered a spending offset that prioritizes this pay increase. Unfortunately, even with broad bipartisan support, the Senate’s Democratic leadership has decided to block any consideration of this measure, short changing our troops in the process. Another example of how Washington’s dysfunction stands in the way of helping our military and veterans is evident in a measure I’m pursuing with Elizabeth Warren, one of my Democratic colleagues from Massachusetts. We’ve proposed stronger financial protections for veterans being targeted by scams in the Department of Veterans Administration’s Aid and Assistance Benefit, which helps pay for assisted living or in-home personal care for eligible veterans. Our legislation directs the VA to work with other federal agencies and states to crack down on scam artists who are exploiting our elderly veterans by charging unnecessary fees for this benefit and sometimes taking control of veterans’ assets. … Keep reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363600,Lakeland Pastor to Give Opening Prayer in U.S. House of Representatives Next Week,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) announced that the Rev. Dr. John B. (Mike) Loudon of First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland will give the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. “Pastor Mike is a great man,” said Ross. “His life and dedication to his faith, his family, and his community serve as an inspiration to everyone. I’m looking forward to him giving the opening prayer in the House next week.” Background: Here is an archive of past opening prayers: http://chaplain.house.gov/archive/ ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/photo-gallery/meeting-miami-chamber-commerce-0,Meeting with the Miami Chamber of Commerce,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Miami Office 4960 SW 72 Ave, Suite 208 Miami, FL 33155 Phone: (305) 668-2285 Fax: (305) 668-5970 Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00AM-1:00PM & 2:00PM-6:00PM",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-decepcionada-de-que-santos-inste-los-estados-unidos-dar-concesiones-al,Ros-Lehtinen Decepcionada de Que Santos Inste a los Estados Unidos a Dar Concesiones al Régimen Brutal Castrista,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen Decepcionada de Que Santos Inste a los Estados Unidos a Dar Concesiones al Régimen Brutal Castrista “En vez de que los E.E.U.U. suavice nuestra política hacia Cuba, deben ser los Castro quienes tienen que dejar de oprimir al pueblo cubano.” (WASHINGTON) – La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Presidenta del Subcomité del Medio Oriente y África del Norte, hizo la siguiente declaración referente a la recomendación del Presidente Colombiano Juan Manuel Santos que los E.E.U.U. cambie la política hacia el régimen castrista. Destacó Ros-Lehtinen: “Siempre he sido una amiga del pueblo colombiano y encabecé el esfuerzo para aprobar el Acuerdo de Libre Comercio entre los Estados Unidos y Colombia y el Plan Colombia para ayudar a este aliado importante a combatir el terrorismo y luchar contra el narcotráfico. Sin embargo, estoy decepcionada que ahora el Presidente Santos está sugiriendo a nuestra nación a cambiar su política hacia el régimen castrista, diciendo que debemos ser ‘más comprensivos’ y hacer ‘algún tipo de concesión.’ Es equivocado creer que Cuba, un estado designado patrocinador del terrorismo y firme apoyador de las FARC, será un intermediario honesto para estas supuestas charlas de paz. “En vez de que los E.E.U.U. suavice nuestra política hacia Cuba, deben ser los Castro quienes tienen que dejar de oprimir al pueblo cubano. El régimen es una dictadura de sangre fría que está comprometida a mantener control total contra los deseos democráticos de 11 millones de cubanos e intenta distraer a la comunidad internacional del hecho de que el acoso, los golpes, y las detenciones injustas contra defensores democráticos han intensificado en los últimos años. “El Presidente Santos debe condenar las tácticas abusivas del régimen castrista, unirse en solidaridad con la oposición valiente cubana que anhela libertad, y no apoyar a la dictadura castrista en sus intentos de sacar más concesiones de la Administración de Obama.”   #######",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-disappointed-santos-calling-us-concessions-brutal-castro-regime,Ros-Lehtinen Disappointed that Santos is Calling for U.S. Concessions to the Brutal Castro Regime,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen Disappointed that Santos is Calling for U.S. Concessions to the Brutal Castro Regime “Instead of the U.S. softening its policy toward Cuba, it should be the Castro brothers who must end their oppression of the Cuban people.” (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement regarding the recommendation made by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to have the U.S. change its policy toward the Castro regime. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “I’ve always been a friend of the people of Colombia and led the effort to pass the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement and Plan Colombia to help this important ally combat terrorism and fight narco-trafficking. However, I’m disappointed that now President Santos is suggesting that the U.S. change its policy toward the Castro regime, saying that the U.S. needs to be ‘more understanding’ and that it should make ‘some type of concession.’ It’s foolish to believe that Cuba, a U.S.-designated State Sponsor of Terrorism and a staunch supporter of the FARC, will be an honest broker for these so-called peace negotiations between Colombia and the FARC.   “Instead of the U.S. softening its policy toward Cuba, it should be the Castro brothers who must end their oppression of the Cuban people. The Castro regime is a cold-blooded dictatorship committed to maintaining absolute control against the democratic aspirations of 11 million Cubans and it seeks to distract the international community from the fact that harassment, beatings and unjust detentions against pro-democracy advocates have intensified in recent years. “President Santos should condemn the abusive tactics of the Castro regime, stand in solidarity with the brave Cuban opposition yearning for freedom, and not support the Castro dictatorship in its attempt to obtain even more concessions from the Obama Administration.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/trabajando-favor-de-peque%C3%B1os-negocios-ros-lehtinen-apoya-proyectos-de-ley-para,"Trabajando a Favor De Pequeños Negocios, Ros-Lehtinen Apoya Proyectos de Ley Para Promover Nuestra Economía Más Competitiva",2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Trabajando a Favor De Pequeños Negocios, Ros-Lehtinen Apoya Proyectos de Ley Para Promover Nuestra Economía Más Competitiva Dec 5, 2013 Trabajando a Favor De Pequeños Negocios, Ros-Lehtinen Apoya Proyectos de Ley Para Promover Nuestra Economía Más Competitiva “La economía del Sur de la Florida es dinámica y está inclinada hacia el futuro. Estoy orgullosa de apoyar legislación que ayudará a crear empleos y facilitar para nuestra comunidad la innovación.” Miami, Florida – La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen anunció su apoyo a dos proyectos de ley que trabajarán para ayudar los pequeños negocios: el proyecto de ley “Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation” que quitará regulaciones sobre ciertas firmas financieras para dar acceso a capital para pequeños negocios; y el proyecto de ley de Innovacion que hará reformas de sentido común a reglas legales referentes al litigio sobre patentes y la habilidad de demandar para un reclamo de infringir la patente y prevenir litigios frívolos.   Los dos proyectos de ley harán menos costoso y más eficiente efectuar negocio en el mundo globalizado de hoy. Declaración de Ros-Lehtinen: “Mientras trabajamos para recuperarnos del descenso económico, un sector privado ágil está siendo más y más necesario para nuestra salud financiera. La economía del Sur de la Florida es dinámica y está inclinada hacia el futuro.  Estoy orgullosa de apoyar esta legislación que ayudará a crear empleos y facilitará para nuestra comunidad la innovación.” #######",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/working-help-south-florida-small-businesses-ros-lehtinen-supports-bills-make-our,"Working to Help South Florida Small Businesses, Ros-Lehtinen Supports Bills To Make Our Economy More Competitive",2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Working to Help South Florida Small Businesses, Ros-Lehtinen Supports Bills To Make Our Economy More Competitive  “South Florida’s economy is dynamic and forward-looking. I’m proud to support legislation that will help create jobs and make it easier for our community to innovate.” Miami, Florida – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen announced her support of two bills that work to help small businesses: ·         the Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act would cut regulations on certain financial firms in order to streamline small business’ access to capital; and ·         the Innovation Act that makes commonsense reforms to the legal standards concerning patent litigation and the ability to sue for patent infringement in order to prevent frivolous lawsuits.   Both bills aim to make it less costly and more efficient to do business in today’s globalized world. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “As we work to recover from the economic downturn, a nimble private sector is becoming more and more necessary to our overall financial well-being. South Florida’s economy is dynamic and forward-looking. I’m proud to support legislation that will help create jobs and make it easier for our community to innovate.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/yoho-statement-on-the-passing-of-nelson-mandela,YOHO STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF NELSON MANDELA,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ted Yoho,Y000065,yoho.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Ted S. Yoho issued the following statement on the death of Nelson Mandela. ""I join the rest of the world in offering my condolences to the family of Nelson Mandela. He fought against apartheid and strove for liberty, which cost him 27 years of his freedom and life. He spent 27 years in prison fighting for justice. May his soul rest in peace as he is truly free now. The world is a better place for having him in it.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/yoho-votes-against-overly-broad-patent-legislation,YOHO VOTES AGAINST OVERLY BROAD PATENT LEGISLATION,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ted Yoho,Y000065,yoho.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Yoho voted against H.R. 3309, patent legislation that would have harmful effects on universities and make it harder for entrepreneurs to compete.    After the vote Congressman Yoho said, “I’ve heard from constituents from all over the District who are not in favor of this legislation. Getting rid of patent trolls is a noble goal and absolutely needed, however, this legislation is overly broad and would make it harder for independent inventors, universities, and entrepreneurs to compete. We need to unleash innovation in this country, not stifle it. The Constitution very clearly tasks the Federal government with the duty of protecting inventors and ensuring they have the exclusive right to their discoveries. Unfortunately, this legislation would harm the very inventors it intends to protect. ”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=416c36e6-b611-4fe7-a64c-2e184dee0a77,Rubio Comments On Passing Of Nelson Mandela,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio today issued the following statement regarding the death of Nelson Mandela: “The world has lost one of history’s most important figures, though Nelson Mandela’s example will live on for generations to come. Men and women striving for justice and fairness around the world have drawn inspiration from Nelson Mandela, and he showed South Africans and the entire world what the power of forgiveness truly means and can accomplish. My wife Jeanette and I send our condolences to the Mandela family and to the people of South Africa.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=c86281a0-f8de-4512-beb3-9311fa699953,Rubio Joins Colleagues In Opposing Chinese Actions In East China Sea,2013-12-05,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Corker (R-TN) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today united in opposition to China’s recent establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over areas of the East China Sea. In a letter to China’s ambassador to the U.S., the senators condemned the move for violating the sovereignty of territories claimed by Japan and South Korea, while also threatening to destabilize the entire region. “We are deeply concerned about your government’s recent unilateral announcement of the establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ),” the senators wrote. “We view this unilateral action as an ill-conceived attempt to alter the status quo, increasing the possibility of misunderstanding or miscalculation.     “We urge your government not to implement this ADIZ as announced, and to refrain from taking similar provocative actions elsewhere in the region,” they added. ”There is nothing for China to gain by undermining regional stability and threatening the peace and prosperity that is the shared objective of all Asia-Pacific nations.” A PDF of the letter can be accessed here, and the full text of the letter is below: December 5, 2013 The Honorable Cui Tiankai Embassy of the People’s Republic of China 3505 International Place NW Washington, D.C. 20008 Dear Ambassador Cui: We are deeply concerned about your government’s recent unilateral announcement of the establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).  The declaration of this ADIZ is provocative both because it extends over East China Sea territories recognized by the United States as under the administrative control of Japan and overlaps with both the Japanese and Republic of Korea’s ADIZs, and also because the procedures for enforcement of the ADIZ, as announced, are potentially dangerous and undermine regional peace and stability. We view this unilateral action as an ill-conceived attempt to alter the status quo, increasing the possibility of misunderstanding or miscalculation. Moreover, this declaration reinforces the perception that China prefers coercion over rule of law mechanisms to address territorial, sovereignty or jurisdictional issues in the Asia-Pacific.  It also follows a disturbing trend of increasingly hostile Chinese maritime activities, including repeated incursions by Chinese vessels into the waters and airspace of Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and others in the East and South China Seas.  These actions threaten freedom of air and maritime navigation, which are vital national interests of the United States. In addition, we want to stress that China’s declaration of an ADIZ over areas of the East China Sea does not alter the U.S. acknowledgement of Japan’s administrative control over the Senkaku Islands or affect U.S. security commitments to Japan, Korea, and other allies in the Asia-Pacific. We urge your government not to implement this ADIZ as announced, and to refrain from taking similar provocative actions elsewhere in the region.  There is nothing for China to gain by undermining regional stability and threatening the peace and prosperity that is the shared objective of all Asia-Pacific nations.  We also strongly encourage your government to engage in diplomatic dialogue to address any territorial, sovereignty or jurisdictional issues in the South and East China Seas. Sincerely, Robert Menendez Bob Corker Benjamin L. Cardin Marco Rubio",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/don%E2%80%99t-let-your-federal-issues-get-cold-frosty-snowman-visit-ileana%E2%80%99s-congressional,"Don’t Let Your Federal Issues Get Cold Like Frosty the Snowman, Visit Ileana’s Congressional Aide to Resolve Any Federal Questions You May Have Before the Holiday Crunch",2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Don’t Let Your Federal Issues Get Cold Like Frosty the Snowman, Visit Ileana’s Congressional Aide to Resolve Any Federal Questions You May Have Before the Holiday Crunch “Letting your pending federal issues freeze over won’t help you enjoy the holidays. Go see Lourdes to ensure you don’t worry about federal questions in these hectic weeks.” Miami, Florida – If you are a resident of the 27th Congressional District and happen to be around the areas of Miami Springs, Hialeah, or Cutler Bay, please stop by city hall and allow Ileana's Congressional Aide, Lourdes Ruiz, to help you with any problem related to a federal agency. Lourdes will be at Miami Springs City Hall, 201 Westward Drive in Miami Springs on Tuesday, December 10th from 10am – 3pm, at Hialeah City Hall, 501 Palm Avenue from 10am – 3pm on Wednesday, December 11th and at Cutler Bay Town Hall, 10720 Caribbean Blvd in Cutler Bay on Thursday, December 12th from 10am – 3pm.  Any resident of the 27th Congressional District with issues concerning Social Security, immigration, Medicare, housing, Veteran’s Administration, U.S. Academy nominations, tours of the U.S. Capitol, or any other federal agency or topic should come see Lourdes as she visits their neighborhood for guidance on these topics. Tuesday, December 10th, Lourdes will be at: Miami Springs City Hall 201 Westward Drive Miami Springs, FL 33166 (Okeechobee Road and Westward Dive) From 10am to 3pm Wednesday, December 11th, Lourdes will be at: Hialeah City Hall 501 Palm Avenue Hialeah, FL 33010 From 10am to 3pm Thursday, December 12th, Lourdes will be at: Cutler Bay Town Hall 10720 Caribbean Blvd Cutler Bay, FL 33189 (US 1 and Caribbean Boulevard) From 10am to 3pm Lourdes Ruiz can be reached via her cell at (305) 934-9441, via email at lourdes.ruiz@mail.house.gov or by calling the Miami Congressional office at (305) 668-2285.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/no-dejes-que-tus-problemas-federales-se-enfr%C3%ADen-como-un-hombre-de-nieve-visita-la,No Dejes Que Tus Problemas Federales Se Enfríen Como Un Hombre De Nieve. Visita a La Asistente De Ileana Para Resolver Cualquier Pregunta Federal Antes De Los Días Feriados,2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"No Dejes Que Tus Problemas Federales Se Enfríen Como Un Hombre De Nieve. Visita a La Asistente De Ileana Para Resolver Cualquier Pregunta Federal Antes De Los Días Feriados “Dejar que sus pendientes preguntas federales se congelen no te deja disfrutar los días feriados. Visita a Lourdes para evitar que te preocupes por problemas federales en estas semanas ocupadas.”  Miami, Florida – Si eres un residente del distrito Congresional 27 y resides en el area de Miami Springs, Hialeah, o Cutler Bay, por favor pasa por el ayuntamiento y permite que la asistente Congresional de Ileana, Lourdes Ruiz, te ayude con cualquier problema relacionado a una agencia federal. Lourdes estará en el ayuntamiento de Miami Springs, 201 Westward Drive en Miami Springs el martes, 10 de diciembre de 10am a 3pm, en el ayuntamiento de Hialeah, 501 Palm Avenue de 10am a 3pm el miércoles, 11 de diciembre y en el ayuntamiento de Cutler Bay, 10720 Caribbean Blvd en Cutler Bay el jueves, 12 de diciembre. Cualquier residente del distrito Congresional 27 con problemas como inmigración, asuntos de veteranos, Seguro Social, Medicare, vivienda, nominaciones a las Academias Militares, visitas al Capitolio en DC, y cualquier otro tema federal puede ir a ver a Lourdes para ayuda. Martes 10 de diciembre: El Ayuntamiento de Miami Springs 201 Westward Drive Miami Springs, FL 33166 (Okeechobee Road y Westward Dive) De las 10am hasta las 3pm Miercoles 11 de diciembre: El Ayuntamiento de Hialeah 501 Palm Avenue Hialeah, FL 33010 De las 10am hasta las 3pm Jueves 12 de diciembre: El Ayuntamiento de Cutler Bay 10720 Caribbean Blvd Cutler Bay, FL 33189 (US 1 and Caribbean Boulevard) De las 10am hasta las 3pm Puede contactar a Lourdes Ruiz a su celular al (305) 934-9441, vía su correo electrónico a Lourdes.Ruiz@mail.house.gov o llamando a la oficina Congresional al (305) 668-2285.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-le-recuerda-los-surfloridanos-que-s%C3%B3lo-quedan-unos-d%C3%ADas-m%C3%A1s-para-aplicar,Ros-Lehtinen Le Recuerda a Los Surfloridanos Que Sólo Quedan Unos Días Más Para Aplicar a Cambiar Su Estado Migratorio Bajo La Ley “HELP Haiti”,2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen Le Recuerda a Los Surfloridanos Que Sólo Quedan Unos Días Más Para Aplicar a Cambiar Su Estado Migratorio Bajo La Ley “HELP Haiti” Dec 4, 2013 Ros-Lehtinen Le Recuerda a Los Surfloridanos Que Sólo Quedan Unos Días Más Para Aplicar a Cambiar Su Estado Migratorio Bajo La Ley “HELP Haiti” “Cualquier residente del sur de la Florida que tiene dudas debe preguntar inmediatamente porque sólo faltan días para el cierre de este beneficio.” Miami, Florida – La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen le recuerda a los residentes del sur de la Florida que cualquier persona de origen haitiano que llegó a los Estados Unidos como huérfano bajo el programa especial de estadía humanitaria después del terremoto en Haití de 2010 debe contactar al Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos antes o en este lunes que viene, 9 de diciembre de 2013 para asegurar que tiene el estado legal correcto. Personas que permanecen físicamente presentes pueden presentar una aplicación para cambiar su estado legal contactando al Centro Nacional de Beneficios al 877-424-8374 y hablando con un oficial. Declaración de Ros-Lehtinen: “Este es un tiempo crucial para cualquier persona en los Estados Unidos bajo la ley ‘HELP Haiti.’ Aunque algunos piensan que su beneficio es permanente, la ley sólo dura por un tiempo limitado. Cualquier residente del sur de la Florida que tiene dudas debe preguntar inmediatamente porque sólo faltan días para el cierre de este beneficio.” NOTA: Para más información sobre elegibilidad bajo la ley “HELP Haiti,” por favor visite a  https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/other-ways-get-green-card/green-card-through-help-haiti-act-2010.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/ros-lehtinen-reminds-south-floridians-there-are-only-few-days-left-apply-change-their,Ros-Lehtinen Reminds South Floridians That There Are Only a Few Days Left to Apply to Change Their Immigration Status Under the HELP Haiti Act,2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ros-Lehtinen Reminds South Floridians That There Are Only a Few Days Left to Apply to Change Their Immigration Status Under the HELP Haiti Act Dec 4, 2013 Ros-Lehtinen Reminds South Floridians That There Are Only a Few Days Left to Apply to Change Their Immigration Status Under the HELP Haiti Act “Any South Floridian who has questions should inquire immediately as this benefit’s deadline is only a few days away.” Miami, Florida – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is reminding South Floridians that any person of Haitian origin who arrived in the United States as an orphan under the special humanitarian parole program following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti should contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on or before this coming Monday, December 9, 2013 to ensure they have the correct legal status. Individuals who remain physically present may file an application to change their status by contacting the National Benefits Center at 877-424-8374 and speaking to a case officer. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “This is a crucial time for anyone in the United States who arrived as an orphan under the HELP Haiti Act. While some assume their benefit is permanent, the law is of a limited duration only. Any South Floridian who has questions should inquire immediately as this benefit’s deadline is only a few days away.” NOTE: For more information on eligibility under the HELP Haiti Act, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/other-ways-get-green-card/green-card-through-help-haiti-act-2010.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/us-must-remain-engaged-tunisia-and-support-its-transition-toward-democracy-stable,"The U.S. Must Remain Engaged in Tunisia and Support its Transition Toward Democracy; A Stable, Secure and Democratic Tunisia is in the Best Interests of U.S. National Security, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement at a Subcommittee hearing entitled: “Transition at a Crossroads: Tunisia Three Years After the Revolution.” Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Three years ago this month, the self-immolation of a Tunisian street vendor would set in motion a series of events that would fundamentally change the political landscape of the entire Middle East and North Africa region – a period we now call the Arab Spring. Finally fed up with autocratic rule, with corruption, with a lack of basic freedoms, thousands of Tunisians took to the streets calling for democratic and social reforms and an end to the maligned twenty-three year rule of their leader. But though there has been some significant progress made since his ouster, there is still much that needs to be done to meet the goals and aspirations of the Tunisian people who began this process, as I said, three years ago. By most accounts, the Tunisians had a successful National Constituent Assembly election in October 2011, which brought a party into power together with the Tunisian two leading secularist parties.  However, the newly formed government quickly ran into obstacles that it could not overcome and Tunisia’s transition came to a grinding halt this summer when a prominent secular party member was assassinated. The assassination eventually led to the formation of a National Dialogue process to jump start the reconciliation process, to select a caretaker government, and get Tunisia back on track for a new round of elections. But the National Dialogue has been met with its own set of obstacles and the negotiations over who will be the caretaker Prime Minister has caused an impasse. Now, as the political process has paused and the future of the constitution and elections are in question, Tunisia finds itself at a crossroads as frustrations begin to set in and the rift between the secular and the Islamist ideologues continues to grow as both sides battle for legitimacy. Compounding these political problems are the economic and security challenges facing Tunisia as all three are undeniably linked and all three face an uphill battle. However, one of the most pressing issues from a U.S. perspective is the threat of Islamic extremism in Tunisia. Foreign fighters and home grown extremists have challenged the stability of Tunisia, and while the Tunisian security forces have thus far been able to combat al Qaeda (AQIM) and its affiliates, these terrorist networks continue to pose a threat to Tunisia and to the region. Tunisia’s border with Algeria is known to be a training area for the terrorist groups, and the insecure border with Libya is a major area for concern as it is vulnerable to smugglers and others who wish to cross into Tunisia undetected. Terrorist attacks like the one on the U.S. embassy in September 2012 as well as the assassination of two prominent secular politicians threaten to derail the political process. With Tunisia being the birthplace of the Arab Spring, we must continue to support the democratic aspirations in the hope that it can come through this transition successfully. For better or worse, the fate of Tunisia is tied to the reform movements throughout the rest of the region as it is viewed as the test-case for the democratic transitions in the Arab world. It is in the vital national security interests of the United States to see a secure, a stable and a democratic Tunisia, and I hope the Administration does not overlook the importance of this strategic country. We must remain engaged throughout the National Dialogue process and beyond to ensure a successful transition to democracy in Tunisia and we must not allow the terrorist groups to derail the political transition nor gain any more influence in an already susceptible region. And we must work to find effective ways to assist Tunisia as it struggles to fight this rising threat of terrorism. This is a critical juncture for Tunisia, for the region and for United States strategic interests. We must support the people of Tunisia as they struggle to achieve real reforms and we must also support the groups like the IRI, the NDI, IFES who are on the ground day after day promoting democracy in this vitally important region and working to find a consensus among all parties on a new constitution and new electoral process.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/icyml-bilirakis-hears-testimony-veterans-complex-claims-va-backlog,ICYMl: Bilirakis Hears Testimony From Veterans With Complex Claims In VA Backlog,2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Gus Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,,,legacy,"38500 U.S. Hwy 19 North Rm BB-038 of St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 This office cannot accept mail. All mail should be sent to 7132 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3efff11e-3cfe-4205-b636-541b34a92864,ICYMI: Rubio Discusses Transatlantic Alliance and Conservative Movement on SKY News,2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"SKY News’ “Boulton and Co” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio December 4, 2013 http://youtu.be/XK7TLcPfnVc … Senator Marco Rubio: “I think for those of us who believe that to be engaged actively is important, one of the fundamental arguments I always make is that: for nations like ours, foreign policy is domestic policy — especially in a global economy. And I think our alliance, the partnership between the U.S. and the U.K., is perhaps the most productive and most important alliance in the world.” Sky News’ Adam Boulton: “Why is that? Because, you know, as you said, we’ve got other partners. We’re in with Europe. You’re supposedly tilting toward Asia. Why is that?” Rubio: “I think it’s that the two most effective and most powerful voices who support liberty, democracy, freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, free enterprise, and a free enterprise economy. These are important principles that we share, and since the end of World War II, have had extraordinary success in defending and, quite frankly, spreading around the world.” Boulton: “And what about as a conservative? You’ve been here, you’ve met people like Michael Gove, George Osborne, Philip Hammond, other foreign officers. How important do you see that relationship between the Conservative Party and the Republican Party?” Rubio: “Well it’s interesting. As I’ve been here and travelled, what’s most struck me is how similar some of your domestic debates are with ours. Including the effort by conservatives to figure out how we can apply our principles to the modern era, the 21st century. We’re having the same debate in the U.S.  In the U.S., I can tell you that the nature of our challenge is that there are many people in our country who are trying to make it and trying to get ahead, and feel like the Republican Party doesn’t stand for, or speak for, people like them. And we have to change that perception because it’s not accurate.” …",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=ed099b67-e6be-4c52-9f47-048b60ffad15,PHOTO RELEASE: Rubio Concludes Official Visit to London,2013-12-04,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, today concluded a three day official visit to London. In addition to Monday’s activities and Tuesday’s foreign policy speech, below are additional photos from Rubio’s meetings with British government officials to discuss the future of the transatlantic alliance (the pictures can be viewed in higher quality here): Rubio meets with British Home Secretary Theresa May: Rubio meets with Hugh Robertson, Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Rubio attends a breakfast meeting with Members of Parliament: Rubio visits the House of Commons chamber, escorted by Member of Parliament Priti Patel: Rubio visits the House of Lords chamber, escorted by Member of Parliament Priti Patel: During his visit, Rubio also met with Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove. Note: all photos can be credited to the office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363270,Insurance Journal: Florida Congressman Proposes Disaster Savings Accounts,2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"Insurance JournalBy Michael Adams | December 3, 2013 A Florida congressman is calling for the creation of a new federal tax-free savings account that will allow homeowners to set aside up to $5,000 to help strengthen their homes against hurricanes and other natural disasters. Rep. Dennis Ross, a Republican from Lakeland who represents Florida’s 15th Congressional District, recently introduced the Disaster Savings Account Act, which is designed to reduce catastrophic losses by encouraging homeowners to take steps to mitigate the effect of storms on their homes. Ross, a former Florida state representative, said the bill is a “win-win” for both homeowners and the federal government. Ross said the disaster accounts could help homeowners reduce the damage to their homes in the event of a natural disaster while also potentially lowering their insurance costs by making them eligible for insurance mitigation credits. He also said the accounts could reduce the need for federal government spending following hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes and wildfires. “Natural disasters affect Floridians and Americans across the county,” said Ross in a statement. “This legislation will incentivize people to plan ahead for their safety and reduce the need for taxpayer-funded government intervention in the wake of a natural disaster.” Under the proposed legislation, homeowners could save up to $5,000 in a tax-deferred account to be used for disaster mitigation expenses. The accounts would have to be managed by a “trustee,” such as a bank or insurance company to ensure the monies are spent on mitigation. A 20 percent penalty would be applied to any funds withdrawn from the account and used for any other purpose. Any money not used in the account during one year could be added to the following year’s savings. Eli Lehrer, president, R Street Institute, a free market think tank, supports the Ross bill. “There’s only so much that the federal government can do about disasters,” said Lehrer. “Most of the responsibility of retrofitting and insuring individual homes must be taken by the communities and the private sector.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363282,"Ross Office to Host Monthly Mobile Office Hours Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013",2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Dennis Ross,R000593,dennisross.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross’s (FL-15) staff host mobile office hours the second Tuesday of every month across Florida’s 15th Congressional District. These mobile office hours with Rep. Ross’s staff are scheduled to serve as a convenience to constituents in order to assist with federal agencies. Please contact the district office (863-644-8215; 813-752-4790) with any questions. Some of the ways that Ross’s district office can be of assistance: • Senior Citizens: Social Security and disability • Veterans: VA claims and military service problems • Students: financial aid, entrance to U.S. Service Academies • Small Business: SBA loan applications, technical assistance and interpretation of federal regulations • Local Governments: disaster assistance, regulation compliance, and federal grant application problems • Taxpayers: IRS tax problems The times and locations are as follows: Plant City - 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. City Hall 302 W. Reynolds Street Plant City, FL 33563 Brandon - 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Brandon Library 619 Vonderburg Drive Brandon, FL 33511 Temple Terrace – 1– 2 p.m. Temple Terrace City Hall 11250 N. 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617 Lutz - 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Lutz Library 101 W Lutz Lake Fern Road Lutz, FL 33548 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-condemns-the-unjust-imprisonment-of-alan-gross-on-the-fourth,Diaz-Balart Condemns the Unjust Imprisonment of Alan Gross on the Fourth Anniversary of His Imprisonment,2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement on the 4th anniversary of American humanitarian aid worker Alan Gross’ imprisonment by the Cuban regime: “Today marks four years since U.S. humanitarian aid worker Alan Gross was arrested and imprisoned for the ‘crime’ of helping Cuba’s small Jewish community access the internet.  Mr. Gross’ unjust imprisonment and draconian 15-year sentence is a grim reminder that the most innocuous, and even noble acts, are crimes in totalitarian Cuba. “The brutal and malicious nature of the Castro dictatorship has not changed.  It ruthlessly oppresses its own people, aids terrorist states and organizations, channels arms to other rogue anti-American regimes, and opposes U.S. interests at every opportunity.   “Unfortunately, the Obama Administration continues to reward unilateral concessions to the Castro dictatorship in the form of weakened sanctions, migration and mail ‘talks,’ and U.S. visas and special travel privileges to high-level Castro operatives.  Since the beginning of the Obama Administration, the Castro dictatorship has imprisoned Alan Gross, increased its brutal oppression against pro-democracy activists leading to the deaths of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Laura Pollan, Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, Harold Cepero, and Oswaldo Paya, had two Cuban spies in the State Department convicted in U.S. federal court, and was caught red-handed transferring military weapons to North Korea.  The Obama Administration’s embarrassing attempts to appease the Castro dictatorship have been an utter failure which have damaged U.S. interests and channeled millions of dollars to the Cuban people’s oppressors. “The Obama Administration should focus on securing Alan Gross’ freedom and helping the Cuban people realize their democratic aspirations. It cannot effectively do so while excusing, legitimizing, and abetting their jailers. It’s clear that President Obama’s policy of appeasement and unilateral sanctions has done nothing but embolden the Castros’ terrorist regime.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/apoyando-mejor%C3%ADa-nuestro-sistema-de-transportaci%C3%B3n-ros-lehtinen-respalda-dos-claves,"Apoyando Mejoría a Nuestro Sistema de Transportación, Ros-Lehtinen Respalda Dos Claves Proyectos de Ley",2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Apoyando Mejoría a Nuestro Sistema de Transportación, Ros-Lehtinen Respalda Dos Claves Proyectos de Ley Dec 3, 2013 Apoyando Mejoría a Nuestro Sistema de Transportación, Ros-Lehtinen Respalda Dos Claves Proyectos de Ley ""Hacer nuestro sistema de transportación más eficiente y accesible al público es algo que siempre debemos tratar de lograr."" Miami, Florida - La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen anunció su apoyo por los proyectos de ley: ""TSA Loose Change,"" que concederá el dinero no reclamado en los aeropuertos a obras de caridad que proveen un lugar de descanso en los centros de transportación para nuestras familias militares, quienes han sacrificado tanto por nuestro país y el proyecto de ley ""Transportation Acquisition Security Reform,"" que mejorará la transparencia en la adquisición de tecnología e implementará las mejores prácticas para mejorar nuestros aeropuertos.  Destacó Ros-Lehtinen: ""Hacer nuestro sistema de transportación más eficiente y accesible al público es algo que siempre debemos tratar de lograr. Adicionalmente, trabajar para la mayor comodidad de las familias militares en el aeropuerto, que no es un lugar tranquilo, es un pequeño paso en que podemos agradecerles por su sacrifico. Los viajeros merecen nuestro mejor esfuerzo para mejorar nuestros aeropuertos y sistemas de transportación.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/cuatro-a%C3%B1os-despu%C3%A9s-alan-gross-languidece-bajo-el-r%C3%A9gimen-brutal-castrista-instamos,"Cuatro Años Después, Alan Gross Languidece Bajo el Régimen Brutal Castrista; Instamos Por Su Liberación Inmediata, Dice Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cuatro Años Después, Alan Gross Languidece Bajo el Régimen Brutal Castrista; Instamos Por Su Liberación Inmediata, Dice Ros-Lehtinen “Desafortunadamente, Alan y su familia enfrentan a un régimen que no tiene piedad y que sigue brutalizando a 11 millones de su propio pueblo en violación de estándares de derechos humanos internacionales y de expectativas de libertades y dignidad básicas.” (WASHINGTON) – La Congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Presidenta del Subcomité del Medio Oriente y África del Norte, hizo la siguiente declaración en el cuarto aniversario de la detención injusta del ciudadano estadounidense Alan Gross en Cuba. Destacó Ros-Lehtinen: “Después de cuatro años, es decepcionante e inaceptable que Alan Gross continúa encarcelado en una de las Gulags de Castro. En este tiempo de detención injusta, Alan ha perdido casi 100 libras y solamente puede ver de lejos mientras su familia lucha para creer que esta pesadilla se acabará y se reunirán pronto. Desafortunadamente, Alan y su familia enfrentan a un régimen que no tiene piedad y que sigue brutalizando a 11 millones de su propia gente en violación de estándares de derechos humanos internacionales y de expectativas de libertades y dignidad básicas. “El régimen castrista debe liberar inmediatamente a Alan. Insto a la Administración de Obama y a todas las naciones responsables a no seguir dando apoyo al régimen a través de concesiones y a trabajar rápidamente por la liberación no solamente de Alan Gross, sino de todos los cubanos sufriendo bajo ese régimen tiránico.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/four-years-alan-gross-still-languishes-under-brutal-castro-regime-we-call-his,"Four Years On, Alan Gross Still Languishes Under the Brutal Castro Regime; We Call for His Unconditional Release, Says Ros-Lehtinen",2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Four Years On, Alan Gross Still Languishes Under the Brutal Castro Regime; We Call for His Unconditional Release, Says Ros-Lehtinen “Unfortunately, Alan and his family are up against a heartless regime that continues to brutalize 11 million of its own people in violation of international human rights standards and all expectations of basic freedoms and dignity" (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement on the fourth anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of U.S. citizen Alan Gross in Cuba. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “After four years, it’s disappointing and unacceptable that Alan Gross continues to sit in one of Castro's gulags. While unjustly held in Cuba, Alan has lost nearly 100 pounds and could only watch from afar as his family struggles to hang onto the hope that this nightmare will be resolved and they’ll be able to see him soon. Unfortunately, Alan and his family are up against a heartless regime that continues to brutalize 11 million of its own people in violation of international human rights standards and all expectations of basic freedoms and dignity. “The Castro regime must release Alan unconditionally. I urge the Obama Administration and all responsible nations to stop bolstering this regime through concession after concession and work speedily for the immediate release of not only Alan Gross, but also for all Cubans suffering under this tyrannical regime.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/supporting-improvements-our-transportation-system-ros-lehtinen-supports-two-key-bills,"Supporting Improvements to Our Transportation System, Ros-Lehtinen Supports Two Key Bills",2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Supporting Improvements to Our Transportation System, Ros-Lehtinen Supports Two Key Bills Dec 3, 2013 Supporting Improvements to Our Transportation System, Ros-Lehtinen Supports Two Key Bills “Making our transportation system more efficient and more accessible to the public is something we should always strive to attain. Miami, Florida – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen announced her support for: the TSA Loose Change Act, which would award unclaimed monies left at airports to charities providing places at various transportation hubs where military families, who have sacrificed so much for our country, can rest and wait during their travels; and  the Transportation Acquisition Security Reform Act, which would improve transparency in technology procurement and provide for “best practices” to be put into effect in order to streamline our airports. These bills aim to make transportation services more efficient and to make airport waits or potential stays more pleasant for military families who many times face the most stressful situation of any traveler. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Making our transportation system more efficient and more accessible to the public is something we should always strive to attain. Additionally, working to provide the maximum amount of comfort at the airport, a place not known for its calm and serenity, to military families, who have sacrificed so much, is one small step we can take to repay them for their dedication to our nation. The traveling public deserves nothing less than our best efforts to improve our airports and transportation systems.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5ef5d01c-7d60-4c65-a6ee-8c4f75039673,Rubio Calls For Alan Gross’ Unconditional Release,2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding today’s fourth anniversary of the unjust incarceration of Alan Gross, an American being held hostage by the Castro regime in Cuba: “Alan Gross is a hostage being held captive by a state sponsor of terrorism, and his liberation is long overdue. Instead of considering more unilateral concessions to the Castro regime that enrich and help fund its repressive machine, the U.S. should pursue meaningful measures to secure Mr. Gross’ immediate, unconditional release.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e8a07f21-6cc8-4fec-b319-9e8095717485,Rubio Delivers Major Speech In London On The Transatlantic Alliance,2013-12-03,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Marco Rubio “American Leadership and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance” Remarks As Prepared For Delivery Chatham House London, England December 3, 2013 Speech: http://youtu.be/tNGXOwz-Dig I am honored by this opportunity to address you here today. I want to thank the Legatum Institute for helping to arrange this event and Chatham House for hosting. This is one of the leading think tanks in the world and I’m excited to have an exchange with you about the common challenges we face. One of my favorite parts of serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is having the opportunity to travel to different countries and meet people around the world. Most of the nations I’ve visited are strikingly different from my home country. They have different types of government, different cultures, different ways of life. But I am always struck by how people everywhere want for their families what Americans want for theirs: things like peace, security, prosperity and, perhaps most importantly, liberty. Though strides have been made in spreading these values in recent decades, sadly they remain a dream in many nations around the world. But in others, I see a long tradition of support and adherence to these ideals. The United Kingdom is one such country. And though our two nations may differ in some important regards, the partnership we have enjoyed has not developed by accident. It has developed due to our shared set of values and goals. I recently read about a Sunday morning service that Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt attended together aboard a British warship in 1941. Churchill was moved by the fundamental similarities between Americans and Britons. He said that among the Americans he observed, quote, “The same language, the same hymns and, more or less, the same ideals.” These shared ideals go back through centuries of British tradition, dating back to the Magna Carta. In fact, at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., an original copy of the Magna Carta sits just steps away from our Constitution. Americans and Britons have stood side by side for the last century because our shared convictions have united us around a common cause. That cause is the defense of liberty and the spread of freedom around the globe. The partnership we’ve shared has been one of extraordinary consequence. It has liberated nations. It has relieved the suffering of millions. It has sparked the spread of liberty to new regions. No partnership in history has seen such influence, certainly not such beneficent influence. This partnership is what brings me here today. I’d like to discuss what the United States and the United Kingdom have achieved together in the past, but also where our special relationship should go in the future, especially given recent developments in my country. Our achievements in the past were marked by our partnership’s unique beginning. The colonies that would later become America were, of course, born largely out of the enterprise of the British. Despite these roots, we fought two wars against the Crown in a span of forty years. But eventually, the animosity of our forbears grew into friendship. It quickly became clear to our respective countrymen, particularly as they entered the 20th century, that the fates of our nations were tied to the defense of liberty, and that standing together to defend this liberty was not only strategically important but also morally prudent. Over the last century, our people stood together on multiple occasions to oppose the advancement of evil, perhaps most famously on the beaches of Normandy. In doing so, we protected not just ourselves but the very survival of liberty itself. Together, we served, in the famous phrase, as watchmen on the walls of world freedom.  Together, we won the Cold War and brought peace and prosperity to Europe, a project that continues to this day. Together, we drove those that plotted the attacks of September 11, 2001 from Afghanistan and - in the years that followed – toppled a murderous dictator in Iraq. Together, even as we pursued victory on the battlefield, we built schools and created opportunities that did not exist before.  Together, we partnered to save millions of adults and children from the affliction of AIDS through innovative partnerships such as The Global Fund. But despite all of these vitally important achievements, many have begun to wonder whether things are changing. Many on both sides of the Atlantic have begun to question the future of our partnership in an increasingly complex world. In recent years, this skepticism has come in the form of growing doubt about whether America can still be counted on to contribute to our mutual security and to uphold an international order that reflects our interests and ideals. Many look to the dysfunction of Washington and wonder how America could ever expect to lead the world when it can’t seem to get its own affairs in order. Americans are indeed deeply and passionately divided on many public policy issues. From abroad, and even from within, the current state of my country’s politics often looks chaotic and uncertain. And on matters such as our nation’s role around the world, Democrats and Republicans appear equally uncertain about the best path forward. Many factors have led to the current tenor of debate in the United States. Americans are emerging from the most dramatic economic crisis in a generation and many feel financially insecure. As the cost of living continues to rise, some feel trapped in jobs that do not pay enough to maintain a middle class life. Many others fear that the cornerstone of what we call the American Dream – the knowledge that your children will have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and live a better life than your own – may be slipping out of reach. In the midst of this economic insecurity, our people – like many of yours as well – are also weary from decades of global engagement. Many who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan and Iraq watch as those nations suffer setbacks, and they wonder if those sacrifices have been worth it. We send billions of dollars in aid to people around the world, and in turn we watch as they celebrate our tragedies and burn our flag. And we mourn the murder of four of our diplomats in Benghazi, the very city in which we intervened to prevent mass murder. While we face all these challenges, our federal government is in the grip of gridlock, seemingly unwilling and unable to move forward to solve the problems before us. In the face of these struggles, I understand why so many at home and around the world fear that America’s best days may lie in her past.  And yet I am here to assure you that, while the road before us will be long and difficult, our finest hour as a nation – and as an alliance – is yet to come. I’m optimistic because my country, like yours, is more than just its government. Both of our peoples express their differences loudly and passionately because they live in free societies. And political conflict is not the only product of our individual liberty. From this freedom also emerge movements that empower, ideas that inspire, and innovations that change the world. We’ve had debates about looming American decline for more than six decades. During the Cold War, some thought the Soviet Union was destined to be the preeminent global power. In the 1980s, it was Japan. And now we hear the same about China. This has led to declinist predictions about not just the United States, but also Europe, or even more broadly, our system of democratic capitalism. Many question whether industrialized democracies are past their prime.  We hear a lot about the rise of the so-called “BRICS” or the supposed success of “managed capitalism,” and wonder whether our system is too messy and dysfunctional to continue creating opportunity and spreading prosperity for our people. But to paraphrase the American writer Mark Twain: reports of our demise are greatly exaggerated. Despite the prophets of decline, our fundamentals as democracies remain strong. You see our strength in the way the rise of prosperity across the globe is creating demand for the innovations of our people. Our countries remain engines of the global economy and this entrepreneurial spirit will continue to make us competitive, even as China’s economy grows. You see the strength of America in the fact that, despite our fiscal debates back home, the U.S. dollar remains the world’s premier reserve currency. And despite those in China who talk about a “de-Americanized world,” foreign investors know that America is still the safest financial bet. Those in the United Kingdom understand this as well given that Britain remains our largest foreign investor. You see it in the innovations that have recently transformed America into the world’s greatest producer of oil and natural gas, creating new hubs of regional prosperity along the way. The United States is on track to become the world’s largest oil producer by 2016 and energy self-sufficient by 2035. And as Europe begins to explore its own shale gas revolution, there is potential for similar developments here. You see the strength of our nations in the resilience and might of our militaries. Despite the budget cuts that have been imposed in America, we respond more swiftly and effectively to crises than any other nation, as we have recently witnessed in the Philippines. When problems arise that require global attention, we do not circle the wagons and take cover. We roll up our sleeves and get to work to find solutions. And when necessary, our brave men and women in uniform remain willing to sacrifice their safety – and even their lives – for the cause of freedom. So given all of this, you may be asking yourself, “If neither America nor Britain are fading from the scene anytime soon, what does this mean for the world?  What is the agenda for our work together in the years to come?” Some may question, given that Europe is largely free and at peace, whether there is more we need to do together. But work will always remain for the cause of freedom. We need to be clear-eyed and realistic about the threats that we face as an alliance. Threats that are in some ways just as profound as those of the last century. We are witnessing an attack on our shared values.  Rivals question whether our economies and our systems of government remain viable in this competitive world. We still confront a serious challenge from radical Islam and its tool of global terror. We face continued instability in the Middle East and Africa, as well as increasing uncertainty in Asia. To meet these challenges, we need to first build on the success of our transatlantic alliance. We should continue adapting NATO to meet new threats from rogue states and Jihadists. And we must leverage our partnership to confront uncertainty in the Middle East and Asia, as well as promote the promise of our values in Africa and Latin America. We’ve achieved quite a bit since the end of the Cold War, but we need to continue to extend the influence that European institutions have had on Europe’s periphery. Part of this involves being blunt about our differences with Vladimir Putin’s government and reassuring our allies in the region that we support their ambitions to move forward toward liberty rather than backwards toward the days of Soviet domination. Many of these allies face ongoing threats to their territorial integrity, including in new realms such as cyberspace. We also need to ensure that those on Europe’s periphery who still desire to join the Western community of democracies retain the option if they meet the entry requirements. In particular, the United States needs to continue to work closely with the EU to bring Ukraine into the Western fold.  We should all be concerned about the Ukrainian government’s recent decision to bow to Russian pressure and not sign an association agreement or free trade pact with the EU. Our thoughts are with the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who have taken to the streets to express concern about the future of their country. I share the views of Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt who recently said of Ukraine that, “They are not going West, I don’t think they are going East. I feel they are going down.” The United States needs a strong European Union that continues to be a stabilizing force on the continent but also an effective partner on key international issues. As for Britain’s role in Europe, that should be a matter for the British people to decide and your American partners should respect whatever decision you make. Our alliance, our partnership, and our affection for your nation will continue regardless of the road you choose. One of the key components of our unshakeable alliance is NATO. It remains relevant to the changing strategic landscape. The alliance has played an enormously important role in extending our shared values and solidifying peace and security in Europe. But in the last fifteen years, we have also gone to war together three times – in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Libya – a development likely never envisioned by NATO’s founders in 1949 when Soviet aggression posed the biggest threat to our mutual security. Not all allies look back on these operations through the same lens, but we need to recognize that these conflicts serve as illustrations of the fact that threats to our mutual security still exist more than two decades after the end of the Cold War. Even as our joint mission in Afghanistan transitions to a new phase, we must focus on confronting new and emerging threats. Cooperation on challenges such as missile defense and threats emanating from the cyber realm are important, but not sufficient to ensure the long-term viability of our alliance. We need to explore ways that NATO can prepare for its future missions.  For instance, despite the sacrifices borne by many allies in Afghanistan, our militaries gained valuable experience in coalition warfare. We should determine how these capabilities can continue to be relevant in the future. We also must be frank about where we can improve our efforts. Most can agree that the operation in Libya, for example, shouldn’t have turned into such a difficult effort for the alliance. We should determine the best ways to apply the lessons we learned during this operation to future efforts. We also must examine how our failure to provide support to the pro-Western government that followed Qaddafi’s ouster contributed to the current instability in that country. Each of our nations must also rethink our approach to defense spending. We both face significant budgetary issues. But we must ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes that followed both the First World War and the Cold War, when we assumed we could cut back on our security in hope of a peace that never materialized. In addition to our work through institutions such as NATO and the EU, we need to capitalize on the already deep economic ties between our two countries. An important first step is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Both of our countries should give this agreement the special attention that it deserves. If successful, TTIP will create one of the largest regional economies in the world. It will also help bring new prosperity to both the United States and Europe, providing tangible benefits of our partnership to our citizens. Even as we work on TTIP, we should redouble our efforts to reduce global trade barriers. I’m hopeful that at the conference beginning in Bali today, we can overcome differences and move toward the first global trade agreement of the twenty-first century. We should not limit our efforts to just these trade agreements. For example, right now the United States is experiencing a shale revolution in oil and natural gas that has made our country a net energy exporter for the first time in 60 years. We must work together to ensure that this geopolitical opportunity is used to the advantage of our longstanding allies by expediting reviews of our export permits. Additionally, recent accusations regarding intelligence programs must not be allowed to poison our ability to work together. Cooperation between our two countries in this realm has been a pillar of our postwar alliance. As I said recently during a speech in Washington, our citizens’ rights to privacy should be respected, but those who wish to harm us do not use carrier pigeons to communicate. They use cell phones and the Internet. We need to be able to understand what those who threaten us are planning, while still operating within the confines of our respective legal systems. But we can’t deal with these threats by focusing solely within our borders. We must understand that in this globalized world, whether it is the disillusioned homegrown terrorist or someone propagating hate from overseas, these problems will eventually threaten us if left unaddressed. Tragically, this is a reality you have experienced in this city on several occasions. Our cooperation is especially important in a Middle East that’s currently going through a fundamental transformation. It presents us with great opportunities, but also with the potential for great peril.  Europe and the United States should work more closely together on tasks such as shepherding Egypt’s transition to democracy or helping Tunisia and Libya provide benefits of their newfound freedom to their citizens. We must find ways to alleviate the human suffering of the Syrian people and work to build up elements of the moderate opposition. It should be a priority to ensure that the ongoing civil war does not create further regional instability or provide a new safe haven for al Qaeda affiliates that would one day turn their attention toward us. Similarly, the growing threat from Iran threatens regional stability and global security. It is vitally important that we work together to alleviate the concerns of our partners in the region, many of whom remain unconvinced that we should trust the commitments of a regime that sponsors terrorism, represses its people, and aims its verbal and political firepower at Israel, America and Europe. I am personally skeptical of the interim agreement that the P5+1 have concluded with Iran. I am convinced that Iran’s ultimate goal for these negotiations has been to achieve relief from the pressure of international sanctions, while retaining the option of developing a nuclear weapon. This model has been used by others in the past, such as North Korea, to successfully exploit talks to create the time and space to go nuclear. In Asia, the world’s most populous region, so much depends on our efforts to ensure that China’s rise remains peaceful. There are increasing signs that this may be easier said than done, including China’s recent declaration of an air defense identification zone in the East China Sea. This recent action by Beijing is an example of an issue on which it would be ideal to have America and Europe in lock step, making clear to Beijing that freedom of flight in the region should not be held hostage to political agendas. America is currently engaged, at least rhetorically, in a “rebalance” to Asia.  Despite this, a renewed U.S. focus on this strategically vital region cannot and should not come at the expense of our transatlantic commitments. Given the values that we share and our history of facing new challenges together, I believe there is little we can do effectively in Asia without Britain and our European allies by our side. After all, your future will be just as dependent on what happens in that region as ours will be. In Asia and beyond, we must continue our cooperation in speaking out on behalf of those who cannot.  Both of our nations have long histories as supporters and defenders of human rights. Margaret Thatcher was a voice for those in the Soviet Union who were repressed by the Kremlin. She noted that we in the West should not only be concerned about such actions as a humanitarian issue, but also as a global security issue. As she put it, “a nation that denies those freedoms to its own people will have few scruples in denying them to others.” This remains as true today as it was thirty years ago. Unfortunately, one need not look far to see gross human rights violations, whether in Russia, China, Cuba, Iran, or North Korea, just to name a few. This includes the rising persecution of religious minorities, especially Christians, for doing little more than practicing their faith.  When the United States and Britain speak out together about these acts, our message is amplified and our case is stronger than when either stands alone. I am convinced that the people of our nations understand this. And so, whether it is strengthening the transatlantic alliance, confronting challenges in the Middle East, engaging in Asia, or standing up for the values that our countries hold dear, I am confident that the United States and the United Kingdom will continue to work hand in hand as we did in the last century. The fact is, we must. If we do not stand together for liberty and freedom, and instead allow our historic partnership to fade into history, an enormous vacuum will open up. And imagine the forces of darkness and evil that would gladly move in to fill this void. Our two nations still have a common challenge and a common destiny. It’s also true that in America, we have some work to do. Many of our political leaders are still hoping that our budget balances itself. Many hope they can force their political opponents to adopt their agenda in its totality. They hope that America can simply look inward and ignore the global challenges of our time. It is human nature to wish for the challenges before you to resolve themselves. Or to wish they could be handled easily with minimal sacrifice. But earlier generations have left us with a common charge. In this city, in Grosvenor Square in front of our embassy, there is a statue of Ronald Reagan, with a quote from his first Inaugural Address.  It says, “No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” We - Americans and Britons - are descendants of men and women who took great risk and faced great challenges in their pursuit of liberty.  And that is why each time our alliance has been confronted with a test, we have risen to meet it. Together, we can continue to meet the world’s challenges. We cannot rest, because those who oppose liberty will not rest. We will always have critics who predict that the end of this truly special relationship is near. That Britain and the United States have both had their days in the sun and that the world’s attention is shifting elsewhere. But they underestimate the power of our nations and our shared values. They underestimate what we can achieve together. And more importantly, they underestimate the will and moral courage of free men and women. In the end, freedom will triumph in this world. I am sure of that, just as I am sure that it will be the United States and the United Kingdom leading the way. That is why I stand before you optimistic today.  Optimistic about where America is headed and where we – working together with our European allies – will be able to take the ideals of freedom, economic opportunity, and human rights.  Together, we will be able to respond to the challenges of the twenty-first century, just as our forbears faced those of the last. And when we do, our children will inherit a world better than the one that was left to us. Thank you.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=945c30c0-d412-42b3-8bfa-264ca461f45d,PHOTO RELEASE: Rubio Visits London on Official Trip,2013-12-02,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, arrived in London today for a three day official visit. During his stay, Rubio will meet with British government officials to discuss the future of the transatlantic alliance. On Tuesday, he will also deliver a major speech co-hosted by Chatham House and the Legatum Institute at 1 p.m. local time (8 a.m. EST).The speech will be live streamed here. In addition to following trip updates at @MarcoRubio, Rubio’s personal Twitter account, below are photos from today’s activities (The pictures can be viewed in higher quality here): Rubio visits Number 11 Downing Street to meet with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne: Rubio visits the UK Ministry of Defence to meet with Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond: Rubio meets with The Honorable Richard Ottaway, Member of Parliament (MP) and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Sir Malcolm Rifkind, MP and Chair of Intelligence and Security Committee; James Arbuthnot, MP and Chair of Defence Committee: Rubio outside the British Parliament’s “Big Ben” tower: Photo credit for the picture with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is given to the Office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. All other photos were taken by the Office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=cf5d3f2d-2b4e-4ff4-bc21-ce9af99cbb9b,MEDIA ADVISORY: Rubio To Deliver Major Speech In London On The Transatlantic Alliance,2013-12-02,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,FL,Marco Rubio,R000595,www.rubio.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow, December 3, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will deliver a major speech at an event co-hosted by Chatham House and the Legatum Institute in London, England. The speech will be titled “American Leadership and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance.” A live stream for the following event will be available here. Tuesday, December 3, 2013 8:00 A.M. EST/ 1:00 P.M. GMT Senator Rubio Delivers Speech On The Future Of The Transatlantic Alliance Chatham House 10 St James’s Square London, SW1Y 4LE",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/don%E2%80%99t-let-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-distract-you-seek-help-federal-tuesday-and,"Don’t Let Black Friday and Cyber Monday Distract You, Seek Help On Federal Tuesday and Thursday!",2013-11-27,2013,2013-11,Republican,House,FL,Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R000435,ros-lehtinen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Don’t Let Black Friday and Cyber Monday Distract You, Seek Help On Federal Tuesday and Thursday! “In the days following Thanksgiving, we have many shopping days on the calendar. However, don’t forget about your pending federal issues!” Miami, Florida – If you are a resident of the 27th Congressional District and are around or live in the areas of Miami Springs or Cutler Bay, please stop by city hall and allow Ileana's Congressional Aide, Lourdes Ruiz, to help you with any problem related to a federal agency. Lourdes will be at Miami Springs City Hall, 201 Westward Drive in Miami Springs on Tuesday, December 3rd from 10am – 3pm and at Cutler Bay Town Hall, 10720 Caribbean Blvd in Cutler Bay on Thursday, December 5th from 10am – 3pm.  Any resident of the 27th Congressional District with issues concerning Social Security, immigration, Medicare, housing, Veteran’s Administration, U.S. Academy nominations, tours of the U.S. Capitol, or any other federal agency or topic should come see Lourdes as she visits their neighborhood for guidance on these topics. Tuesday, December 3rd, Lourdes will be at: Miami Springs City Hall 201 Westward Drive Miami Springs, FL 33166 (Okeechobee Road and Westward Dive) From 10am to 3pm Thursday, December 5th, Lourdes will be at: Cutler Bay Town Hall 10720 Caribbean Blvd Cutler Bay, FL 33189 (US 1 and Caribbean Boulevard) From 10am to 3pm Lourdes Ruiz can be reached via her cell at (305) 934-9441, via email at lourdes.ruiz@mail.house.gov or by calling the Miami Congressional office at (305) 668-2285.   #####",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z