url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-host-house-energy-commerce-chairman-brett-guthrie-tampa-bay-health,BILIRAKIS TO HOST HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE CHAIRMAN BRETT GUTHRIE FOR TAMPA BAY HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY ROUNDTABLE,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"TAMPA, FL - On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) will host House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) for a regional roundtable with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) focused on expanding access to high-quality, affordable health care and ensuring vulnerable patients do not fall through the cracks. The discussion will bring together leaders from community health centers throughout the Tampa Bay region to showcase the innovative work they are doing to deliver high-quality care while keeping services affordable and accessible for the patients and families who need them most. Importantly, the roundtable will give local health care providers and patients an opportunity to bring their real-life experiences directly to one of our nation’s leading health policy makers. Patient stories will help illustrate the challenges families face accessing affordable care and inform a broader discussion about how Congress can strengthen community-based care, address barriers to access, and ensure federal health policy works for patients on the ground. The event will also highlight an innovative partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay that recognizes the important connection between nutrition and health. Through this model, health care and community partners are working together to address patients’ dietary needs and combat food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the discussion. WHAT: Regional Federally Qualified Health Center Roundtable on Health Care Affordability and Access WHO: U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Federally Qualified Health Center leaders from throughout the Tampa Bay region, Local patients and community partners WHEN:Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 10:00 a.m.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-joins-mount-sinai-new-emergency-center-opening-highlights-healthcare,"SALAZAR JOINS MOUNT SINAI FOR NEW EMERGENCY CENTER OPENING, HIGHLIGHTS HEALTHCARE RECORD",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, Fla. — U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) joined Mount Sinai Medical Center leaders, healthcare professionals, and members of the South Florida community for the ribbon cutting of Mount Sinai’s new Emergency Center in Westchester, located in Florida’s 27th Congressional District. The new four-story facility will expand access to emergency treatment, advanced diagnostic imaging, and behavioral health services for families in Westchester and surrounding communities. It is scheduled to open to patients in October. “Quality healthcare has to be both accessible and affordable,” said Rep. Salazar. “That means having excellent care close to home, enough doctors to see patients, access to the treatments people need, and costs families can actually afford. I am proud to join Mount Sinai for this important expansion and will continue working across the aisle to strengthen healthcare for South Florida.” ""When we broke ground here, we made a commitment to the Westchester community that nationally recognized care was coming. Today, it is here,” said Gino R. Santorio, President and CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center. “Families in this community now have emergency care close to home, with advanced imaging on site so patients get answers during their visit rather than a referral and a second trip. And this is only the beginning. We are grateful to Congresswoman Salazar for standing with us today and for her continued support of Mount Sinai and the patients we serve across South Florida."" The Emergency Center marks the first phase of Mount Sinai’s broader expansion at the site. Future phases are expected to add inpatient and observation beds, surgical services, cardiac care, and additional specialty services. SALAZAR’S RECORD ON HEALTHCARE In Congress, Rep. Salazar has built a bipartisan healthcare record focused on lowering costs, expanding access, strengthening the medical workforce, and bringing federal healthcare investments home to South Florida. She has secured nearly $15 million in direct federal investments for healthcare and medical research in South Florida, including: $7.65 million for resilience improvements at Mount Sinai Medical Center to help protect critical hospital operations during hurricanes and other emergencies. $2.5 million for Banyan Community Health Center to expand access to care in underserved communities. $1 million for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to expand pediatric mental-health care, plus $450,000 for genetic testing to help doctors identify safer and more effective medicines for children. $3.13 million for Florida International University to advance cancer research and precision medicine. Salazar has also worked across the aisle to make healthcare more affordable for working families, supporting efforts to lower insurance premiums, prescription-drug costs, and out-of-pocket expenses while expanding access to Health Savings Accounts. She has made addressing healthcare-worker shortages another priority, working across the aisle to strengthen South Florida’s healthcare workforce and pushing for continued funding for programs that train doctors in community-based and underserved settings. Her healthcare work also includes efforts to improve cancer screening and early detection, expand care for patients with rare diseases, strengthen pediatric genomic testing, and support mental-health and addiction-treatment services. The $7.65 million Salazar previously secured for Mount Sinai supported resilience improvements at its Miami Beach medical center and is separate from the new Emergency Center.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/support-for-senator-moodys-legislation-to-locate-u-s-space-academy-in-florida-grows-reps-donalds-and-haridopolos-file-companion-bill-in-the-u-s-house/,Support for Senator Moody’s Legislation to Locate U.S. Space Academy in Florida Grows—Reps. Donalds and Haridopolos File Companion Bill in the U.S. House,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Support for Senator Ashley Moody’s legislation to locate the new U.S. Space Academy in Florida is growing. Rep. Byron Donalds, with the aid of Rep. Mike Haridopolos, recently filed companion legislation to Senator Moody’s STARS Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Thank you, Representative Donalds and Representative Haridopolos, for introducing the STARS Act to bring the new U.S. Space Academy to the Sunshine State. Momentum for our mission is growing, and Florida is unified in this effort to ensure our state remains the leader in space innovation and exploration,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry. Senator Moody recently filed the legislation in the Senate. In addition to filing this legislation, Senator Moody has been working with state partners to address the RFI put out by the Administration to encourage the establishment of the new Space Academy in Florida. Earlier this month, Senator Moody rallied space industry leaders to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy. Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500%since 2016. Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration. The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports. Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers. The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon. Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs. Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center where the crew thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians, and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled. # # #",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-flafo-act-to-rein-in-warrantless-flock-safety-surveillance/,Rep. Steube Introduces FLAFO Act to Rein In Warrantless ‘Flock Safety’ Surveillance,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Facilitating Liberty and Accountability for Flock Observations (FLAFO) Act, legislation prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or sharing data with networked Automated License Plate Reader surveillance systems without a judicial warrant. The bill also conditions Department of Justice federal grant funding for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on the adoption of substantially similar privacy regulations. “The Fourth Amendment is not optional. Americans should not be tracked everywhere they drive without a warrant,” said Rep. Steube. “Flock Safety’s surveillance network is expansive, and we have seen several instances across the country where this technology is too easily abused. The FLAFO Act limits warrantless surveillance by ALPR systems because the government has no business tracking law-abiding Americans.” Automated license plate reader systems, or ALPR systems, utilize cameras, sensors, or associated hardware or software systems to automatically capture, record, analyze, process, aggregate, or store a motor vehicle license plate, image, location, date, time, or other identifying vehicle information or characteristic. Flock Safety is the industry leader, accounting for more than 80 percent of ALPR systems operating in the U.S., but the FLAFO Act would also cover any other company utilizing ALPR systems. Automated license plate reader technology has expanded from localized tools for identifying criminal activity into large-scale surveillance mechanisms capable of aggregating sensitive location information across jurisdictions. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, covered ALPR systems aggregate vehicle data into centralized databases, enabling detailed tracking of individuals’ movements, associations, and daily routines without individualized suspicion. The need for strict safeguards and federal oversight has been underscored by widespread reports of law enforcement officers abusing Flock camera networks to spy on personal acquaintances and conduct unauthorized searches. Recent investigations in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, have exposed officers using ALPR databases improperly, leading to administrative suspensions, resignations, and criminal reviews. Investigations across multiple law enforcement agencies have documented alleged misuse of Flock Safety technology, highlighting the severe gaps in centralized surveillance databases. Commercial operators and government entities have deployed networked ALPR systems across multi-jurisdictional databases with limited safeguards, allowing users to conduct historical searches across jurisdictions and track vehicles based on visual characteristics beyond license plate numbers. Federal agencies should not provide support or authorization for surveillance practices that infringe upon constitutionally protected civil liberties. The FLAFO Act closes that gap by prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or supplying data to covered ALPR systems without a judicial warrant, while preserving limited exceptions for immediate threats to life, safety, and national security. The full text of the FLAFO Act is available here. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rutherford-statement-2026-south-atlantic-red-snapper-season,Rutherford Statement on the 2026 South Atlantic Red Snapper Season,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,John H. Rutherford,R000609,rutherford.house.gov,rutherford,https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) released the following statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ announcement of the 2026 recreational red snapper fishing season in the South Atlantic in which the agency issued new Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) requested by Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Florida’s red snapper recreational fishing season in the South Atlantic will open for fourteen days this year from October 9th through October 22nd. “Finally, the long-awaited South Atlantic red snapper season is here, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of Florida’s beautiful waters and go fishing,” saidRutherford. “While it is fewer days than we hoped for, this season is a great opportunity for us to learn more about the red snapper fishery, collect high-quality data, and lay the groundwork for a longer and more predictable recreational season in 2027 and the years to come. “As a co-chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I remain committed to advocating for proven methods of collecting reliable data, expanding sustainable harvests, and supporting our coastal economies that depend on this fishery. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, Governor DeSantis, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) to fight for recreational anglers in our community and across the Great State of Florida. Together, we can Make Fishing Great Again.""",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-legislation-to-lower-diesel-prices-and-boost-american-refining-capacity/,Rep. Steube Introduces Legislation to Lower Diesel Prices and Boost American Refining Capacity,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced the American Fuel Affordability Act, legislation to lower diesel prices immediately and expand American refining capacity to bring down fuel costs for the long term. “Americans are paying far too much for diesel, and that cost gets passed down to families on just about everything they buy,” said Rep. Steube. “My bill gets rid of the federal diesel tax to bring prices down now and makes it easier to build new refineries here at home. We have the energy and the resources, and we should be producing and refining more of it.” The American Fuel Affordability Act repeals the federal excise tax on diesel fuel that is currently 24.3 cents per gallon. This legislation keeps the Highway Trust Fund and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund whole through general fund transfers. To expand American refining capacity, the bill creates a 35 percent tax credit for investment in the construction of new U.S. refineries and a 5-cent-per-gallon production credit for gasoline and diesel produced at qualifying new facilities during their first 10 years of operation. Property used in qualifying new refinery construction would be 100 percent expensable under the American Fuel Affordability Act. The American Fuel Affordability Act takes a supply-side approach to fuel affordability by incentivizing additional domestic refining capacity without imposing export restrictions that could discourage refinery utilization and production. The full text of the American Fuel Affordability Act is available here. ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-cosponsors-legislation-to-protect-ratepayers-from-energy-consuming-data-centers/,Senator Moody Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Ratepayers from Energy-Consuming Data Centers,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House of Representatives 417-3. Senate Democrats Blocked it. WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody is cosponsoring legislation to protect Americans from possible rate increases caused by new data centers. The Ratepayer Protection Act was introduced by Senator John Husted (R-OH) and blocked from passage on the Senate Floor by Democrats: “I’m cosponsoring the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure Americans are protected from increased costs associated with new data centers. If billion-dollar tech companies want to build a massive data center, Floridians should not be left to foot the bill. It is disheartening to see Senate Democrats block the Ratepayer Protection Act from passing. While Democrats continue to play politics over the issue, I’ll keep fighting to get this common-sense legislation passed,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: Senator Moody has a staunch record with regard to where she stands on data centers and local communities having the ultimate say over where they go. The Ratepayer Protection Act would require state utility regulators and unregulated utilities to consider adopting large load standards ensuring cost recovery for the “full, incremental” cost of any generation, transmission or distribution upgrade needed to serve the large-load customer. It would also require large loads to provide financial assurances before grid upgrades are made and guaranteed cost recovery if a large load exits its power supply contract early. # # #",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-introduces-bipartisan-time-act-modernize,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Introduces Bipartisan TIME Act to Modernize International Movement of Competition Horses,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) and Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) introduced H.R. 10611, the Temporary International Movement of Equines (TIME) Act of 2026. The bipartisan bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to modernize the rules governing the temporary entry of international competition horses and racehorses. It would establish a science-based framework aligned with internationally recognized standards while keeping strong safeguards in place for the domestic equine population. ""Marion County is the Horse Capital of the World, and the best horses on the planet should be able to come here and compete without getting tangled up in red tape,” said Congresswoman Cammack. ""The TIME Act brings our rules in line with proven international standards and keeps strong protections in place for the horses already here. I'm proud to partner with Congressman Tonko on this bill and to keep working with the American Horse Council to get it across the finish line."" ""Aligning with international safety standards benefits fans, athletes, economies, and the sport as a whole, which is what drove me to introduce the TIME Act,"" said Congressman Tonko. ""This bill prioritizes equine health and safety while pushing venues like my district's own Saratoga Racetrack and its athletes further onto the international stage. I thank Congresswoman Cammack for joining me to champion this bill and urge my colleagues to join us in this effort."" As the United States prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and a growing slate of international equestrian and racing events, current import requirements can create obstacles for horses traveling here temporarily to compete. Today's top equine athletes already travel under rigorous health, identification, and biosecurity protocols. Florida is a leading hub for global equestrian sport and Thoroughbred activity, and Marion County's thoroughbred breeding and training industry is a major economic driver for North Central Florida. The TIME Act is based on the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) High Health, High Performance (HHP) framework for the temporary international movement of elite competition horses. The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) has formally urged USDA to recognize HHP horses as a distinct subpopulation and to use the WOAH framework to implement the concept in the United States. The House Appropriations Committee also included report language in its FY2027 Agriculture Appropriations bill encouraging USDA to explore approaches consistent with the HHP framework. Specifically, the TIME Act would: Direct USDA to establish regulations governing the temporary international movement of high-health, high-performance horses. Implement a risk-based system incorporating identification, traceability, and biosecurity measures. Provide expedited entry procedures and modified quarantine protocols consistent with international best practices. Improve the efficiency of USDA animal health oversight by reducing duplicative requirements and allowing agency personnel to focus resources on higher-risk disease concerns. The TIME Act is supported by the American Horse Council, which represents more than 1.6 million horse owners across all 50 states, as well as the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, The Jockey Club, and the Breeders' Cup. ""We applaud Representatives Tonko and Cammack for their bipartisan leadership in advancing the TIME Act. Their willingness to listen to the equine community and champion this issue marks an important step toward ensuring the United States remains a leading destination for international equine competition for years to come,"" said Julie Broadway, President of the American Horse Council. ""The Breeders' Cup World Championships are built on bringing together the best horses and their connections from around the globe, and efficient international movement is essential to making that possible. The world's elite horses are also among the most rigorously tested, health-certified, and examined equine athletes, with extensive veterinary oversight surrounding their international movement and participation. We support the TIME Act's effort to modernize the process for high-performance horses while maintaining rigorous protections for equine health and biosecurity. A science-based framework that reflects the realities of international competition will help strengthen the United States' position as a destination for world-class racing and other equestrian sports,"" said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. ""The US Equestrian Federation looks forward to working collaboratively with the USDA to improve policies for international movement of high-performance horses. In our capacity as a national governing body via the Ted Stevens Act, we recognize the complexities that come with temporary international travel overseas and similar challenges for competitors from other countries. The United States has become one of the largest international competition hosts in the world. Our goal is to keep all horse populations safe and healthy, and the proposed joint partnership between government and private resources is a big step in the right direction,"" said David O'Connor, Olympic medalist and US Equestrian Chief of Sport. ""Modernizing these requirements means a reduction in quarantine time and post-arrival restrictions for the temporary entry of competition and racehorses that are already among the healthiest and most closely monitored in the world. That's a win for equine welfare and for the health of horses,"" said Dr. Sarah Reuss, President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. ""The TIME Act recognizes that modern identification, traceability, and biosecurity tools can support both horse welfare and international competition. By creating a framework for the temporary movement of high health, high performance horses, this legislation would reduce unnecessary barriers to international participation in U.S. racing while maintaining rigorous animal health safeguards. As the United States prepares to host some of the world's premier racing and equestrian events, a science-based approach to equine movement helps ensure our entire equine industry remains competitive on the global stage while protecting the health and welfare of horses,"" said Kristin Werner, Vice President of Thoroughbred Strategy & Industry Initiatives at The Jockey Club. ###",1,2026-09-27T10:23:37Z,2026-09-27T10:25:08Z https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/24/buchanan-marks-final-100-days-in-office-pledges-to-keep-fighting-for-florida/,"Buchanan Marks Final 100 Days in Office, Pledges to Keep Fighting for Florida",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"Enters Final Months Building on Two Decades of Delivering Results for Florida WASHINGTON — Today marks the start of Congressman Vern Buchanan’s final 100 days in office. Buchanan, who announced his retirement in January after 20 years representing Florida, is highlighting his signature legislation that passed the House this Congress while focusing on the work that lies ahead this fall. “Fighting for Florida over the last 20 years has been the honor of my life, and I’m continuing in that fight over my last 100 days in office,” said Buchanan. “I didn’t come to Washington to let down the people who sent me here: our seniors, veterans, small business owners, and hardworking families. I came here to ensure the American Dream that was possible for me is still possible for them, and for our children and our grandchildren. There are still bills to pass and problems to solve, and I’m not leaving any of that on the table. Until my very last day, I’ll keep championing legislation for the people of Florida’s 16th Congressional District like I’ve done every day since first elected to serve.” Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, enters his final 100 days with a record of results this Congress. His bipartisan Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act passed the House unanimously in March 2025, allowing employers that offer high-deductible health plans to cover certain services for common chronic illnesses before the deductible kicks in. In December 2025, the House unanimously passed his bipartisan Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, which extends the successful Hospital at Home program through 2030. That was followed in June 2026 by unanimous House passage of his Healthcare Efficiency Through Flexibility Act, which gives Accountable Care Organizations more options for reporting on quality of care. In July 2026, the House passed his Sunshine Protection Act in a bipartisan vote to make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly clock change. More of Buchanan’s bills are advancing. The Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced his bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act last week, which would expand Medicare coverage for early Alzheimer’s detection and now has 219 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also advanced an amended version of his SAFE Act, which would ban the transportation of horses for slaughter for human consumption, and is headed to the House floor as part of the bipartisan five-year surface transportation reauthorization. Buchanan also secured 10 amendments in the House-passed FY27 National Defense Authorization Act. Over the coming months, Buchanan will build on that momentum as he helps Congress finish strong on the work still ahead and continues to author legislation for the people of Florida’s 16th Congressional District. Buchanan leaves office as the longest-serving Republican to represent Southwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives, with 51 of his bills and initiatives signed into law under four presidents. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-sounds-the-alarm-on-the-dangers-of-illicit-chinese-vapes-targeting-americas-youth/,"VIDEO: Senator Moody Sounds the Alarm on the Dangers of Illicit, Chinese Vapes Targeting America’s Youth",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Senator Ashley Moody, a member of the Senate HELP committee, called for a commitment from Dr. Hedi Overton to address the dangers presented to young Americans by illicit, Chinese-made nicotine vape products. “As a mom, I am always concerned with the health and safety of my family. These illicit vapes are a widespread danger specifically targeting America’s youth. I am calling on the FDA and Administration to take these illicit devices seriously because the health of our kids depends on it,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: During a confirmation hearing, Senator Moody pressed then-FDA nominee Dr. Marty Makary on dangerous, illegal Chinese vapes. Senator Moody has also engaged with HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. about China flooding the U.S. market with illegal, addicting vapes. This is not a new issue for Senator Moody, as Florida’s Attorney General, Moody fought fiercely to stop vape companies from addicting minors: During her first year in office as Attorney General, upon learning that Florida just experienced a dramatic increase in the use of e-cigarettes among Florida youth, then-AG Moody launched a statewide listening tour to hear from parents, teachers and law enforcement about the growing problem of youth vaping. Moody took legal action against Juul for targeting minors to purchase addictive nicotine products following leading amultistate investigation; Moody took legal action against two Florida vaping companies marketing to minors; Moody launched the most comprehensive state vaping investigation publicly acknowledged to date into more than 20 vape companies doing business in Florida; Moody warned parents that illicit fentanyl may appear in illicit vape pods in a back-to-school warning; Moody worked with lawmakers to pass FL HB 1007, to remove illegal vape products that are addictive and attractive to minors from being sold in Florida. Moody urged President Trump to raise the issue of illicit Chinese vapes flooding the U.S. market during the meeting between President Trump and President Xi this week. # # #",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-introduces-screen-act-to-help-protect-american-kids-from-foreign-predators,Sen. Rick Scott Introduces SCREEN Act to Help Protect American Kids from Foreign Predators,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott introduced the Strengthened Checks for Reliable Evaluation of Entrants Nationwide (SCREEN) Act to help keep foreign child predators from obtaining visas and gaining access to American children. The bill would give the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. State Department access to data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Currently, the NCMEC can only share reports with certain designated law enforcement agencies. Recent reports have indicated that several cruise lines hired foreign workers admitted on C-1/D visas who were later found with Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The SCREEN Act would help both DHS and the State Department weed out child predators like these during the visa application process. Senator Rick Scott said, “The greatest country in the history of the world should have 100% certainty that we aren’t letting child predators come here on work visas. It’s inexcusable that we have let bureaucracy fail our children and put them in danger. It’s time to fix that. Interagency coordination is vital to both our national security and the safety of American children, and we need more of it. I’m proud to join with my colleagues like Sen. Budd and Rep. Gimenez to fix this glaring oversight and keep American kids safe from these despicable people.” Representative Carlos Giménez introduced companion legislation today in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Senator Ted Budd is an original cosponsor of the bill. Senator Ted Budd said, “Those who prey on children represent the very worst of society. I am proud to join Senator Scott and my colleagues to ensure that State and DHS have access to critical NCMEC data to identify travelers and visa applicants in possession of illicit material exploiting children and prevent these criminals from entering the United States.” Representative Carlos Giménez said, “The criminals who exploit innocent children online cannot be allowed to hide behind our borders or take advantage of gaps in our screening systems. The SCREEN Act gives the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State access to critical information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help identify dangerous predators before they can enter or remain in our communities. I am proud to work with Senator Rick Scott to close this gap, protect our children, and keep dangerous predators out of our communities.” ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/no-more-blank-checks-appropriators-white-house-direct-un-accountability,"No More Blank Checks: Appropriators, White House Direct UN Accountability",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"September 23, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. – From Congress to the White House, the Republican agenda has been clear: disrupting the broken status quo. From FY26 appropriations signed into law by President Trump to the FY27 bills advanced out of the full committee, with multiple passed across the House floor, there have been fundamental shifts in how Washington does business: Blank checks have been replaced by accountability. Wasteful programs have been replaced by disciplined, results-driven investments. Weakness and soft rhetoric have been replaced by decisive leadership. Progressive mandates and excess have been replaced by America First priorities. Foreign wish lists have been replaced by U.S. interests and security. This realignment extends across the whole of government, and this week’s United Nations General Assembly brings it into focus. American foreign policy should put U.S. interests first, account for geopolitical and security realities, and distinguish genuine threats from strategic opportunities. Those priorities are reflected in the FY26 and FY27 bills of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Subcommittee that I chair. The FY26 NSRP bill – which is enacted law – cut UN funding by double digits, conditioned funds based on accountability measures, prohibited funds to UNRWA, and required UN voting records be assessed in deciding assistance to countries. The House-passed FY27 NSRP bill built on these measures with the following: Ending the UN Blank Check: Provides no funding for the UN regular budget. Further assessed contributions are not justified without additional reforms. No Resources Without Reform: The FY27 bill withholds UN and international organization funding unless entities meet transparency and accountability requirements, including public audits, U.S. access to audits, whistleblower protections, restrictions on premium travel, action against anti-Israel bias and antisemitism, disclosure of diversion, and terrorist-affiliation vetting. Real U.S. Oversight: American investments demand accountability. Prohibits funding to international organizations that refuse to commit in writing to giving U.S. Inspectors General and the GAO access to information relevant to American contributions. Peacekeeping Discipline: Sharply constrains peacekeeping funding, requires advance justification of new or expanded missions, requires mission-by-mission accountability certifications, and specifically directs the State Department and the UN to evaluate missions and consider drawdowns when their goals have been substantially achieved. UNRWA: Prohibits assessed and voluntary U.S. contributions to UNRWA and includes additional measures designed to discourage funding from outside donors. In addition, conditions other UN resources until the Secretary-General provides assurances against invoking immunity in terrorism, material support, and serious human-rights cases involving UN personnel. UN Human Rights Council and OHCHR: Prohibits funding to the UNHRC, its Israel Commission of Inquiry, and OHCHR – directly reinforcing the Trump Administration’s withdrawal and accountability policy. ICC and ICJ: Expressly backs the Trump Administration’s ICC sanctions and prohibits funding for the international courts. WHO: Prohibits funds to the World Health Organization (WHO) and blocks funding for the pandemic accord absent Senate approval. Curbing Liberal Climate: Directs the State Department to defend U.S. energy and commercial interests in international maritime negotiations and ensures international fuel rules do not put American producers at a disadvantage. Prohibits funds to the Green Climate Fund and Clean Technology Fund. Provides no funding for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Provisions align with the Trump Administration’s opposition to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) carbon-tax approach and broader withdrawal from international climate structures. Stopping Anti-Israel Bias and Antisemitism: Resources are conditioned on credible action to combat anti-Israel bias, with detailed reporting required on antisemitism and systemic bias across UN entities, personnel, experts, and procedures. UN Voting and Burden Sharing: Directs the State Department to weigh countries’ UN voting records and support for Taiwan when making assistance decisions. The Department is further encouraged to take into account migration cooperation, opposition to U.S. adversaries, and allied burden sharing. Countries seeking American assistance should be expected to stand with American interests and shoulder their share of the responsibility. Cutting Off U.S. Dollars to Adversaries: American taxpayer dollars should never bankroll our adversaries. Prohibits UN and multilateral procurement of Russian goods and services and restricts funding to international organizations chaired by Chinese Communist Party-endorsed Chinese nationals. The broader FY27 bill also prohibits funding for the PRC and Chinese Communist Party and requires opposition to multilateral development bank lending to China. Strengthening American Influence, Demanding Accountability: U.S. leadership at the UN should be measured by influence, not dollars spent. Calls for placing more Americans in international organizations and UN leadership positions while imposing stricter accountability and oversight requirements on institutions receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars. President Trump has made clear his focus of making the United Nations Great Again and putting America First at the UN, and House Republican Appropriators are supporting that agenda through reinforcing investments to advance U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and strategic interests. We accomplish more while also spending less. My FY27 NSRP bill cuts $2.7 billion in unnecessary spending, building on FY26's historic 16 percent reduction while directing resources to the highest-impact priorities that strengthen America. Through enacted NSRP measures, advancing FY27 bills, a field hearing with U.S. Ambassador to the UN, and renewed leadership through President Trump and the Executive Branch, all levers are being used to restore discipline, enforce consequences, and promote freedom. The President has expressed that the United Nations has great potential and that one day it will eventually live up to that promise. It's long overdue, and House Republicans are driving that reset into motion. ###",1,2026-09-24T10:30:22Z,2026-09-24T10:31:42Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wilson-introduces-glaucoma-vision-act-to-expand-screenings-and-prevent-vision-loss,Rep. Wilson Introduces Glaucoma Vision Act to Expand Screenings and Prevent Vision Loss,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) introduced the Glaucoma Vision Act of 2026, legislation to expand access to annual glaucoma screenings, bring detection and treatment to underserved communities, and invest in research to protect and restore vision. “Glaucoma can steal a person’s sight before they even know they have it. By the time symptoms appear, the damage may be irreversible,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24). “A screening could change the course of someone’s life, but too many people face gaps in coverage or cannot afford the care they need. My bill would help families detect glaucoma earlier, get treatment sooner, and hold on to the independence that comes with their sight.” Approximately 4.22 million Americans were living with glaucoma in 2022, and about half of people with the disease are unaware they have it. Although Medicare covers screenings for certain people at high risk, federal law does not uniformly require glaucoma screening coverage across Medicaid, private health plans, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Key Provisions of the Glaucoma Vision Act of 2026 Expands screening coverage across major health plans. The bill would require glaucoma screening coverage for eligible people with private insurance, Medicaid, and Federal Employees Health Benefits coverage. It would also eliminate applicable Medicare Part B cost sharing for screenings furnished to eligible people. The coverage provisions would generally take effect in 2027. Reaches people at higher risk. Eligible individuals include adults age 40 or older who identify as having African, Hispanic/Latino, or Asian ancestry, or who have a clinical risk factor such as diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, elevated eye pressure, myopia, certain blood pressure conditions, or chronic corticosteroid use. Adults age 60 or older would also qualify. Brings screening and treatment into underserved communities. Through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vision Health Initiative, the bill would establish competitive grants for free or low-cost screenings and follow-up treatment for uninsured and underinsured people at high risk. Grants could also support community education, mobile screening units, care coordination, and disease surveillance. Projects serving racial and ethnic minority communities and other underserved populations with a high burden of vision loss would receive priority. The bill authorizes $10 million for these activities across fiscal years 2027 and 2028. Advances research on glaucoma and optic nerve damage. The bill would authorize $10 million across fiscal years 2027 and 2028 for National Eye Institute research, including work on optic nerve repair, neuroprotection, gene therapies, and approaches to preserving or restoring vision. “No one should lose their sight because glaucoma went undetected. The Glaucoma Vision Act of 2026 would expand screening coverage, invest in community detection programs, and support vital research to improve treatment and prevent vision loss. The Academy applauds Representative Wilson for introducing this important legislation and advancing eye health for all Americans,” said Michael Repka, MD, MBA, Medical Director for Governmental Affairs, American Academy of Ophthalmology. “The impacts of untreated glaucoma extend beyond the individual, leading to emotional and psychological challenges for patients and their families. It can also diminish independence and contribute to substantial economic costs at both local and national levels through decreased productivity and increased health care demands. Given that there is currently no cure, proactive screening and prompt treatment are essential to reduce incidents of preventable blindness. Congresswoman Wilson’s legislation addresses this critical public health issue by increasing access to early glaucoma screening and investing in public health and research. Put together, these initiatives aim to protect vision, maintain independence, and mitigate the long-term personal and economic effects associated with this silent, irreversible disease. Prevent Blindness applauds Rep. Wilson’s efforts to promote early detection, preserve sight, and improve the health and well-being of our communities,” said Karen Allison, MD, MBA, FACS, Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center; Prevent Blindness Board of Directors member; and Prevent Blindness Public Health & Science Committee Co-Chair. “Protecting someone’s vision protects their ability to work, care for their family, and move through the world on their own terms,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24). “We have the knowledge to catch glaucoma earlier. We must make sure people have the opportunity to act on it.” Cosponsors of this bill are Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-3), Sanford Bishop (GA-2), Troy Carter (LA-2), Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-7), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-1), Robin Kelly (IL-2), Lucy McBath (GA-6), Jennifer McClellan (VA-4), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Christian D. Menefee (TX-18), Kweisi Mfume (MD-7), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Terri Sewell (AL-7), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-2), Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-5), as well as Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL). Organizations supporting this bill are the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Alliance for Vision Research, Cornea Society, Macula Society, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Prevent Blindness.",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-teams-up-with-female-athletes-in-nationwide-call-to-protect-womens-sports/,Senator Moody Teams Up with Female Athletes in Nationwide Call to Protect Women’s Sports,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody is teaming up with female athletes to protect women and girls in sports. At a Senate Judiciary Committee and briefing with national media, Senator Moody defended female athletes and pushed for fairness, opportunity, and safety in women’s sports. “Male athletes have no business competing in women’s sports, and it’s mindboggling that in 2026 we must pass legislation to protect meaningful opportunity for girls to compete. I am excited to join the many female athletes here today calling for fair competition and a real opportunity to excel in the sports they love,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: Senator Moody joined female athletes to emphasis the importance of protecting women and girls in sports following a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing today titled “Standing Up for Women in Sports: Ensuring Opportunity, Fairness and Safety for Female Athletes. As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody led a multistate challenge to the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX regulation changes, arguing that the changes undermined protections for women and girls. In 2021, Florida enacted the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, legislation that restricts individuals assigned male at birth from participating in sports teams or competitions designated for women or girls. Senator Moody is a cosponsor for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, that would generally prohibit school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women and girls. Senator Moody also cosponsored the Title IX Clarification Act of 2026, which would expressly define sex under Title IX as biological sex, either male or female, and make clear that gender identity does not change that classification. View Senator Moody’s full hearing remarks here. # # #",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/senator-rick-scott-fights-to-end-birth-tourism-from-communist-china-but-democrats-block-legislation,"Senator Rick Scott Fights to End Birth Tourism from Communist China, but Democrats Block Legislation",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Rick Scott tried to pass his Stopping Adversarial Foreign Exploitation of Kids in Domestic Surrogacy (SAFE KIDS) Act by unanimous consent. Senate Democrats blocked the bill despite a series of recent legacy media headlines highlighting exploitation of birth tourism by citizens of America’s enemies – specifically Communist China. Watch Senator Scott’s full speech by clicking HERE or on the image above. Senator Rick Scott said, “In July, I came to the floor and warned about Chinese birth tourism based on a story in my home state of Florida. It was a real story hurting one of my constituents, and I wanted to raise the alarm. I warned this body months ago of this national security threat. Here's what has happened since: this story from my state, and others like it, have made national headlines. The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, and CBS News have all run major stories about birth tourism since I last brought this to the floor. We can’t ignore it anymore, and we know it is not a conspiracy theory.” “American citizenship is not for sale, and our enemies cannot be allowed to buy it. This country, its sovereignty, and its future are worth protecting. Everyone in this chamber should believe that and support this bill.” This is the second time this year Senate Democrats have blocked Senator Scott’s bill. BACKGROUND The SAFE Kids Act prevents adversarial nations, including Communist China, from using American surrogates to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children and traffic infants abroad. It is the first bill of its kind to curb this practice and establish accountability for brokers who facilitate commercial surrogacy contracts with America’s foreign adversaries: Communist China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. International commercial surrogacy raises serious national security and human trafficking concerns, but there are currently no U.S. laws on the books to address these issues. The SAFE KIDS Act addresses a gap in U.S. surrogacy law by: Invalidating any commercial surrogacy agreement that is entered into with citizens of a foreign adversarial nation; and Creating a misdemeanor for brokers—not surrogates—who knowingly or recklessly facilitate a prohibited commercial surrogacy agreement with citizens of a foreign adversarial nation. Read more about Communist China’s birth tourism in America: The Wall Street Journal: A Florida Surrogate, a Father in China, and the Babies Caught Between CBS News: ""Who do we hand the baby to?"" Loopholes and shady practices taint U.S. surrogacy industry New York Magazine: Whose Babies are these? The New York Post: Meet the US Army vet running a California baby factory for Chinese nationals to have American kids ###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://donalds.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2638,Donalds Introduces the STARS Act,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Byron Donalds,D000032,donalds.house.gov,donalds,https://donalds.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) is leading the effort in the House to secure Florida as the permanent home for the newly established United States Space Academy through the introduction of the ""Securing the Advancement of Rising Spacefarers (STARS) Act"". The ""STARS Act"" is the 28th piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Donalds in the 119th Congress and is co-led by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) in the Senate. Congressman Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) is an original co-sponsor in the House. This piece of legislation directly answers President Trump's August 28 Executive Order, establishing a federal commission tasked with planning a dedicated, NASA-led academy to train the nation's military, civilian, and commercial space workforce. ""Florida is the birthplace of American space exploration and has led the world in spaceflight for decades. The Sunshine State has built an unmatched, fully integrated space ecosystem that bridges operational launch infrastructure, military space command assets, and tier-one research universities. Establishing the Space Academy on Florida's Space Coast forges an immediate talent pipeline and creates an unmatched competitive advantage, offering cadets daily exposure to NASA personnel, Space Force leaders, and private industry innovators,"" said Congressman Byron Donalds. ""To ensure American space superiority in an increasingly competitive domain, our future leaders must be educated at the very nexus of global space operations. I am proud to stand alongside Senator Moody in this effort to further strengthen and elevate Florida’s ever-emerging space landscape and solidify our nation’s strength and security beyond Earth’s orbit for generations to come."" BACKGROUND: WHAT THIS BILL DOES: This bill recommends the Space Commission to locate the Space Academy in Florida. Specifically, it suggests that the location be within reasonable distance to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. Additionally, this bill outlines that the selection and implementation of the Space Academy be done in coordination with the Governor of Florida and include academic and operational partnerships with Space Launch Delta 45 and Patrick Space Force Base.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://mast.house.gov/press-releases?ID=EA940509-BA0F-41D5-A0B9-F99484C28AEA,Mast Recognizes National Estuaries Week,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Brian J. Mast,M001199,mast.house.gov,mast,https://mast.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Brian Mast (FL-21) introduced a resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 19 through September 25, 2026 as “National Estuaries Week.” “Florida is truly blessed with one of the most unique ecosystems in the entire world. The Everglades and the coastal estuaries provide Florida with both environmental and economic benefits,” said Rep. Brian Mast. ""The problems facing the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie, Caloosahatchee and Lake Worth Lagoon is a reminder of the importance of these critical habitats. Our work to protect and restore our waterways and environment is not over, the public health and our economies depend on it."" First recognized in 1988 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Estuaries Week raises awareness on the critical habitats for wildlife, as well as the economic and environmental benefit they bring to our communities.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-a-former-judge-files-legislation-to-scrap-swampy-outdated-restriction-and-clean-up-some-federal-d-c-circuit-courts/,Senator Moody—a Former Judge—Files Legislation to Scrap Swampy Outdated Restriction and Clean Up Some Federal D.C. Circuit Courts,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody, a former circuit judge, is filing legislation to clean up two federal courts in Washington, D.C. Senator Moody’s Better Bench Act would allow nominees and active judges on the Court of Federal Claims and the Federal Circuit – both courts with nationwide jurisdiction – to reside anywhere in the United States by doing away with an outdated residency requirement that limits service to those in the D.C. area. Senator Moody is joined in this bipartisan effort by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. “For a court that covers the entire country, we should be considering nominating judges from everywhere in America based on merit—not their proximity to the D.C. bubble. My Better Bench Act removes an outdated residency requirement to expand the pool of qualified Americans who can serve and allows our courts to be a better reflection of the nation as a whole,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “Americans deserve the best, most qualified judges, especially in areas like intellectual property law where expertise is key to understanding complex cases and fairly deciding the future of many entrepreneurs’ businesses,” said Senator Chris Coons. “For too long, we have limited the pool of judges available to take on the toughest IP and federal contract cases to those willing to uproot their lives and move to Washington, D.C. No longer. This bipartisan bill ensures that courts of national jurisdiction can draw from a pool of national talent.” BACKGROUND: The Federal Circuit’s residency requirement is substantially more restrictive than those governing the regional courts of appeals. While judges on the regional circuits generally may reside anywhere within their circuits once each state is represented by at least one active judge, judges on the Federal Circuit and the Court of Federal Claims must reside within 50 miles of Washington, D.C. despite both courts having nationwide jurisdiction. Senator Moody’s Better Bench Act: Removes the current requirement that judges on the Federal Circuit and the Court of Federal Claims reside within 50 miles of the District of Columbia; Authorizes the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to ensure that judges that reside outside of the Washington D.C. area have adequate facilities in or near their home districts. For bill text, click here. # # #",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/senator-rick-scott-rolls-out-rescuing-america-platform-to-increase-american-homeownership,Senator Rick Scott Rolls Out “Rescuing America” Platform to Increase American Homeownership,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott continued rolling out his “Rescuing America” project with a video about the homeownership crisis facing the country – especially young Americans. Watch Senator Scott’s video by clicking HERE or on the image above. Senator Rick Scott said, “I agree with Zohran Mamdani on one thing: homeownership has become nearly impossible and too many young families are struggling. But his socialist agenda is wrong and will only create more of the failed big government spending and regulation that made it that way and is killing the American Dream. Washington has been robbing the American people blind for decades while making everything from homeownership to opening a business harder. President Trump has been using every tool he has on this problem, but it’s time for Congress to get government the heck out of people’s lives so hard-working Americans’ money can go a lot further. That’s the best way to make sure young families can own an affordable home and have a shot at the American Dream.” BACKGROUND: This video is the latest of a series in Senator Scott’s “Rescuing America” project that lays out a platform to revive the American Dream based on three simple principles: Balancing the budget Cutting regulations Creating jobs Earlier this week, Senator Scott laid out his goals for the project in an op-ed published in Newsweek titled, “How To Rescue America From the Spread of Socialism.” More information can be found here and here. ###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/oversight-ranking-members-robert-garcia-bennie-thompson-and-maxwell-frost-demand-answers-from-ice-on-dangerous-conditions-in-florida-immigration-facilities,"Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia, Bennie Thompson, and Maxwell Frost Demand Answers From ICE on Dangerous Conditions in Florida Immigration Facilities",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Maxwell Frost, Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, wrote to the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General demanding answers after whistleblowers shared with Oversight Democrats information on the Trump Administration’s dangerous conditions and lawless practices at ICE holding facilities in Florida. The reports include overflowing restrooms, air vents with visible black mold, and detainees forced to sleep on the concrete floor or in chains. “Whistleblowers have shared explosive new information with Oversight Democrats about the horrific conditions inside ICE facilities in Florida. The Trump Administration is trying to cover up these disgusting and unsafe conditions and escape accountability, while countless lives are put in danger. ICE must immediately put an end to this inhumane treatment and give us answers on this horrific situation,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia. “Whistleblower reports detailing inhumane and illegal detention conditions at multiple ICE holding facilities are appalling. These horrors – and the fact that the Trump administration is trying to cover up these abuses – must be fully investigated. These facilities must also be shut down and the individuals responsible need to be held accountable. Immigrants in ICE custody must be treated humanely and given proper medical care,” said Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson. “Trump’s immigration detention system is as cruel as it is unnecessary, and this administration's deliberate efforts to hide the conditions inside ICE facilities in Miramar and Orlando, Florida are abhorrent. This new whistleblower report reinforces what has long been documented about immigration detention facilities—a system being used to punish people rather than uphold basic human dignity and justice. Alongside my colleagues on the Oversight Committee, I’m demanding accountability and an end to these horrific abuses that are putting lives in danger,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. Images of Miramar Holding Facility provided by the whistleblower can be accessed here. In the letters to Mr. David J. Venturella, the Acting Director of ICE, and Joseph V. Cuffari, the Inspector General of DHS, the Members wrote, “We have received confidential whistleblower disclosures about the Trump Administration’s dangerous and lawless practices and conditions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facilities in Miramar and Orlando, Florida. Acting in clear defiance of court orders and ICE’s own internal policies, the Trump Administration has created crises at these facilities where brutal conditions put staff, detainees, and the public at imminent risk of serious harm or death. Whistleblowers warn that, among other abuses, ICE is detaining people—including men, women, families, and elderly people with chronic medical conditions—for days to weeks in abusive and life-threatening conditions, including overcrowded cells, prolonged shackling, inadequate access to medical care and hygiene, insufficient food, and limited to no legal access. ICE is simultaneously attempting to cover up these horrific practices.” In July 2026, Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal demanded answers from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) regarding the vetting and training of ICE officers in the wake of the killing of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on July 13, 2026, in Biddeford, Maine. In May, Ranking Member Garcia held an immigration round table in Orlando, and visited an Orlando ICE facility with Congressman Maxwell Frost. In February 2026, Ranking Member Garcia released a report highlighting Oversight Democrats’ key findings regarding the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Both victims were killed while bearing witness to the abuses and injustices on their neighbors by the Trump Administration’s aggressive, violent, and unlawful immigration enforcement tactics. In December 2025, Ranking Member Garcia and Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal launched a series of bicameral hearings to expose and investigate abuses, excessive force, and constitutional violations by federal immigration enforcement agents. In November 2025, Ranking Member Garcia led Oversight Democrats in launching a public Immigration Enforcement Dashboard to track and document incidents of abuse and potential misconduct by DHS immigration enforcement agents across the country. ###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-urges-air-force-to-make-florida-home-of-blue-horizons-2/,Senator Moody Urges Air Force to Make Florida Home of Blue Horizons,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody is fighting to get Blue Horizons relocated to the Sunshine State. Senator Moody is urging General Kenneth Wilsbach, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, to move Blue Horizons to Orlando, where the proximity to Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station can provide the program with direct access to strategic leaders and mission partners across the joint force. “Blue Horizons is the innovation hub for our Air Force, and there is no better place for the program to relocate than Florida. Orlando’s world-class modeling and simulation industry, cutting-edge research at our universities, and proximity to our Space Force installations make our state an ideal new home for Blue Horizons. The Sunshine State stands ready to serve as the new home for the future of innovation for the United States Air Force,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: Blue Horizons is the Air Force’s premier forum for exploring transformational ideas and capabilities for the future. University of Central Florida is the nation’s leading supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry and is home to nationally recognized programs in modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence, digital engineering, and national security research. Florida is home to three combatant commands, giving Blue Horizons direct access to strategic leaders and mission partners across the joint force. Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s servicemembers, veterans, and military families. Last year, Senator Moody secured more than $851 million for Florida’s military bases through her work on the National Defense Authorization Act. As Florida Attorney General, Senator Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program. Read the letter here. # # #",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/what-they-are-saying-sen-rick-scott-s-rescuing-america-plan-tackles-affordability-offers-alternative-to-socialism,"WHAT THEY ARE SAYING… Sen. Rick Scott’s ‘Rescuing America’ Plan Tackles Affordability, Offers Alternative to Socialism",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rick Scott penned an op-ed in Newsweek, How To Rescue America From the Spread of Socialism, detailing his three-part plan to tackle affordability issues hurting Americans: balance the federal budget, slash red tape, and create new jobs. The op-ed follows the release of Senator Scott’s “Rescuing America” campaign to restore the American Dream for younger generations, which was announced last week. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING… Politico: Rick Scott launches ‘Rescuing America’ economic messaging plan Florida’s Voice: “Scott launches ‘Rescuing America’ project, warns socialism will kill the American Dream” Breitbart: “Sen. Rick Scott announces 'Rescuing America' plan for affordability” Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott Launches 'Rescuing America' Economic Plan Just the News: Rick Scott to debut 'Rescuing America' midterm economic message UPI: Sen. Rick Scott announces 'Rescuing America' plan for affordability ###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/21/buchanan-urges-trump-administration-to-take-action-on-sulfur-shortage-threatening-american-fertilizer-production/,Buchanan Urges Trump Administration to Take Action on Sulfur Shortage Threatening American Fertilizer Production,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“What Hurts American Phosphate Hurts the American Farmer and Costs American Families” Sulfur Prices Have Surged Nearly 600 Percent as Domestic Fertilizer Producers Cut Production and Jobs WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging immediate action to address the severe disruption in sulfur supply putting American phosphate fertilizer production at risk. “Sulfur is the backbone of domestic phosphate fertilizer production, and right now American producers cannot afford it,” said Buchanan. “What hurts American phosphate hurts the American farmer and costs American families. More than 200 workers have already lost their jobs, and every day the interagency process drags on puts more of them at risk. The Administration has the tools to act, and I am urging them to use them now to support and protect our farmers. This isn’t one company’s problem or one state’s problem. It’s whether America can feed itself without depending on foreign suppliers. I’m not willing to leave that to chance for our children and grandchildren.” Sulfur is a critical raw material for domestic phosphate fertilizer production. The letter warns that the shortage has already forced significant production curtailments and that the more than 200 workers who lost their jobs a few weeks ago may be the first of many. Recent geopolitical and shipping disruptions have constrained global sulfur supplies and driven prices to historic levels. The ten-year average price for sulfur in Tampa is $172 per long ton. Since May, prices have surged more than $1,000 per long ton and are currently approximately $1,100 to $1,200, a nearly 600 percent increase. The disruption affects thousands of contractors, suppliers and communities that depend on these operations every day. This is not a challenge that can be fixed by one company, state or industry. Losing domestic fertilizer production would increase America’s reliance on foreign sources for an essential agricultural input. The letter calls on the Administration to act quickly to support American farmers and the domestic fertilizer industry they depend on. Read the full letter here or below: Dear President Trump and Secretary Lutnick, I write requesting immediate, high-level action to address the severe disruption in sulfur supply and affordability. Sulfur is a critical raw material in phosphate fertilizer production in the United States. Without sulfur, there is no domestic phosphate fertilizer production. Without phosphate-based fertilizers, American agriculture, food security and supply chains are at risk. Thousands of American workers rely on the American fertilizer industry, and this challenge is already forcing production curtailments. A few weeks ago, hundreds of those workers lost their jobs, threatening the domestic fertilizer supply farmers rely on. Elemental sulfur is essential to converting phosphate rock into crop nutrients. No affordable sulfur means less fertilizer and lower crop yields, resulting in an impacted food supply. What hurts American phosphate, hurts the American farmer, and costs American families. Recent geopolitical and shipping disruptions have constrained global sulfur supplies and driven prices to historic levels. The ten-year average price for sulfur in Tampa is $172 per long ton. Since May, prices have surged to $1,000 per long ton and are currently approximately $1,100 to $1,200, a nearly 600 percent increase. These disruptions also affect the thousands of contractors, suppliers, and communities depending on these operations. It’s important to note once production capacity is lost, it cannot be quickly restored. Every day America produces less fertilizer amounts to lost volumes for future planting seasons. This is a direct impact to American agriculture. More broadly, this is not a challenge fixed by one company, state or industry. It is a critical national supply chain and food security issue. Losing domestic fertilizer production would increase our reliance on foreign sources for an essential agricultural input at a time when Congressional Republicans are working with your Administration to bolster domestic manufacturing and strengthen American supply chains. The interagency process, while appreciated, falls short of moving at a speed commensurate with the urgency of the situation. Immediate engagement at the highest levels is needed. Your Administration has a range of lawful tools to increase the near-term availability of competitively priced sulfur, including authorities under the Defense Production Act; voluntary coordination with domestic refiners and sulfur marketers; transportation, storage, and logistics solutions; trade or financing tools; and engagement with allied suppliers. Any action should be targeted and account for potential impacts on energy markets and other domestic sulfur users. Market forces alone cannot resolve this challenge quickly enough. Every day of disruption threatens more jobs, fertilizer production, and U.S. agricultural resilience. Prompt action can help protect a critical domestic industry and the farmers who depend on it. We stand ready to partner with your Administration in pursuing practical solutions and respectfully request to be kept informed of next steps. ###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-diaz-balart-hosts-19th-annual-service-academy-day,Congressman Díaz-Balart Hosts 19th Annual Service Academy Day,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, and member of the Defense Subcommittee, hosted his 19th Annual Service Academy Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at U.S. Southern Command. Academy Day offers high school students and their parents the opportunity to learn more about pursuing a military career. Attendees have the opportunity to speak with representatives from the U.S. Service Academies and learn more about the application, nomination, selection, and appointment processes. This year's event welcomed more than 100 students and their families. Díaz-Balart said, ""It is always a source of pride for me to host young men and women from Florida's 26th District interested in serving their country. Preparing future Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Guardians to become dedicated, disciplined leaders with a strong understanding of core military values and institutional knowledge ensures a steady supply of capable officers for one of our country's most important missions: protecting our national defense. I am especially grateful to General Francis L. Donovan for hosting us, and to the representatives from the United States Service Academies for sharing valuable insights with those eager to serve our great nation. I look forward to nominating outstanding candidates for appointments and to following their continued success."" Additional Information: A service academy is a four-year, tuition-free college that admits a select number of qualified candidates and provides them with a world-class education, rigorous leadership training, and physical training, resulting in a commission as an officer in a specific branch of the U.S. military. The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. For more information, please click here. ###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-backed-change-act-improve-early-alzheimers-detection-advances-out,Bilirakis-Backed CHANGE Act to Improve Early Alzheimer’s Detection Advances Out of Committee,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) applauded the House Ways and Means Committee’s unanimous advancement of bipartisan legislation containing provisions of the Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act, which Bilirakis introduced with Representatives Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA). The CHANGE Act is designed to promote earlier detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by directing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify cognitive impairment detection tools that can help clinicians more effectively detect cognitive decline and connect patients with appropriate follow-up care. Earlier this week, the CHANGE Act was amended into H.R. 6130, the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, which the Ways and Means Committee approved by a unanimous 40-0 vote. The broader package seeks to improve early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. More than seven million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, and for many patients, a diagnosis comes only after the disease has already taken a significant toll. Advances in testing and treatment have increased the importance of identifying Alzheimer’s and related dementias at earlier stages. “Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that has touched my family personally, so I understand the tremendous toll it takes not only on patients, but also on the loved ones who care for them,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “As promising new treatments continue to emerge, early detection and diagnosis are more important than ever. The bipartisan CHANGE Act will help ensure patients and their doctors have better tools to identify cognitive decline earlier, when interventions may have the greatest impact. I am pleased to see this important legislation advance out of Committee as part of a broader package, bringing us another step closer to improving care, preserving quality of life, and ultimately finding a cure for this terrible disease.” “Alzheimer’s touches millions of families, and identifying the disease early can make a meaningful difference for patients and their loved ones,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The CHANGE Act brings us closer to giving healthcare providers the tools to recognize the warning signs sooner and connect families with the care and support they need. I’m proud this bipartisan legislation is moving forward so more families can have more time, better care, and greater hope.” “This is deeply personal for me. I lost both of my parents to Alzheimer’s, and I know firsthand how much earlier detection could have meant for our family,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Advancing this bill out of committee brings us one step closer to giving other families that chance. I’m grateful to my Ways and Means colleagues for passing our bipartisan bill and will keep fighting to get it signed into law.” “Alzheimer’s impacts millions of Americans, and we must do everything we can to support the search for a cure. This bipartisan bill provides help to patients and clinicians through expanded early detection support and improved data collection,” said Congressman LaHood. “The CHANGE Act, coupled with the ASAP Act, will strengthen existing tools to help streamline and broaden the ability for earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.” The CHANGE Act is supported by a broad coalition of patient, provider and aging organizations, including UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, the American Academy of Neurology, Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Alliance for Aging Research, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Gerontological Society of America, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Latinos Against Alzheimer’s and USAging. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Mark Warner (D-VA) have also introduced companion legislation in the Senate.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1934,Franklin Statement On House Passage Of Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia And Iran Act,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) issued the following statement after supporting House passage of H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026: “Russia continues to finance its war in Ukraine through energy exports while relying on countries that help Moscow evade sanctions. That money allows Russia to strengthen its military and continue waging hostilities. “Using America’s economic strength to cut off that funding is commonsense national security. This bill increases pressure on Russia’s energy and financial sectors and imposes consequences on countries that continue major purchases of Russian energy or help Moscow get around U.S. sanctions. It also maintains important sanctions against Iran. “A stronger Russia has more resources to challenge the United States and our allies, while Iran continues to fund terrorism and threaten American interests. Making it harder for our adversaries to finance those activities reduces their ability to threaten Americans, our service members and our allies. “I’m pleased to see this bill pass both the House and Senate and head to President Trump’s desk for his signature.”",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-honors-former-prisoner-of-war-with-national-pow-mia-recognition-day-congressional-resolution/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Honors Former Prisoner of War with National POW/MIA Recognition Day Congressional Resolution,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Senator Ashley Moody is introducing a Senate Resolution to honor all service members missing in action or captured and held prisoner by enemy forces. At a ceremony in Sarasota at VFW Post 3233 today, Senator Moody presented the resolution to former prisoner of war, Seaman Richard J. “Rick” Rogala—highlighting Seaman Rogala’s story as an example of what POWs face when captured while serving our country. “Our service members who were taken prisoner or who remain missing in action made a tremendous sacrifice for our nation. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we renew our solemn promise to remember every American who was captured or went missing in action. As a member of a military family and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, this responsibility is deeply personal to me. I will always stand with our veterans, and I’m honored to recognize former POW Rick Rogala for his service to our country on this special day,” said Senator Ashley Moody. Seaman Rogala served aboard the USS Pueblo in the United States Navy. In January 1968, North Korean forces attacked and took control of the ship. One sailor, Fireman Duane Hodges, was killed in the attack. Seaman Rogala and the rest of the crew were held in North Korea for 11 months and subjected to brutal treatment. Today, Senator Moody honored Seaman Rogala with a congressional resolution. BACKGROUND: Senator Moody continues to serve Florida’s more than 1.3 million veterans. Recent actions of support include the following: Leading efforts to designate a Florida museum as the only National POW/MIA Museum and Memorial in the Country; Cosponsoring the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. The Veterans Bill of Rights Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights regarding VA-administered health care, benefits, and services; Cosponsoring the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans; Supporting the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans; Supporting the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans; Holding a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans; Recognizing 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussing the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more. # # #",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-introduces-legislation-to-combat-illegal-southern-border-tunnel-crossings,Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislation to Combat Illegal Southern Border Tunnel Crossings,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott introduced the Subterranean Border Defense Act in the U.S. Senate to bolster the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to find and shut down illegal cross-border tunnel operations used for trafficking and smuggling. The bill amends the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012 by directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to submit a yearly strategic report on its efforts to counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations. This legislation, first introduced by Rep. Eli Crane, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2025. Senator Rick Scott said, “For four miserable years, Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet for human traffickers, drug smugglers, and other international criminals to illegally enter and terrorize our country. Our communities were flooded with drugs brought through border tunnels, and Americans paid the price. Under President Trump, fentanyl deaths have plummeted, and our neighborhoods are safer, but we need to make sure it stays that way – and that no future president can bring back the chaos. This bill is a strong step to keeping America and her people safe in the long run."" Rep. Crane said, ""I'm grateful to Senator Rick Scott for leading the Subterranean Border Defense Act in the Senate. This legislation strengthens our deterrence posture by increasing oversight of illicit cross-border tunnels. With the Trump administration successfully halting illegal crossings at our border, it's never been more important to block alternative routes into our homeland. We owe it to the American people to do everything in our control to eliminate human trafficking, drug smuggling, and unlawful entries. This bill already passed the House in an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, and today's introduction in the upper chamber brings us one step closer to becoming law."" BACKGROUND: In June of this year, a Homeland Security Task Force investigation uncovered a web of cross-border tunnels between San Diego and Tijuana containing 2,200 pounds of cocaine worth roughly 45 million dollars. Since 1990, officials have discovered more than 140 tunnels that have breached the U.S. border, with tunnel activity increasing by 80% since 2008. ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-host-20th-annual-veterans-resource-fair-senators-scott-and-moody,Bilirakis to Host 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fair with Senators Scott and Moody,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PASCO COUNTY, - Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) will host his 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fair on Saturday, September 26, 2026. This year’s event will be jointly hosted by U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody. For two decades, this annual Veterans Resource Fair has brought together organizations and agencies from throughout the community to help Veterans and their families connect directly with the benefits, services, and support they have earned. This year’s fair will feature resources related to Veterans claims assistance and education benefits, healthcare, job placement and employment services, housing assistance, social services, and more. “Serving those who have served our nation is one of my highest priorities, and I’m incredibly proud that we are celebrating the 20th year of bringing this important event directly to our local Veterans and their families,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “Our Veterans have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms, and we have a responsibility to ensure they can access the benefits, healthcare, opportunities, and support they have earned. Too often, Veterans simply don’t know about all of the resources available to them or where to turn for help. That’s exactly why we bring these organizations together under one roof - to make it easier for Veterans and their families to get answers, make connections, and access the assistance they deserve. I’m grateful to Senators Scott and Moody for joining me this year as we continue working together to serve those who have served us.” Senator Rick Scott said, “As a Navy veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, I know firsthand the service and sacrifice our veterans and their families make – and the toll those sacrifices can take long-term. As Florida’s U.S. Senator, it is crucial to me that our federal government stands with them and that every veteran can access the benefits he or she has earned. That starts with ensuring our veterans and their families have the information, resources, and help they need to make the process as easy as possible. That starts with ensuring our veterans and their families have the information, resources, and help they need to make the process as easy as possible, which is why I am grateful for Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ leadership and I am glad to join him and Senator Ashley Moody in hosting the 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fair. I encourage veterans and their families in Florida’s 12th Congressional District to come learn more about your benefits.” “Our veterans answered the call to serve our nation, and we have a responsibility to stand with them when they return home. I’m happy to cohost Congressman Bilirakis’s 20th Annual Veterans Resource Fairs to help connect those who served with the benefits, resources, and support they’ve earned. I’ll always fight to ensure Florida’s veterans and their families are supported and never forgotten,” said Senator Ashley Moody. The event is free and open to Veterans and their families. Attendees will have an opportunity to speak directly with participating organizations, ask questions, learn more about available programs, and receive assistance identifying resources that may meet their individual needs. Veterans are encouraged to RSVP by calling 727-232-2921. EVENT DETAILS WHAT: Veterans Resource Fair Jointly Hosted by Representative Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. WHERE: Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-secures-major-tampa-bay-and-nature-coast-water-infrastructure,Bilirakis Secures Major Tampa Bay and Nature Coast Water Infrastructure Priorities in House-Passed WRDA,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Gus Bilirakis announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, which includes several priorities he requested to strengthen water infrastructure, improve storm resiliency, protect natural resources, and support communities throughout Florida’s 12th Congressional District and the greater Tampa Bay region. WRDA is Congress’s biennial legislation authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and studies related to water infrastructure, ports and harbors, flood and storm risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, and other critical water-resource needs. “Florida is growing rapidly, and we have to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace while protecting the natural resources that make our communities such special places to live, work and raise a family,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “I worked closely with our local partners to identify their most pressing water infrastructure and resiliency needs, and I’m pleased that the House-passed WRDA includes each of the priorities we submitted. These provisions will help address water and wastewater needs, strengthen our defenses against hurricanes and flooding, protect and restore important ecosystems, and lay the groundwork for future investments throughout our region. I’ll keep working to get these priorities across the finish line.” At Bilirakis’s request, the House-passed legislation includes: Pasco County Ecosystem Restoration and Water Supply: Authorizes a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study examining opportunities for ecosystem restoration and water supply improvements in Pasco County. Lower Withlacoochee River Watershed Restoration: Authorizes a feasibility study focused on ecosystem restoration of the Lower Withlacoochee River Watershed, an important natural resource for the Nature Coast. $29.6 Million Authorization for Hernando County Water Infrastructure: Authorizes a new environmental infrastructure project of up to $29.6 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Hernando County, including stormwater management and environmental restoration. $400,000 Authorization for Pasco County Water Infrastructure: Authorizes a new environmental infrastructure project for water and wastewater infrastructure, including distribution systems, in Pasco County. $100 Million Regional Water Infrastructure Authorization: Authorizes up to $100 million for water infrastructure, including water-supply projects, serving Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. Port Tampa Bay and McKay Bay Storm Protection: Directs the expedited completion of a feasibility study for hurricane and storm-damage risk reduction at Port Tampa Bay, including McKay Bay. The study is intended to help identify potential measures to better protect critical infrastructure and surrounding communities from hurricanes, storm surge, and flooding. The legislation also contains an additional provision benefiting the Tampa Bay region by directing the expedited completion of a feasibility study for hurricane and storm-damage risk reduction and ecosystem restoration in the vicinity of MacDill Air Force Base.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1933,Franklin Statement On House Passage Of Water Resources Development Act,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026: “Water management isn’t an abstract issue in Florida. Decisions involving Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, flood control and our coasts directly affect our communities, agriculture, environment and economy. WRDA is one of the most important tools Congress has to set priorities for the Army Corps and keep critical water infrastructure projects moving. “This bill advances several major Florida priorities. It moves the Central Everglades Planning Project and Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir forward, supports continued work on Lake Okeechobee and strengthens federal support for beach renourishment and flood-risk reduction. It also includes reforms to Corps project delivery and coordination so important projects aren’t held up by unnecessary delays. “As a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, I’m focused on making sure these priorities have the resources and direction needed to move from authorization to construction. Congress can authorize important projects, but we must also ensure the Corps can execute them efficiently and keep long-term work on schedule. “Florida’s water challenges require sustained attention. Restoring the Everglades, managing Lake Okeechobee, protecting communities from flooding and maintaining our coasts are long-term commitments. The House has done its work, and I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can move WRDA forward and get these critical Florida water priorities across the finish line.”",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lee-introduces-unleash-american-pipelines-act-reform-natural-gas,Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces the Unleash American Pipelines Act to Reform Natural Gas Pipeline Judicial Review,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the Unleash American Pipelines Act, legislation to reform the judicial review process for natural gas pipeline certificates of public convenience and necessity issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The legislation would provide greater certainty for federally approved pipeline projects by limiting legal challenges to parties that can dictate direct and irreparable economic harm, establishing a clear and convincing evidence standard for overturning FERC’s expert determinations, and consolidating challenges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. “Florida families and businesses depend on affordable, reliable energy, and natural gas powers nearly three-quarters of our state’s electricity,” said Rep. Lee. “When a pipeline has undergone extensive federal review and received approval from FERC, outside groups should not be able to use endless litigation to delay critical energy infrastructure indefinitely. The Unleash American Pipelines Act will bring greater certainty to the permitting process while preserving judicial review for those directly affected. This is a commonsense step to strengthen American energy infrastructure, lower costs, and ensure Florida has the reliable energy supply we need to continue growing.” ""Florida relies on interstate pipelines for nearly all of the natural gas that powers homes and businesses across the state,” said CEO of Florida Power & Light Company, Scott Bores. “Reliable pipeline infrastructure is essential to providing affordable, reliable electric service for our customers and supporting Florida's continued growth. We appreciate Congresswoman Lee's leadership on this important issue."" “TECO Energy applauds Congresswoman Lee for focusing on the right things: making government more efficient and effective to protect consumers and save customers' money. In Florida, natural gas is the backbone of the electric generation system, and smart policy that unleashes these investments promotes reliability and economic benefits,” said TECO. “We look forward to working with her on this legislation to improve the bureaucratic process to get much needed infrastructure built that supports growth in Florida.” “Ensuring customer affordability and reliability has been and remains at the heart of everything Duke Energy does - from our operations to investments to our public policy engagement” said Louis Renjel, Chief Executive Officer of Duke Energy Florida and Midwest. “To that end, this legislation will help increase access to lower-cost gas supplies, strengthen energy reliability for Floridians and keep customer costs as low as possible.” Florida’s dependence on natural gas makes reliable pipeline infrastructure especially important. The state produces less than one percent of the natural gas it consumes, meaning nearly all of the fuel used to power Florida homes and businesses must reach the state through interstate pipelines. When approved projects are tied up in years of litigation, the resulting uncertainty can increase financing and construction costs, discourage investment, and make it more difficult to build the infrastructure needed to meet growing energy demand. Background: Natural gas accounts for nearly 73 percent of Florida’s electricity generation. Yet Florida produces less than one percent of the natural gas it uses, leaving the state heavily dependent on interstate pipelines to deliver its supply. Before an interstate natural gas pipeline can be built, developers must receive a certificate of public convenience and necessity from FERC. That approval comes after an extensive federal review process. Under current law, however, receiving a FERC certificate does not necessarily provide certainty that an approved project will be completed. Third-party organizations that are not landowners or otherwise directly economically affected by a project can challenge a certificate in federal court, potentially adding years of litigation after the federal review process has already concluded. Those delays have consequences beyond individual pipeline projects. Pipeline construction is capital intensive, and years of potential litigation create additional financial risk for developers and investors. That uncertainty can result in more expensive financing, higher required returns, and projects that become too costly to build. For projects that do move forward, additional costs incurred during years of litigation can ultimately affect the utilities that rely on pipeline capacity and the families and businesses paying their energy bills. The Mountain Valley Pipeline illustrates the consequences of prolonged litigation. The 303-mile pipeline was approved by FERC and originally scheduled for completion in 2018 at an estimated cost of $3.5 billion. After years of litigation and delays, the project’s cost grew to approximately $7.85 billion—more than double its original estimate. Congress ultimately had to intervene to allow construction to be completed. With electricity demand and utility costs increasing across the country, the Unleash American Pipelines Act would provide greater certainty after FERC completes its review and approves critical pipeline infrastructure. The Unleash American Pipelines Act enacts three targeted reforms. Standing Reform: Limits legal challenges to parties who have suffered direct and irreparable economic harm from the specific pipeline certificate at issue. Organizations may only bring claims if every individual member independently satisfies that standard, ensuring judicial review is available to those who are genuinely affected. Heightened Standard of Review: Requires courts to apply a clear and convincing evidence standard before overturning FERC's expert determinations, reflecting the depth and rigor of the Commission's review process and preserving the appropriate role of agency expertise. Exclusive D.C. Circuit Jurisdiction: Consolidates all pipeline certificate challenges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, eliminating forum shopping and creating a single, predictable appellate forum for all parties. This legislation is supported by Duke Energy, TECO, and Florida Power and Light.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-patronis-votes-to-advance-legislation-to-protect-consumers-from-rising-utility-costs-driven-by-ai-data-centers,Congressman Patronis Votes to Advance Legislation to Protect Consumers from Rising Utility Costs Driven by AI Data Centers,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Jimmy Patronis,P000622,patronis.house.gov,patronis,https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late Wednesday evening, Congressman Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) voted to advance H.R. 9340 the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure hardworking Americans aren’t footing the bill for AI data centers. Congressman Patronis said, “If Big Tech wants to build a massive data center and use massive amounts of electricity, they should pay for the power and infrastructure they need, not hardworking families and small businesses. I don’t want families in Northwest Florida footing the bill for someone else’s investment opportunity.” The Ratepayer Protection Act would: Give states the tools to protect ratepayers. Create a federal standard for large-load customers, like data centers, to pay for the power and grid upgrades they need. Create a framework to protect families from the bill if a data center leaves. The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House by a vote of 417-3 and now moves to the Senate for consideration. To view the Ratepayer Protection Act, click here. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steubes-bill-to-strengthen-taxpayer-rights-passes-house-heads-to-u-s-senate/,"Rep. Steube’s Bill to Strengthen Taxpayer Rights Passes House, Heads to U.S. Senate",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON–On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Greg Steube’s H.R. 9498, the Taxpayer Advocate Participation Act (TAPA), under suspension of the rules. Introduced by Rep. Steube (R-Fla.) alongside Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), the bipartisan legislation authorizes the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) to appear as amicus curiae in federal tax cases on issues that may broadly affect taxpayer rights. “American taxpayers deserve someone in their corner when their rights are at stake in federal court,” said Rep. Steube. “The National Taxpayer Advocate already fights for taxpayers across the country, but current law does not authorize the Advocate to weigh in on court cases that could impact millions of Americans. My bill closes that gap and makes sure the taxpayer’s voice is heard. I’m pleased to see the House pass TAPA, and I urge the Senate to get it to President Trump’s desk.” “The National Taxpayer Advocate plays an important role in championing the interests of American taxpayers,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “However, current law prohibits the Advocate from doing so when taxpayer rights are at stake in litigation before a court of law. This is a serious weakness in the office’s ability to carry out its mission. With the Taxpayer Advocate Participation Act, Representative Steube has identified a targeted solution and one that is reflective of his ongoing, successful work to advance the interests of American taxpayers.” “American taxpayers deserve to have an independent voice represent them in court, especially in cases that could impact them and their tax bill. This bipartisan bill will allow the National Taxpayer Advocate to weigh in on behalf of millions of Americans in these vital cases,” said Rep. DelBene. “I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their efforts to get this through the Ways and Means Committee and now the House so we can better advocate for taxpayers.” Under current law, the NTA is barred from submitting amicus briefs in federal tax litigation, even in major precedent-setting cases. TAPA closes this statutory gap by amending Section 7803(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, granting the Advocate targeted amicus authority modeled after recommendations in the NTA’s 2026 Purple Book. The bill does not authorize the NTA to represent individual taxpayers, but ensures the Advocate’s systemic expertise can inform judicial proceedings. TAPA is backed by key organizations, including the National Taxpayers Union, Small Business & Entrepreneurship (SBE) Council, Intuit, 60 Plus Association, and National Association of Consumer Advocates. The bill unanimously passed the House Committee on Ways and Means on July 1, 2026. Following this week’s passage in the House, TAPA now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. Watch Rep. Steube’s remarks on the House floor here. Background: Protecting taxpayers and strengthening taxpayer rights has been a consistent focus of Rep. Steube’s work on the Ways and Means Committee. In the nearly forty years since the landmark Tax Reform Act of 1986, Rep. Steube is one of only two Members of Congress who did not chair the committee to have sponsored tax legislation signed into law by presidents of both parties. The House passage of TAPA is another example of what Congress can accomplish when taxpayers are put first. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-blasts-socialists-looking-to-dismantle-our-nations-founding-document-on-constitution-day/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Blasts Socialists Looking to Dismantle Our Nation’s Founding Document on Constitution Day,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody sent a searing message to radical socialists looking to dismantle our nation’s founding principles—not on her watch. On Constitution Day, Senator Moody took to the Senate Floor to honor this remarkable document and urge colleagues to join her in defending the freedom it secures. “As our nation celebrates America’s 250th anniversary, Constitution Day reminds us that the promise of liberty declared in 1776 was preserved through the Constitution just a few short years later. Through this transformational document, our Founders created a system of limited government, separated powers, and checks and balances designed to protect our God-given rights and preserve liberty for generations to come,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “While there is a growing movement on the Left that seeks to dismantle the guardrails to liberty enumerated in the Constitution, we as Americans must continue to defend the freedom it secures and pass on its principles to the next generation.” BACKGROUND: Throughout Senator Moody’s career, she has served in each of the three branches of government—from serving as a judge to leading a state executive agency as Florida Attorney General, and now a member of the legislative branch in the U.S. Senate. Senator Moody is fighting to protect Floridians: Protecting Religious Freedom: Senator Moody cosponsored the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act, which would restrict U.S. visas for foreign government officials, terrorists, and other actors responsible for violations of religious freedom. Second Amendment Rights: Senator Moody champions the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow people with concealed-carry privileges in their home state to exercise them in other states that permit concealed carry, subject to the destination state’s laws. Protecting Civil Rights: Senator Moody introduced the RECLAIM Act, which would allow federal funds to be clawed back from higher-education institutions found to have violated students’ civil rights. Fighter for Servicemembers’ Property Rights: Senator Moody introduced theServicemember Residence Protection Act, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act so that state adverse-possession or “squatters’ rights” laws would not apply to servicemembers’ homes in the circumstances covered by the bill. Veterans’ Rights: Senator Moody is a cosponsor of the Veterans Bill of Rights Act, which would require the VA to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights concerning VA health care, benefits, and services. Senator Moody is working to instill patriotism in the next generation with her PLEDGE Act, which would require students and staff in Washington D.C. schools to begin each day with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Americans’ constitutional rights were being infringed, Moody, as Florida’s Attorney General, fought to protect Floridians’ freedoms—challenging federal mask and vaccine mandates, fighting CDC restrictions that harmed Florida’s cruise industry, and supporting efforts to safely reopen Florida’s businesses and schools. View Senator Moody’s full floor remarks here. # # #",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/media-advisory-congressman-diaz-balart-host-service-academy-day-us,Media Advisory: Congressman Díaz-Balart to Host Service Academy Day at U.S. Southern Command,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MIAMI, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, will host his annual Service Academy Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at U.S. Southern Command: On this day, representatives from the U.S. Naval, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Military, U.S. Merchant Marine, and U.S. Coast Guard Academies will meet with and inform prospective students about educational and career opportunities at the service academies. Event Details: RSVP is required due to security restrictions. A valid government ID and media credentials must be presented at the checkpoint for admittance. Please RSVP to Dietwin Smoli. WHAT: Service Academy Day WHO: Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) Representatives from the United States Service Academies WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2026 8:30 a.m. ET WHERE: U.S. Southern Command 9301 NW 33rd Street Doral, FL 33172",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/once-again-diaz-balart-delivers-big-905-m,"Once Again, Diaz-Balart Delivers BIG $90.5 M",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026: ""My record is clear. I consistently deliver for South Florida, and WRDA 26 builds on it. I am grateful to Chairman Sam Graves, for working with me to secure a critical provision that makes PortMiami eligible to compete for federal reimbursement of approximately $90.5 million for the Miami Harbor Deep Dredge project. Since my time in the Florida Legislature, and now as a member of Congress, I have long fought for our state's seaports. As the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Subcommittee on Appropriations in 2019, I created the first-ever dedicated pot of money specifically for seaport infrastructure development. Despite Miami-Dade County’s many challenges at the Port, I have always understood the need to provide our ports with adequate resources to fit the needs of our growing economy, and the Miami Harbor Deep Dredge project did just that. This project created and continues to support thousands of jobs, has furthered the Port’s cargo growth, surpassed one million TEUs for 11 consecutive years, and made its mark as the 11th largest container port in the United States of America. Chairman Graves understands the vital importance of strengthening our nation’s water infrastructure, supporting our ports and waterways, and advancing projects that benefit both our economy and our environment. Working alongside my Florida colleagues, Rep. Daniel Webster and Rep. Brian Mast, Chairman Graves leadership in navigating Florida’s waters and delivering restoration for America’s Everglades does not go unnoticed. WRDA 26 directs the U.S. Army Corps to expedite completion of various studies and projects for Everglades restoration efforts in South Florida, as well as new authorization for feasibility studies in the region: Central & South Florida Project Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Central & South Florida Resiliency Study – Broward Basins for the project for flood risk management Flood Risk Management, Coastal Storm Risk Management, and Ecosystem Restoration in the back bay system of Broward County, Florida These efforts are vital to restoring the Everglades and protecting South Florida’s water supply, communities, and economy. A summary of the bill is available here. Bill Text is available here. Background: Diaz-Balart secures Miami Harbor Deep Dredge project authorization in WRDA 2007. Diaz-Balart applauds then-Governor Rick Scott for commitment to job creation and economic growth for the region. (March 2011) Diaz-Balart champions modification authorization for the Deep Dredge Project at PortMiami in WRDA 13 (July 2013; / October 2013) Diaz-Balart, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, secures amendments to the authorized limit for the PortMiami Deep Dredge Project in the final FY2014 E&W Appropriations Bill. (January 2014) PortMiami Deep Dredge Project was completed in 2015 – ahead of schedule, and positioned PortMiami as the first U.S. port in the Southeast with a -50/52 foot controlling draft. Since completion, cargo activity has risen by 25.3% overall, and by as much as 43% in FY2011, the busiest year in the Port’s history. PortMiami has surpassed one million TEUs for eleven consecutive years and welcomed more than 2,120 Neo-Panamax vessels. These vessels previously could not dock at the Port because of draft limitations. Today, PortMiami is the nation’s 11th largest container port and a major economic driver for South Florida, supporting 340,000 jobs and contributing $61 billion annually to the regional economy. ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/watch-chairman-diaz-balart-delivers-opening-remarks-subcommittee,WATCH: Chairman Díaz-Balart Delivers Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing with U.S. Trade and Investment Agencies to Empower Economic Growth and Strategic Partnerships,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, delivers opening remarks at Subcommittee hearing with U.S. Trade and Investment Agencies to Empower Economic Growth and Strategic Partnerships: Chairman Díaz-Balart's opening remarks as prepared here ""Acting Director Hardy, Acting Chief of Staff Petrie, and Head of Investments, Mr. Coleman, thank you for appearing today to testify on the President’s 2027 budget request. Your agencies are important instruments of American economic statecraft and commercial diplomacy that advance our national security. I would note that this is also an important year for the Export-Import Bank of the United States. While we invited the agency to testify today, they unfortunately could not accommodate our schedule. With a $30 trillion economy accounting for 26% of global GDP -- up from 24% in 2021 -- the United States remains the largest, most innovative, and resilient country in the world. Advancing the security and prosperity of Americans is fundamental to United States foreign policy and drives the funding priorities of this Subcommittee. President Trump and Secretary Rubio have made strengthening the economic security of Americans and advancing U.S. commercial interests overseas a top foreign policy priority. In that regard, this Subcommittee strongly supports the important efforts by your agencies to further strengthen the economic and strategic position of the United States around the world, such as in the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific. This includes financing and technical assistance to— combat the influence of the PRC and Chinese Communist Party; secure access to critical minerals; nearshore strategically important manufacturing supply chains; and identify commercial opportunities for our vibrant private sector; all while supporting partners that champion freedom. This was showcased with great success last week in the Philippines at the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum. Each of your agencies, along with the Department of State and in partnership with the Philippines, demonstrated what a well-coordinated, focused foreign policy initiative in support of U.S. national security looks like. I look forward to discussing this initiative more when we get to questions. Congress supported the creation and recent reauthorization of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in part to help counter the PRC’s aggressive use of infrastructure finance to advance Beijing’s strategic goals and to partner with the private sector to expand U.S. economic opportunities abroad. Mr. Coleman, I hope you can address the DFC’s budget request in the context of available program balances, as well as prioritization of critical minerals, nuclear energy technology and artificial intelligence, and the recent legislative requests for the FY27 appropriations process. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) plays a unique role among U.S. trade and investment agencies by providing competitive, eligibility-based funding to accelerate economic growth, including through infrastructure and other high-priority investments in countries that take demonstrable steps to support personal and economic freedom. Mr. Petrie, I hope you can address how the FY27 request will enable MCC to work effectively with partner countries to achieve strong economic growth in ways that align with the America First strategy, as well as help create new opportunities for the United States economy. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has the mission of helping U.S. companies create American jobs by connecting the private sector with infrastructure and development projects in emerging economies. This includes the use of feasibility studies, technical assistance, and pilot projects in significant sectors and countries of strategic importance to the United States. Director Hardy, I trust you will inform the Subcommittee on how the FY27 budget request supports the mission of USTDA, including by helping to strengthen the foundation of American economic power and leadership abroad. Before I conclude, let me thank you for your service to our country, and note how much we appreciate the dedication of the men and women in your agencies. I’ll turn now to the ranking Member for her opening remarks."" ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-celebrates-house-passage-am-radio-every-vehicle-act,Bilirakis Celebrates House Passage of AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) applauded House passage of the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, legislation he supports to ensure Americans continue to have access to AM radio in new vehicles. AM radio remains an important source of news, weather, emergency information, and community programming for millions of Americans. It is particularly critical during hurricanes and other natural disasters when power, cellular networks, and internet service may be disrupted. The legislation would require automakers to maintain access to AM broadcast radio in new vehicles without an additional charge to consumers. “Here in Florida, we know firsthand how important it is to have reliable access to emergency information before, during, and after a hurricane,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “When the power goes out, cell towers are overwhelmed, or internet service is disrupted, AM radio can be a lifeline. It also remains an important source of news and information for seniors, rural communities, and millions of Americans traveling our roads each day. As technology continues to evolve, we should not eliminate a proven, reliable communications tool that helps keep people informed and safe. I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and pleased to see it pass the House.” AM radio also plays an important role in the nation’s emergency communications infrastructure. Because AM signals can travel long distances and reach broad geographic areas, local broadcasters can provide critical information to residents throughout a region during an emergency. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to include AM radio in new passenger vehicles as standard equipment and ensure consumers are not charged an additional fee for access. “Public safety should never take a back seat to technological trends,” Bilirakis continued. “Floridians deserve access to every reliable tool available when disaster strikes. I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can send this commonsense legislation to the President’s desk.” Congressman Bilirakis has consistently supported efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness, protect consumers, and ensure communities have access to reliable communications during disasters.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/16/house-ways-and-means-committee-advances-buchanan-bill-to-expand-medicare-coverage-for-early-alzheimers-detection/,House Ways and Means Committee Advances Buchanan Bill to Expand Medicare Coverage for Early Alzheimer’s Detection,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease is Key to Giving Families More Time, Options and Hope” The ASAP Act Would Provide Medicare Coverage for Preventive Alzheimer’s Detection WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, announced that his bipartisanAlzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (H.R. 6130) advanced out of the committee in a unanimous vote. Buchanan’s bill is co-led by Congressman Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). “Early detection of Alzheimer’s is key to giving families more time, options and hope,” said Buchanan. “Having served as a caregiver to an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s and with nearly 200,000 seniors in my district, this issue is deeply personal to me. Expanding access to early detection will give millions of Americans the opportunity to plan ahead and seek preventative care. I’m grateful to the committee for advancing my Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act and call on my colleagues in the House to pass it and ensure every American can benefit from these lifesaving innovations.” “More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and for too many families, a diagnosis comes only after the disease has already taken a serious toll,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “Today, we have blood-based tests that can help detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms even appear, but outdated Medicare rules stand between seniors and access to these tools. As Chairman of our Health Subcommittee, Representative Buchanan has prioritized policies that improve health outcomes for Americans, informed in part by his own experience caring for his parent. His ASAP Act will help make sure seniors and their families can benefit from earlier detection and have more information as they navigate this devastating disease.” “Many promising and potentially lifechanging advancements are being made in Alzheimer’s diagnoses, treatment, and care; but they will mean little unless patients are able to access and afford them,” Congressman Tonko said. “This is where Congress can and must act. I was proud to join Congressman Buchanan to introduce the ASAP Act, which builds a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA approved blood biomarker screening tests that help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. I urge my colleagues to join us in advancing this bipartisan legislation that keeps Congress at pace with these exciting new innovations and ensures they are accessible to those who need them.” The ASAP Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide a pathway for Medicare coverage for FDA-approved or cleared blood-based biomarker tests for the early detection of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Under current law, Medicare can only cover preventive services that Congress has specifically authorized or that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. That can delay coverage for years after a screening test receives FDA approval. With 7.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s nationwide and more than 580,000 Floridians facing the disease, the ASAP Act aims to give families more time to plan ahead, seek care sooner and preserve their quality of life as blood-based screening technology continues to advance. Buchanan’s bill is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement and has secured 215 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. Senators Susan Collins(R-Maine) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate which has already secured 50 bipartisan cosponsors. Buchanan is a leader in advancing legislation to support Alzheimer’s patients, caregivers and families. In June 2026, he introduced a bipartisan resolution alongside Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), recognizing June 2026 as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405288,Reps. Castor & Sewell Introduce the Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced the Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act, legislation that would prevent the Trump Administration from prematurely ending the Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration and keep monthly premiums down for seniors enrolled in standalone Medicare prescription drug plans. The legislation follows the Trump Administration’s announcement that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would terminate the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration at the end of 2026. “Every trip to the grocery store and every monthly bill is increasingly painful for my older neighbors. The added strain of higher prescription drug costs is the last thing they need, so I will fight to reverse a recent HHS scheme to increase Medicare prescription drug costs for seniors and people with disabilities,” said Rep. Castor. “The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act will reverse the HHS scheme, keep premiums down and provide greater certainty on health care costs. Seniors worked hard for their earned Medicare benefits, and I am fighting to keep those benefits affordable and dependable.” “For seniors living on fixed incomes, every dollar matters. At a time when seniors are already struggling to keep up with the rising cost of groceries, housing, health care, and everyday necessities, the Trump Administration should be doing everything it can to lower costs, not ending a program that is helping seniors afford their prescription drugs,” said Rep. Sewell. “Ending the Part D Premium Stabilization Program could mean higher premiums and greater financial strain for millions of seniors. The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act will help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have the stability and certainty they deserve.” CMS established the demonstration in 2025 after changes to the Medicare Part D benefit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to help stabilize premiums for beneficiaries enrolled in standalone prescription drug plans. The IRA made several changes to Medicare prescription drug coverage, including establishing a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs beginning in 2025. As the redesigned benefit shifted more prescription drug costs to Part D plans, the Premium Stabilization Demonstration was created to help mitigate premium increases and provide greater stability during the transition. According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the demonstration saved seniors an average of $312 in 2026. Ending the demonstration could expose beneficiaries to higher premiums beginning in 2027. The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act would require CMS to:",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405289,Castor Champions Passage of Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to Shield Neighbors from Higher Electric Bills Tied to Data Centers,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Gabe Evans (CO-08) celebrated the passage of their bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, which protects American families and small businesses from the costs of energy and grid upgrades required for new hyperscale data centers. The Ratepayer Protection Act requires state utility regulators to establish rules ensuring communities do not pay for the costs of building new power plants, transmission lines and other upgrades to serve data centers. Without proper safeguards, families and small businesses in communities where data center development occurs could see their electric bills skyrocket. The Ratepayer Protection Act ensures that wealthy Big Tech companies cover the full energy and infrastructure costs of new data center development and are held accountable for their promises. “Floridians already are dealing with sky-high electric bills. They should not be forced to subsidize the enormous energy demands of the world’s richest corporations,” said Rep. Castor. “If Big Tech builds a massive AI data center, the Big Tech company—not hardworking families, farmers or small businesses—should pay for their power and grid upgrades. The bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act is an important first step that can help lower costs for our neighbors back home and empower states to set strict guardrails.” “Hardworking families should not have to subsidize the energy demands of data centers. America needs the infrastructure to lead the world in AI and outcompete Communist China, but we cannot have that growth at the expense of hardworking families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses. My bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act ensures large data centers pay for the infrastructure they require while giving states the flexibility to determine what works best for their communities. I’m incredibly proud to lead the charge on this pivotal issue, ensure our ratepayers are protected, and keep American innovation moving forward,” said Rep. Evans. Castor strongly opposes data center development in Hillsborough County due to high electric bills and environmental concerns and pressed the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in a September 10, 2026 letter to “act decisively to protect Hillsborough County residents, resources and long-term sustainability.” The Ratepayer Protection Act builds on Rep. Castor’s leadership on the Stopping Hikes in Electricity from large Load Demands (SHIELD) Act, which she introduced with Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) in January. Background If enacted, the Ratepayer Protection Act would direct state regulators to adopt new guardrails for new data centers with a demand of 100 megawatts or more, including:",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5030,ICYMI: FAA Accepting Public Comments on Proposed Permanent Mar-a-Lago Flight Restrictions Through October 2,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Lois Frankel,F000462,frankel.house.gov,frankel,https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"On September 2, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) formally proposed making the current airspace restrictions around Mar-a-Lago permanent. The FAA is accepting public comments on the proposal through October 2, 2026. HOW TO SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public can submit comments on the FAA’s proposal by clicking here or by: 1. Going to Regulations.gov. 2. Entering FAA-2026-10827-0001 in the search box. 3. Following the instructions to submit a comment. Comments must be submitted by October 2, 2026. Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) recently joined Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore, and local residents to raise concerns about the FAA’s proposal and explain how members of the public can make their voices heard through the agency’s formal comment process. Following the event, Rep. Frankel sent a letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford requesting that the FAA: Delay action on the proposal to make the restrictions permanent; Extend the public comment period by 60 days, through December 1, 2026, if the agency moves forward, so residents have adequate time to review the proposal and respond; Hold a public meeting in Palm Beach County so affected residents can ask questions, provide input, and hear directly from the FAA; and Establish a clear and expedited process to modify or end the restrictions if security circumstances change, rather than locking the community into restrictions that may no longer be necessary. For Rep. Frankel’s full letter to the FAA, click here.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lees-safe-cloud-storage-act-passes-house,Rep. Laurel Lee’s Safe Cloud Storage Act Passes the House,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Laurel Lee’s bipartisan Safe Cloud Storage Act, legislation to modernize how law enforcement securely stores and processes digital evidence in child sexual exploitation investigations. Rep. Lee introduced the House legislation alongside bipartisan co-leads Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Brad Knott (R-NC). Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led the Senate legislation, which passed the Senate in May. The legislation addresses a growing challenge facing law enforcement as the volume of digital evidence in child sexual exploitation investigations continues to increase. Many agencies still rely on physical storage systems such as thumb drives, external hard drives, and local servers to manage highly sensitive evidence. The Safe Cloud Storage Act removes a legal barrier that has limited law enforcement’s ability to work with trusted cloud service providers while maintaining strict security and accountability requirements. “Every minute matters when law enforcement is working to identify a child being exploited and bring the predator responsible to justice,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “Our investigators should have access to modern, secure technology that helps them do that work as quickly and effectively as possible. The Safe Cloud Storage Act removes an unnecessary legal barrier that has prevented law enforcement from fully utilizing trusted cloud technology while maintaining strong safeguards for this incredibly sensitive evidence. I am proud that this bipartisan legislation has now passed both chambers of Congress, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.” “We must do everything in our power to protect children from abuse and prosecute those who commit such despicable crimes — that requires modernizing how law enforcement stores sensitive information so that they can bring more abusers to justice,” Rep. Dean said. “Many police departments still rely on older technology like thumb drives to store materials for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) investigations, which slows down investigations and lets criminals stay one or two steps ahead. Our bipartisan bill is a commonsense measure enabling law enforcement to use secure cloud-based storage, helping them to track, stop, and prosecute more of these heinous crimes. I am thrilled that the Safe Cloud Storage Act will become law, and I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for their efforts in its passage.” “I'm proud to work with Congresswoman Lee on this critical legislation, and I'm pleased to see it pass the House today with strong, bipartisan support,” said Congressman Brad Knott. “As a former federal prosecutor who worked investigations and in courtrooms, I know how essential it is to modernize evidence handling and production in these cases. This bill will help ensure that heinously criminal offenders are brought to justice more efficiently, that victims see accountability, and that strict standards govern the storage and use of this evidence. I look forward to seeing it move through the Senate.” The Safe Cloud Storage Act provides limited civil and criminal liability protections to approved cloud service providers contracted by federal, state, and local law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies to securely store and process digital evidence related to child sexual exploitation investigations. The legislation requires covered providers to comply with cybersecurity requirements and establishes exceptions to its liability protections for certain misconduct. The legislation builds on the framework established by the bipartisan REPORT Act, which was signed into law in 2024 and provided limited liability protections for vendors contracted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to store and transfer child sexual abuse material for investigative purposes. The Safe Cloud Storage Act is supported by law enforcement, child protection, and victim advocacy organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Fraternal Order of Police, Thorn, Raven, the Child Rescue Coalition, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, and International Justice Mission. Key Provisions of the Safe Cloud Storage Act: Modernizes Evidence Storage: Enables law enforcement-approved cloud service providers to securely store and process digital evidence used in child sexual exploitation investigations. Provides Limited Liability Protections: Protects approved vendors from certain civil and criminal liability when handling qualifying evidence on behalf of law enforcement. Maintains Accountability: Preserves liability in circumstances excluded by the legislation and ensures protections are limited to qualifying vendors acting within the scope of their work with law enforcement. Strengthens Cybersecurity: Requires approved vendors to comply with stringent cybersecurity requirements to protect highly sensitive evidence. By allowing investigators to securely use modern cloud-based technology, the Safe Cloud Storage Act will help law enforcement more efficiently manage growing volumes of digital evidence and support investigations aimed at identifying victims and holding offenders accountable.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-maria-elvira-salazar-delivers-24-million-key-biscayne-flood-protection-and,REP. MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR DELIVERS $2.4 MILLION FOR KEY BISCAYNE FLOOD PROTECTION AND COASTAL RESILIENCE,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) visited Key Biscayne to deliver more than $2.4 million in federal funding she secured for two projects that will help address flooding around Key Biscayne K-8 Community School and explore a long-term solution to shoreline erosion. Joined by Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco and Village leaders, Rep. Salazar presented $2 million for stormwater improvements around Key Biscayne K-8 and $412,500 for an offshore barrier reef study in collaboration with the University of Miami. “Leadership means seeing a problem before it becomes a crisis and doing the work to solve it,” said Rep. Salazar. “When our streets flood and our coastline is threatened, families feel the consequences. In Congress, my job is to turn those challenges into action: secure the resources, hold federal agencies accountable, and deliver results on the ground. That is the standard I have set across South Florida, and I will keep raising it.” “These investments give Key Biscayne the opportunity to address the flooding challenges we face today while planning responsibly for the future of our shoreline,” said Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Salazar for securing these federal resources and to the University of Miami for bringing its expertise to this effort. Strong partnerships like these are essential to keeping Key Biscayne safe and resilient for generations to come.” Flooding around the school can reach two to three feet during severe rain events, disrupting access for families, school buses, first responders, and the more than 1,000 students who attend Key Biscayne K-8. The $2 million secured by Rep. Salazar will help install a new pump-based drainage system designed to move water out more effectively, reduce flooding, and improve safety in the surrounding neighborhood. Rep. Salazar also delivered $412,500 for the Village’s Offshore Barrier Reef for Shoreline Stabilization Study, a collaboration between Key Biscayne and the University of Miami. The study will examine whether a hybrid offshore reef could help reduce beach erosion while limiting unintended environmental impacts and reducing the need for repeated beach renourishment. The $2,412,500 in Community Project Funding was secured by Rep. Salazar through the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, signed into law in February 2026. Watch Rep. Salazar’s visit to Key Biscayne and learn more about the projects HERE. Mire la visita de la representante Salazar a Key Biscayne y conoce más sobre estos proyectos AQUÍ REP. SALAZAR’S RECORD ON FLOOD PROTECTION Rep. Salazar has secured more than $20 million for flood mitigation and stormwater projects across South Florida, including: $14 million for the City of Miami $2.3 million for Pinecrest $2 million for Cutler Bay $2.9 million for Key Biscayne $1.4 million for Miami-Dade County Together, these investments reflect Rep. Salazar’s broader focus on strengthening South Florida’s infrastructure before the next major storm. From drainage and flood mitigation to coastal resilience, she has prioritized projects that protect neighborhoods, improve public safety, and help communities prepare for the challenges ahead.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-leads-florida-democrats-urging-speaker-johnson-reinstate-affordable-care,Soto Leads Florida Democrats in Urging Speaker Johnson to Reinstate the Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credit,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) led a letter with all Democratic Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation urging Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to reinstate the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC) in any future funding vehicles. ""Around 4.7 million Floridians were enrolled in ACA insurance plans before the tax credits expired. Many of our districts had 30% or more residents enrolled,” wrote the Members. ""However, as a result of the expired funding, about 443,000 Floridians dropped their ACA plans this year so far, more than in any other state, and the system saw a 13% drop in enrollment from one year to the next."" ""These subsidies bridged a vital gap in access to care for hard-working Americans. Over half of adult marketplace enrollees are small business owners or self-employed—the very backbone of our great country. Now, many of these individuals are either uninsured or struggling to afford premiums that have risen by more than 58% since last year, a direct result of the expiration of ACA EPTCs...” continued the Members. ""Congress just voted to pass a Continuing Resolution, keeping the government open through December. As negotiations for the FY27 Appropriations process continue, we must include the reinstatement of the ACA EPTCs in the discussion. With Americans facing rising costs in all aspects of daily life, increases in health premiums could amount to a death blow.” The signers include all seven Democratic Members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation, including Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). For the full text of the letter, please click here.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-appointed-to-serve-as-member-of-united-states-coast-guard-academy-board-of-visitors/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Appointed to Serve as Member of United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody has accepted an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors. The Board of Visitors provides the Commandant of the Coast Guard independent advice and recommendations on the operation and other matters relating to the Academy. Members are appointed by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House. “The U.S. Coast Guard plays an indispensable role in protecting our homeland—securing our maritime borders, interdicting illegal drugs, conducting lifesaving search and rescue missions, and responding when disaster strikes. As a member of a military family, supporting the brave men and women who serve our country is deeply personal to me, and it is an honor to continue this important work as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: Senator Moody is a proud supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and military families. Since becoming a United States Senator, Moody has: Recently cosponsored the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. The Veterans Bill of Rights Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights regarding VA-administered health care, benefits, and services. Cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans; Supported the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans; Supported the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans; Held a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans; Recognized 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussed the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more. Senator Moody recently joined the Senate Armed Services Committee. Last month, Senator Moody stood with more than a hundred of Florida veterans at a VFW Post in Orlando to spotlight the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act she is cosponsoring. Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s military members. As Florida Attorney General, Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families who encounter scams or fraud. Senator Moody is proud to be part of a military family. # # #",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairwoman-salazar-leads-house-hearing-nicaragua-warns-growing-us-national,"Chairwoman Salazar Leads House Hearing on Nicaragua, Warns of Growing U.S. National Security Threat",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, convened a hearing titled “Confronting the Totalitarian Ortega-Murillo Regime,” examining the dictatorship’s repression of the Nicaraguan people, its growing cooperation with America’s adversaries, and the threat it poses to U.S. national security. “Nicaragua is not forgotten. Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have spent years dismantling democracy, persecuting the Church, crushing political opposition, and acting as if the country were their private property. Now they are opening Nicaragua wider to China and Russia, giving America’s adversaries a dangerous foothold in our own hemisphere. That is not only a tragedy for the Nicaraguan people; it is a national security concern for the United States. Congress is watching, the Administration is paying attention, and Ortega and Murillo should consider themselves warned,” said Chairwoman Salazar. In her opening remarks, Salazar pointed to a major shift in U.S. policy toward Latin America under President Trump and made clear that Nicaragua must remain part of America’s renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere. She highlighted the Administration’s posture toward Venezuela and Cuba before turning to Nicaragua, where Ortega and Murillo have dismantled democratic institutions, jailed political opponents, driven hundreds into exile, targeted the Catholic Church, destroyed civil society organizations and universities, and moved to eliminate meaningful elections. During the hearing, Chairwoman Salazar questioned Ana Quintana-Lovett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central America and Migration Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, about China’s growing strategic and economic presence in Nicaragua and the consequences for American security. Salazar raised particular concern over China’s involvement in the $500 million expansion of Punta Huete, an airfield originally built to accommodate strategic bombers. She questioned the national security implications of Beijing gaining access to strategically significant infrastructure so close to the United States. She also highlighted China’s expanding economic footprint in Nicaragua, including mining concessions granted to Chinese interests and Beijing’s involvement in critical infrastructure projects such as the modernization of Puerto de Corinto. Chairwoman Salazar questioned what more the United States can do to prevent the Ortega-Murillo regime from handing increasingly important pieces of Nicaragua’s economy and strategic infrastructure to China. Salazar also examined the growing level of cooperation between the Ortega-Murillo regime and Russia, raising concerns about Moscow’s expanding presence and freedom of movement in Nicaragua and what that relationship could mean for U.S. national security. The hearing underscored that Nicaragua can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of political repression and human rights. As the Ortega-Murillo regime deepens its relationships with China and Russia, Nicaragua is increasingly becoming a strategic concern for the United States and the security of the Western Hemisphere. To watch Chairwoman Salazar’s opening statement click here. CHAIRWOMAN SALAZAR'S RECORD ON NICARAGUA Chairwoman Salazar has been one of Congress's leading voicesfor democracy, religious freedom, and human rights in Nicaragua. Since coming to Congress, she has consistently worked to expose the abuses of the Ortega-Murillo regime and increase pressure on the dictatorship through sanctions, congressional oversight, and legislation. Rep. Salazar was an original House leader of the bipartisan RENACER Act, landmark legislation enacted in 2021 to strengthen sanctions against the Ortega regime, increase scrutiny of international lending to Nicaragua, and expand U.S. tools to respond to electoral fraud, corruption, and human rights abuses. The legislation also required greater reporting on Russian influence and security cooperation in Nicaragua. In January 2026, she introduced the Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act alongside Rep. Chris Smith. The legislation would strengthen sanctions on the Ortega-Murillo regime, prohibit U.S. investment that benefits the dictatorship, oppose international financing that strengthens the regime, support political prisoners and people of faith targeted by the government, and increase assistance for democracy and human rights programs in Nicaragua. Chairwoman Salazar has been a vocal defender of Nicaragua's political prisoners, exiled dissidents, journalists, and religious leaders. She has repeatedly condemned the regime's persecution of the Catholic Church and warned that Ortega's growing partnerships with China, Russia, and Iran pose a threat not only to the Nicaraguan people but also to U.S. interests and democratic stability throughout the hemisphere. As Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Rep. Salazar has made Nicaragua a central focus of the Subcommittee's oversight efforts, highlighting the regime's democratic backsliding, attacks on civil society, growing foreign influence, and ongoing human rights abuses. She has consistently called for free and fair elections, accountability for regime officials, and stronger U.S. support for those fighting for freedom in Nicaragua.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3537,Wasserman Schultz Leads Florida Democrats in Denouncing Florida’s Use of Cages in Everglades Internment Camp,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Debbie Wasserman Schultz,W000797,wassermanschultz.house.gov,wassermanschultz,https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led all Democratic Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation to call on Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, and Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Jared Perdue to provide transparency around holding detainees in outdoor cages only slightly larger than telephone booths at the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” ICE internment camp. The DHS Inspector General recently released a report which found that 79 detainees were held in “small metal enclosures” of roughly 4-by-4, or 16 square feet for up to 2 hours. Facility staff members described them as “calming areas” for “detainees to de-escalate and have time alone.” They also found numerous other concerning conditions, saying the facility “did not comply with standards related to: Environmental Health and Safety; Special Management Units; Medical Care; Food Service; Personal Hygiene; and Recreation.” “This is not how America should treat human beings in our custody, regardless of their immigration status. We can enforce our laws without abandoning basic human dignity,” wrote the Members. “And in a nation of laws, there must be consequences when elected officials and their appointees rob taxpayer funds to inflict environmental damage, violate Constitutional protections, and commit acts of torture in our backyard. Those responsible for these conditions must be held accountable and we must make sure nothing like this happens again in Florida.” The signers comprise all seven Democratic Members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation, including Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Darren Soto (FL-09), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10). Wasserman Schultz conducted a surprise oversight inspection of the facility in April prior to its closure in June. She also introduced the No Cages in the Everglades Act with fellow Florida Democrats to defund the Everglades internment camp, launch an independent investigation of any laws broken in its construction and operation, and ensure more robust Congressional oversight there and in all similar facilities. Read the full letter here and below: As Members of Congress representing the State of Florida, we are sickened by the revelations reported by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security regarding a wide range of human rights abuses at the Everglades camp operated by FDEM that was cruelly nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”. In particular, the Inspector General’s report found that people were locked in tiny metal enclosures—just 18 square feet—for up to two hours. The federal watchdog found these conditions unprecedented and a significant risk to detainees’ health and safety. People held in this type of cage, nicknamed “the Box,” were isolated and exposed to environmental hazards including extreme heat and insects. This is a clear violation of the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment in our Constitution, and human rights experts describe this practice as a form of torture. Many of us conducted oversight inspections at this facility, which was constructed and operated illegally, using over $1 billion in Florida taxpayer funds designated for responding to emergencies like hurricanes. We witnessed and exposed horrific, inhumane detention conditions that shocked the conscience of our State. During these visits, Members in our delegation were repeatedly denied access to view these punishment cages,and told by DHS and FDEM employees and contractors that detainee reports of their existence and use for punitive or coercive purposes were categorically false. We were deceived. It is now clear that this was intended to mislead public officials at public expense. The Inspector General report not only confirms many allegations of sadistic cruelty that we saw or were reported by detainees, but sheds light on why the Trump Administration and Florida’s state government worked overtime to block transparency and accountability. Shortly after our initial visit, we introduced the No Cages in the Everglades Act to prohibit the use of Federal funds for this appalling project or any other detention facility in the Everglades, require an independent investigation of State and federal laws violated in its construction and management, and permanently codify the rights of Members of Congress to conduct unannounced oversight visits wherever immigrants are detained. This is not how America should treat human beings in our custody, regardless of their immigration status. We can enforce our laws without abandoning basic human dignity. And in a nation of laws, there must be consequences when elected officials and their appointees rob taxpayer funds to inflict environmental damage, violate Constitutional protections, and commit acts of torture in our backyard. Those responsible for these conditions must be held accountable and we must make sure nothing like this happens again in Florida. In service to that goal, we request your response to the following questions as soon as possible: How many individuals were subjected to treatment constituting torture under U.S. or international law at the Everglades internment camp or at other immigrant detention facilities in Florida? Has the Office of the Attorney General conducted an analysis of the State’s potential civil liability for cruel and unusual punishment without due process at this facility? How many other facilities used for immigrant detention in Florida have utilized isolation in small metal cages as a punitive or coercive measure? Who instructed FDEM employees and contractors to deceive Members of Congress conducting lawful oversight with respect to the use of these cages? Will you commit to ceasing this practice and dismantling these cages, wherever they are used? Have the State government and its contractors involved in constructing and operating the Everglades detention camp appropriately retained and preserved photographic evidence, digital communications, documents, and other records that may be relevant in future investigations, pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes? If so, please provide a list of all relevant evidence that you have retained. Do you commit to fully cooperating with future law enforcement investigations of Florida's involvement in immigration detention abuses? If not, are you aware of the potential legal consequences associated with obstructing law enforcement investigations, failing to preserve or report evidence of wrongdoing, or violating court orders or Congressional subpoenas? We hope that you will take immediate action to bring these abusive practices to an end and begin repairing the damage you have inflicted on our neighbors, our beloved Everglades, and the State of Florida. ####",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wilson-and-us-commission-on-the-social-status-of-black-men-boys-to-honor-parents-carrying-forward-the-legacies-of-black-children-lost-to-violence,Rep. Wilson and U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men & Boys to Honor Parents Carrying Forward the Legacies of Black Children Lost to Violence,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), chair of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, will center the voices, courage and advocacy of bereaved parents during the 55th Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The centerpiece of Congresswoman Wilson’s final Annual Legislative Conference as a member of Congress will be the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Braintrust, “Our Young Black Boys Are Being Murdered and Nobody Seems to Care,” on Friday, September 18. The braintrust will honor the lives and legacies of King Carter, Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin and Nolan Wells while paying special tribute to the parents who turned unimaginable loss into a lifelong fight for truth, justice and change. Six-year-old King Carter was killed by gunfire near his Miami-Dade home in 2016. His parents, Monica Smith and Santonio Carter, transformed their heartbreak into advocacy aimed at ending gun violence and protecting other children from the tragedy that took their son. Seventeen-year-old Jordan Davis was shot and killed at a Jacksonville gas station in 2012 following a confrontation over loud music. His mother, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06), carried Jordan’s memory from advocacy into public office, becoming a leading national voice for gun violence prevention. Seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking back from a convenience store in Sanford, Florida, when he was followed and fatally shot in 2012. His death awakened the conscience of the nation and helped ignite a new era of civil rights activism. His mother, Sybrina Fulton, has dedicated her life to preserving Trayvon’s legacy and fighting for safer communities, justice and meaningful change. Eighteen-year-old Nolan Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July boating trip to Horn Island, Mississippi, and was found dead two days later. With critical questions surrounding the circumstances of his death still unanswered, his parents, Christine Wells Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, continue to demand a complete, transparent and accountable investigation into what happened to their son. The discussion will be co-moderated by civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Congresswoman McBath, who will also share Jordan’s story and her journey from a grieving mother to a national leader in the fight to protect families from gun violence. Panelists will include Congresswoman Wilson; Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04); Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18); STARZ actor Nicco Annan; Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; Christine Wells Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, mother and father of Nolan Wells; and Monica Smith and Santonio Carter, mother and father of King Carter. Together, the moderators, panelists and parents will share their experiences, honor their children’s lives and confront a nation that has too often failed to protect Black children or deliver justice to their families. “These parents have endured the pain no mother or father should ever have to bear, yet they refused to allow their children’s stories to end with their deaths,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “They turned grief into action, heartbreak into advocacy and their children’s names into movements for justice. We honor King, Jordan, Trayvon and Nolan by honoring the parents who carry their legacies forward and by continuing their fight to protect every Black child in America.” The Commission will also hold its Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Honoring the Martyrs Who Shaped Black History, featuring a special tribute to the parents who continue to carry their children’s legacies forward. The Commission will honor Monica Smith and Santonio Carter, parents of King Carter; Congresswoman Lucy McBath, mother of Jordan Davis; Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; and Christine Wells Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, parents of Nolan Wells. The ceremony will recognize these parents not simply as survivors of tragedy, but as leaders whose relentless pursuit of truth, justice and accountability has changed communities, influenced public policy and ensured that their children’s names will never be forgotten. “Behind every young Black life lost is a family left carrying unimaginable grief and a future forever rewritten,” said the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. “Yet these parents have turned their pain into purpose, their heartbreak into action and their children’s names into a national demand for justice. The Commission stands with them to ensure their voices are heard, their children’s legacies endure and their courage drives the change necessary to protect Black men and boys across America.” Congresswoman Wilson has spent her career fighting for Black children and standing beside families whose lives have been forever changed by violence. Her work led to the establishment of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, a bipartisan federal commission charged with examining the conditions affecting Black men and boys and advancing solutions in education, health care, employment, housing, criminal justice and public safety. The Commission’s work continues the mission Congresswoman Wilson began more than three decades ago through the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project: protecting Black boys, interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline and surrounding young men with the mentorship, opportunities and support they need to succeed. “For years, these parents cried out for justice while too many people looked away,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “The Commission exists because America must pay attention to what is happening to Black men and boys. We will say their names. We will listen to their families. We will tell their stories. Most importantly, we will continue fighting for a country where no parent has to bury a child because of racism, violence or a system that failed to value his life.” Wilson Scholars and Role Models representing Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Broward County Public Schools, Duval County Public Schools and the Los Angeles Unified School District will also travel to Washington to participate in the conference. The students will attend the Commission’s braintrust, serve as ambassadors and experience the institutions and history their predecessors helped shape. Their presence will create a powerful connection between the children whose lives were taken, the parents protecting their legacies and the young men Congresswoman Wilson has dedicated her life to protecting. The week will also include “From the Classroom to Congress: Celebrating Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson,” recognizing her 35 years of public service as an educator, school board member, state legislator and member of Congress. KEY EVENTS From the Classroom to Congress: Celebrating Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Thursday, September 17, 2026 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Anthem Room Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C. U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Braintrust “Our Young Black Boys Are Being Murdered and Nobody Seems to Care” Co-Moderators: Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Panelists and Featured Participants: Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18) Nicco Annan, STARZ Actor Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin Christine Wells Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, mother and father of Nolan Wells Monica Smith and Santonio Carter, mother and father of King Carter Friday, September 18, 2026 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ballroom C Walter E. Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. cbcfinc.com/ALC Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Honoring the Martyrs Who Shaped Black History A Tribute to the Parents Who Carry Their Legacies Forward Honoring: Monica Smith and Santonio Carter, parents of King Carter Congresswoman Lucy McBath, mother of Jordan Davis Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin Christine Wells Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, parents of Nolan Wells Friday, September 18, 2026 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ballroom C Walter E. Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. cbcfinc.com/ALC About the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-files-legislation-to-locate-new-u-s-space-academy-in-florida/,Senator Moody Files Legislation to Locate New U.S. Space Academy in Florida,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody today filed legislation to locate the new U.S. Space Academy in Florida. Last month, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the U.S. Space Academy. Senator Moody immediately vowed to file legislation to bring the academy to Florida as soon as she returned to Washington. Today, Senator Moody delivered on that promise, introducing the STARS Act. “I’ve just officially filed the STARS Act to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Florida. Florida is America’s gateway to the final frontier – that’s why it’s so important that the next generation of space leaders are trained in the Sunshine State,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry. In addition to filing this legislation, Senator Moody has been working with state partners to address the RFI put out by the Administration to encourage the establishment of the new Space Academy in Florida. Earlier this month, Senator Moody rallied space industry leaders to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy. Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500%since 2016. Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration. The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports. Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers. The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon. Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs. Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis IIat Kennedy Space Center where the crew thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians, and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled. # # #",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-questions-fbi-director-about-combatting-violent-crime-fighting-fraud-and-curbing-flow-of-fentanyl/,"VIDEO: Senator Moody Questions FBI Director About Combatting Violent Crime, Fighting Fraud, and Curbing Flow of Fentanyl",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Senator Ashley Moody questioned FBI Director Kash Patel during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the Administration’s success in combatting violent crime, going after criminals, and curbing the flow of fentanyl into the country: “During the last administration, violent crime, senior fraud and fentanyl overdoses skyrocketed. As Florida’s Attorney General, I was on the frontlines pushing back against the terrible policies that allowed this chaos to spread. Now as U.S. Senator, I continue to look for ways to build on the success we have seen over the past two years in reversing crime trends, fighting fraud, and removing fentanyl from our communities,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: View Senator Moody’s full hearing remarks here. Senator Moody highlighted the drop in violent crime nationwide—from 2024 to 2025, the violent crime rate fell by 9.3 percent. That is the largest single-year decline in the nation’s history. Senator Moody also highlighted the pivotal role the FBI plays in going after the cartels and foreign actors who are guilty of poisoning Americans with fentanyl. In 2025, seizures of fentanyl increased by more than 30 percent and fentanyl overdose deaths fell by 20 percent nationwide. Florida recently announced a 46% drop in fentanyl-related deaths. To help law enforcement efforts against fentanyl, Senator Moody introduced the PRESS Act, which would criminalize the intentional importation of pill press equipment and unlisted precursor chemicals when they are intended to be used to manufacture illicit drugs. Senator Moody also cosponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, which is now law. The Act permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Senator Moody also champions Tyler’s Law, which would require HHS to issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose. Senator Moody also highlighted the importance of protecting seniors from fraud. During Senator Moody’s time as Florida Attorney General, Moody created Florida’s first-ever Senior Protection Team to bring together experts from across the state to identify these schemes, pursue the fraudsters behind them, and recover millions of dollars for victims. As Senator, Moody has introduced the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, which would help establish dedicated elder justice task forces bringing together local, state, and federal law enforcement to combat these crimes. Senator Moody also introduced the SWIPES Act to jack up the sentence for anyone who defrauds a senior American on purpose. # # #",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-announces-project-to-tackle-america-s-cost-of-living-crisis,Sen. Rick Scott Announces Project to Tackle America’s Cost-of-Living Crisis,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott announced his new project to urge Washington to finally tackle America’s affordability crisis. Through a series of speeches, videos, and a presentation, Senator Scott will outline a roadmap to counter the rising popularity of socialism and reinvigorate the American Dream by giving everyone more opportunities to live, work, and raise a family in a safe community. To watch the first video in Senator Rick Scott’s affordability series, click HERE or on the image above. Senator Rick Scott said, “The generation coming of age today has inherited Washington’s failures and are paying for them every day. They’re walking into a world where the starter home their parents bought doesn’t exist for them anymore. They’re abandoning the idea of having children because they simply cannot afford it. More young Americans following socialists like Zohran Mamdani because the status quo has failed and they’re desperate for change. We must be clear that socialism isn’t the answer. It will kill the American Dream.” “I put together a project with one goal: to be honest with the American public about how our economy has drastically changed, how the American Dream is out of reach for so many, and most importantly - how we can fix it. Socialism will destroy America if we let it take root. If we don’t act now, the American Dream will not exist for young people today, our kids, or our grandkids.” “Stay tuned.” # # #",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/frost-ezell-king-hinds-bill-to-give-disaster-survivors-more-time-to-appeal-fema-denials-clears-committee,"Frost, Ezell, King-Hinds Bill To Give Disaster Survivors More Time To Appeal FEMA Denials Clears Committee",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — The bipartisan Post-Disaster Protection Act, led by Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Congressman Mike Ezell (MS-04), and Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (MP-AL), passed the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s markup today, bringing the legislation one step closer to a vote on the House floor. The legislation would extend the deadline for applicants to appeal denials of FEMA disaster assistance from 60 to 90 days, matching the amount of time FEMA has to review an appeal. The extension would apply to individual disaster survivors as well as government applicants, including states, cities, counties, and utilities. “When disaster strikes, people should not have to race against the clock to prove that they need help,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “If FEMA has 90 days to review an appeal, survivors should have 90 days to make their case. This is a simple fix that gives families and communities the time they need to gather documents, correct mistakes, and access the assistance they are entitled to.” “Communities across South Mississippi know firsthand that recovering from a natural disaster is difficult enough without unnecessary hurdles from the federal government. The Post-Disaster Protection Act is a commonsense fix that gives families and local communities more time to navigate FEMA’s appeals process and make their case. If FEMA gets 90 days to review an appeal, disaster survivors deserve the same amount of time to submit one. I’m glad to see this bipartisan bill advance out of committee, and I look forward to working to get it across the finish line.” — Congressman Mike Ezell “Disaster survivors and communities are often navigating an overwhelming recovery process while trying to access the federal assistance they need,” said Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds. “Having experienced firsthand the challenges of disaster recovery in the Northern Mariana Islands, I understand how difficult it can be to gather documentation, navigate federal requirements, and appeal a decision while rebuilding lives and critical infrastructure. The Post-Disaster Protection Act is a practical step that gives disaster survivors and local governments a fair opportunity to make their case. I am proud to join Representatives Frost and Ezell in advancing this bipartisan legislation and ensuring that communities across our nation have the time and support they need to recover.” “The Post-Disaster Protection Act is an important step toward giving homeowners and community associations more time to appeal FEMA assistance decisions during disaster recovery. CAI is proud to support this bipartisan legislation and commends Rep. Maxwell Frost’s leadership in helping the 78.1 million Americans living in community associations access the federal assistance they need to recover and rebuild.” — Community Associations Institute ""Disaster survivors are often at their most vulnerable when they're forced to navigate FEMA's complex appeals process,"" said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. ""The Post-Disaster Protection Act provides much-needed fairness by giving survivors 90 days to appeal a denial, giving them the time they need to gather documentation and correct errors after a disaster upends their lives. This commonsense change will help more residents successfully access the relief they're entitled to and ease the burden on local governments working to help our communities recover. As this legislation heads to markup, counties urge the T&I Committee to advance this bipartisan legislation."" “One of the biggest challenges of responding to and recovering from a disaster is managing the complexities of federal programs. The Post-Disaster Protection Act will bring applicant deadlines into alignment with federal review periods and help ease the burden on disaster survivors. NEMA thanks the Members willing to co-sponsor and make this bill truly bipartisan.” — A.J. Gary, NEMA President “The National League of Cities supports the Post-Disaster Protection Act, which would give communities additional time to appeal FEMA assistance decisions. We thank Representatives Maxwell Frost, Mike Ezell, and Kimberlyn King-Hinds for championing this important bipartisan legislation.” — Yucel Ors, Legislative Director, Public Safety and Crime Prevention, National League of Cities The bill is endorsed by the National Association of Counties, Community Associations Institute, United States Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and National Emergency Management Association. The Post-Disaster Protection Act is cosponsored by Reps. Mike Ezell (R-MS), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-VI), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL). ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405290,Rep. Castor Leads SEEC Institute’s Release of Thriving Economy Project Report,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Castor today joined the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Institute to release the Thriving Economy Project report, a first-of-its-kind menu of more than 800 policy recommendations for Congress to consider now for long-term economic and job growth and affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy for all American families and businesses. The report is the product of a coalition of members of Congress and a diverse set of energy, environmental, and economic policy subject-matter experts, including private-sector leaders and advocates, and former senior officials and advisors spanning several past presidential administrations and Congressional offices and committees. Rep. Castor is the Chair of the Thriving Economy Project and is one of nine Members of Congress who worked on the report. Rep. Castor also collaborated with Samantha Medlock on the chapter on Thriving, Affordable, and Resilient Communities. “My neighbors are facing rising costs, including from increasingly deadly and costly extreme weather. Geopolitical uncertainty and growing competition from abroad drive difficult decisions at the gas pump and on our farms,” said Rep. Castor. “The Thriving Economy Project provides a menu of practical, common-sense solutions that will lower costs and keep our communities safe. It’s a roadmap to help every family, in every zip code, share in a healthier and more secure future.” The Thriving Economy Project is an effort of SEEC Institute, a nonprofit founded in 2024 to advance climate and clean energy solutions. The report was shaped by nearly two years of public input, including convenings around the country and more than 1,300 policy recommendations and other responses received from communities and business leaders, experts, advocates, and policymakers across the country and economic sectors. The ideas highlighted in the report focus on the challenges affecting American families and businesses today, and cover themes like rising household costs, reliable and affordable energy, economic competitiveness, access to good jobs, ways to make our supply chains more efficient and effective, environmental protection, public lands protections, and government efficiency. Among the policy recommendations included in the chapter Rep. Castor led are: Create an independent FEMA, with a Senate-confirmed administrator and IG. Reestablish FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency reporting directly to the President, with a Senate-confirmed Administrator and Deputy Administrator and a dedicated Inspector General. Additional policy recommendations included in the report include: Make sure federal energy assistance helps families keep their homes cool as summers get hotter. Ensure LIHEAP adequately addresses home cooling needs. Create an energy reserve that states could draw on to keep energy prices low. Create a Strategic Energy Affordability Reserve drawing from windfall oil and gas profits to give states resources to secure energy price stability for their residents. Create a permanent White House office responsible for protecting U.S. energy security from global disruptions. Establish a permanent Office of Global Energy Security (OGES) with adequate funding and staff as a component of the White House Executive Office of the President (EOP), structured similarly to the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD). Create a 30% tax credit for major new transmission lines and upgrades that increase the capacity of existing lines. Establish a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for new high voltage interregional and interstate lines, and for upgrades to existing lines using advanced transmission technologies and reconductoring that increases line capacity. Download a copy of the report from the SEEC Institute website at https://www.seecinstitute.org/thriving-economy-project. Media Contacts: Castor Office Media Contact: Jay Rhoden Communications Director Jay.Rhoden@mail.house.gov SEEC Institute Media Contact: Pearson Croney-Clark Director of External Affairs SEEC Institute pearson@seecinstitute.org",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-secures-50-million-water-infrastructure,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Secures $50 Million in Water Infrastructure Authorizations and Horseshoe Beach Storm Protection Study in House-Passed WRDA,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) secured $50 million in new and expanded federal water and wastewater infrastructure authorizations for Columbia, Suwannee, Marion, and Gilchrist Counties, along with a coastal storm risk study for Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County, in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R. 9497), which passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 415 to 9. The House-passed bill: Authorizes up to $39.3 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Columbia and Suwannee Counties. More than doubles Marion County's existing authorization, from $10 million to $20.5 million, providing an additional $10.5 million in authorized capacity. Authorizes up to $200,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure, including stormwater management, in Gilchrist County. Directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study coastal storm risk management for the town of Horseshoe Beach, including shoreline damage prevention and mitigation.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-barragan-cammack-auchincloss-kean-mullin-introduce-bipartisan-bill,"Bilirakis, Barragán, Cammack, Auchincloss, Kean & Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Permanently Protect Rare Pediatric Disease Drug Development Program -Legislation Provides Long-Term Certainty to Encourage Investment in Lifesaving Treatments for Childr",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Bilirakis, Barragán, Cammack, Auchincloss, Kean & Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Permanently Protect Rare Pediatric Disease Drug Development Program -Legislation Provides Long-Term Certainty to Encourage Investment in Lifesaving Treatments for Children with Rare Diseases- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today, U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) Program, an important incentive for developing treatments for children with rare and devastating diseases. Since its creation in 2012, the program has helped bring treatments to market across 47 rare pediatric diseases - only four of which had an FDA-approved treatment before the program existed. The program, currently scheduled to sunset in 2029, awards a transferable priority review voucher to companies that successfully develop and receive FDA approval for qualifying treatments. Because rare-disease drug development can take as long as 15 years, permanent authorization would provide the long-term certainty needed to encourage continued investment in treatments for small patient populations that might otherwise struggle to attract research and development resources. “Parents of children battling rare diseases should never have to hear that promising research was abandoned because there wasn’t enough incentive to pursue a treatment,”said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “Medical innovation is advancing at an incredible pace, but no child should be left behind simply because their disease affects too few patients to attract traditional investment. Drug development takes years, and innovators need certainty when making research decisions today. By making this successful program permanent, our bipartisan bill will encourage continued investment in lifesaving treatments and give hope to families who are desperately waiting for the next breakthrough.” “We should not let a rare disease become a death sentence simply because the market is too small,”said Rep. Nanette Barragán. ""The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program has helped bring treatments to children who face devastating diseases that previously had few or no options. That is why I am joining Congressman Bilirakis in introducing bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize this program and create certainty for researchers and investors who need to make decisions today for families and children who cannot afford to wait.” “Every child deserves a chance at life, no matter how rare their disease,” said Congresswoman Kat Cammack. “A rare diagnosis should never mean that a child is left behind in the search for a treatment or cure. The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program encourages America’s innovators to take on these devastating diseases and pursue breakthroughs that can give children and their families hope. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to make this important program permanent.” “Every child deserves a shot at a healthy future,” said Congressman Mullin. “The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program is bringing lifesaving treatments to kids who desperately need them, and we can’t let that progress stall. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to make the program permanent and give families hope that more rare pediatric treatments will be developed. When a child’s life is on the line, we can’t afford to wait.” ""Children with rare cancers need cures just as much as everyone else. Yet, many companies who want to develop those cures can’t find the necessary financing for such a small group of patients. The Rare Pediatric Disease PRV program provides these companies a vital incentive to invest millions of dollars to find cures for only a handful of children. Congress must permanently reauthorize this program to help these kids and give families hope that treatments and therapies will continue to advance for these devastating conditions,”said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “The medical science to cure pediatric diseases has never been more promising. The vouchers have been an important tool to turn that science into therapies. Congress must not abandon what's working – we should make the vouchers permanent,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss. Although the program does not sunset until 2029, investment decisions are being made now. During the program’s lapse from December 2024 to February 2026, the Rare Disease Company Coalition identified roughly 200 therapies at risk of losing eligibility and reported that investors were pulling back from the space. Permanent authorization would provide greater certainty for continued investment in rare pediatric disease research. The legislation is supported by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), Rare Foundation (formerly EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases), Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), and Rare Disease Company Coalition (RDCC). “The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher program is a proven, budget-neutral incentive that spurs innovation and supports the development of new therapies for children living with rare diseases,”said Chris Porter, Chair of the Rare Disease Company Coalition. “During the program's lapse from December 2024 to February 2026, over 200 pipeline assets were at risk of not receiving a priority review voucher, representing more than $4 billion in potential lost reinvestment capacity. Permanently reauthorizing the program will provide the certainty and predictability rare disease innovators need to continue investing into rare disease research and development for patients with few or no existing options. The Rare Disease Company Coalition applauds Representatives Bilirakis, Auchincloss, Barragán, Cammack, Mullin and Kean for their leadership and for taking action to make the PPRV program a permanent part of our nation’s rare disease innovation ecosystem.” “For families facing a rare pediatric disease, time isn't a luxury. The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program has proven to be one of the most effective tools we have for enabling companies to translate promising science into new treatments. Developing a treatment for a devastating pediatric disease takes years, sometimes decades. Making the PRV permanent gives drug developers and the patient communities counting on them the certainty to make that long-term bet. The RARE Foundation, formerly known as the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, is grateful to Representatives Bilirakis, Barragán, Cammack, Auchincloss, Kean, and Mullin for introducing the Priority for Pediatric Cures Act so that we can build on the incredible momentum of the first 14 years of the PRV Program, which has enabled over 70 new treatments for pediatric rare diseases,” Annie Kennedy, Chief Mission Officer, Rare Foundation. “The Rare Pediatric Disease PRV program provides critical incentives for rare disease research and development at no cost to taxpayers. Permanent reauthorization of this vital program would bring hope to children and families touched by rare disease who have no more time to wait, and stability and confidence for biotech innovators who are leading the way in the discovery of breakthrough treatments,” said BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley. “Previous lapses in the PPRV program have devastated families who have run out of treatment options. We are grateful to Representatives Bilirakis, Barragan, and the bipartisan leadership of all the bill’s cosponsors for making the PRV permanent on behalf of pediatric patients and their families.” Background Roughly one in ten Americans lives with a rare disease. Of the more than 10,000 known rare diseases, approximately 95 percent still have no FDA-approved treatment, and half of all patients diagnosed with a rare disease are children. Because rare diseases affect relatively small patient populations, promising treatments can struggle to attract the investment necessary to support years of costly research and development. The Rare Pediatric Disease PRV Program helps address that challenge by awarding a priority review voucher following FDA approval of a qualifying treatment. The voucher may be used for another eligible application or transferred to another company. FDA has awarded 63 vouchers to date, with more than 90 percent going to therapies for indications that previously had no approved treatment. Making the program permanent would provide greater certainty for continued investment in treatments and cures for children with rare diseases.",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/14/icymi-buchanan-reflects-on-the-25th-anniversary-of-september-11/,ICYMI: Buchanan Reflects on the 25th Anniversary of September 11,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“Everyone Remembers Where They Were on September 11, 2001” Op-Ed Remembers 9/11 and the Importance of Continued Action to Protect our Nation WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan recently penned an op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reflecting on his firsthand experience on 9/11 and warning that Congress cannot let its guard down on funding the agencies and first responders who protect the country from the next attack. “America’s darkest day was September 11,” said Buchanan. “Its brightest was September 12, when the country stood together. We honor that unity best not with speeches alone, but by making sure the people and agencies standing between us and the next attack have what they need, every year, not just this one.” Read the full op-ed HERE or below: Twenty-five years after 9/11, remembering is not enough Congressman Vern Buchanan Everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001. Twenty-five years later, I still remember every detail of that morning. I was at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, in the district I would one day represent, waiting to greet President George W. Bush after his visit to Emma E. Booker Elementary School just a few miles away. It was supposed to be an ordinary morning, a handshake and a photo with the president. Instead, a Secret Service agent pulled me into a back room. He told me a small plane may have gotten off course and struck one of the towers at the World Trade Center in New York. He said the President would be with me shortly. At that point, everybody still thought it was an accident. A terrible accident, but an accident. Minutes later he came back. A second plane had hit. We were under attack. Air Force One was sitting on the tarmac right in front of me. The president was abruptly rushed into his motorcade and loaded aboard. I watched as the plane climbed almost vertically off the runway. I had never seen an aircraft climb like that. I stood there and watched it go, and I did not know where he was going or when any of us would know anything again. You cannot imagine, standing on a runway in Sarasota on a Tuesday morning, that someone would fly an airplane into a building full of people. Nearly 3,000 of them never made it home. Twenty-five years later, I still remember every detail of that morning as if it happened yesterday. The children President Bush was reading with at Booker Elementary School that morning were seven years old. They are in their thirties now. Some of them have children of their own who have never known what our nation was like before. I have thought a lot about how different this country was the day before. On September 10, there was no Department of Homeland Security. There was no TSA. People boarded airplanes without giving it a second thought, because we did not live like a country that expected to be attacked at home. All of it was built afterward, at a terrible price. In the years right after 2001, this country spent whatever it took to safeguard our nation, but then time passed and the funding fights got harder. That day taught me a hard lesson. The men and women who protect us, our first responders, our intelligence professionals, the agencies that stand watch over our airports, borders and infrastructure, cannot do their critical job without sustained support from Congress. Homeland security is not a line item we fund once and set aside. It is a continuing obligation. That obligation does not stop at a speech for me. It shows up in how I vote. In 2019, I voted for the Never Forget the Heroes Act, which was signed into law by President Trump and permanently funded the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund so that responders and survivors who got sick from their work at Ground Zero would never have to worry about their care being cut off or delayed by Washington. That same principle has to guide how we fund homeland security today. The threats have changed since 2001, from hijacked airliners to cyberattacks on our power grids, hospitals and water systems, but the need for round-the-clock vigilance has not. TSA screeners, Coast Guard crews, cybersecurity personnel and local fire and EMS departments are the modern front line of the fight that began on 9/11. That day deserves more than a tribute. It deserves sustained funding for the agencies and first responders who carry that mission forward today. This year, I once again cosponsored the 9-1-1 SAVES Act, which would finally classify 911 dispatchers as first responders. They are the first voice you hear on the worst day of your life. We ought to call them what they are. Every year in this district, I host a ceremony to honor our fire, rescue and EMS crews, because the people who run toward the emergency deserve more than one day. America’s darkest day was September 11. Its brightest was September 12, when the country stood together. We honor that unity best not with speeches alone, but by making sure the people and agencies standing between us and the next attack have what they need, every year, not just this one. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/president-trump-signs-rep-steubes-disaster-tax-relief-bill-into-law/,President Trump Signs Rep. Steube’s Disaster Tax Relief Bill Into Law,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced that President Donald Trump signed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act into law, delivering critical tax relief and certainty to Americans recovering from federally declared natural disasters. The legislation extends federal disaster tax relief for Americans impacted by federally declared disasters between July 4, 2025, and December 31, 2026. “This delivers long-overdue certainty to Americans rebuilding after natural disasters. Disaster victims should be focused on rebuilding their homes, businesses, and communities, not worrying about an unexpected tax burden on the assistance they receive,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “I’m grateful to President Trump for signing this important legislation into law and ensuring families across the country receive the relief they deserve. Congressman LaMalfa worked tirelessly to get this legislation across the finish line, and it is fitting that his legacy of service will live on for years to come.” “Thanks to bipartisan leadership in Congress and President Trump, disaster victims now have the certainty they need to rebuild their lives. Families who lose their homes to a wildfire or a hurricane should not also lose a sizable piece of their recovery resources to the IRS. I commend Congressman Steube for his tireless efforts to see this bill across the finish line, and I want to recognize our late colleague Doug LaMalfa, whose years of advocacy for disaster victims in California made this law possible,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith. “After disaster strikes, impacted Americans should be focused on rebuilding their lives and their communities – not surprise changes to their tax bills. After speaking with so many Americans in Florida and across the country impacted by natural disasters, including meeting Spencer Pratt at his burned-down home and touring the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, I knew we had to do something. Now that President Trump has signed this bill into law, I’m grateful to have worked with Spencer, Rep. Steube, and Sen. Schiff to ensure those affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters continue to receive the real tax relief – and the peace of mind – they deserve,” said Senator Rick Scott. “The last thing families and communities recovering from natural disasters should have to worry about is an additional tax burden when they’re trying to get back on their feet,” said Rep. Panetta. “I’m proud that our bipartisan legislation has been signed into law to ensure that wildfire relief payments and hurricane losses continue to qualify for fair tax treatment. This new law will provide disaster-impacted Americans with the certainty, time, and tools they need to rebuild and move forward.” “Surviving a natural disaster can place an enormous financial burden on families. It is critical that we support victims of devastating disasters like the wildfires in California and across the country. That’s why I was proud to team up with Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Greg Steube, Mike Thompson and Jimmy Panetta to provide tax relief to the victims of natural disasters and why I am so grateful to see our bipartisan bill signed into law. We must ensure that those hit the hardest when disaster strikes receive the support and the tax relief they need to recover. And in seeing our bill become law, we affirm a vital part of the late Doug LaMalfa’s legacy,” said Senator Adam Schiff. TheDoug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act allows Americans impacted by federally declared disasters to deduct qualified casualty losses without having to itemize deductions. The legislation also ensures certain disaster relief payments are not treated as taxable income. The legislation was led in the upper chamber by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), with Representatives Steube, the late Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) leading in the House. The legislation was originally introduced as the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025, but was later renamed in honor of the late Congressman LaMalfa, who spent years championing disaster tax relief for Americans recovering from catastrophic events and passed unanimously. The Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act builds on Rep. Steube’s Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, which delivered billions in tax relief to Americans recovering from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and other federally declared disasters. By extending these tax provisions through December 31, 2026, the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act provides continued certainty for disaster victims as they rebuild and recover. With multiple pieces of standalone tax legislation now signed into law by both Presidents Trump and Biden, Congressman Steube has continued to demonstrate his ability to overcome Washington gridlock and deliver meaningful results for the American taxpayer. Congressman Steube is one of five House Republicans not on the Ways and Means Committee Leadership to bring two taxpayer bills into law in over fifty years. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-leads-south-atlantic-congressional-delegation-in-urging-the-department-of-commerce-to-approve-new-fishing-permits-for-red-snapper/,Senator Moody Leads South Atlantic Congressional Delegation in Urging the Department of Commerce to Approve New Fishing Permits for Red Snapper,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody, along with Representative John Rutherford, is leading the South Atlantic congressional delegation in support of new Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications. Following a DC Court halting the prior EFPs on the eve of the state’s approved May season, Florida has worked collaboratively with NOAA to develop even stronger EFP applications. These new permits will represent an important opportunity to improve recreational access, strengthen conservation through best available science, and support the coastal economies that depend on this fishery. “South Atlantic anglers deserve more than a two-day red snapper season. We have already seen the success of state-led management in the Gulf, where Florida’s red snapper season grew to 126 days in 2025 while maintaining healthy fish stocks. That’s why I am leading an effort to ensure we can manage our own red snapper season and continue strengthening our recreational fishing opportunities,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND Joining Senator Moody and Rep. Rutherford are Senator Rick Scott and Reps. David Rouzer, Aaron Bean, Earl ‘Buddy’ Carter, Russell Fry, Randy Fine, Darren Soto, Austin Scott, Ralph Norman, Byron Donalds, Rick W. Allen, Mike Haridopolos, Daniel Webster, María Elvira Salazar, Gus Bilirakis, and Scott Franklin. The Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications were submitted by Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to improve state data collection efforts and advance state-led management of the recreational red snapper fishery in federal waters in the South Atlantic. During President Trump’s first term, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved the state management EFP’s for red snapper in the Gulf of America. As a result, there has been improved data collection, strengthened accountability, and substantially longer recreational fishing seasons while maintaining healthy fish stocks. In 2025, Florida’s Gulf red snapper season lasted 126 days, a dramatic improvement from the three-day federal season anglers experienced before state management began. Read the entire letter here. In March, Senator Moody led the effort that resulted in the approval of a 39-day Atlantic snapper fishing season. # # #",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-frost-federal-watchdog-confirms-reports-of-inhumane-conditions-at-alligator-alcatraz,Rep. Frost: Federal Watchdog Confirms Reports of Inhumane Conditions at “Alligator Alcatraz”,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released the following statement after a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report confirmed that detainees at the now-shuttered “Alligator Alcatraz” were held in outdoor metal cages as small as 16 square feet for extended periods of time: “Today’s report confirms what we already knew: what happened at Alligator Alcatraz was disgusting, inhumane, and a stain on Florida’s history. I saw those conditions with my own eyes. I went to Alligator Alcatraz twice, and before both visits, I was specifically told to see “the cage” in the recreation area — including that there had been blood inside it. Both times, I was assured the cages were no longer being used. Now we know that wasn’t true. The federal government’s own watchdog confirmed that people were being held in outdoor metal cages barely larger than a telephone booth, sometimes for nearly two hours. This does not end with Alligator Alcatraz. People in ICE custody across America are still facing horrific conditions. I will continue conducting oversight at facilities across Florida and demanding answers.” ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/photos-senator-moody-honors-the-thousands-of-lives-lost-in-the-9-11-terrorist-attacks-on-the-25th-anniversary/,PHOTOS: Senator Moody Honors the Thousands of Lives Lost in the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the 25th Anniversary,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"TAMPA, Fla.—At a memorial service at U.S. Special Operations Command this morning, Senator Ashley Moody honored the thousands of lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Senator Moody, along with community officials and law enforcement officers placed a yellow rose in remembrance of those lost and in honor of the heroism police officers, firefighters, and other first responders showed on that tragic day 25 years ago. “Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, our nation experienced one of the darkest days in American history. But on that terrible day, we also saw the very best of America. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders ran toward danger to help others. They risked – and in far too many cases, gave – their own lives to save people whom they had never met,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “Today, we remember every precious life lost. We honor the heroes who answered the call and we stand with the families who still carry the weight of that loss. May we never forget September 11th, and the courage and unity America showed in its aftermath.” # # #",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/president-trump-signs-sen-rick-scott-s-disaster-tax-relief-bill-into-law,President Trump Signs Sen. Rick Scott’s Disaster Tax Relief Bill into Law,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – Today, President Donald Trump signed Senator Rick Scott’s Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act into law. The new law will provide meaningful, long-overdue tax relief for victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters and ensure they have immediate access to it. It was recently renamed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act to honor Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away in January of 2026. This law also extends victims’ ability to make tax-deductible payments from wildfire settlements, which often happen many years after a disaster, through January 1, 2027. Senator Scott introduced the bill in the Senate with bipartisan co-lead Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) led in the House, with original co-sponsors Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Jimmy Penetta (D-Calif.), and the late Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.). Senator Rick Scott said, “After disaster strikes, impacted Americans should be focused on rebuilding their lives and their communities – not surprise changes to their tax bills. After speaking with so many Americans in Florida and across the country impacted by natural disasters, including meeting Spencer Pratt at his burned-down home and touring the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, I knew we had to do something. “Now that President Trump has signed this bill into law, I’m grateful to have worked with Spencer, Rep. Steube, and Sen. Schiff to ensure those affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters continue to receive the real tax relief – and the peace of mind – they deserve."" Senator Adam Schiff said, “Surviving a natural disaster can place an enormous financial burden on families. It is critical that we support victims of devastating disasters like the wildfires in California and across the country. That’s why I was proud to team up with Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Greg Steube, Mike Thompson and Jimmy Panetta to provide tax relief to the victims of natural disasters and why I am so grateful to see our bipartisan bill signed into law. We must ensure that those hit the hardest when disaster strikes receive the support and the tax relief they need to recover. And in seeing our bill become law, we affirm a vital part of the late Doug LaMalfa’s legacy.” Full text of the bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/25-years-later-we-remember,"25 Years Later, We Remember",2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, FL — In a statement marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Congressman Maxwell Frost said: “Twenty-five years ago, our country experienced an unimaginable tragedy. Nearly 3,000 people never made it home to their families, and countless others have lived with that loss every day since. We remember the people we lost. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger. And we remember how, in the aftermath, Americans showed up for each other. That spirit of looking out for one another is what we should carry forward. Twenty-five years later, we remember, we mourn, and we recommit ourselves to building a country where we take care of each other.” ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405285,U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Opposes Data Centers in Hillsborough County,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today expressed strong opposition to data centers in Hillsborough County in a letter to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. Castor highlighted the significant strains on pocketbooks and local resources associated with data center development that can drive up electric and water bills for residents, farmers and small businesses. In Hillsborough County, the average electric utility bill has increased by over 40 percent in the past five years. Castor’s bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act would require data centers to pay the full costs of energy demand and protect ratepayers from data center rate hikes. Castor concluded, “Data centers cannot come at a cost to neighbors who are already facing high grocery, gas, utility, health care and housing costs. We need to make sure these projects actually bring good-paying jobs to our community and that workers, families, and neighborhoods aren’t forced to pay the burden of rapid technology growth, while out-of-state tech billionaires get richer.” Read the full letter below: RE: Opposition to Data Center Development in Hillsborough County Dear Commissioner[s]: As the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners considers the future of data centers in our community, I would like to relay my strong opposition to the siting of data centers in Hillsborough County. The potential impacts on the cost of living for our residents and on our community’s essential resources are too significant to ignore. As the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, I have led the national conversation in Congress as we grapple with high energy bills and rising electricity demand from data centers. I’m proud to lead the Ratepayer Protection Act – a bipartisan bill that requires data centers to pay the full costs of their energy demand. Data centers cannot be allowed to pass on their costs to hardworking Florida families and small businesses. The Ratepayer Protection Act would preserve local control over siting and permitting decisions – because these are decisions that should be made by the people and communities where these facilities are being built. Equally troubling is the immense water usage required for cooling these facilities. In a state where water resources are already under pressure from population growth and climate challenges, diverting millions of gallons for private corporations is neither sustainable nor in the public’s best interest. The county faces moderate to extreme drought conditions, limiting our public water supplies and hurting our farming communities. Hillsborough County and Tampa Bay Water are grappling with huge new water demand requirements and costs. Plant City is already turning to creative water solutions, like reuse for crop freeze protection, and population growth that are threatening local aquifer levels. Community leaders have expressed to me their strong opposition to data centers that could further strain our limited water supplies. I am also deeply concerned about the new state law permitting nondisclosure agreements for data centers. Secret deals are wrong. This lack of transparency undermines public trust and prevents residents from fully understanding the environmental, economic, and infrastructural impact on their lives. Our community deserves immediate open access to information about developments that could affect our daily lives for decades to come. Data centers cannot come at a cost to neighbors who are already facing high grocery, gas, utility, health care and housing costs. We need to make sure these projects actually bring good-paying jobs to our community and that workers, families, and neighborhoods aren’t forced to pay the burden of rapid technology growth, while out-of-state tech billionaires get richer. Please act decisively to protect Hillsborough County’s residents, resources, and long-term sustainability. I respectfully urge you to prioritize the public interest over private profit. Thank you for your time, service, and commitment to our community.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-sen-moody-urge-army-corps-to-preserve-charlotte-county-septic-to-sewer-authorization/,"Rep. Steube, Sen. Moody Urge Army Corps to Preserve Charlotte County Septic-to-Sewer Authorization",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,W. Gregory Steube,S001214,steube.house.gov,steube,https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senator Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) today sent a joint letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to preserve Charlotte County’s eligibility to seek federal funding for septic-to-sewer conversion projects. Rep. Steube worked to increase the amount in federal funding that Charlotte County could seek from $3 million to $33 million in 2022 to address nearly 2,600 failing septic systems harming water quality in the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary and the Gulf of America. Federal funds have yet to be dispersed for the project, but the lawmakers say that reflects bureaucratic delay, not a lapse in need. Charlotte County has since completed the Manasota Key Shoreline Protection Study and is now positioned to pursue a roughly $400 million wastewater conversion program, with the county planning to request Congressional support for septic-to-sewer conversions in the upcoming funding cycle. Rep. Steube and Sen. Moody warn that removing Charlotte County’s eligibility for federal support now would strip the county of its ability to seek funding for this work going forward, undoing years of Congressional effort to address failing septic systems and improve water quality throughout Southwest Florida. The full letter is attached here. ###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-secures-more-than-2-3-billion-for-florida-communities-affected-by-disasters/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Secures More than $2.3 BILLION for Florida Communities Affected by Disasters,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody continues working to secure long-sought FEMA disaster funds for hard-hit Florida communities. Since taking office, Senator Moody has recovered more than $2.3 billion for Florida. Senator Moody stood with local emergency officials in Fort Myers Beach to break the news today on the peak day of hurricane season. Included in the $2.3 billion secured for statewide projects are more than $64.9 million for projects in Lee County. “When I got to Washington, Florida was still owed billions of dollars for projects dating back years. We quickly went to work to cut through the bureaucracy and make sure our communities received the money they were owed. Today, we announced that our total recoveries have officially surpassed $2 billion. This is a major milestone, but our work isn’t over yet. We will keep working to deliver the federal support Floridians need,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: Statewide, Senator Moody has secured more than $2.3 billion in FEMA public assistance funding. Included in these funds are more than $64.9 million secured for Lee County, with $5.5. million designated to help reconstruct the pier destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The replacement is planned to stretch roughly 1,000 feet into the Gulf, more than 70% longer than the one destroyed. These grants will be distributed along with the previously announced funds through FEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs to support more than 500 recovery projects across the state. This money is disbursed to the state and local communities for disaster recovery projects. These projects include repairs to educational facilities, restoration of critical infrastructure, debris removal, and costs incurred during emergencies to protect life and property. Senator Moody introduced the TRACK Act (Transparency in Recovery Assistance & Claims Knowledge Act) to bring more transparency to the FEMA disaster aid process, which has now been passed into law. The TRACK Act mandates a status tracker on the FEMA website, so victims of a disaster have easily available knowledge and insight of their claim’s progress. Sept. 10 represents the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Senator Moody created webpage aggregating hurricane preparedness and recovery resources for Floridians. Click here to learn more. # # #",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/09/icymi-buchanan-warns-of-looming-national-debt-crisis-in-sarasota-herald-tribune-op-ed/,ICYMI: Buchanan Warns of Looming National Debt Crisis in Sarasota Herald-Tribune Op-Ed,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“Florida families balance their budgets every month. It is about time Washington does the same.” Op-Ed Details the $40 Trillion National Debt and Buchanan’s Balanced Budget Amendment WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan recently penned an op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune warning that the national debt, now surpassing $40 trillion, is on pace to leave the next generation with a bill they never agreed to and cannot afford. “I spent more than 30 years running businesses before I ever set foot on the House floor,” said Buchanan. “In the business world, there is a simple rule that never changes: you cannot spend more than you take in year after year and expect to stay open. Every entrepreneur and small business owner in Florida knows this. So does every family balancing a checkbook. It’s time Washington learned it too.” Read the full op-ed HERE or below: The Next Generation Shouldn’t Inherit Washington’s Spending Problem Congressman Vern Buchanan I spent more than 30 years running businesses before I ever set foot on the House floor. In the business world, there is a simple rule that never changes: you cannot spend more than you take in year after year and expect to stay open. Every entrepreneur and small business owner in Florida knows this. So does every family balancing a checkbook. It’s time Washington learned it too. The national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, a number so large it’s difficult to picture. To put it in perspective, that’s more than $300,000 owed for every household in America, a bill no family ever agreed to, and no family should have to afford. The debt now stands at more than 100 percent of the size of our entire economy, a level that warrants extreme concern. Additionally, interest on the debt is growing out of control as it surpasses defense to become the federal governments second largest expense. We’ve borrowed against the future before, but always to win a war or survive a depression, never simply to avoid making a hard choice. If Washington continues on its current course, with no more wars, no recession and no major new programs, the debt is projected to hit a staggering $64 trillion within the next decade. Add more than $80 trillion in unfunded promises to Social Security and Medicare and the picture becomes even more sobering. These are promises we’ve made to seniors who spent their whole lives paying in, and to young people who haven’t even cast their first vote yet. As representatives of the American people, we are here to serve their best interest, and there is nothing in their interest about handing the next generation a bill this country can’t afford. In January 2007, the national debt stood at just under $9 trillion. In less than two decades, it has more than quadrupled. Think about that. It took this country more than 230 years, through two world wars, the Great Depression and the Cold War, to reach $9 trillion in debt. It has taken us less than 20 years to add more than $31 trillion more on top of it. This did not happen under one party or one president. Both sides of the aisle share the blame, and both sides need to be part of the solution. That is why I authored H.J. Res. 3, a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget, as both my first piece of legislation when I arrived in Congress and my first bill to introduce in each Congress since. I believe nothing else we can do in Washington matters much if we do not get our fiscal house in order first. A balanced budget amendment simply says what every Florida family and every small business already lives by: Congress cannot spend money it does not have without a real plan to pay it back. It would force Washington to set priorities, cut what does not work and stop kicking the hardest decisions down the road to our kids and grandkids. This is not a Republican idea or a Democratic idea. It is widely understood, and it deserves support from members on both sides of the aisle who care about the country the next generation will inherit. I’ve heard the argument that we can simply tax our way out of this problem. But I don’t believe the answer is to reach deeper into the pockets of the people who are already carrying this country. The math does not support it either. Even the most aggressive tax increases on the wealthiest Americans would not come close to closing deficits of this size, let alone pay for the new spending some in Washington keep proposing. Working families and small businesses didn’t run up this debt, and they shouldn’t be the ones to foot the bill for it. The only honest path forward is to control spending, grow the economy and stop treating the congressional credit card as if it has no limit. I did not come to Washington to leave behind a bigger problem than the one I found. I came here to run government the way I ran my businesses, with discipline, accountability and an eye on long-term success. Nearly 20 years later, that mission is more urgent than it has ever been. The debt crisis we are approaching will not announce itself with a single dramatic headline. It will show up in higher interest rates, a weaker dollar, less money for the priorities that matter and fewer opportunities for the next generation. It will reach into the everyday lives of Americans nationwide. We still have time to change course, but that window is closing quickly. I’m asking my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in getting the national debt under control. Florida families balance their budgets every month. It is about time Washington does the same. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla) is the Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and the chairman of the Health Subcommittee. Prior to serving in Congress, Buchanan was in business for over 30 years and chaired both the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber of Commerce. ###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1932,Franklin Leads Members Of Florida Delegation In Effort To Protect Domestic Fertilizer Production,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) led members of Florida’s congressional delegation in a letter to President Trump and Commerce Secretary Lutnick urging continued action to address the supply and rising cost of sulfur, a critical input used to produce phosphate fertilizer. “Florida is at the heart of America’s phosphate fertilizer production, and the current sulfur shortage threatens an industry our farmers and food supply depend on,” said Congressman Scott Franklin. “A reliable, affordable supply of sulfur is critical to producing fertilizer American farmers depend on. I appreciate the Trump Administration’s work on this issue, and we want to build on those efforts to protect American fertilizer production, support our farmers and reduce our dependence on foreign sources.” Geopolitical and shipping disruptions have constrained global sulfur supplies and driven prices to historic levels. Tampa sulfur prices have risen sharply from a previous average of $172 per long ton. Since May, prices have exceeded $1,100 per metric ton. This increase has put significant pressure on domestic phosphate fertilizer production. Domestic phosphate producers have already reduced operating rates and idled facilities as sulfur costs and supply constraints have intensified. Further disruptions could threaten American jobs, tighten fertilizer supplies, increase costs for farmers and leave the United States more dependent on foreign fertilizer. The Trump Administration has convened an interagency process to examine the issue. Franklin and his colleagues encouraged continued engagement and outlined potential options to increase access to competitively priced sulfur, including coordination with domestic refiners and sulfur marketers, addressing transportation and logistics constraints, using appropriate trade and financing tools and engaging allied suppliers. The lawmakers also encourage the Administration to designate a senior official to coordinate the federal response and work with Congress on any additional authorities or resources that may be needed. Cosigners include: Reps. Byron Donalds (FL-19), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Laurel Lee (FL-15), Greg Steube (FL-17) and Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13). Read the full letter here.",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/photos-senator-moody-honors-law-enforcement-heroes-ambushed-while-responding-to-a-womans-call-for-help/,PHOTOS: Senator Moody Honors Law Enforcement Heroes Ambushed While Responding to a Woman’s Call for Help,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"TAMPA, Fla.— Senator Ashley Moody today gave special recognition to multiple Hillsborough County deputies who were ambushed and intervened while responding to a woman’s call for help. In July, a suspect ambushed three HCSO deputies responding to reports that a woman had been held at gunpoint. The suspect shot Deputy Colton Daniels in the face and Sopharmony Muon in the neck. While shots were being fired, Sergeant Harrison Bashner ran toward the gunfire to stop the threat. Deputy Roody Louis and Corporal Will Barnes were also recognized for their valor connected with the response. “Deputies Daniels and Muon were ambushed while responding to a woman’s call for help. Sgt. Bashner immediately responded, running toward the gunfire to save the two deputies. These deputies showed exceptional courage. It was an honor to surprise them today with a special recognition for their service and thank them personally for all they do to protect Floridians,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND In July, a suspect in a hostage case fired a barrage of shots at deputies who responded to a call for help. Deputy Daniels was shot in the face, and Deputy Muon was shot in the neck before he could step out of his car. Both deputies are recovering at home. Learn more here. Senator Moody surprised the deputies at a special ceremony at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with Sheriff Chad Chronister. Senator Moody is a strong supporter of the men and women who serve and protect Floridians. Last week, Senator Moody received the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Senator Moody also recently received the Friends of Florida Police Chiefs Association Award. Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has: Introduced the Halo Act to shield federal officers from those who seek to threaten and harass them on duty. Cosponsored the LEO K9 Act, which aims to strengthen penalties for intentionally harming law enforcement animals and expand federal protections to cover state and local police animals assisting federal law enforcement. Senator Moody recently visited Jacksonville with Congressman Bean to spotlight the legislation. Supported the Graham Hoffman Act, which would allow the U.S. to use the full force of state and federal law to prosecute those who assault first responders and act as a deterrent to anyone considering such acts of violence. Introduced the HELPER Act to make homeownership more obtainable for Florida heroes, including law enforcement officers. Co-Sponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law by President Trump. The new law assists law enforcement officers in getting fentanyl traffickers off the streets and permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Sponsored the RIPPLE Act, which would expand the 287(g) program and provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get criminal illegal aliens out of communities; and Advanced six bills to support law enforcement, strengthen public safety and deliver critical tools to officers out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week earlier this year. As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody created many programs to recognize the selfless efforts of law enforcement officers, including her Back the Blue, Thin Line Tribute, and Sunshine Salute programs. Moody also worked with state lawmakers to strengthen statutes to hold criminals accountable and help officers and prosecutors do their jobs. # # #",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wilson-honors-smithsonian-secretary-lonnie-bunch-iii-following-retirement-announcement,Rep. Wilson Honors Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III Following Retirement Announcement,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement on the retirement of Lonnie G. Bunch III. “Lonnie Bunch III did not simply preserve history. He made it, defended it, and refused to let anyone erase it. “As the first Black Secretary of the Smithsonian and founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, he transformed a dream carried across generations into a national treasure. “For 38 years, Secretary Bunch fought to ensure that Black history was protected and told truthfully. When powerful forces sought to censor exhibits, distort the past, and diminish the Black experience, he stood firmly in their way. “Attempts to censor our history cannot erase it, and attempts to silence the truth will only make us tell it louder. “If there is a sword worth falling on, it is this: We will never stop telling the full American story."" ###",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-rallies-space-industry-leaders-in-call-to-bring-u-s-space-academy-to-florida/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Rallies Space Industry Leaders in Call to Bring U.S. Space Academy to Florida,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"SPACE COAST, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody today stood with space industry leaders to urge the administration to select Florida for the newly announced U.S. Space Academy. Space Florida CEO Rob Long, along with members from the Space Coast Economic Development Council, and the aerospace manufacturing community joined Senator Moody to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy. Senator Moody also plans to file legislation once the Senate is back in session to solidify Florida as the Space Academy’s new home. “We are America’s space state. Florida helped launch our nation into the Space Age, and now we are ready to lead the way into the next era of American space leadership. Today, I stood with space industry leaders on our Space Coast to make the pitch to place the newly announced U.S. Space Academy where it belongs—in Florida,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “For decades, Florida has served as our country’s epicenter for U.S. space exploration and launch activity. The Sunshine State is home to one of the most advanced space ecosystems in the world and is uniquely positioned to ensure American space dominance for generations to come. The rare combination of our elite academic institutions, a renowned industrial base, robust manufacturing capabilities, and rapidly expanding commercial space presence, coupled with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, provides an unparalleled educational opportunity for the United States Space Academy. I want to thank President Trump for his leadership in creating this vital institute, and I am proud to work alongside Senator Ashley Moody to secure its success,” said Rep. Byron Donalds. “There is no better place to train the next generation of American space leaders than the state that has launched generations of Americans to the stars,” said Rep. Mike Haridopolos. “Florida has the infrastructure, universities, workforce, and unmatched experience to make the United States Space Academy a success. As Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am proud to support Senator Moody’s legislation to bring this new institution to Florida.” BACKGROUND: Rep. Donalds will lead the legislation in the House. Both Rep. Haridopolos and Rep. Donalds have announced support for Senator Moody’s proposal. The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry. Last week, Senator Moody announced she will be introducing legislation to bring the new academy to Florida, and also co-led an effort calling on the administration to consider Florida for the new institution. Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500% since 2016. Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration. The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports. Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers. The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon. Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs. Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center as they thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled. # # #",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-joins-bipartisan-effort-expand-access-child-tax-credit-working,Salazar Joins Bipartisan Effort to Expand Access to Child Tax Credit for Working Families,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) joined Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Chris Pappas (D-NH) in introducing the bipartisan Stronger Start for Working Families Act, legislation that would lower the earned-income threshold for the refundable Child Tax Credit from $2,500 to $1. Under current law, the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit does not begin phasing in until a family earns more than $2,500. The Stronger Start for Working Families Act would allow eligible working families to begin earning the refundable credit with their first dollar of earned income. According to the Tax Policy Center, the change would provide a tax cut to nearly 3.5 million families with children in 2026. “Raising a family is expensive, and too many parents in South Florida are doing everything right and still feeling squeezed by the cost of everyday life,” said Rep. Salazar. “The Stronger Start for Working Families Act makes a simple, commonsense change: working families should be able to start benefiting from the refundable Child Tax Credit from the very first dollar they earn, instead of waiting until they reach $2,500 in earnings. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan bill to put more of that help within reach for families paying for groceries, child care, rent, and all the everyday costs that come with raising children.” “The Stronger Start for Working Families Act is a common-sense piece of legislation designed to help our families across the country who are struggling with the rising costs of raising a child. By lowering the earned income limit, we can ensure parents start receiving much-needed Child Tax Credit benefits from the very first dollar they earn, providing tax relief and improved peace of mind to those needing it most,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller. “The Stronger Start for Working Families Act is a bipartisan solution for working families who have watched relief stay just out of reach. Lowering the qualifying threshold from $2,500 to just $1 means that so many families below the poverty line who were previously prevented from qualifying now have access to the assistance they deserve. That can be the difference between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. There is still more work to be done for families who need support, but this is a positive first step. I'm proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle on this much needed relief, and I will continue to ensure working families can get ahead, not just get by,"" said Rep. Horsford. ""Families in New Hampshire are working hard and still coming up short. Child care for a family with two kids costs close to $32,000 a year here, more than a quarter of our state's median family income. It makes no sense that parents who need the Child Tax Credit most are the ones missing out. This bill is a simple and straightforward fix: let families start earning the credit with their first dollar of work so we can put money back in their pockets,"" said Congressman Chris Pappas. The Stronger Start for Working Families Act would: Lower the earned-income threshold for the refundable Child Tax Credit from $2,500 to $1, allowing eligible families to begin earning the credit with their first dollar of earned income; Expand access to the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit for lower-income working families; Maintain the credit’s connection to earned income while allowing the refundable benefit to begin phasing in sooner; and Apply the change beginning with the 2026 tax year. The legislation is the House companion to the bipartisan Stronger Start for Working Families Act introduced in the Senate by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN). “Parents are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, with majorities of low-income parents saying they have increased spending on groceries and utilities this year. The Stronger Start for Working Families Act will help families access a larger Child Tax Credit sooner, which helps them afford basic necessities that help children thrive and incentivizes parents to join or stay in the workforce. BPC Action commends Reps. Miller (R-WV) and Horsford (D-NV) for leading this bill in the House,” says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). The Stronger Start for Working Families Act is supported by Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Third Way, Bread for the World, America Forward, Save the Children, Niskanen Center, Family Matters, and RESULTS. Rep. Salazar has made affordability a priority in Congress, advancing policies to address housing costs, strengthen homeownership, and help South Florida families keep more of what they earn. She will continue working to ease the financial pressure facing parents and make it more affordable to raise a family in FL-27.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-recognizes-award-winning-constituent-services-team-for-excellence-in-service-to-thousands-of-floridians/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Recognizes Award-Winning Constituent Services Team for Excellence in Service to Thousands of Floridians,2026-09-07,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody is recognizing her award-winning Constituent Services Team for providing excellent service to thousands of Floridians. The Congressional Management Foundation named Senator Moody’s office the winner of the 2026 Democracy Award for Best of Constituent Service. Senator Moody is the first U.S. Senator to win a Democracy Award for Best in Constituent Service after one year in Congress. “We work for the citizens of Florida. Providing Floridians with exceptional constituent service takes a compassionate, dedicated team of public servants, and we have truly assembled the best of the best. It was a privilege to share the 2026 Democracy Award for Best of Constituent Service with our team in Orlando and recognize their tireless hard work on behalf of Floridians,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: Since taking office, Senator Moody’s Constituent Services Team has assisted nearly 9,000 Floridians with federal agency casework, including over 1,000 veterans and active-duty service members. The Best of Constituent Service category recognizes offices that demonstrate outstanding dedication through effective casework, timely resolution of individual issues, personalized support, and a relentless focus on ensuring constituents receive the help they need. Winners are selected for their exceptional attention to detail, empathy, and persistence in solving complex constituent problems. The Congressional Management Foundation is the premier bipartisan foundation dedicated to strengthening the first branch of government. The Democracy Awards are CMF’s signature program recognizing the best in congressional non-legislative achievements. To learn more about CMF’s Democracy Awards, click here. To learn how Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL)’s office can serve you, click here. # # #",1,2026-09-08T09:24:24Z,2026-09-08T09:26:10Z https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salazar-bera-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-combat-tuberculosis-worldwide,"Reps. Salazar, Bera Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Tuberculosis Worldwide",2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Maria Elvira Salazar,S000168,salazar.house.gov,salazar,https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) co-chairs of the House Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus, introduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026. This bipartisan legislation would strengthen U.S. efforts to prevent, diagnose, treat, and ultimately eliminate tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. A group of seven bipartisan Representatives joined as original cosponsors. “Tuberculosis has challenged humanity for centuries. It should not define the centuries ahead,” said Representative María Elvira Salazar. “TB is preventable, treatable, and curable, yet too many people still die because they cannot get a timely diagnosis or the care they need. I’m proud to co-lead the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026 to keep America leading this fight, equip our partners with better tools, and stop a preventable disease from claiming more lives. The goal is simple: find it, treat it, and end it.” “Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable, and curable, yet it continues to take far too many lives around the world,” said Representative Ami Bera, M.D. “The End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026 ensures the United States remains a leader in this fight by focusing on proven approaches: investing in better diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines and making sure our global health programs are accountable for results. I’m especially grateful to John Green, RESULTS, and TB advocates across the country for their tireless work to raise awareness, build support, and move us closer to ending TB once and for all.” “RESULTS is deeply grateful to Rep. Bera and Rep. Salazar for their unwavering commitment to the fight against TB, and for championing this legislation,” said Dr. Joanne Carter, Executive Director of Raise Your Voice to End Poverty (RESULTS). “Communities around the world are leading the fight against TB, and we now have a range of powerful new tools ready to deploy. The U.S. government has already set bold targets for ending TB globally, and this bill provides the framework for how we actually get there. Our volunteers across the country are ready to support Congress to get this bill enacted into law.” “I’m so grateful to Rep. Bera and Rep. Salazar for advancing the fight against tuberculosis. This disease, curable since the 1950s, has been allowed to ravage the world for far too long,” said John Green, TB advocate and author of the New York Times best-selling book Everything is Tuberculosis. “The End TB Now Act will help reduce the burden of a terrible global scourge.” The End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026 modernizes U.S. global TB programs to focus resources on finding, treating, and preventing tuberculosis, particularly in countries and communities with the highest burden of the disease. The legislation would: Expand access to TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, including active case finding, rapid diagnostics, treatment for drug-resistant TB, and preventive treatment for people at high risk of infection; Accelerate research and development of better tools to fight TB, including new diagnostics, drug therapies, vaccines, and other technologies, while strengthening health systems and laboratory capacity; Set clear goals and strengthen accountability for U.S. programs, including working by 2030 to reduce TB incidence by 80 percent and TB deaths by 90 percent from 2015 levels, diagnose and begin treatment for 90 percent of TB and drug-resistant TB cases, achieve a 90 percent treatment success rate, and provide preventive treatment to 30 million people; and Require annual reporting on U.S. global TB programs and investments in research and development to track progress and strengthen accountability. Since 2022, Representative Salazar has led bipartisan efforts in the House of Representatives to eliminate tuberculosis. Alongside Representative Bera, Salazar introduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2022, which advanced through the House Foreign Affairs Committee that year. He reintroduced the legislation in 2023, when it again passed the Committee unanimously. As a member of congress, Salazar has consistently made the case that investing in prevention, detection, and eradication efforts abroad is also an investment in the health and security of Americans at home. Companion legislation in the Senate was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-rallies-veterans-in-central-florida-to-combat-high-rate-of-veteran-suicide-by-improving-wellness-and-mental-health-for-former-service-members/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Rallies Veterans in Central Florida to Combat High Rate of Veteran Suicide by Improving Wellness and Mental Health for Former Service Members,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ORLANDO, Fla.— Senator Ashley Moody continues to rally veterans across Florida around congressional legislation to increase mental health services and outcomes. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and military veterans experience suicide rates higher than the national average. Recently, in Central Florida, Senator Moody joined more than a hundred former servicemembers at a local VFW post to discuss the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, which would establish a grant program to help states provide veterans with additional resources for recovery. “As Florida’s newest U.S. Senator, I have crisscrossed the state to meet with thousands of our great veterans and have looked for ways to increase resources and improve outcomes. They risked their lives to protect our great nation and I will continue to fight in Washington to make sure we always honor their service,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: Recently Senator Moody joined more than 100 veterans at a VFW Post in Orlando to discuss the bipartisan Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act. The Act would establish a grant program through the Department of Veterans Affairs to help states develop and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for veterans. It would authorize $10 million each year, with every approved state receiving at least $200,000 to support these programs. View Senator Moody’s full remarks from the recent event here. Senator Moody is a proud supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and military families. Since becoming a United States Senator, Moody has: Recently cosponsored the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. The Veterans Bill of Rights Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans are clearly informed of their existing rights regarding VA-administered health care, benefits, and services. Cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans; Supported the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans; Supported the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans; Held a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans; Recognized 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussed the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more. Senator Moody recently joined the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s military members. As Florida Attorney General, Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families who encounter scams or fraud. Senator Moody is proud to be part of a military family. # # #",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-laurel-lee-introduces-ballots-election-day-act-establish-clear-deadline,Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Ballots by Election Day Act to Establish Clear Deadline for Federal Elections,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15), Chairwoman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections and former Florida Secretary of State, introduced the Ballots by Election Day Act, legislation establishing a clear, uniform standard that ballots cast in federal elections must be received by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted. The legislation is the House companion to legislation introduced by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL). It would require absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections to be received by the close of polls on Election Day, while preserving existing protections for military and overseas voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The requirement would take effect beginning with federal elections held in 2027. As Florida’s former Secretary of State, Rep. Lee served as the state’s chief election officer and oversaw the administration of Florida’s elections. Florida already requires most vote-by-mail ballots to be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. The Ballots by Election Day Act would bring that same basic principle to federal elections nationwide: voters should know the deadline, election officials should know the rules, and Election Day should mark the end of voting. “Having served as Florida’s Secretary of State and overseen elections across our state, I have seen firsthand that clear rules, firm deadlines, and consistent election administration work,”said Rep. Laurel Lee.“Florida has shown that we can provide voters with accessible ways to cast their ballots while maintaining a clear deadline for when those ballots must be received. Election Day should mean election results. When the polls close, voters should have confidence that the voting is over and election officials can move forward with determining the results. The Ballots by Election Day Act applies that commonsense standard to federal elections across the country and provides greater certainty for voters, election officials, and the American people.” The Ballots by Election Day Act is a simple fix to rebuild trust in elections. The fact that some states allow ballots to pour in for days after an election is absurd. Passing our Ballots by Election Day Act would deliver results before bed,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “I’m happy to see my friend and colleague, Representative Laurel Lee, join me in this fight to bring Florida’s blueprint for elections nationwide. BACKGROUND: The Ballots by Election Day Act follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee, which determined that current federal law does not establish a nationwide deadline for receiving mail ballots and left the issue for Congress to address. This bill establishes a clear deadline for when ballots cast for federal office must be received. It provides voters with consistent rules and certainty about when their ballots are due, regardless of where they live. The approach is modeled after Florida, where most vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day. The Ballots by Election Day Act would:",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-proposes-creation-of-u-s-space-academy-in-florida-americas-launchpad-to-the-stars/,Senator Moody Proposes Creation of U.S. Space Academy in Florida—America’s Launchpad to the Stars,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody is proposing legislation to bring the newly-established U.S. Space Academy to Florida—the launchpad of American aerospace innovation. Last week, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the United States Space Academy, and Senator Moody is announcing that she will file legislation when the Senate floor reopens to solidify Florida as the Space Academy’s new home. “The newly established United States Space Academy belongs in Florida – America’s launchpad to the stars. That’s why the first thing I’ll do when I’m back in Washington is introduce legislation to bring the academy home to Florida—ensuring our nation’s next generation of space leaders is educated, trained, and prepared for a future in the final frontier right here on Florida’s Space Coast,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry. Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500% since 2016. Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration. The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports. Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers. The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon. Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs. Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center as they thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled. # # #",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-rep-haridopolos-lead-florida-delegation-in-letter-to-president-trump-and-nasa-administrator-jared-isaacman-to-bring-space-academy-in-florida/,"Senator Moody, Rep. Haridopolos Lead Florida Delegation in Letter to President Trump and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to Bring Space Academy in Florida",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Senator Ashley Moody along with Representative Mike Haridopolos led the Florida delegation in a letter to the President and NASA Administrator offering Florida as the home for the new United States Space Academy. Florida represents many commercial space launch providers, hosts several universities that make up the Florida Space Research Consortium, and is home to thousands of Space Force and NASA employees. “Florida is America’s launchpad to space, and there is no better home for the new United States Space Academy. As Senator for the Space State, I’ll keep working to grow our aerospace industry and ensure that Florida is the premier state for training the next generation of explorers,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “There is no better place to train the next generation of American space leaders than the state that has launched generations of Americans to the stars,” said Congressman Mike Haridopolos. “Florida has the infrastructure, the universities, the workforce, and the unmatched experience to make the United States Space Academy a success. As Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort with Senator Moody and our Florida colleagues to make the case for bringing this important new institution to the Sunshine State.” BACKGROUND Joining Senator Moody and Rep. Haridopolos are Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Scott Franklin, Mario Diaz-Balart, Byron Donalds, Anna Paulina Luna, Vern Buchanan, Carlos Gimenez, Jimmy Patronis, Daniel Webster, Neal Dunn, M.D., Aaron Bean, John Rutherford, Randy Fine, Kat Cammack, Jared Moskowitz, Darren Soto, Gus Bilirakis, Laurel Lee, María Elvira Salazar, Kathy Castor, Brian Mast, and Gregory Steube. The proposed U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry. Senator Moody has a staunch record of supporting Florida’s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500% since 2016. Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration. The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports. Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers. The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA’s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon. Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast—where it belongs. Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center as they thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled. Read the entire letter here. # # #",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-kat-cammack-issues-statement-censure-rep-chuck-edwards,Congresswoman Kat Cammack Issues Statement on the Censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Kat Cammack,C001039,cammack.house.gov,cammack,https://cammack.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"""Yesterday, I voted to censure Congressman Chuck Edwards. I read the Ethics Committee's report, and I read his letter and his lawyers' response with the seriousness they deserve. He had every right to defend himself. It did not change my vote. The Committee found a persistent pattern of unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young women on his staff, and he did not deny much of the underlying conduct. In fact, defends it. He defends the gifts and the poetry, and he defends traveling with a young woman who had only just left his office. His argument is that none of it broke a rule, and that is precisely the problem. I was a congressional staffer myself before becoming a Member. I understand the responsibility Members have to the people who work for us. Members of Congress hold enormous power over the people who work for us. 'Technically permitted' is a low bar. Judgment is the standard. I co-founded the Republican Women's Caucus to raise the standard in this institution, and that starts with how we treat the people who serve alongside us. Two young women left his office, and the Committee said the House lost them because of his conduct. Congress cannot ask the American people to trust this body if we refuse to hold ourselves accountable. Yesterday's vote was accountability after the fact. My work with Chairwoman Leger Fernández and the Democratic Women's Caucus is about making sure the next staffer never has to get that far. We will have more to share on that work soon.""",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1930,Franklin Secures $2.9 Million For Public Safety Innovation Lab At Florida Poly,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) today announced he secured $2.9 million for Florida Polytechnic University to establish a new Public Service Applied Innovation Laboratory (PSAIL). “Florida Poly is doing important work to prepare the next generation of American innovators and tackle real-world challenges in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and public safety,” said Congressman Scott Franklin. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m pleased we were able to secure $2.9 million to help build on that work. This investment will give students valuable hands-on experience, strengthen our public safety capabilities and help develop the skilled workforce America needs to remain competitive and secure.” “Congressman Franklin’s leadership and support are helping Florida Poly take a major step forward in developing technologies increasingly critical to our state and nation,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Polytechnic University. “This $2.9 million investment will give our faculty and students extraordinary opportunities to work at the forefront of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. It will help build a workforce ready to meet our evolving technology needs and expand Florida Poly’s capacity to address real-world challenges that impact our economy and national security. We are tremendously grateful to Congressman Franklin for his confidence in Florida Poly and his commitment to championing this important work.” The Public Service Applied Innovation Laboratory will: Establish an Artificial Intelligence Solutions Lab for applied AI research and partnerships; Create a Network Operations and Security Center focused on protecting network and information technology systems; Build secure laboratory and data spaces, including an AI prototype room and cyber range; Provide equipment and hands-on opportunities for student interns working in each lab; and Support collaboration with public service and public safety organizations on challenges including emergency management. The funding, secured by Franklin through the annual appropriations process, will equip existing space on the second floor of Florida Poly’s Gary C. Wendt Engineering Building for applied research, hands-on learning and collaboration. The investment will support equipment for student interns in each lab, two secure and dedicated data spaces, an Artificial Intelligence Solutions Prototype Room and Cyber Range, an AIS Management Cockpit and a Network Operations and Security Operations Center Command Center. Together, these capabilities will give students and faculty the tools to test emerging technologies and work alongside public safety partners to develop solutions to real-world challenges. The $2.9 million award will be administered through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and advances NIST’s federal mission under Section 272 of Title 15 of the U.S. Code to support research, education and partnerships that strengthen American innovation and workforce readiness. The project will help develop skilled talent in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other technologies increasingly important to America’s economic and national security.",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-senator-moody-receives-prestigious-award-for-unwavering-support-for-florida-law-enforcement/,VIDEO: Senator Moody Receives Prestigious Award for Unwavering Support for Florida Law Enforcement,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"CLEARWATER, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody is a fierce fighter for Florida law enforcement, having passed measures to help officers get fentanyl traffickers off the streets and working to provide the resources officers need to keep Floridians safe. Over the weekend, Senator Moody rallied with hundreds of officers at the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association Gala where Moody received a Lifetime Achievement Award. “From serving as a prosecutor, judge, Attorney General and now as U.S. Senator, I’ve made it a priority to stand with the brave men and women of law enforcement who pursue dangerous criminals and keep Florida families safe. Their commitment to upholding the rule of law has helped our communities and our state thrive, and as the wife of a law enforcement officer, supporting those who put their lives on the line for us is deeply personal to me. That’s why I’m incredibly humbled and honored to receive the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Lifetime Achievement Award, and I will never stop backing the men and women who selflessly serve and protect us,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND:",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-urges-dot-sec-duffy-to-correct-loophole-hurting-small-businesses,Sen. Rick Scott Urges DOT Sec. Duffy to Correct Loophole Hurting Small Businesses,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – This week, U.S. Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy asking him to fix to a Biden-era policy that unfairly harms travel agents, including many small business owners in Florida. Currently, travel agents are required by law to refund customers within seven days of a qualified flight cancellation or delay while airlines have no such deadline. The financial burden is placed on agents, forcing them to lose thousands of dollars while they work for months to recoup the money from the airlines who hold the funds. Senator Scott’s letter requests a change in this policy that holds airlines equally accountable to provide timely refunds to their customers. Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Travel agencies and advisors operate on slim margins, and many simply cannot afford to front refunds to their customers, particularly for group bookings worth tens of thousands of dollars, before the airline has returned the money. These small businesses are being held financially accountable for a timeline they do not control, while the airlines that actually hold the funds face no enforceable deadline. Many of these small businesses may go out of business if nothing is done. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and travel advisors and agencies play a critical role in our tourism industry.” Read the full letter HERE or below: Dear Secretary Duffy, I write to request that the Department of Transportation correct a flaw in its 2024 consumer refund regulations that is placing an unsustainable financial burden on travel agencies and travel advisors, the overwhelming majority of which are small businesses. Under the Department’s April 2024 final rule, the “merchant of record” in an airline ticket transaction must refund the consumer within seven days of a cancelled or significantly changed flight. When a travel agency or advisor books a ticket on behalf of a client, the agency is often the merchant of record, even though the cost of the ticket is immediately transferred to the airline at the time of purchase. The Department’s August 2024 final rule requires airlines to “promptly” return those funds to the ticket agent, but it does not define “promptly” or set any deadline. In practice, airlines frequently fail to return funds within the seven-day window, forcing agencies to refund customers out of their own pockets while they wait on the airline refund. Travel agencies and advisors operate on slim margins, and many simply cannot afford to front refunds to their customers, particularly for group bookings worth tens of thousands of dollars, before the airline has returned the money. These small businesses are being held financially accountable for a timeline they do not control, while the airlines that actually hold the funds face no enforceable deadline. Many of these small businesses may go out of business if nothing is done. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and travel advisors and agencies play a critical role in our tourism industry. I respectfully request that the Department fix this imbalance through rulemaking or other appropriate administrative action, whether by establishing a firm deadline for airlines to return funds to ticket agents, aligning the agency’s refund obligation with its receipt of funds from the airline, or another workable solution. Consumers deserve timely refunds, but that obligation should rest with the party holding the money, not with small businesses left waiting on the airlines. Thank you for your attention to this important issue. Sincerely, # # #",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/frost-introduces-no-homeless-detention-centers-act-to-ban-forced-labor-and-cruel-homeless-encampments,Frost Introduces No Homeless Detention Centers Act to Ban Forced Labor and Cruel Homeless Encampments,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Maxwell Frost,F000476,frost.house.gov,frost,https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"*LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE* WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) joined Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02), Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03), along with Eric Tars of the National Homeless Law Center, Setareh Gandehari, Advocacy Director, Detention Watch Network, and Wesley Thomas, Guest Advisory Board Member, Miriam’s Kitchen to announce his No Homeless Detention Centers Act, legislation to stop federal housing dollars from being used to force people experiencing homelessness into detention-like facilities or subject them to forced labor. The bill would prevent the federal government from funding programs that force people experiencing homelessness into shelters, camps, or other facilities against their will. It would also ban these facilities from making people work in exchange for a place to stay or punishing people for doing basic things they need to survive, like sleeping, resting, eating, drinking, or protecting themselves from the weather. ""No one should look at a person who is homeless and think the answer is to lock them up or make them work for a place to sleep,” said Congressman Frost. “People need housing, not cages. They need support, not forced labor. At a time when homelessness is growing and housing is becoming more and more unaffordable, we should be investing in getting people into homes—not building cruel encampments and criminalizing people for trying to survive.” “Allowing Americans to live on streets is not a standard our nation should be willing to accept, but forcing unhoused people into detention-style facilities and forcing them to work while corporations rake in profits is a cruel punishment,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “We must make clear that we won’t stand for federal dollars being used to detain people simply for being unhoused. Together, let’s advance policies that will actually help people experiencing homelessness instead of making their lives more difficult.” “Homelessness is not a crime – it is a failure of systems meant to serve the needs of our communities,” said Congressman Carter. “The solution to this failure is not locking people up. It is not forcing them to work in exchange for a place to stay. It is not denying them access to care. The Trump Administration’s reckless policies are causing homelessness to rise by the day. If we truly want to address homelessness we must invest in affordable housing, expand mental health services, and strengthen workforce pathways – not punish people for simply trying to survive.” “Trump and all the authoritarians in the Administration want our lives, our labor, and our freedom to extract every bit of profit they can from us for themselves and their billionaire bosses. Just as they knew that mandatory detention paired with Trump’s mass deportation campaign would be good for business, they know that detention camps for unhoused neighbors will also be a lucrative venture,"" said Congresswoman Ramirez. ""Detention has always been UNSAFE, INAPPROPRIATE, INADEQUATE. We must not continue to fund our death and destruction. That's why I introduced the Melt ICE Act, and why I am proud to join Congressman Frost in introducing the No Homeless Detention Centers Act to demand an end to the detention and punishment of our unhoused neighbors. Together, let’s fight for every single thing our people need to thrive, including HOUSING FOR ALL!"" “We should be operating from the fundamental truth that every person deserves a roof over their head and a safe place to sleep. When rent, grocery, and gas prices are skyrocketing, and Trump has cut healthcare for tens of millions of people, it is absolutely wrong to criminalize the inability to afford a home. That is why I am proud to co-lead the No Homeless Detention Centers Act to prevent a dime of federal funding from being used to put people experiencing homelessness into the for-profit prison industrial complex.” - Congresswoman Jayapal “Trump is carrying out a cruel and multi-layered detention expansion plan as part of his mass deportation agenda, locking up tens of thousands of people in facilities rife with egregiously poor conditions, medical neglect, and a culture of violence that results in system-wide abuses, including death. That’s why we are alarmed by the Trump administration’s efforts to criminalize and detain people without homes. We see this is a clear attempt to vilify homeless people and enrich private prison companies and tech surveillance organizations, just as they have done with our immigrant communities - all while ignoring the real affordability crisis in this country.” - Setareh Ghandehari, Advocacy Director, Detention Watch Network We shouldn’t have to be here today, introducing the No Homeless Detention Centers Act, legislation restricting federal funds from going to detention camps for Americans who can’t afford the rent. But we are here today, because it is necessary to fight back against the Trump Administration that is aggressively erasing decades of data-based progress on solving homelessness and instead promoting jails, labor camps, warehouses, and asylums, not because there is any evidence to support them, but because the right-wing Cicero Institute is spoon-feeding Trump detention policies that will enrich its billionaire-backers financially – and benefit him politically. We know the solution to homelessness is housing, not handcuffs. -Eric Tars, Senior Policy Director, National Homelessness Law Center The bill comes as the far-right Cicero Institute, a conservative think tank backed by wealthy donors and corporate interests, pushes states and the federal government to criminalize homelessness, ban sleeping in public, and move people into temporary shelters or treatment facilities—sometimes against their will. Versions of these policies have already passed in states including Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, with some proposals also including work requirements or forced labor. The No Homeless Detention Centers Act is endorsed by: National Homelessness Law Center and Detention Watch Network, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Drug Policy Alliance; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; Funders Together for Housing Justice; National Coalition for the Homeless; National Housing Law Project; A Way Home America; Housing Justice Collective; Justice in Aging; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National Association of Social Workers; Poverty & Race Research Action Council; Kids In Crisis; National Organization for Women; The Southern Poverty Law Center; National Network to End Domestic Violence; League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); National Partnership for New Americans; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; The Workers Circle; Muslim Advocates; DemCast USA; Just Detention International; Coalition on Human Needs; Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR); Freedom Network USA; Latino Community Fund of Washington State; Praxis Health Empowerment; National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Street Democracy; Miami Valley Immigration Coalition; Lincoln County Indivisible; Western Center on Law & Poverty; Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center; Access Reproductive Justice and Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness. Footage of the press conference ###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-leads-letter-opposing-president-trumps-decision-import-300000-tons-tariff,"Soto Leads Letter Opposing President Trump’s Decision to Import 300,000 Tons of Tariff-Free Beef",2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) led a letter to President Donald Trump opposing his recent decision to import 300,000 tons of tariff-free beef. ""American consumers are struggling with the rising cost of groceries and deserve long-term solutions to bring prices under control. Grocery prices as a whole have risen 2.7% in the past year, with strong demand for beef and low inventory leading to price increases for beef products. Flooding the market with beef imports will not solve the long-term issues that led us to this point—it will only harm our nation’s ranchers and jeopardize our long-term goal of building a strong domestic beef industry,” wrote the Members. ""American ranchers have faced strong headwinds in recent years. Soaring input costs, droughts, and extreme weather events have left our ranchers with the lowest cattle supply in 75 years” ""Additionally, the ongoing outbreak of New World Screwworm has imposed additional burdens on ranchers as they work to protect their herds. Since June of this year, 46 cases of New World Screwworm have been detected, posing additional economic risks for our ranchers,” continued the Members. ""Our ranchers are actively working to rebuild America’s domestic beef industry, using strong demand from American consumers to reinvest in their herds. Our policies must reflect our commitment to the ranchers and producers that feed our country.” In addition to Rep. Soto, the letter was signed by Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). For the full text of the bill, please click here. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://buchanan.house.gov/2026/09/01/icymi-buchanan-calls-for-usmca-reforms-to-protect-seasonal-produce-growers-in-the-hill-op-ed/,ICYMI: Buchanan Calls for USMCA Reforms to Protect Seasonal Produce Growers in The Hill Op-Ed,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Vern Buchanan,B001260,buchanan.house.gov,buchanan,https://buchanan.house.gov/media/,scraper,"“This USMCA review gives our country a real opportunity to restore fairness for our seasonal produce growers, strengthen our food security and build a food system Americans can rely on and trust.” WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan penned an op-ed in The Hill highlighting the necessity of protections for seasonal producers within the ongoing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review. “The strength of our food supply is imperative to our nation’s strength,” said Buchanan. “During this review, the United States faces a clear choice: protect our ability to grow our own food or continue down a path of greater dependence on foreign food supplies, at the expense of our food security, our supply chains and Americans confidence in what’s on their plate.” Read the full op-ed HERE or below: Fairness for Growers Is Food Security for America Congressman Vern Buchanan Food security begins at home. That’s why the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is such an important moment for American agriculture, and for our country. During this review, the United States faces a clear choice: protect our ability to grow our own food or continue down a path of greater dependence on foreign food supplies, at the expense of our food security, our supply chains and Americans’ confidence in what’s on their plate. As Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, I helped negotiate USMCA back in 2019 as the top Republican on the Trade Subcommittee, and even then, I pushed for accommodations for our seasonal growers. Today, the stakes for Florida are higher than ever. Agriculture is a cornerstone of our state’s economy, and the outcome of this review will help determine whether our Florida growers can keep producing the fruits and vegetables our country depends on. For more than two decades, Mexican shippers have squeezed Florida farmers out of their own market by flooding it with low-priced produce during Florida’s own growing season. According to an October 2025 report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services report, Florida’s share of the fruit and vegetable market has fallen by nearly 50 percent over the past two decades, while Mexico’s share has surged by more than 200 percent. Bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, blueberries: entire sectors of Florida agriculture have taken steep losses in market share and revenue, even as consumer demand keeps growing. Multi-generational Florida farms, family operations that have fed this country for generations, are being forced to shut their doors. Since USMCA took effect, the volume of these disruptive imports has only accelerated, jumping from $14 billion in 2020 to roughly $19 billion today. That surge has widened our already large agricultural trade deficit with Mexico and pushed more Florida growers to the breaking point. The Trump administration recognizes this problem. Unchecked seasonal import volumes from Mexico are putting Florida agriculture at risk, and the administration is right to make finding a solution a priority in this USMCA review. The solution Florida’s industry has put forward is pragmatic, measured and long overdue: seasonal, product-specific tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on Mexican produce during Florida’s marketing season. TRQs are a well-established, targeted trade tool already used across American agriculture. They strike the right balance, keeping trade flowing while preventing the seasonal surges that undercut a stable domestic supply. Any new agreement with Mexico should include this approach so we don’t further compromise Florida’s ability to grow food at home. Florida isn’t alone. Fruit and vegetable growers well beyond our state are facing the same pressures as import volumes surge, and they’ve joined Florida in calling for a real solution. We agree: our trade agreements should never come at the expense of American agriculture’s survival. Earlier this year, I authored a bipartisan letter to President Trump, alongside Senator Ashley Moody and members of the Florida Delegation, urging his administration to address the harm caused by these unchecked seasonal import surges. That call is even more urgent today. At current rates, we risk permanently losing production capacity in key fruit and vegetable sectors. Once our farms, our infrastructure and generations of agricultural know-how are gone in favor of foreign production, they may never come back. This USMCA review gives our country a real opportunity to restore fairness for our seasonal produce growers, strengthen our food security and build a food system Americans can rely on and trust. For the sake of Florida’s growers and for a food supply this country can always count on, now is the time to act. ###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1929,Franklin Statement On Passage Of Continuing Appropriations Act To Avert Government Shutdown,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Scott Franklin,F000472,franklin.house.gov,franklin,https://franklin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) today issued the following statement after House passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6500 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027: “Today, the House took the final step to prevent another unnecessary government shutdown weeks ahead of the funding deadline. We have a responsibility to keep the government open and do our job on behalf of the American people. “As an appropriator, I’ve been working to advance responsible spending bills through regular order, rein in wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely. The House Appropriations Committee completed its work on all 12 bills, and the House has already passed three of them individually. Meanwhile, the Senate has failed to make meaningful progress on its appropriations bills or begun to seriously engage in the process. “That failure has left the House with two less-than-desirable options: kick the can down the road by passing a temporary continuing resolution or allow the government to shut down. A shutdown would disrupt critical services, hurt service members and federal employees and create needless uncertainty for the American people. I will not support putting them through that simply because the Senate isn’t willing to fulfill its Constitutional duty. “This continuing resolution is necessary, but it is not the finish line. Congress still has work to do to complete the full-year appropriations process before temporary funding expires in December. I’ll continue working to cut wasteful spending, restore regular order and deliver the accountability taxpayers deserve.”",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresista-diaz-balart-celebra-la-aprobacion-de-una-resolucion,Congresista Díaz-Balart celebra la aprobación de una resolución condenando y denunciando al socialismo en todas sus formas,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – El congresista Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), vicepresidente del Comité de Asignaciones de la Cámara de Representantes y presidente del Subcomité de Seguridad Nacional, Departamento de Estado y Programas Relacionados celebra la aprobación de una resolución condenando y denunciando al socialismo en todas sus formas: “El socialismo y el control del gobierno sobre nuestras vidas no tienen cabida en los Estados Unidos. Va en contra de nuestra forma de vida y del sueño americano. Me enorgullece haber apoyado esta importante resolución que condena el socialismo y salvaguarda la integridad de nuestra nación. El socialismo ha causado estragos en todo nuestro Hemisferio, prueba de ello es el innegable impacto catastrófico del socialism y Cuba, Venezuela y Nicaragua son claros ejemplos de las consecuencias destructivas que un gobierno socialista puede tener sobre las sociedades y las naciones con décadas de dictadura y represión, destrucción de naciones otrora prósperas y el éxodo forzado de millones de ciudadanos de sus países de origen. Estados Unidos se fundado sobre los principios de la libertad individual, un gobierno representativo y los derechos otorgados por Dios a su pueblo. Nunca debemos dar estas libertades por sentadas ni permitir que una ideología con un historial tan devastador se arraigue sin oposición. Debemos mantenernos firmes en la defensa de estos principios y asegurarnos de que Estados Unidos nunca siga el camino destructivo que ha llevado a la represión y la ruina a innumerables pueblos y naciones. Me indigna ver que 192 demócratas decidieron oponerse a esta resolución y se negaron a condenar esta ideología antiamericana responsable de tanto sufrimiento y opresión. Estados Unidos debe aprender de la historia y rechazar el socialismo en todas sus formas. Siempre defenderé la libertad, las oportunidades económicas y los derechos constitucionales que hacen de nuestro pais una gran nacion.” El texto de la resolucion se puede encontrar aqui. ###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-diaz-balart-celebrates-passage-resolution-condemning-and,Congressman Diaz-Balart Celebrates the Passage of Resolution Condemning and Denouncing Socialism in all its Forms,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, celebrates the Passage of H. Res. 1490, Providing for the Condemnation and Denouncement of Socialism in all its Forms: “Socialism and the government takeover of our lives have no place in America. It is anathema to our way of life and the American Dream. I am proud to have supported this important resolution denouncing socialism and safeguarding our nation's integrity. Socialism has wreaked havoc across our hemisphere. The catastrophic impact of socialism is undeniable. Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua are vivid reminders of the destructive consequences that socialist governance can have on societies and nations: decades of dictatorship and repression, the destruction of once-thriving nations, and forcing millions to flee their homeland. America was founded upon the principles of individual liberty, representative government, and the God-given rights of its people. We must never take these freedoms for granted or allow an ideology with such a devastating historical record to gain an unchallenged foothold. We must remain steadfast in defending those principles, and ensuring that the United States never follows the destructive path that has brought repression and ruin to countless others. I am appalled to see that 192 Democrats chose to oppose this resolution and refused to condemn this anti-American ideology responsible for so much suffering and oppression. America must learn from history and reject socialism in all its forms. I will always stand for freedom, economic opportunity, and the constitutional rights that make our nation exceptional.” Resolution text can be found here. ###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-diaz-balart-commends-passage-hr-6500-continuing,"Congressman Diaz-Balart Commends the Passage of H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Mario Diaz-Balart,D000600,mariodiazbalart.house.gov,mariodiazbalart,https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, commends the passage of H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act: “I am proud to have voted in favor of keeping the American government open and ensuring that our troops, law enforcement officers, and air traffic controllers continue to receive their pay. The passage of H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, provides important stability by extending federal funding at Fiscal Year 2026 levels through December 11, 2026, while also extending several expiring federal programs. This unprecedented and responsible step puts the needs of the American people ahead of shutdown politics. Families, small businesses, federal employees, and communities across the country deserve a government that continues to function and deliver essential services. While I support keeping the government open, a continuing resolution is not a permanent solution. Back in July, the House took an important step toward responsible governance by passing all 12 Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills. It is now incumbent upon the Senate and Democrats to work in good faith to advance and complete the appropriations process and provide the federal government with a responsible operating budget. There will always be debates over how Washington spends taxpayer dollars and what our long-term priorities should be. Those debates are important and should continue. But they should not come at the expense of keeping the government open and serving the American people. I will continue working to advance responsible spending, protect taxpayers, and make sure the federal government remains focused on the people it serves.” Bill text can be found here. ###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wilson-votes-yes-to-keep-the-government-funded-protect-critical-programs-and-lower-costs,"Rep. Wilson Votes ‘YES’ to Keep the Government Funded, Protect Critical Programs, and Lower Costs",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11. “Today, I voted ‘YES’ to keep our government open and protect the vital services families across South Florida depend on. With the cost of living already stretching household budgets, hardworking Americans should not suffer because of dysfunction. “This bipartisan bill protects critical housing, nutrition, healthcare, veterans, and infrastructure programs while temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s reckless attempt to politicize federal grants. “Now, Congress must finish the job and pass full-year funding bills that lower costs, protect our communities, and put people first.” ###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-on-national-police-k9-day-senator-moody-and-congressman-bean-champion-legislation-to-strengthen-protections-for-law-enforcement-animals/,"VIDEO: On National Police K9 Day, Senator Moody and Congressman Bean Champion Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Law Enforcement Animals",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—It’s National Police K9 Day, and Senator Ashley Moody is championing legislation to strengthen protections for law enforcement animals. Senator Moody and Congressman Aaron Bean recently held a ceremony with law enforcement leaders in Jacksonville to spotlight the LEO K9 Protection Act. The measure strengthens penalties for intentionally harming law enforcement animals and expands federal protections to cover state and local police animals assisting federal law enforcement. “Police K9s are not equipment or accessories. They are highly trained members of law enforcement who charge toward dangers that send others running. I introduced the LEO K9 Protection Act to strengthen protections for these canines and hold those who intentionally harm our four-legged law enforcement heroes accountable. I will continue fighting to ensure Florida law enforcement has the support and resources needed to keep us safe—and that includes our special K9s,” said Senator Ashley Moody. “Our working K9s serve on the front lines, protecting officers and communities alike,” said Congressman Aaron Bean. “They deserve real protection, not just praise—and the LEO K9 Protection Act will provide it by strengthening penalties for individuals who use a deadly weapon to harm these heroic animals in the line of duty. We must ensure that the sacrifices of courageous K9s like Leo are never forgotten and that the next injured K9 has the best chance to return home. By enacting this bill, we can guarantee that K9s receive the urgent care they deserve and help prevent more handlers from experiencing the heartbreak of losing their partners in the line of duty.” BACKGROUND: Senator Moody introduced the LEO K9 Protection Act, legislation aimed at strengthening penalties for individuals who use a deadly weapon to harm a federal police dog or horse in the line of duty. The bill expands federal protections to include state, county, and local law enforcement animals assisting a federal agency. This legislation provides a good-faith exception for individuals providing emergency veterinary care to injured law enforcement animals. The bill directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue regulations allowing emergency medical service providers to transport injured police animals at their discretion. This legislation was named in honor of K9 Leo, a fallen Marion County, Florida, canine deputy. This bill was originally introduced in the House by Congressman Aaron Bean (R-FL-4). # # #",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/9/sen-rick-scott-calls-on-congress-to-pass-safe-kids-act-to-prevent-birth-tourism-schemes-from-foreign-adversaries,Sen. Rick Scott Calls on Congress to Pass SAFE KIDS Act to Prevent Birth Tourism Schemes from Foreign Adversaries,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,FL,Rick Scott,S001217,www.rickscott.senate.gov,rickscott,https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/,page_html,"NAPLES, Fla. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott is calling on Congress to pass the SAFE KIDS Act, his bill to stop the exploitation of America’s immigration laws by hostile foreign adversaries, including Communist China. The urgent need to pass this legislation is highlighted by two events happening today: A Florida woman is in court in St. Augustine fighting for custody of her twins that the intended father from Communist China – who has never set foot on American soil – never picked up. Meanwhile, the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses will hold a hearing focused on highlighting suspected birth tourism abuse in the Miami area. Senator Rick Scott said, “The case in St. Augustine is tragic, disturbing, and completely preventable. These poor children, through no fault of their own, are stuck in limbo over where their home will be — all because America’s surrogate system is ripe for abuse and exploitation. My bill, the SAFE KIDS Act, prevents our enemies from abusing our hospitality and medicine to give them a foothold in our country. It would prevent the exact tragedy playing out in Florida right now.” “This problem will not go away if we do nothing. The fact that there are entire businesses in Florida that appear to be based around exploiting our immigration system more than speaks to that. We need to protect the most vulnerable among us from being trafficked and treated like commodities. I am grateful that Chairman Gill and the task force are taking this seriously. America’s enemies should not be able to scam their way to American citizenship. I encourage all my colleagues in the Senate to pass my bill immediately.” ###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases/prison-staff-safety-enhancement-act-heads-presidents-desk,Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act Heads to the President’s Desk,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,FL,Laurel M. Lee,L000597,laurellee.house.gov,laurellee,https://laurellee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Laurel Lee's legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, passed through the House. The legislation is a bipartisan and bicameral measure to strengthen safety and accountability in federal correctional facilities. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jon Osoff (D-GA) led the passage of the Senate version of the bill. This legislation takes very important and necessary steps to improve the conditions for correctional officers, staff, and inmates by enhancing oversight, promoting safer facility operations, and addressing issues with sexual abuse and misconduct within these prisons. This bill will help to ensure all allegations are properly investigated and strengthen protections for the prison employees when the situation of an inmate assaulting an officer occurs. “I am incredibly proud to see the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act head to the President’s desk and become one step closer to being a law,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “For far too long, too many Bureau of Prisons employees have faced sexual harassment and assault by inmates while they are just trying to do their job. This bill is a very important step toward strengthening oversight, protecting our hardworking correctional officers, and ensuring the inmates who commit these horrific crimes are held accountable to the fullest extent. I remain committed to advancing reforms that strengthen public safety, support law enforcement, and improve the justice system.” “No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act would help us end the sexual abuse of prison staff who are simply trying to do their jobs.” The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act was passed under suspension of the House rules and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-castor-demand-federal-investigation-accountability-after-grand-jury-finds,"Soto, Castor Demand Federal Investigation, Accountability After Grand Jury Finds Taxpayer Dollars Were Abused for Corrupt Political Purposes",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,FL,Darren Soto,S001200,soto.house.gov,soto,https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Reps. Darren Soto (FL-09) and Kathy Castor (FL-14) are demanding a federal investigation and full transparency following new reporting that $10 million in taxpayer funds from a Medicaid-related settlement were misappropriated and routed through the Hope Florida Foundation, with $8.5 million ultimately flowing to political committees. In their latest letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Reps. Soto and Castor urged federal officials to investigate whether the diversion violated federal Medicaid law and determine who was responsible. Earlier this year, a Florida grand jury concluded that the $10 million was misappropriated “as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.” The grand jury investigation followed allegations uncovered through a Florida House Republican-led inquiry into the settlement. Reps. Soto and Castor first called for a federal investigation in May 2025 after questions emerged about Florida’s $67 million Medicaid settlement with Centene. The settlement directed $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation. $8.5 million was then transferred through nonprofit organizations to political action committees controlled by James Uthmeier, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ then-chief of staff and now Florida Attorney General. According to the grand jury report, Uthmeier’s PAC transferred $7 million directly to the Republican Party of Florida and $1.23 million to the Florida Freedom Fund, another Uthmeier-controlled PAC. The new grand jury report also raises questions about the unusual speed and timing of the transactions. Centene was required to transfer $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation within seven days, while being granted more than a year to repay the remaining $57 million to the State of Florida. The grand jury concluded the settlement appeared rushed because the 2024 election was only 45 days away and many Florida families were busy recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Despite concluding that taxpayer money was misappropriated for political purposes, the grand jury found insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges because officials would not identify—or said they could not remember—who made the decision to send the $10 million to Hope Florida. Reps. Soto and Castor argue that the inability to pursue state criminal charges does not end the federal government’s responsibility to determine whether Medicaid laws and regulations were violated and taxpayer dollars were misappropriated for political purposes. Read the full letter here and below. RE: Urging Transparency into and Accountability for Unlawful Diversion of Medicaid Funds in Florida Dear Inspector General Bell and Administrator Oz: On May 15, 2025, we wrote a letter urging your agencies to investigate whether the $10 million settlement scheme from Centene to the Hope Florida Foundation at the direction of the State of Florida in 2024 violated federal law and complied with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) legal and regulatory framework. Federal law requires that Medicaid proceeds be used solely for health services authorized by law and for the benefit of those served by Medicaid, but $8.5 million in funding was quickly redirected to political committees supporting a Governor DeSantis-led campaign against a ballot amendment to legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida. Recent press reports have brought new information to light regarding the settlement that we believe requires further investigation and clarity by federal agencies. Earlier this year, a grand jury in Florida concluded that the DeSantis administration misappropriated $10 million in taxpayer money to Hope Florida Foundation and that the funds “were misappropriated as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.” The inquiry followed allegations raised through a Florida House Republican-led investigation. These findings and gross abuse of taxpayer dollars demand immediate federal action. The grand jury concluded that “these funds were misappropriated as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.” The report provides important context on the timing of these financial transactions during the deadly Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and suggests the State may have taken advantage of the chaos and confusion on the ground for purely political gain while Floridians were reeling from the destruction and devastation of sequential natural disasters. The expedited nature of the movement of unusually large amounts of money moving through various entities, and the quick disbursement to their final destination during the 2024 election appears to be illegal and morally wrong. We learned several new items from the grand jury report, including an alarming money trail that funneled $8.5 million in taxpayer dollars into a political action committee (PAC) controlled by James Uthmeier, then Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff and now Florida’s Attorney General. Uthmeier’s PAC then transferred $7 million directly to the Republican Party of Florida and $1.23 million to the Florida Freedom Fund, another Uthmeier-controlled PAC. We also learned that the repayment schedule for the settlement required Centene to wire transfer the $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation within seven days, while allowing Centene a year and 45 days to repay the remaining $57 million to the State. The grand jury report noted that “The Centene settlement itself seems rushed as it materialized rapidly after years of inactivity. Then, once reached, it took a mere 7 days to fund. We believe the rush was due to the impending election which was just 45 days away.” Unfortunately, reports from the grand jury conclude that “Despite our finding that the money was misappropriated, we find insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally…Nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida…or had any memory of who made it. We recognize that this would be an impediment to criminal prosecution. While we can’t provide who is responsible, we can plainly see that taxpayer money was misused for political purposes and we would like to see changes made to prevent this from happening again” (emphasis added). An inability to pursue state criminal prosecution because public officials profess memory lapses and CMS has recouped the federal share associated with the settlement does not eliminate the federal government’s independent responsibility to protect Medicaid and taxpayer dollars from abuse. Federal interest is not theoretical. In February 2026, Florida Agency for Health Care Administrator Secretary Shevaun Harris confirmed that Florida calculated and returned the federal share using the full $67 million settlement – not $57 million – while characterizing the action as an “abundance of caution.” That accounting undercuts the claim that the $10 million was independent of the Medicaid recovery. Section 1903(d)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act and 42 C.F.R. Part 433 require states to account for Medicaid overpayment recoveries and return the federal share; states report recoveries through Form CMS-64. HHS OIG regularly audits state reporting of Medicaid settlements and judgments. Reimbursement would not by itself cure the diversion of a Medicaid recovery through private entities for partisan political expenditures, identify the responsible officials or make Florida’s taxpayers whole. While we thank you for your previous response and confirmation that CMS has recouped all federal share associated with the full $67 million settlement, we believe further questions remain, particularly given the new information that has come to light. We kindly request the answers to the following questions: Did CMS or HHS OIG take any steps to ensure Medicaid and taxpayer dollars are protected following our May 15, 2025 letter, or was the matter simply considered resolved upon recouping the funds despite what the grand jury described as “a sophisticated scheme to divert taxpayer dollars for political purposes?” For CMS: In the grand jury report, Mr. Weida confirmed that the State decided to reimburse the federal government’s share of the full $67 million settlement. Please detail all conversations between CMS and the State of Florida about this settlement and the recoupment of the federal share. Given the grand jury testimony, identify any false, incomplete or misleading statement made to CMS concerning the settlement, source of funds, federal share or intended use of the $10 million in taxpayer dollars. For HHS OIG: In response to our letter, OIG stated that they had no role in overseeing the terms of the settlement agreed to between the State of Florida and Centene. Given this new information, can you confirm that the State of Florida did not violate federal law and fully complied with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) legal and regulatory framework? Did the settlement provision directing $10 million to a private foundation – and the subsequent transfers to politically active nonprofits and committees – comply with the Social Security Act, 42 C.F.R. Parts 433 and 438, Form CMS-64 instructions, Florida’s approved Medicaid state plan and all federal award conditions? Will CMS review other Florida Medicaid-related settlements for third-party carveouts, donations or unreported recoveries? Will this be used as precedent for other states when determining how to use recouped settlement funding in the future? Will CMS adopt guidance or controls to prevent the routing of Medicaid-related taxpayer dollars to a private entity without enforceable restrictions, robust public reporting or appropriations through legislation? The grand jury report ends with recommendations to enact legislation to prevent this from happening again, including rules for taxpayer funding, consequences for violating the law, and measures to ensure taxpayer funds are tracked and monitored. They write that “taxpayer money should have been treated as such instead of being allocated for partisan political purposes and without transparency.” We urge CMS and OIG to seriously consider the new information brought to light in this case and to provide full transparency into any federal government involvement with the State. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-seniors-should-get-relief-not-insurance-companies,Bilirakis: Seniors Should Get the Relief - Not Insurance Companies,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Gus M. Bilirakis,B001257,bilirakis.house.gov,bilirakis,https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the Part D Premium Protection Act of 2026, legislation designed around a simple principle: when Washington provides relief from rising prescription drug premiums, the benefit should go to seniors - not insurance companies. The Biden Administration created the temporary Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration after changes made under the Inflation Reduction Act threatened to drive premiums sharply higher for seniors enrolled in stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans. The demonstration lowered premiums for beneficiaries, but it also provided participating insurance companies with additional taxpayer-backed protection against losses. That additional protection for insurance companies has been eliminated, effective 2026. Insurance companies have had two years to adjust and do not need additional taxpayer protection. However, the remaining premium assistance that is helping seniors with their monthly prescription drug costs is also scheduled to disappear after 2026. Bilirakis believes seniors should not lose that relief. The Part D Premium Protection Act of 2026 would preserve the average premium relief seniors received under the demonstration for one final year in 2027, without restoring or extending the additional federal loss protections that the Biden Administration previously provided to insurance companies. “Insurance companies have had two years to adjust and do not need additional taxpayer protection. But seniors living on fixed incomes shouldn’t be left holding the bag,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “My bill puts the relief where it belongs - with seniors. If Washington has a choice between protecting an insurance company’s bottom line and lowering a senior’s monthly prescription drug bill, I’m going to choose the senior every single time.” Under Bilirakis’s legislation, seniors enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans would receive a uniform credit directly on their 2027 premium bills, based on the average premium relief beneficiaries received during 2025 and 2026. Every dollar of the credit must go toward lowering the senior’s premium. Insurance companies would have no discretion over the amount and would be reimbursed only for the amount actually credited to beneficiaries. Importantly, the legislation does not reinstate the Biden-era protections against insurance company losses that the Trump Administration eliminated for 2026. Instead, it preserves the portion of the temporary program that directly benefits seniors while keeping those insurer protections off the books. “Everywhere I go, seniors tell me that every dollar matters. Groceries cost more. Utilities cost more. Insurance costs more. Healthcare costs more,” Bilirakis continued. “They worked their entire lives, paid into Medicare and Social Security, and played by the rules. They shouldn’t have to choose between filling a prescription, buying groceries or keeping the lights on. I’ll keep fighting to make Washington work for them instead of protecting the profits of big insurance companies.” The legislation applies to beneficiaries enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and provides the premium credit for 2027, preserving relief for seniors for the final year originally envisioned under the temporary premium stabilization effort without bringing back additional taxpayer protections for insurance companies.",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405273,"Castor, Soto Demand Federal Investigation, Accountability After Grand Jury Finds Taxpayer Dollars Were Abused for Corrupt Political Purposes",2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,FL,Kathy Castor,C001066,castor.house.gov,castor,https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Darren Soto (FL-09) are demanding a federal investigation and full transparency following new reporting that $10 million in taxpayer funds from a Medicaid-related settlement were misappropriated and routed through the Hope Florida Foundation, with $8.5 million ultimately flowing to political committees. In their latest letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Castor and Soto urged federal officials to investigate whether the diversion violated federal Medicaid law and determine who was responsible. Earlier this year, a Florida grand jury concluded that the $10 million was misappropriated “as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.” The grand jury investigation followed allegations uncovered through a Florida House Republican-led inquiry into the settlement. Castor and Soto first called for a federal investigation in May 2025 after questions emerged about Florida’s $67 million Medicaid settlement with Centene. The settlement directed $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation. $8.5 million was then transferred through nonprofit organizations to political action committees controlled by James Uthmeier, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ then-chief of staff and now Florida Attorney General. According to the grand jury report, Uthmeier’s PAC transferred $7 million directly to the Republican Party of Florida and $1.23 million to the Florida Freedom Fund, another Uthmeier-controlled PAC. The new grand jury report also raises questions about the unusual speed and timing of the transactions. Centene was required to transfer $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation within seven days, while being granted more than a year to repay the remaining $57 million to the State of Florida. The grand jury concluded the settlement appeared rushed because the 2024 election was only 45 days away and many Florida families were busy recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Despite concluding that taxpayer money was misappropriated for political purposes, the grand jury found insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges because officials would not identify—or said they could not remember—who made the decision to send the $10 million to Hope Florida. Castor and Soto argue that the inability to pursue state criminal charges does not end the federal government’s responsibility to determine whether Medicaid laws and regulations were violated and taxpayer dollars were misappropriated for political purposes. Read the full letter here and below. RE: Urging Transparency into and Accountability for Unlawful Diversion of Medicaid Funds in Florida Dear Inspector General Bell and Administrator Oz: On May 15, 2025, we wrote a letter urging your agencies to investigate whether the $10 million settlement scheme from Centene to the Hope Florida Foundation at the direction of the State of Florida in 2024 violated federal law and complied with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) legal and regulatory framework. Federal law requires that Medicaid proceeds be used solely for health services authorized by law and for the benefit of those served by Medicaid, but $8.5 million in funding was quickly redirected to political committees supporting a Governor DeSantis-led campaign against a ballot amendment to legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida. Recent press reports have brought new information to light regarding the settlement that we believe requires further investigation and clarity by federal agencies. Earlier this year, a grand jury in Florida concluded that the DeSantis administration misappropriated $10 million in taxpayer money to Hope Florida Foundation and that the funds “were misappropriated as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.” The inquiry followed allegations raised through a Florida House Republican-led investigation. These findings and gross abuse of taxpayer dollars demand immediate federal action. The grand jury concluded that “these funds were misappropriated as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.” The report provides important context on the timing of these financial transactions during the deadly Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and suggests the State may have taken advantage of the chaos and confusion on the ground for purely political gain while Floridians were reeling from the destruction and devastation of sequential natural disasters. The expedited nature of the movement of unusually large amounts of money moving through various entities, and the quick disbursement to their final destination during the 2024 election appears to be illegal and morally wrong. We learned several new items from the grand jury report, including an alarming money trail that funneled $8.5 million in taxpayer dollars into a political action committee (PAC) controlled by James Uthmeier, then Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff and now Florida’s Attorney General. Uthmeier’s PAC then transferred $7 million directly to the Republican Party of Florida and $1.23 million to the Florida Freedom Fund, another Uthmeier-controlled PAC. We also learned that the repayment schedule for the settlement required Centene to wire transfer the $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation within seven days, while allowing Centene a year and 45 days to repay the remaining $57 million to the State. The grand jury report noted that “The Centene settlement itself seems rushed as it materialized rapidly after years of inactivity. Then, once reached, it took a mere 7 days to fund. We believe the rush was due to the impending election which was just 45 days away.” Unfortunately, reports from the grand jury conclude that “Despite our finding that the money was misappropriated, we find insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally…Nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida…or had any memory of who made it. We recognize that this would be an impediment to criminal prosecution. While we can’t provide who is responsible, we can plainly see that taxpayer money was misused for political purposes and we would like to see changes made to prevent this from happening again” (emphasis added). An inability to pursue state criminal prosecution because public officials profess memory lapses and CMS has recouped the federal share associated with the settlement does not eliminate the federal government’s independent responsibility to protect Medicaid and taxpayer dollars from abuse. Federal interest is not theoretical. In February 2026, Florida Agency for Health Care Administrator Secretary Shevaun Harris confirmed that Florida calculated and returned the federal share using the full $67 million settlement – not $57 million – while characterizing the action as an “abundance of caution.” That accounting undercuts the claim that the $10 million was independent of the Medicaid recovery. Section 1903(d)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act and 42 C.F.R. Part 433 require states to account for Medicaid overpayment recoveries and return the federal share; states report recoveries through Form CMS-64. HHS OIG regularly audits state reporting of Medicaid settlements and judgments. Reimbursement would not by itself cure the diversion of a Medicaid recovery through private entities for partisan political expenditures, identify the responsible officials or make Florida’s taxpayers whole. While we thank you for your previous response and confirmation that CMS has recouped all federal share associated with the full $67 million settlement, we believe further questions remain, particularly given the new information that has come to light. We kindly request the answers to the following questions: Did CMS or HHS OIG take any steps to ensure Medicaid and taxpayer dollars are protected following our May 15, 2025 letter, or was the matter simply considered resolved upon recouping the funds despite what the grand jury described as “a sophisticated scheme to divert taxpayer dollars for political purposes?” For CMS: In the grand jury report, Mr. Weida confirmed that the State decided to reimburse the federal government’s share of the full $67 million settlement. Please detail all conversations between CMS and the State of Florida about this settlement and the recoupment of the federal share. Given the grand jury testimony, identify any false, incomplete or misleading statement made to CMS concerning the settlement, source of funds, federal share or intended use of the $10 million in taxpayer dollars. For HHS OIG: In response to our letter, OIG stated that they had no role in overseeing the terms of the settlement agreed to between the State of Florida and Centene. Given this new information, can you confirm that the State of Florida did not violate federal law and fully complied with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) legal and regulatory framework? Did the settlement provision directing $10 million to a private foundation – and the subsequent transfers to politically active nonprofits and committees – comply with the Social Security Act, 42 C.F.R. Parts 433 and 438, Form CMS-64 instructions, Florida’s approved Medicaid state plan and all federal award conditions? Will CMS review other Florida Medicaid-related settlements for third-party carveouts, donations or unreported recoveries? Will this be used as precedent for other states when determining how to use recouped settlement funding in the future? Will CMS adopt guidance or controls to prevent the routing of Medicaid-related taxpayer dollars to a private entity without enforceable restrictions, robust public reporting or appropriations through legislation? The grand jury report ends with recommendations to enact legislation to prevent this from happening again, including rules for taxpayer funding, consequences for violating the law, and measures to ensure taxpayer funds are tracked and monitored. They write that “taxpayer money should have been treated as such instead of being allocated for partisan political purposes and without transparency.” We urge CMS and OIG to seriously consider the new information brought to light in this case and to provide full transparency into any federal government involvement with the State.",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-patronis-introduces-legislation-to-rename-lake-ontario-lake-america,Congressman Patronis Introduces Legislation to Rename Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,House,FL,Jimmy Patronis,P000622,patronis.house.gov,patronis,https://patronis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) introduced the Lake America Act, legislation to officially rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. The legislation follows President Trump’s official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, a change that was met with strong support across Northwest Florida. “President Trump put America back on the map. Now we’re putting America on Lake Ontario,” said Congressman Patronis. “Canada can call it whatever they want, but here in America, I say we call it Lake America. I’m a proud American, and I’ve always believed there’s nothing wrong with a little more American pride. So I figured, why stop at the Gulf? Lake America sounds a whole lot better.” The Lake America Act would: Rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” Replace references to Lake Ontario with “Lake America” across federal laws, maps, regulations, and official records. Direct the Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Board on Geographic Names to oversee implementation. Require federal agencies to update their maps and documents within 180 days. Congressman Patronis continued, “Representing Florida’s First Congressional District, including Destin and Pensacola, I saw firsthand the pride and patriotism that came with the Gulf of America. I love that energy, and I think this is another opportunity to build on it. This is another tool in President Trump’s toolbox to put America First and restore pride in our great country.” To view the Lake America Act click here. ###",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wilson-announces-final-release-of-more-than-1-million-to-florida-international-university-for-environmental-stewardship,Rep. Wilson Announces Final Release of More than $1 Million to Florida International University for Environmental Stewardship,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,FL,Frederica S. Wilson,W000808,wilson.house.gov,wilson,https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) is proud to announce that the final $1,031,000 to be awarded to Florida International University through one of her Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding requests will be released this month. This funding milestone marks the culmination of three projects and over $11.5 million in Congressionally directed funding delivered by Congresswoman Wilson to support critical research, restoration, and educational initiatives that protect South Florida’s Everglades and advance innovative technologies. This release by the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the final grant funding this month will put the full resources behind these projects, enabling the critical work to move forward. “As Congress’s top Democrat on water resources and the environment, protecting our waterways is my critical mission. There is no South Florida if we do not protect the Everglades and Biscayne Bay,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24). “I will also stand with FIU as it delivers critical research and restoration efforts. As a proud steward of the environment, I am proud that this work will positively impact generations of South Floridians.” Congresswoman Wilson (FL-24) is extremely proud that this funding will create a central data clearinghouse, making complex restoration data readily accessible. This funding also supports training students, engaging our communities, and advancing Everglades research that we will all benefit from. Today’s funding will support FIU’s Everglades Task Force – Research, Development, Remote Sensing/Geographic Information System Support. The project will support whole-system resilience and assess vulnerabilities. The Everglades Task Force will leverage this funding and existing partnerships to upgrade and modernize carbon-flux measurement towers, deploy cutting-edge remote sensing and geographic information systems, develop a climate technologies and community engagement hub facility, create a central data clearinghouse for data and synthesis across the restoration lifecycle, and conduct research and development on nature-based green-gray solutions and novel methods for restoration and mangrove rehabilitation. In March, Congresswoman Wilson (FL-24) had the pleasure of joining FIU’s President Jeanette Nunez in the grand opening of FIU’s Coastal Conservation and Restoration Laboratory and the marine robotics research space at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus. During the visit, Congresswoman Wilson had the opportunity to see firsthand how the grant funding has been put to work, supporting cutting-edge research and strengthening FIU’s capacity to protect our coastlines. In honor of Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson’s tireless commitment to FIU and the environment, FIU named a research robot after her, RV Wilson. ### Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) is an eighth-term lawmaker from Florida, representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and lifelong educator, she founded the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a mentoring and dropout prevention program for boys and young men of color. Congresswoman Wilson is also the founder and chair of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and the Florida Ports Caucus. This bipartisan task force coordinates federal action to support Florida’s harbors and waterways and is a proud member of the Congressional HBCU Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus. The Florida lawmaker sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Education and Labor Committee. She serves as the Ranking Member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/video-on-overdose-awareness-day-senator-moody-continues-fight-to-save-lives-from-deadly-illicit-opioids/,"VIDEO: On Overdose Awareness Day, Senator Moody Continues Fight to Save Lives from Deadly Illicit Opioids",2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,FL,Ashley Moody,M001244,www.moody.senate.gov,moody,https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—On National Overdose Awareness Day, Senator Ashley Moody is continuing the fight to save lives from illicit opioids. Through Senator Moody’s work as the former Florida Attorney General, Florida led the nation in fentanyl interdictions and has seen fentanyl-related deaths fall faster than the national average. Senator Moody is working now in Washington to provide federal law enforcement agencies with the tools needed to investigate, arrest and prosecute fentanyl traffickers and drug cartels. “On Overdose Awareness Day, we pause to remember the lives lost to the opioid epidemic. Florida has made encouraging progress, with our deaths caused by fentanyl decreasing faster than the national average, but our work is far from over. I will continue fighting in Washington to hold drug traffickers accountable and support law enforcement efforts to save lives,” said Senator Ashley Moody. BACKGROUND: By coordinating local, state, and federal partners, Florida reduced fentanyl-related deaths by 42% from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2025—greater than the estimated nationwide decrease of 22% from 2024 to 2025. As Florida’s newest United States Senator, Senator Moody continues to combat the nation’s fentanyl crisis by cosponsoring the HALT Fentanyl Act, Tyler’s Law, and most recently the PRESS Act. Last Summer, Senator Moody joined President Trump as he signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law. The new law assists law enforcement officers get fentanyl traffickers off the streets and permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; Tyler’s Law would require HHS to issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose. PRESS Act would criminalize the intentional importation of pill press machines and unlisted precursor chemicals with the intent to manufacture illicit drugs. As Florida Attorney General, Senator Moody chaired the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse and secured a massive multibillion-dollar settlement from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. Senator Moody is a long-time supporter of the rule of law and of law enforcement officers. Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has also: Introduced the HALO Act to shield federal officers from those who seek to threaten and harass them on duty; Supported the Graham Hoffman Act, which would allow the U.S. to use the full force of state and federal law to prosecute those who assault first responders and act as a deterrent to anyone considering such acts of violence; Introduced the HELPER Act to make homeownership more obtainable for Florida heroes, including law enforcement officers; Sponsored the RIPPLE Act, which would expand the 287(g) program and provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get criminal illegal aliens out of communities; and Advanced six bills to support law enforcement, strengthen public safety and deliver critical tools to officers out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week earlier this year. As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody created many programs to recognize the selfless efforts of law enforcement officers, including her Back the Blue, Thin Line Tribute, and Sunshine Salute programs. Moody also worked with state lawmakers to strengthen statutes to hold criminals accountable and help officers and prosecutors do their jobs. Moody also created the Helping Heroes program to provide access to free naloxone for first responders statewide. # # #",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z