It is an honor to serve on the Conference Committee, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to comprehensively address the Zika virus. I hope my House Republican colleagues are finally ready to get serious about this crisis, because the time to act was more than 90 days ago, when the President first made his emergency request. We must provide the necessary funding for mosquito eradication and vector control, vaccine research, and our local community health centers so they can provide screening and comprehensive health services. I thank Leader Pelosi for her unyielding dedication to addressing the Zika virus, and I will do all I can to secure a solution that protects Floridians and Americans. Read more »
Tragedies like the San Bernardino attack show that home-grown terrorism is a real and present threat to our nation, and our law enforcement officers and officials need every tool at their disposal to combat this threat. Rep. Lowey's commonsense amendment would help keep us safe by granting the Attorney General the authority to use the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment. This is our nation's central resource for identifying individuals known to be engaged in, or have suspected ties to, terrorism. Today's disappointing vote demonstrates once again that House Republicans are willing to sacrifice everything – even the security of Americans – to protect their rating from the National Rifle Association. Their priorities are wildly out of step with what Americans need. Read more »
My heart is in Hawaii tonight with my colleague and friend, Rep. Mark Takai and his family, as he continues his ongoing battle with cancer. Mark's career, marked by bravery in our armed forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom and distinguished service in both the Hawaii legislature and U.S. House of Representatives, is entering a new phase, as he makes the decision not to seek re-election. As a breast cancer survivor, I know that this battle can be difficult – but Mark's strength, and the enduring love and support of his wife Sami, his family and friends, and the people of Hawaii, will lift him in this battle. It has been a privilege to get to know him and to serve with him. Read more »
I have been in public service for more than 25 years, and today was one of the most shameful days in any elected body I have ever been a part of. House Republican Leadership – lacking any courage, principles, or fortitude – held open a vote so that their Members could stand in favor of discrimination against our LGBT brothers and sisters, by twisting the arms of their own Members until they switched their votes in order to defeat the amendment. Shame on Speaker Ryan and the House Republican Conference for this pathetic display of cowardice and bigotry. Read more »
I am extraordinarily disappointed and frustrated in House Republicans' approach to combat the Zika virus. More than 100 Floridians and close to 900 Puerto Ricans have already contracted this disease, and its devastating effects are undeniable. In Florida, I am proud that we have bipartisan agreement on the need for serious and comprehensive proposals to combat the Zika virus. Sadly, the only serious part of this proposal is how far it is from meeting our nation's needs in battling this public health crisis. Read more »
Mazel tov to the State of Israel on her 68th anniversary. Our shared values of democracy, justice and religious freedom forged a bond between our two nations even before Israel's independence. I am proud that the United States was the first nation to recognize the government of Israel in 1948. Our mutual commitment to defending and fighting for democratic values in the years since Israel's creation has made our relationship an especially strong and enduring one. Read more »
While I have serious disagreements with Governor Scott on health care policy, I am glad to see him taking the threat of the Zika virus seriously. During his visit, he should ask Congressional Republicans one question: why are they dragging their feet on President Obama's emergency supplemental request to combat the Zika virus? Read more »
Rick Scott and Florida's Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for H.B. 1411, which violates federal Medicaid law. Governor Scott's Administration knew that signing H.B. 1411 would violate longstanding federal law protecting health care providers from these kinds of political games - and he signed it anyway. Regrettably, I don't expect this to be the last we'll hear about his Administration's extreme actions on women's health care, but you can be certain that I will continue fighting for Florida's women every step of the way and that we will hold Rick Scott accountable for violating federal law. Read more »
On Mother's Day, we thank all the mothers who work every day and night to create better lives for their children and families. We thank them for the sacrifices they make, and for the countless hours they spend lifting up their families. As a society, we must be committed to empowering moms and creating opportunities for them to succeed. From helping close our nation's embarrassing gender wage gap, to providing pregnant mothers the resources they need to have healthy pregnancies and combat the Zika virus; to ensuring women and mothers of every age have access to comprehensive family planning services and economic opportunities at home and abroad; I will continue to spend every single day using my vote and my voice to make these priorities a reality. We need more working mothers and women in elected office around the nation to join me in transforming those bills into laws. Read more »
As a mother and public health advocate, I applaud the FDA's new rules that bring e-cigarettes under federal regulatory oversight. It is critical we protect our children from unregulated nicotine products with commonsense guidelines like banning the sale of these products to people under 18, requiring photo identification for purchase, and requiring producers of these products to disclose ingredients and other critical manufacturing information. Read more »
