Press Releases

I have mixed feelings of relief and frustration on behalf of my constituents and the entire State of Florida. After more than 900 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in Florida, House Republicans finally allowed us to pass most of the emergency funding we need to curb this public health crisis. Tonight's vote is a welcome start for Florida's pregnant women, business owners and families affected by the Zika virus – but it has come many months later than it should have. President Obama, on the recommendation of our nation's leading public health officials, requested $1.9 billion in emergency funding to fight this virus more than seven months ago. Read more »

Tonight I cast my vote for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) tonight, which contains critical programs for my home state of Florida. WRDA contains the Central Everglades Project, which will provide over a billion dollars in federal and nonfederal funding to continue the essential work of restoring our beloved River of Grass. We must continue working in a bipartisan manner to restore water flow to the Everglades ecosystem, which provides critical fresh water essential to the daily lives of millions of Floridians and the future of our state. I'm also pleased that this bill includes authorization for the Port Everglades dredging project, which is nearly twenty years in the making. Port Everglades is in my Congressional district and I was proud to work for many years with my colleagues to finally achieve this critical economic milestone. The deepening and widening of Port Everglades' channels will allow South Florida to receive cargo from larger ships and help boost our economy. Read more »

I had the good fortune to meet Prime Minister Peres several times. But, as the first Jewish woman to ever represent Florida in Congress, it was an extraordinary honor to meet with him in the Presidential Residence during a Congressional Delegation trip to Israel in 2010. During that trip, I led a bipartisan group of my colleagues on a journey through Israel and the Middle East to focus on the strength of the bonds between the U.S and Israel and our unwavering commitment to the Jewish state. Read more »

Wasserman Schultz Statement on Passage of Resolution Supporting VenezuelaU.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today after the passage of H. Res. 851 which expresses profound concern about the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, urges the release of political prisoners, and calls for respect of constitutional and… Read more »

Miami has lost a bright and true representative of the American Dream today with the tragic and untimely death of Jose Fernandez. Jose's talent, spirit and love for baseball were remarkable, and South Florida lit up every time he took the mound. My family, like many in our area, loved watching him play. But more than his accomplishments on the field, he was known as a true family man and a pillar of our community. My thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to Jose's family, and the entire Miami Marlins family. This is a truly sad day for South Florida. Read more »

Today we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and its impact on our courageous women and men currently serving in the armed forces, and every young person who wishes to serve their country in uniform. Read more »

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Today we celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual observance between September 15th and October 15 to celebrate and honor the achievements of the Hispanic community. Read more »

The signing of this new Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel is a significant and historic achievement for our two nations. It will extend our robust partnership with Israel, and ensure the Jewish state's continued quantitative military advantage which is critical in a region with too many hostile actors who wish to destroy her. I am pleased that the new MOU is the largest bilateral aid package ever agreed upon which underscores our nation's unwavering commitment to Israel. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) led the following letter to Governor Scott urging him to advocate for a clean Zika funding bill during his visit to Washington, DC.The letter was signed by: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27); Rep. Ted E. Deutch (FL-21); Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20); Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22); Rep. Patrick Murphy (FL-18); Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14); Rep. Frederica… Read more »

The passage of H.R. 5578 is a critical step towards eliminating the confusing patchwork of laws that have robbed sexual assault survivors of the justice they deserve. A strong, comprehensive law that protects their basic human rights will help them step out of the shadows that the status quo has created. I once again thank Senator Shaheen for her work in authoring the Senate-passed version of this bill and look forward to President Obama signing it into law. Read more »