Press Releases

Today I join millions of Americans and people worldwide in mourning the tragic loss of innocent life in Paris last night. The disgusting display of brutality and carnage perpetrated against civilians is an affront to our collective humanity. The terrorists have broken the hearts of too many families but they will not break the resolve of the United States, France and our allies in combating terrorism and defending our shared values and way of life. Read more »

Yesterday, U.S. forces successfully completed a raid targeting Mohamed Emwazi, otherwise known as "Jihadi John", who brutally slaughtered Western journalists and aid workers. His heinous murder of South Floridian Steven Sotloff, who bravely dedicated his life exposing the brutalities of ISIS and the suffering of the Syrian people, deeply impacted our local community. While nothing can bring Steven back, we must be firm in our resolve to fight against those who seek to destroy the values that he and we as a nation so deeply value: freedom, justice, and the right to live in peace. Read more »

As a Member of Congress who sits on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for funding for employment, housing assistance and educational opportunities for our veterans. And while we have made great strides in supporting these brave men and women, I join many of my colleagues in calling for increased investments in mental health services and access to VA healthcare to ensure our veterans have the comprehensive support they need as they come home and transition back to civilian life. Read more »

Florida has lost a consummate advocate for children and families in the passing of Rhea Chiles. After serving as Governor Lawton Chiles' graduate teaching assistant in graduate school at the University of Florida, I met Mrs. Chiles during his first gubernatorial campaign in 1990. As Florida's First Lady, she led the way throughout his two terms to improve the well-being of Florida's children. Read more »

I was proud to be a cosponsor of two bills the House passed expressing strong concerns about anti-Semitic and anti-Israel sentiments this week. As a nation, we must always remain vigilant in our fight to counter anti-Semitism, and I am proud to stand up in support of the Jewish community in Israel and across the world. Read more »

I am very relieved that there were no fatalities in today's disaster, and I am hopeful that each of the injured will make speedy, full recoveries. Read more »

I was very saddened to learn of my colleague and friend Rep. Mark Takai's pancreatic tumor this week. Over his career in public service and our armed forces, Mark has always been a fighter, and my family and I will be pulling for him during his recovery, which we know he will undertake with the same passion with which he serves his home state of Hawaii and our nation. As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand that he will need strength to beat this – and I also know that he already has that strength within him, his wife Sami and his entire family. Read more »

I served with Congressman Ryan on the Budget Committee and over the years, we have gotten to know one another as working parents who split time between our home states and Washington, DC. I am hopeful that under his leadership, House Republicans will reach across the aisle and work with Democrats to advance American priorities like economic growth for the middle class, comprehensive immigration reform, college affordability and student loan debt relief, and paid family leave. Read more »

This budget agreement is a step in the right direction for our nation's seniors and economy. I congratulate President Obama, his Administration, and Congressional negotiators on their good faith effort to begin to return to regular budget order and provide more certainty to the American people that Congress can responsibly manage our nation's finances. Read more »

Yesterday I was honored and humbled to meet with Lilian Tintori and Patricia de Ceballos, whose husbands Leopoldo Lopez and Daniel Ceballos are sitting in prison on trumped up political charges by the repressive Maduro regime. Read more »