Washington, D.C.– The Longshore Harbor Workers' Compensation Clarification Act, introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), and passed by the House of Representatives today, reinstated congressional intent to ensure that workers in the recreational marine repair industry have adequate workers' compensation coverage. This legislation provides a more clear definition of a recreational vessel which allows small businesses in the marine repair industry to forgo duplicative insurance policies while ensuring these small businesses, 95% of which have fewer than 10 employees, can adequately protect their employees without incurring exorbitant costs. Read more »
The Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, or the EARLY Act, was introduced for reauthorization in the House and Senate today by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and David Vitter (R-LA). The bill, authored by Rep. Wasserman Schultz, became law in 2010 to help highlight the breast cancer risks facing young women and women of higher-risk ethnic and racial backgrounds, while empowering them with the tools they need to fight the disease. Read more »
We remain extremely concerned about human rights violations in Venezuela and stand in support of Leopoldo Lopez and the more than 100 political prisoners of conscience who are wrongly being detained by the Maduro regime. Yesterday's sham trial is indicative of the corrupt judicial system in Venezuela that is being used to silence freedom loving individuals who seek justice. It is clear that Leopoldo and hundreds of others are being held in prison on trumped up and politically motivated charges and they must be released immediately. Read more »
But U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, who chairs the Democratic National Committee, placed the blame on governors and legislators of states that declined to create their own insurance exchanges. "People should not be penalized when their governors and legislatures refuse to set up state-run exchanges,'' she said in a written statement. "If the D.C. court's ruling were final it would create a horrible, disparate system of haves and have nots in Florida and nationwide that Congress clearly did not intend.'' Advocates of the health law expressed confidence that the status quo for federal subsidies would stand. Read more »
Today the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rightly affirmed consumers' ability to access health care subsidies regardless of the type of marketplace operating in their state...The two decisions could not be more stark, and as this issue makes its way through the judicial system I believe the ultimate ruling will come down in favor of Congress' clear intent: that the American people should have the ability to access affordable, quality health insurance no matter where they live. Read more »
Judge Luis Garcia took a bold and historic step today by declaring Florida's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. Even in the face of Attorney General Bondi's statement that she will appeal the decision, I believe in my heart of hearts that this is the beginning of the end of discrimination based on who you love in our state. There can be no denying the national march toward full marriage equality and Florida is overdue in finally falling in step with ensuring equal treatment under the law. Read more »
A fight over those EPA rules extended to the House Appropriations Committee, which took up a separate measure funding the Interior Department and the EPA Tuesday morning. A Democratic bid to preserve the EPA rules failed by a 29-18 vote. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., labeled the measure "an ideological dumping ground of short-sided environmental policies." Read more »
Childe said she complained to the state and to her congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who chairs the Democratic National Committee. Wasserman Schultz issued a statement Friday saying she has heard from "a couple of constituents'' about this issue. "My staff has raised it with the Department of Health and Human Services as well as directly with some of the insurance companies. ... I believe the onus is on the insurers and the providers to bridge this gap and provide reliable, consistent customer service." Read more »
From the sawgrass of the Everglades to the seagrass of the Atlantic Ocean beaches, from the Art Deco buildings of Miami Beach to the critical infrastructure of Port Everglades and FLL, there is so much to photograph in our 23rd District and I look forward to reviewing the submissions, Rep. Wasserman Schultz said. Read more »
The Supreme Court's decision in these cases effectively said that the religious preferences of employers trump the personal health rights and decisions of employees, and Congressional Democrats believe this posture is not only legally weak, but a gross intrusion into the personal lives of women and families, Rep. Wasserman Schultz said. "This bill reaffirms what we know to be true, that employers don't belong in the bedrooms, doctor's offices, or pharmacies of their employees." Read more »
