News List

SUN SENTINELOPINIONCongress must respond to Zika crisisBy Debbie Wasserman Schultz"What can I do to protect my children?" As a mother of three, it is a question I ask myself every day, and one that prompted me to run for Congress 11 years ago.But just two weeks ago, this familiar question took on new meaning for me, when it became the most frequently asked question during a telephone town hall with my constituents on the Zika virus.Sadly, our fears are not unfounded. Florida leads the nation in ... Read more

Happy Pride Month! Each June, we celebrate our LGBT community, take stock in the progress we have made towards equality for all Americans, and rededicate ourselves to protecting and expanding the rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters. This is the first year that we open Pride Month with marriage equality as the law of the land. However, we must also use this month to educate those who might use bigoted or ignorant language or ideas to tear others down. We should help them understand that in the United States, every person – no matter their sexual orientation or identity – is loved, valued and protected. I am proud to stand with the LGBT community in this fight to make our nation a more equal and just place, and look forward to celebrating Pride throughout the month of June. Read more

Each South Florida household and business should create a plan of action detailing where to go if there is a hurricane, especially for those who need special assistance. Planning in advance will ensure you, your family and loved ones are safe. South Florida residents are never safe from storms. We have seen the devastation of Hurricanes Andrew and Wilma, and while we can never prevent them, we must prepare for them in order to save lives. Read more

JEWISH JOURNALMembers of Congress comment on BDS at collegesBy Randall P. LiebermanOn April 15, numerous local members of Congress were among the 37 members of the Congressional Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism which sent a letter to John B. King, Jr., the new U.S. Secretary of Education, asking him to outline how his agency is tracking, investigating and responding to cases of anti-Semitism on campus — particularly in light of the spread of the BDS movement on U.S. college campu... Read more

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

ASSOCIATED PRESSGOP ekes out win on Library of Congress' immigration termsBY ANDREW TAYLORRepublicans on a powerful House panel Tuesday narrowly defended a tea party-fueled move to tell the Library of Congress how to label immigrants living in the country illegally.The GOP move is designed to force the Library of Congress to retain the term "illegal alien" for cataloging and search purposes, reversing the library's plan to replace "illegal alien" with less prejudicial terms like "noncitizens" or... Read more

THE ADVOCATE25 Congressional Dems to LGBT People: We’re With YouBy Sunnivie BrydumTo mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, 25 Democratic members of Congress are promising to stand with LGBT Americans in the face of hateful legislation and rhetoric.In a video kicking off the #WeAreWithYou campaign, members of the Congressional Equality Caucus channel U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s historic remarks last week, when she told the beleaguered transgender community, “We ... Read more