Wasserman Schultz, Debbie RSS Articles

Wasserman Schultz Delivers Federal Brain Cancer Treatment Funds to NSU

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Davie, FL – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) joined Nova Southeastern University (NSU) leaders, including the University President Dr. Harry Moon and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chad Perlyn, to announce $1.03 million in critical disease fighting funds she fought to secure that will improve the treatment of brain cancer.

To watch the press conference, click here. For B-Roll of the check presentation, click here.

This vital technology will allow researchers to develop an innovative drug delivery system that can directly target brain cancer cells.

“I’m beyond thrilled to announce that I was able to secure more than $1 million in federal funding for NSU to purchase equipment to learn how to better treat brain cancer,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Thankfully, NSU’s amazing researchers are working on solving this problem that’s plagued patients and doctors for decades. NSU’s team will use the federal funds I secured to target brain tumors with precision, while leaving healthy tissue unharmed.”

The brain has a natural defense system called the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a cellular layer that lines the brain blood vessels and tightly regulates what can enter the brain tissue. Therefore, the ability to get drug administered in the bloodstream to cross the blood-brain-barrier and reach the tumor at therapeutic levels is a major obstacle for most chemotherapies.

To overcome this obstacle, NSU’s Dr. Regina Graham (pink hair in photos) and her team are developing an innovative drug delivery system that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and directly target brain cancer cells. This approach uses tiny, non-toxic carbon nanoparticles called “carbon dots” to carry chemotherapy drugs directly to brain tumors.

This investment will help NSU and Dr. Graham obtain necessary efficacy and safety data on her new carbon dot drug formulations, improving her ability to translate her exciting findings to the clinical setting

Wasserman Schultz Sounds Alarm on High Gas Prices, Highlights Local Impacts

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Pembroke Pines, FL – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) joined constituents and Teamsters Union representatives to sound the alarm on skyrocketing gas prices and highlight its impacts on the South Florida community.

To watch the press conference, click here.

Wasserman Schultz was joined by Broward County AFL-CIO president and Teamsters Local 769 member Andy Madtes, Teamsters Local 769 member Josh Zivalich, small business owner Julie Pray, and private music teacher Cari Barter. Teamsters leaders discussed how the hikes harm members, and Pray shared how she was forced to close her small business due to high gas prices. Barter has been forced to give up on students who live farther away and has had to cancel doctors appointments for her special needs children because of skyrocketing fuel costs.

“Life is too expensive. Food prices are up. Rent and home insurance costs keep climbing. Healthcare costs – if you can even afford coverage at all – are doubling and tripling for some of us,” said Wasserman Schultz. “And now I fear this war against Iran is only going to make matters worse on our families as gas prices take a bigger bite out of family and small business budgets. Worse, rising diesel costs will drive up food prices our community just cannot afford right now. I’ll fight for solutions, like raising wages, and crackdowns on price gouging by oil companies.”

Since President Trump launched his war in Iran without Congressional approval, Americans are paying 35 percent more at the pump, and escalating diesel fuel, fertilizer and other rising costs from the conflict are driving up prices all Americans must pay.

Though Trump campaigned on a pledge to lower prices, gasoline alone has spiked to more than $4 a gallon since the start of Trump’s war. Now, families must deal with high gas prices on top of other rising food, housing, and healthcare costs from Trump’s chaotic tariffs and corrupt economic policies that favor billionaires over working families.

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Wasserman Schultz Delivers $1 Million Federal Investment for Fort Lauderdale Public Safety Training Complex

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) joined Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Police Chief Bill Schultz, Fire Chief Stephen Gollan, and Fort Lauderdale Commissioners Ben Sorensen and Pam Beasley-Pittman to announce a $1 million federal investment she secured to help build the Fort Lauderdale Public Safety Training and Professional Development Complex.

The funding marks a major step forward in building a state-of-the-art training hub for police, fire and regional first responders. This federal investment is aimed at strengthening emergency response and protecting residents and visitors.

“My top priority is to keep our families safe. One of the best ways to do that is to ensure our first responders get consistent, high-level training,” said Wasserman Schultz. “So, I'm extremely proud to partner with City of Fort Lauderdale leaders to deliver this cutting-edge professional development facility. It's a critical investment to better protect our community and visitors.”

“Public safety is the foundation of a strong city,” said Trantalis. “This investment is a step toward building the kind of modern, world-class training facility our first responders deserve.”

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD) is the largest municipal law enforcement agency in Broward County, with a current professional staff of over 700 personnel and yet it does not have a training facility that can accommodate the class size and/or variety of training needs required.

FLPD does not have adequate space to conduct all the trainings that are required to fully prepare and equip an officer with the tools and skills needed. FLPD Training personnel must rely on other facilities to rent space and work around their availability to schedule classes. This generally leads to facility rental costs, facility staff costs, costs associated with overtime for the officers being trained, as well as for overtime for officers to backfill positions when fellow officers are in scheduled training.

The tri-county area currently lacks a comprehensive facility that can provide a ‘one stop shop’ for both new recruits and experienced personnel that prepares them to be a first responder of the 21st century. Local police agencies must wait for availability to enroll new recruits in the police academy and there is usually insufficient availability for career enhancement courses, like the introduction to investigations.

The training complex will be located less than 30 minutes from both the international and executive airports, Port Everglades and Brightline and Tri-Rail. Regional police and fire departments, as well as federal and state law enforcement, will also be able to utilize the state-of-the-art facility.

Wasserman Schultz, Nunn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make IVF Affordable

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the bipartisan Helping to Optimize Patients' Experience (HOPE) with Fertility Services Act to expand access to infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility services for Americans seeking to start or grow their families. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Laurel Lee (FL-15) joined as co-leads of the bill.

To watch the press conference, click here. For B-Roll, click here.

The HOPE with Fertility Services Act would require group health plans that cover obstetrical services to also cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and standard fertility preservation services. This includes individuals diagnosed with conditions that prevent conception or carrying a pregnancy to term, those experiencing unexplained infertility, and patients whose fertility is at risk due to medical treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or other invasive procedures.

“Infertility impacts millions and doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone who wants to start or grow a family. I know firsthand. Thanks to IVF, my husband and I conceived our twins, now both healthy young adults. But after enduring that struggle, I’ve fought to expand insurance coverage for the prohibitively costly fertility treatments that can make this only accessible to the very few who can afford it.” said Wasserman Schultz. “As a breast cancer survivor, I’m also concerned with how a diagnosis, and treatments can affect survivors’ ability to conceive or even prevent cancer from being genetically passed on. So, for many survivors with a BRCA gene mutation, like me, IVF can be a godsend.”

“As a father of six, I'll never have a more important title than 'Dad.' Starting a family is one of the biggest dreams couples have, and no one should be denied that opportunity because of infertility, cancer treatments, or cost,” said Nunn. “The HOPE with Fertility Services Act makes sure that fertility care is within reach for every family — not just those who can afford it or happen to have the right insurance plan. This isn't a Republican or Democrat idea — it's an American one, and I'm proud of the strong bipartisan support behind it.”

“My grandkids are one of the greatest joys of my life and they wouldn’t be here today without fertility services. The average cost of IVF treatment can cost anywhere between $15,000-$30,000 and most insurance plans are not required to cover this cost,” said Norcross. “The HOPE with Fertility Services Act makes starting a family possible for the millions of Americans across the country who struggle to bring a child into our world. I won’t ever stop fighting to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all who need it.”

“For millions of Americans, the ability to build a family is deeply personal—but too often, it is made unnecessarily difficult by cost and limited access to care,” said Lee. “Infertility affects families in every corner of our country, regardless of background or income, yet access to treatment too often depends on those very factors—and that is not acceptable. The HOPE with Fertility Services Act is about changing that by ensuring families have a real opportunity—not just in theory, but in practice—to grow and thrive. This bipartisan legislation gives Americans what they deserve: the chance to pursue the American Dream and the hope of becoming parents. Strong families are the foundation of a strong nation, and this bill is an investment in the future of our country."

“So many loving couples want to start a family but struggle with infertility. With soaring out-of-pocket costs for in vitro treatment and other fertility care, Americans are oftentimes prevented from being able to have children,” said Malliotakis. “Even for Americans with health insurance plans that provide some coverage, this critical treatment can be cost-prohibitive. This legislation would expand coverage and provide access to fertility treatments for millions of Americans who dream of expanding their family but have faced difficulties due to disease, ailment or unexplained infertility.”

“Infertility affects 1 in 6 people, yet the majority of private insurance plans do not cover fertility treatment, leaving patients to face costs that often put parenthood out of reach,” said Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association. “No one should be denied the chance to build a family because of a lack of insurance coverage. The HOPE with Fertility Services Act would help address these gaps by expanding coverage for 133 million Americans who have private sector employer-sponsored health plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Our team at RESOLVE is encouraged to see Congressman Nunn and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz leading the charge on legislation that could help ease the financial burden for parents on their journey to building the families of their dreams.”

“After losing our first son to Krabbe Disease, IVF gave us hope and the chance to have a healthy child,” said Kasey Feldt, a patient-advocate. “Our insurance didn’t cover IVF, so we used our savings to pay out-of-pocket, and every shot, procedure, and dollar was worth it to bring our sons Lukas and Harper into the world. Access to fertility treatment shouldn’t depend on what someone can afford, having insurance coverage can make all the difference for people trying to build their families. I’m excited to see lawmakers taking the steps to make that a reality.”

"As infertility doctors, one of the greatest challenges we face is the ability to diagnose a condition that we cannot treat because a patient lacks insurance coverage,” said Dr. Valerie Lynn Baker, MD, Member of the ASRM Board of Directors and 2024 PRIMED Scholar. “Simply put, other diseases are not approached this way. Without coverage, patients are often driven towards riskier, more costly treatment options that can lead to downstream health complications for both the pregnant person and baby. We sincerely thank Representatives Nunn and Wasserman Schultz for their leadership on the HOPE with Fertility Services Act—because when IVF is covered, physicians can truly provide patient-centered care."

"Infertility is recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization, and it is time we treat it that way,” said Sean Tipton, ASRM Chief Advocacy & Policy Officer. “At ASRM, we firmly believe that access to care should never depend on a person’s ability to pay—every patient who needs care should be able to receive it. Yet without comprehensive insurance coverage, that is too often not the reality. We applaud Representatives Nunn and Wasserman Schultz for recognizing the gap in IVF coverage and the need for a federal ERISA plan mandate. If enacted, the HOPE with Fertility Services Act will help ensure that approximately 133 million Americans with ERISA employer-sponsored health plans have access to the care they need to build the families they choose."

“For too many American families, the dream of having a child is limited not by medical possibility, but by financial barriers,” said Dr. Joshua Klein, Americans for IVF Advisory Board Member. “As a physician, I see every day how access to IVF can be life-changing—and how devastating it is when that access is out of reach. The HOPE Act is a critical step toward ensuring that building a family is not a privilege reserved for the few, but a possibility for all Americans who need it.”

“Infertility is a recognized disease that aligns with federal chronic disease frameworks, and fertility care is medically necessary chronic disease management,” said Davina Fankhauser, Fertility Within Reach. “By collaborating with actuaries, we demonstrated that evidence-based coverage can reduce projected costs by billions while ensuring patients receive timely, medically appropriate care—free from arbitrary insurance barriers. The HOPE Act expands access nationwide, extends coverage to self-insured employer plans, and holds insurers accountable to modern medical standards, delivering measurable benefits for families, employers, and the economy—especially for the 1 in 6 Americans affected by infertility.”

The HOPE with Fertility Services Act is cosponsored by Representatives Pat Ryan (NY-18), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Young Kim (CA-40), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Greg Landsman (OH-01). The bill is endorsed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, the Tzedek Association, and Americans for IVF.

Wasserman Schultz Convenes Jewish, Law Enforcement Leaders to Bolster Security at Houses of Worship and Community Centers

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Davie, FL – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) convened local law enforcement and Jewish faith and community leaders at the David Posnack JCC to discuss how to keep houses of worship and communal spaces safer for congregants, children, and families.

To watch the press conference, click here.

Last Thursday, the Jewish community came under attack once again, this time in West Bloomfield Township, MI., after a man drove a vehicle through doors of Temple Israel. In recent months, similar assaults took place at synagogues and Jewish centers in Los Angeles, Jackson, Miss., Brooklyn and Toronto.

“Hurt, frustrated and confused people become radicalized. And all too often, it’s religious minorities who bear the cost,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Protecting houses of worship is necessary but not sufficient. We need to attack the root cause – anti-Jewish hatred – by educating ourselves and holding our leaders accountable.”

Under the Trump Administration, the Department of Homeland Security has imposed arbitrary, politicized restrictions on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that have generated confusion and delays. In a letter last week, Wasserman Schultz highlighted bipartisan concern regarding long-overdue reimbursements for Nonprofit Security Grant Recipients, writing that “[f]aith-based institutions and community organizations at risk of attack must be able to access security funds without delay.”

The shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has also harmed allocation of these grants. Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced bills to fund the Department of Homeland Security in full, including FEMA, which administers Nonprofit Security Grants, except for ICE and CBP. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans have blocked these bills, illustrating their preference to shut down the whole department rather than negotiate with Democrats to implement common-sense immigration enforcement reforms.

Wasserman Schultz was joined by representatives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), BSO Cooper City District, BSO Dania Beach District, BSO Weston District, Davie Police Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Hallandale Beach Police Department, Pembroke Pines Police Department, Plantation Police Department, Chabad of Southwest Broward, David Posnack Jewish Community Center, Jewish federation of Broward County, Ramat Shalom Beth Israel, Secure Community Network, Temple Beth Am, Temple Dor Dorim, Temple Solel, and Young Israel of Hollywood.

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WSVN: Wasserman Schultz, law enforcement and community leaders discuss how to handle threats, increase safety for Jewish community

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

DAVIE, FLA. (WSVN) - A South Florida congresswoman held discussions on how to step up security as Jewish communities across the country worry about their safety, days after an act of terror at a Michigan synagogue.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz met in Davie with several members of the law enforcement community and representatives of Jewish community institutions. They aimed to figure out how to best combat threats.

“What we all saw play out in Michigan last week was the kind of nightmare that our Jewish community said would unfold just outside our doors every day,” said Wasserman Schultz. “There are people who are lying in the shadows in wait to attack our community.”

Wasserman Schultz said she wanted to talk about how best to try to track and combat threats to different sorts of community institutions, whether they’re temples, synagogues, groups or schools.

The roundtable discussion also touched on a $400 million federal grant program that would allow for cameras, technology, security guards and money that would come from the federal government to help temples, synagogues, non-profit institutions, and community centers fight threats.

“These grants are the best tool that we have to fortify security in houses of worship of all faiths, and it’s not just the Jewish community that are facing rising risk,” said Wasserman Schultz.

“Whether it be camera systems, fencing, hardening different door systems, the issue is the processing element, and hearing from our rabbis today, many have already submitted applications for such funding, and they’re falling two, three years behind,” said Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony. “But now, we’re in a new environment, a new threat spectrum exists, and so now, they’re forced with, ‘Do we have the funding to purchase new equipment? Or should we pursue this grant, knowing it may take two to three years to get reimbursed?'”

Because it’s a very expensive process to try to harden community centers, a big topic of conversation was how to streamline that process to keep everyone safe and working together to try to track these threats.

Wasserman Schultz also spoke about paying back grants that were previously owed to religious institutions.

“So one of the institutions here, just got their 2023 grant that they were approved for,” said Wasserman Schultz.

7News spoke to a rabbi from a Chabad in Cooper City who said they are still waiting to be reimbursed for some security money they received from the federal government back in 2022.

“We’re still owed from the 2022 grant,” said Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, who leads the Chabad of Southwest Broward. “The war, there’s a lot of tension in the community, and we’re looking for, definitely, for more security.”

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation opened a regional threat center to monitor extremist chatter and other potential threats to the Jewish community.

The key to the meeting, according to those who attended, was coordination and increased funding.

“We are grateful to everyone here, who is standing behind me who works every day to keep us safe, but we know that there is always more that we can do,” said Audra Berg, the president of Jewish Federation of Broward County.

While conversations are ongoing, Tony recommended reaching out to state officials to try to facilitate federal funding for increased security towards religious organizations.

Wasserman Schultz Delivers $1 Million Federal Investment to Support Dania Beach’s Wastewater System.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Dania Beach, FL – This week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) joined Dania Beach Commissioners to announce a $1 million federal investment to improve the city’s wastewater system and strengthen the community’s marine and boat industries.

This investment will replace and modernize Lift Station No.12 to improve wastewater flow and reduce risk of backups and systems failures.

“I’m proud to deliver these federal dollars to improve Broward’s marine industry and bring more jobs and business opportunities to South Florida,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’ll always work to invest in local infrastructure to prevent contamination, preserves marine ecosystems, and keep our canals and coastal waters healthy.”

Wastewater lift stations are specialized, underground pumping systems designed to lift sewage from lower to higher elevations. Dania Beach’s Lift Station 12 was constructed in 1986, making it one of the older lift stations around, it faces electrical issues and shuts off during storms. This project will ensure the infrastructure can handle current demands while preparing for future growth, protect our waterways, and keep hundreds of Floridians employed.

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Wasserman Schultz Delivers Half Million Federal Investment to Help BSO Stop Online Child Predators

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) joined Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony and South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force leader Sergeant Thomas McInerney to announce delivery of $535,000 in critical federal funds that she fought to secure to help local law enforcement identify online child predators and victims.

To watch the full press conference, click here.

To watch the check presentation, click here.

This funding will provide digital forensic software, a forensic van upgrade and investigative tools to assist law enforcement personnel in identifying victims and getting offenders off the internet and away from our children.

“The South Florida ICAC Task Force has seen a 157% increase in CyberTips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And the-already grueling demands on the Task Forces are, tragically, only growing with AI simulations,” said Wasserman Schultz. “As predators become more and more technologically advanced, we must ensure law enforcement is able to stay ahead of the curve.”

ICAC Task Forces are comprised of a national network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing over 5,400 federal, state, and local law enforcement, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting, and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children. From 1998 to 2023, ICAC forces reviewed more than 7 million reports of online abuse, which resulted in more than 134,000 people being arrested.

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Forbes: This Is What I Saw In The Unredacted Epstein Files: Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

On "Forbes Newsroom," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) discussed viewing the unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice.

Watch the full interview here.

Wasserman Schultz Files No Escaping Justice Act to Hold Global Figures Implicated in Epstein Files to Account

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) announced her new bill to impose sanctions on foreign nationals incriminated in the Epstein files, the No Escaping Justice Act. Video of the announcement can be found here (6:30).

While Congress cannot punish individual Americans who the President and Attorney General refuse to prosecute, the No Escaping Justice Act would take immediate action to hold foreign nationals whose involvement in sex trafficking has been revealed in the Epstein files to account for exploiting young girls in the United States and failing to report Epstein's crimes to American law enforcement.

“After House Democrats successfully forced the Trump Administration to release the Epstein Files, there remains a glaring absence of real transparency and a total lack of accountability,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Trump's Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, is too focused on covering up Trump's relationship with Epstein and refuses to investigate the wealthy, powerful individuals who were clearly complicit in these abuses. This is a first step to bring some measure of justice for foreign nationals who conspired with Epstein to sexually exploit American children.”

The bill would require the Administration to provide Congress with a list of foreign nationals who engaged in the following practices, based on credible information in the possession of the U.S. government, including evidence from the Epstein Files:

sex trafficking of minors;
aiding, abetting, or facilitating trafficking in persons;
benefiting financially from participating in such activities; or
obstructing investigations into these crimes

These individuals would then be subject to a visa ban, prohibiting them from being admitted into the U.S., as well as asset-blocking sanctions. If the President seeks to exempt one of these individuals from sanctions based on national security, he must report his complete reasoning to Congress.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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