Press Releases
Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson today issued the following statement in recognition of 9/11.
"Fifteen years ago, our nation suffered the worst terrorist acts on U.S. soil in our nation's history. Today, we honor all of the lives lost that day, and express our deep gratitude for the first responders' incredible bravery and selflessness. We thank and praise the men and women of uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, September 22, overwhelmingly passed the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act (H.R. 5963) by a vote of 382-29. Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, Ranking Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, is an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which reauthorizes the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.
Today Congresswoman Wilson issued the following statement after learning of the passing of Shimon Peres:
Today marks the third anniversary of the Dominican Constitutional Court's decision to strip the hundreds of thousands of Dominicans of foreign descent of their citizenship, the majority of whom are of Haitian descent. They are also being denied the legal rights and protections to which they were previously entitled. The court's decision has created a devastating human rights crisis and an unprecedented level of statelessness. It is particularly devastating for children who can no longer attend school or seek medical care.
MIAMI, FL - Today Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson joined Republican Congressmen Carlos Curbelo and Mario Diaz-Balart at a press conference to applaud the passage of a continuing resolution that includes $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus. The funding is part of a stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government open through December 9. Congresswoman Wilson has been at the forefront of the fight for Zika funding since July, when the first local transmissions were confirmed in Wynwood, which is in the heart of her district.
Today we mark yet another sad milestone in the saga of the nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014. It is the 900th day that 218 of the girls have been held in captivity by what is now known as the world's deadliest terrorist group, a title Boko Haram earned for abducting, burning, raping, and butchering tens of thousands of innocent people.
Today marks the anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first piece of legislation that President Obama signed when he took office. Seven years later, however, equal pay has still not been achieved. Last year, women who worked fulltime earn just 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. African-American and Hispanic women earn 60 and 50 cents, respectively, per every dollar earned by white men.
"Every February, the nation celebrates the many accomplishments and contributions that African Americans have made to the United States. Black History Month also is a reminder that diversity is one of our country's greatest strengths.
"Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. In a survey conducted in 2000, nearly 24 million workers took leave to manage work and family or personal medical issues, but just 15 million were covered and eligible under FMLA and could afford to take leave. According to recent statistics, since its enactment, the law has been used more than 200 million times and ensured that those workers did not have to choose between remaining employed and caring for a family member or themselves. That's good news.
On Tuesday, February 9, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson will co-host with members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee an Africa Policy Breakfast to examine and raise awareness about Boko Haram's regional impact and growing threat to Nigeria and the border nations of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin.