Florida's Democrats in Congress renew call for statewide lockdownFlorida Politics / Scott Powers / April 1, 2020Florida's 13 Democratic members of Congress on Tuesday renewed their call to Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a statewide stay-at-home order, and this time the Democrats quoted President Donald Trump‘s omnipresent public health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. The Democratic members… Read more »
Florida lawmakers sign letter urging DeSantis to issue statewide ‘stay-at-home' orderWFLA 8 / April 1, 2020TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Thirteen Florida lawmakers penned an open letter on Tuesday urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a stay-at-home order for the entire state. The letter comes days after Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious… Read more »
Florida congresswoman: Coronavirus pandemic is a 'gendered crisis'Washington Times / Jessica Chasmar / April 1, 2020Rep. Frederica Wilson said the coronavirus pandemic is a "gendered" crisis because women are disproportionately serving on the frontlines. The Democrat, who represents some of the hardest-hit areas of South Florida, tweeted to her 75,000 followers Tuesday afternoon: "In so… Read more »
Democrats bill will cover coronavirus test costs Miami Times / April 1, 2020House Democrats introduced legislation requiring all health insurance plans to cover the full cost of COVID-19 testing for U.S. consumers. The No Cost for COVID-19 Testing Act codifies the promises made by insurers to cover COVID-19 at no cost to patients and fills potential gaps in coverage for people in… Read more »
Florida Delegation Can Play a Major Role on $2 Trillion Infrastructure Stimulus to Help During Coronavirus CrisisFlorida Daily / Kevin Derby / April 1, 2020Having passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package to help the economy weather the coronavirus crisis last week, the White House and Congress are now abuzz about a potential $2 trillion infrastructure stimulus proposal. President Donald… Read more »
Florida lawmakers push for cruise line bailoutPolitico Pro / Tanya Snyder / March 30, 2020 The cruise industry got the cold shoulder in the third coronavirus recovery bill, but a set of Florida lawmakers are pushing for the industry, which largely is headquartered overseas, to get federal assistance in the next round. "We strongly oppose any efforts that would unfairly target or hurt this… Read more »
Super PAC slams Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Donna Shalala for missing vote on Bernie Sanders resolutionFlorida Politics / Febraury 28, 2020A Republican super PAC slammed two South Florida Congresswomen who skipped a vote condemning presidential Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala, both Miami Democrats, missed the vote on the resolution. "Even when it comes to condemning their… Read more »
House makes lynching a federal crime, 65 years after TillAP, Tampa Bay Times / February 27, 2020Sixty-five years after 14-year-old Emmett Till was lynched in Mississippi, the House has approved legislation designating lynching as a hate crime under federal law. The bill, introduced by Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush and named after Till, comes 120 years after Congress first considered… Read more »
Diaz-Balart's anti-Sanders amendment fails, but that doesn't mean Democrats oppose itMiami Herald / Alex Daugherty / February 27, 2020House Democrats voted Thursday to quash a resolution by Miami Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart condemning Bernie Sanders' recent comments that praised aspects of Fidel Castro's Cuba. The proposal by Diaz-Balart had been aimed at forcing Democrats into a… Read more »
U.S. House votes on landmark bill to make lynching a federal hate crimeFlorida Phoenix / Robin Bravender / February 26, 2020Lynching is not considered a hate crime under federal law, but that's expected to change soon. The U.S. House voted, 410-4, on Wednesday to approve a bill called the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. The bill would specifically list lynching as a hate crime, identified… Read more »
