Thursday - July 17, 2025
*Florida Editor Tipoffs Newsletter for Saturday May 10, 2025 ( 19 items )  

Coast Guard Cutter Kimball Returns Home After 84-Day Counter-Drug Patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, $191M in Cocaine Seized
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 9 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release: * * * Coast Guard Cutter Kimball returns home after 84-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, $191M in cocaine seized The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Kimball (WMSL 756) returned to their Honolulu home port Monday after an 84-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. While patrolling international waters off the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Central, and South Americ  more

Contracts for May 9, 2025
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for May 9, 2025 ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $742,179,564 firm-fixed-price contract for production of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama,   more

Declassification Task Force Demands AG Bondi Immediately Release Epstein Files, Client List
WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, issued the following news release on May 9, 2025: * * * Declassification Task Force Demands AG Bondi Immediately Release Epstein Files, Client List WASHINGTON, D.C.--Yesterday, in the wake of the tragic death of another survivor of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) led the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets in sending a letter to Attorney General Pam B  more

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association: Florida Teams Cook Up Success at National ProStart Invitational
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, May 10 -- The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association issued the following news release on May 9, 2025: * * * Florida Teams Cook Up Success at National ProStart Invitational Wekiva High School Winners and Florida ProStart Leaders Celebrate Fourth Place Win at NPSI BALTIMORE, MD - The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) proudly announces the success of its Florida teams at the 2025 National ProStart Invitational. Hosted by the Na  more

LGBTQ+ Elder Advocacy Group Opposes Proposed Healthcare Coverage Restrictions
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- SAGE, the nation's oldest and largest organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ elders, has voiced strong opposition to proposed changes outlined in CMS-9884-P that would prohibit coverage of essential health benefits (EHB) for gender-affirming care and exclude DACA recipients from the definition of "lawfully present." In a formal comment, SAGE argued these changes would severely harm transgender individuals. Aaron Tax, Managing Director of Government Affairs and Policy Advocacy at   more

Mast Announces Winner Of 2025 Congressional Art Competition
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Mast Announces Winner Of 2025 Congressional Art Competition STUART, Fla. - Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) honored the participants of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition and announced Gianna Pagano from Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach County as the winner. Her piece was selected as a finalist by local experts and awarded first prize by Rep. Mast. "I'm constantly impressed by the brilliance and talent  more

Pope Leo XIV's Father Served in the Navy During World War II
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Pope Leo XIV's Father Served in the Navy During World War II Pope Leo XIV's father, Louis Marius Prevost, served in the Navy during World War II. Prevost was born on July 28, 1920, in Chicago. After graduating from college, he was commissioned in November 1943 and became the executive officer of a tank landing ship. He participated in the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, June 6, 1944, as part of Operation  more

President Trump Signs Rep. Goldman's Bill to Repeal Costly Energy Regulations
WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Texas, issued the following news release on May 9, 2025: * * * President Trump Signs Rep. Goldman's Bill to Repeal Costly Energy Regulations Featured Image WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Congressman Craig Goldman (R-TX) released the following statement. "I'm honored to have been in the Oval Office today to witness President Trump sign H.J. Res. 75 into law. This bill will help lower the cost of living for Americans across the nation. H.J. Res. 75, which  more

Rep. Cammack Joins Colleagues In Introducing MOMS Act To Support Expectant Mothers & Their Families
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Cammack Joins Colleagues In Introducing MOMS Act To Support Expectant Mothers & Their Families WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Cammack proudly joined Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07) and her colleagues in reintroducing the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act, which will provide critical support to new moms during and after their pregnancy, empower women to choose life, and help them to rais  more

Rep. Castor: Opposing Gulf of America Act, Focus on Real Issues
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Florida, issued the following floor remarks on May 8, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this farcical bill. I thought I would share what I am hearing from my neighbors across the Gulf Coast. They want policymakers in Washington, D.C., to tackle the cost of living. During this Republican-led Congress, there has not been   more

Rep. Gimenez: Congratulating South Florida Builders Association President Tapanes
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez, R-Florida, posted the following statement in the extensions of remarks section of the Congressional Record on May 8, 2025: * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Melissa Tapanes on being named President of the Builders Association of South Florida. Ms. Tapanes is an accomplished attorney who specializes in complex legislative and quasi-judicial matters. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, holding leadership roles wi  more

Rep. Grothman: Big Beautiful Bill Faces Tough Negotiations
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisconsin, issued the following floor remarks on May 8, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, we are heading into what many people hope is the finishing stretch of our legislature, putting through what Donald Trump calls the big, beautiful bill. There are a lot of issues yet to be decided, and I would like to address some of those issues today.  more

Rep. Jeffries: Rejecting Gulf of America Act as Sycophantic
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Hakeem S. Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following floor remarks on May 8, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong "no" against this silly, small-minded, and sycophantic piece of legislation. When the American people woke up this morning, they could reasonably ask the question: What are their elected Representatives on the floor of the House of Re  more

Reps. Salazar, Soto, and Wasserman Schultz Introduce Legislation to Designate TPS for Venezuelans
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Reps. Salazar, Soto, and Wasserman Schultz Introduce Legislation to Designate TPS for Venezuelans WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Maria Salazar (FL-27), Darren Soto (FL-09), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) introduced the bipartisan Venezuela TPS Act of 2025, with Salazar serving as the Republican co-lead on the legislation. The bill provides Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans cur  more

Sen. Rick Scott Announces FLIGHT Act to Require Airlines Provide Better Flight Statuses
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Rick Scott Announces FLIGHT Act to Require Airlines Provide Better Flight Statuses WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott announced the introduction of the Frequent Logistics Information for Grounded and Held Travelers (FLIGHT) Act to require airlines to provide passengers of flights delayed by more than 15 minutes a notification of the delay, and a status notification every 15 minutes thereaf  more

Sen. Rick Scott, Sen. Ashley Moody Urge U.S. Army Corps for Full Consideration of Critical Florida Projects
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Rick Scott, Sen. Ashley Moody Urge U.S. Army Corps for Full Consideration of Critical Florida Projects WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Florida's U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody sent a letter to the Acting Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, D. Lee Forsgren, asking for full consideration of ongoing and upcoming projects throughout Florida as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (  more

This Week in DOD: Refocusing Resources, Service Member Standards, Red Sea Ceasefire
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * This Week in DOD: Refocusing Resources, Service Member Standards, Red Sea Ceasefire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed a forcewide reduction in general officers May 5, 2025, as part of a larger effort within the Defense Department to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy that hinders mission effectiveness. "Secretary Hegseth signed a memorandum directing general officer and flag officer reductions throughout t  more

Wasserman Schultz Leads Democrats in Amicus Brief to Supreme Court Backing TPS for Venezuelans
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Wasserman Schultz Leads Democrats in Amicus Brief to Supreme Court Backing TPS for Venezuelans Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led 48 Democratic Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in response to the Trump Administration's attempt to override a district court ruling that blocked the Department of  more

Wasserman Schultz Statement on Negotiations to End Iranian Nuclear Threat
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Wasserman Schultz Statement on Negotiations to End Iranian Nuclear Threat Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) released the following statement on the Trump Administration's negotiations over Iran's nuclear capabilities: "In his first term, President Trump recklessly withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) without a replacement,  more