SunRail will be running test trains in the north end of the railroad corridor this weekend. [Read more…] about SunRail Train Activity This Weekend
Government
Farm Share Feeds and Celebrates Florida’s Children and Seniors at the Capitol During the 2019 Legislative Session
On March 26-27, Farm Share – a leading Florida-based charitable food organization – will be present at the Capitol to support Children’s Week and Senior’s Day by providing free breakfast, t-shirts, and supplies to 3,000+ kids, as well as free lunches for seniors as they meet with legislators. [Read more…] about Farm Share Feeds and Celebrates Florida’s Children and Seniors at the Capitol During the 2019 Legislative Session
Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee Announces 2019 Florida Main Street Nationally Accredited Programs
Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced today that 32 Florida Main Street Programs have achieved national accreditation from the National Main Street Center for 2019. [Read more…] about Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee Announces 2019 Florida Main Street Nationally Accredited Programs
Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant Recognized with PSC’s Triple E Award for Energy Efficiency
Tourists, as well as locals, flock to Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant, recognized by many national institutions and magazines as serving the best seafood in Panama City Beach. [Read more…] about Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant Recognized with PSC’s Triple E Award for Energy Efficiency
Senate Budget Prioritizes Education and Hurricane Recovery, $3.4 Billion Total Reserves
$1.1 Billion Increase in K-12 Funding, $1.8 Billion Total State Investment in Hurricane
Michael Recovery, $656 Million Investment in Water Quality and Protection
The Florida Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island), today filed SPB 2500, a proposed budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year. [Read more…] about Senate Budget Prioritizes Education and Hurricane Recovery, $3.4 Billion Total Reserves
Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida’s Labor Force Continues to Grow as Industries Expand
Governor Ron DeSantis today announced that Florida’s labor force continued to grow with 170,000 people entering the labor force at an annual growth rate of 1.7 percent, up 0.2 percent from January 2019. [Read more…] about Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida’s Labor Force Continues to Grow as Industries Expand
Florida Department of Elder Affairs Revokes Registration of Palm Beach County Professional Guardian for Violating Multiple Statutory Sections of Florida’s Guardianship Law
Historic Revocation is Permanent and Prohibits the Guardian from Practicing
The Department of Elder Affairs’ Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG) has issued a historic Final Order to revoke the registration of professional guardian Elizabeth “Betsy” Savitt for failing to comply with Florida’s guardianship laws. [Read more…] about Florida Department of Elder Affairs Revokes Registration of Palm Beach County Professional Guardian for Violating Multiple Statutory Sections of Florida’s Guardianship Law
FHCA Statement on House Passing Bill to End Certificate of Need (HB 21)
Statement from Emmett Reed, FHCA Executive Director
“The Florida Health Care Association disagrees with those who would include nursing centers in provisions of House Bill 21 eliminating the Certificate of Need process. We will continue to offer members of the House insights into the negative effects that will occur if this bad bill continues to move forward unaltered. Repeal of Certificate of Need requirements in other states has done real harm to elder care there. Indiana saw new centers being built but beds going unfilled, which put a significant financial strain on the state’s Medicaid budget. The state had to force nursing centers to close as a result and ultimately had to reverse its CON repeal initiative. CON also contributed to Texas facilities experiencing empty beds and poor levels of care. Empty beds don’t exempt the centers from the high cost of remaining open — and the burden ultimately will fall to the taxpayers. With quality care measures steadily on the rise in Florida, FHCA believes we must maintain the progress our state has made under the existing CON process. This will ensure that the highest levels of quality care continue to be provided to our state’s ever-growing population of aging residents.”
Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Executive Order Suspending Holmes County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Kyle Hudson
Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 19-83, formally suspending Holmes County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Kyle Hudson.
A PDF copy of Executive Order 19-83 can be found HERE.
Mast, Gottheimer, Engel, McCaul Introduce Bill To Sanction Financial Supporters of Hamas
Bill Filed In Wake Of Long-Range Missiles Being Fired At Israel
U.S. Congressmen Brian Mast (FL-18), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (NY-16) and Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Michael McCaul (TX-10) today introduced the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act. The bipartisan bill imposes sanctions on foreign persons, agencies and governments that assist Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad or their affiliates.
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated by the United States government as global terrorists. Hamas is responsible for the death of more than 400 Israelis and at least 25 United States citizens. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad has claimed credit for multiple terrorist attacks in Israel, including an attack that killed a New Jersey student.
“Following my service in the Army, I chose to volunteer alongside the Israeli Defense Forces because our countries share the common ideals of freedom, democracy and mutual respect for all people. Hamas preaches destruction to Israel and death to the values we hold dear in the United States,” Rep. Mast said.“The United States must not tolerate anybody who provides support to these radical Islamic terrorists.”
“The terrorist group Hamas is well known for firing rockets and digging terror tunnels into Israel and using Gazans, including women and children, as human shields,” Rep. Gottheimer said. “It is critical that the United States and our allies continue to isolate Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad by cutting them off at the source. With the support of Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul, our bipartisan bill will strengthen sanctions to weaken these terrorist groups that threaten our ally Israel, undermine peace, and further destabilize the Middle East.”
“I am a firm believer in a two state solution, but a Palestinian state will never be born from terror. The rockets raining down on Tel Aviv in recent days are only the latest reminder that Hamas has no interest in peace,” Chairman Engel said. “I applaud Mr. Mast and Mr. Gottheimer for their continued leadership, and I welcome the introduction of this legislation at this critical moment. It sends an important message that terrorism only denigrates the Palestinian cause and sets back the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
“As we saw just last week, Hamas continues to threaten Israel with rockets, incendiary balloons, and any other weapon it can get its hands on. Hamas relies on a vast network of smuggling and international support, including from Iran, to maintain its arsenal,” Ranking Member McCaul said. “These sanctions are a long overdue measure to make clear that as long as Hamas continues this campaign of violence, its members and anyone who seeks to fund or support this terrorist organization will be held accountable.”
BACKGROUND
The Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report for the next three years identifying foreign persons, agencies or instrumentalities of a foreign state who knowingly and materially assist Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or an affiliate or successor of one of those organizations. After identifying the organizations, the President must impose two or more sanctions, including denying a) Export-Import guarantees, b) defense support under the Arms Export Control Act, c) export of munitions to any agreement to which a person identified is a part, d) export of goods or technology controlled for national security reasons, e) loans more than $10 million, or f) seizure of property held within the United States.
The bill also requires the President to report to Congress on each government that provides support for acts of terrorism and provides material support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any affiliate or successor organization, or the President determines to have engaged in a significant transaction to knowingly and materially provide support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad or any affiliate or successor organization. After identifying the governments, the President must suspend U.S. assistance to that government for one year, instruct the executive directors of each international finance institution to vote against any loan or technical assistance to that government and prohibit any munitions export to that government for one year. Additionally, the President must prohibit that government’s transactions in foreign exchanges that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and prevent that government’s transfers of credits or payments between financial institutions subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
