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Lawmakers urge FEMA to extend housing assistance for storm victims through end of school year

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Hundreds of displaced Puerto Rican families who have been living in Florida since Hurricane Maria devastated the island could soon find themselves homeless with nowhere to go, if FEMA follows through with plans to stop providing them the temporary housing assistance they have come to rely on in wake of the storm.

FEMA officials told federal lawmakers this week that they plan to stop providing Transitional Shelter Assistance, or TSA, to more than 1,600 displaced families across the country – including 600 in Florida – as early as Friday. The move would likely cause hundreds of displaced families to be suddenly evicted from their hotel rooms and leave them scrambling to find a new, affordable place to live.

To help those still relying on the FEMA program and prevent them from being suddenly evicted, a group of mostly Florida lawmakers – led by U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) – today called on FEMA to reconsider its decision to abruptly end the program for these families; and instead work with the governor of Puerto Rico to extend the program through, at least, the remainder of the current school year.

“At a minimum, the deadline for TSA should coincide with the end of the school year for mainland states,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter today to FEMA Administrator Brock Long and Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló, “After Hurricane Maria devastated the island, more than 10,000 students from Puerto Rico enrolled in Florida schools. These children have already had their lives and educational experiences disrupted by a devastating storm and deserve the opportunity to complete their school year.”

FEMA’s TSA program pays hotel owners to provide hotel rooms to displaced victims of a storm. Once FEMA decides it will no longer provide a displaced family with TSA benefits, hotel owners will often evict them from their property.

With some parts of Florida already experiencing a shortage of affordable housing due, in part, to a sudden influx of displaced Puerto Ricans living there since the storm, these sudden evictions could leave some families – who are still unable to return home to Puerto Rico – with nowhere to live.

In addition to Nelson and Rubio, the letter sent today urging FEMA to continue providing assistance to these families was signed by Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Dennis Ross (R-FL) and Darren Soto (D-FL).

A pdf copy of the letter is available here.

Florida Lawmakers Announce Legislation Targeting “Modern-Day Piracy” by Bringing Price Transparency for Florida Boaters

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Sen. Dana Young & Rep. Shawn Harrison sponsor bills to
protect Florida boaters from unexpected fees for salvage claims


Florida’s boaters will enjoy greater peace of mind on our state’s waters thanks to legislation filed by Sen. Dana Young and Rep. Shawn Harrison. The related bills, SB 664 and HB 469, would require maritime salvage and towing companies to provide boaters with the option of a written cost estimate before rendering assistance on the water. The legislation aims to put a stop to the predatory practice of those salvage operators who provide relatively minor assistance to boaters and then charge outrageous fees by labeling the service a “salvage claim.”
“The actions of a limited number of these companies amount to a form of modern-day piracy, and it must stop. Unfortunately, there have been some terrible abuses in a system that many boat owners rely on,” Sen. Young said. “Consumers throughout the state have felt misinformed and misled by vague salvage claim fees that crop up when they request assistance on the water. This legislation will give Florida boaters the transparency they expect, and the confidence they deserve, in the maritime salvage and towing industry.”
The reforms incorporated into this legislation will require operators to provide a written estimate if the cost of service could be more than $500. The final bill may not exceed 20 percent of that written estimate, and a boater may waive the written estimate if they choose.
“Although this is an industry filled with many good people who provide a great service, there are some undeniable exceptions. A number of vulnerable Florida boaters have been taken advantage of by operators who stick them with unwarranted and unreasonable bills for services on the water,” said Rep. Harrison. “This legislation ensures that Florida boaters will not be taken advantage of, that payment expectations are clear, and that all maritime salvage and towing companies are held accountable.”
Federal maritime regulations and admiralty laws allow maritime salvage and towing operators the opportunity to sometimes classify assistance as a “salvage claim” and charge excessive fees. These fees can exceed tens of thousands of dollars and are often based on the value of the boat rather than the actual services performed.
“Last year, I received a $30,000 bill from a maritime salvage and towing company for removing excess water from my boat – a job that took less than 10 minutes,” said Eric Hull, a Florida boat owner victimized by this predatory practice. “After getting this shocking bill, I felt incredibly angry and knew something had to be done to address this issue. We need to make sure more people aren’t victimized by this predatory behavior.”
Public support for providing written cost estimates is strong. According to a recent survey of Florida boaters, almost four in five (79%) boat owners believe maritime salvage and towing companies should be required to provide a cost estimate before operators begin assistance.
“Our state’s coasts attract millions of tourists every year, which is why it’s imperative that lawmakers do everything they can to ensure that boaters on our waterways have the same consumer protections that we have come to expect on land,” said Brewster Bevis, Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs for Associated Industries of Florida. “Associated Industries of Florida fully supports this legislation, and we look forward to advocating for these reasonable consumer protections as they make their way through the legislative process.”
To view the full bill text, click here.

Lawmakers seek additional $130 million for mosquito control

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In preparation for the warmer summer months ahead, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) filed legislation today to bolster local mosquito-control efforts to curb the spread of the Zika virus.
The legislation Nelson filed today along with Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Richard Burr (R-NC) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) would authorize an additional $130 million per year in grant funding to local mosquito-control efforts to eliminate the mosquitoes responsible for spreading the virus. It would also authorize additional funding for public health laboratories so they can better test for the virus, and would require the Government Accountability Office to find ways to improve existing mosquito-control programs.
“One of the best ways to curb the spread of this virus is to eliminate the insects known to carry it,” Nelson said. “As summer approaches, Florida’s mosquito population is going to rise, and we need to make sure our local mosquito-control boards have the resources they need to protect their communities.”
With more than 1,300 cases of the virus reported last year, no state has been harder hit by Zika than Florida. In fact, the Florida Department of Health reported four new cases of the virus last month, bringing the state’s total for this year to 31.
Nelson, King and Burr introduced similar legislation last year, which was endorsed by the National Pest Management Association, the American Mosquito Control Association, the Entomological Society of America and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The legislation filed today now heads to the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee for consideration.

The text of the bill is available here.

Lawmakers aim to close undetectable firearm loophole

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They’re called undetectable firearms. These fully functioning guns often made with resin or plastic using a 3-D printer can be carried through a metal detector and past security without sounding any alarms.
In 2013, Congress acted to extend the ban on such guns by requiring that all firearms contain at least 3.7 ounces of steel so they can be detected by a metal detector. What Congress didn’t do, however, is require that the main components of a gun have to be metal – creating a huge legal loophole that allows people to simply attach a piece of metal to an otherwise fully-plastic gun to meet the law’s requirement.
These metal attachments, which make a plastic gun legal, could be easily removed before someone goes through a security screening – making the gun undetectable, yet likely still fully functional.
To close this loophole, two senior U.S. lawmakers today filed legislation to require that at least one main component in every firearm (i.e. the frame or barrel) be made of metal.
The legislation – filed by U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) – would make it illegal to manufacture or possess a firearm that doesn’t have a central metal component. Unlike an easily-detachable piece of metal, removing one of the gun’s main components prior to a security screening would likely make it inoperable.
“Thanks to advances in technology, anyone with a 3-D printer can simply print a fully-functioning firearm that can be snuck through a metal detector without being noticed,” Nelson said. “Congress acted in 2013 to ban these guns, but a loophole in the law allows people to attach a removable piece of metal to get around that law. These guns pose a real threat to our safety and we need to be doing everything we can to keep them off the streets and out of the hands of those who wish to do harm.”
Nelson and Schumer tried previously to attach similar language aimed at closing the loophole to the bill Congress approved in 2013, but Republicans refused to allow it. The pair tried again in 2015 to pass a bill nearly identical to the measure introduced today, but it too failed.
In August, Transportation Security Administration agents at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport found and confiscated a plastic gun from a passenger’s carry-on bag during screening. The gun, assembled using a 3-D printer, was found loaded with five live .22 caliber bullets.
A copy of the legislation is available here: https://www.billnelson.senate.gov/sites/default/files/3dguns2017.pdf.

Workshop Spurs Lawmakers to Plan Ahead for Puerto Rican Demographic

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Florida soon will surpass New York in the number of Puerto Ricans living outside the island, with more than one million residents here in Florida. Central Florida lawmakers recently convened at the Orange County Commission Chamber for a briefing on issues impacted by Florida’s influx of Puerto Ricans, with the goal of planning ahead for the state’s fastest growing demographic.

Led by Representative Rene “Coach P” Plasencia, R-Orlando, the workshop was held Friday, Feb. 3, in conjunction with the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida and the Florida Legislature. In attendance were nine area lawmakers or members of their staff, including: Senator Victor Torres, Representative Bob Cortes, Representative Carlos Smith, Kissimmee Mayor Alvarez, along with staff from the offices of Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson, Congressman Darren Soto and Representative David Santiago.

“It is imperative that we look ahead,” said Coach P. “As the demographics in our state change and populations grow, we can create a better place for everyone to call home by discussing the expected impacts now. We’re starting these conversations and getting information from experts, so smart decisions can be made relating to education, healthcare and housing.”

The panel’s focus was on data collected on the wave of Puerto Ricans to our state and the economic implications.

Meeting presenters included:

  • Accounting Professor Enrique Guerra-Pujol, University of Central Florida
  • History Professor Luis Martinez-Fernandez, PhD, University of Central Florida
  • Sociology Professor Fernando Rivera, PhD, University of Central Florida

Dr. Rivera focused in particular on findings showing the low health outcomes by Puerto Ricans in the mainland compared to other groups. Dr. Martinez stressed the importance of Puerto Ricans attaining positions within government to better represent this growing population. And Dr. Pujol pointed out that the University of Central Florida (UCF) is now more than 25 percent Hispanic, making it a “Hispanic Serving Institution.” All stressed the importance of establishing a research institute at UCF focused on Puerto Ricans.

Friday’s workshop was the first in a series of conferences bringing together lawmakers, academic experts and Puerto Rican leaders to discuss the contributions of Puerto Ricans and implications of their demographic growth here in Florida. Future events include Puerto Rican Day at the Florida Capitol, taking place March 21-22.

Moffitt Cancer Center Asks Lawmakers to Increase Cigarette Tax Funding

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State Representative James Grant and State Senator Dana Young
join Moffitt to announce bill, share cancer center expansion plans

Moffitt Cancer Center Executive Vice President and Center Director Thomas A. Sellers, Ph.D., MPH, was joined by State Rep. James Grant and State Sen. Dana Young today to announce a new bill asking lawmakers for an $8 million increase in the annual funding that the cancer center receives from Florida’s cigarette tax. The additional funding would be used to replace a nearly 30 year old research building with a new, state-of-the-art facility on Moffitt’s Magnolia Campus at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

“Moffitt was established by the state to provide Floridians with access to world-class cancer care. In order to keep pace with the needs of our state’s aging population and continue to develop new discoveries and treatments for cancer, expanding and updating Moffitt’s facilities is critical,” said Sellers. 

“Moffitt’s longstanding partnership with the State of Florida has been crucial to improving cancer care for our citizens and educating the next generation of healthcare professionals. Increasing the funds Moffitt receives from the cigarette tax will allow the cancer center to continue making a lasting impact in Florida and beyond,” said Rep. Grant. 

“Moffitt is a tremendous asset to the State of Florida. An increase in funding to this world-class facility will provide an amazing return on investment as its physicians and researchers continue to pursue innovative breakthroughs in the fight to cure cancer,” said Sen. Young. 

The new research building is part of a larger 10-year expansion plan that was announced by Moffitt late last year. The plan calls for several new buildings, hospital renovations and the creation of more than 750 new jobs.

Today’s announcement was part of the 12th annual Moffitt Day, which brings more than 50 volunteers, including patients, caregivers, physicians and researchers to the State Capitol in support of Moffitt. Advocates meet with lawmakers, sharing Moffitt’s mission to eradicate cancer and asking for continued state support for Florida’s premier cancer center. This year, Moffitt was joined by Cindy Gruden, wife of ESPN analyst Jon Gruden. Both are longtime champions of the cancer center. Cindy is a member of Moffitt’s Foundation Board of Directors. 

“Moffitt is all about teamwork. Their team comes together day after day to give their patients the best game plan to battle cancer. Jon and I are proud to support this organization and spread the word about the amazing advances they are making in the prevention and cure of this disease,” said Gruden.

Moffitt is the No. 6 cancer hospital in the United States. It is also the only Florida-based cancer center to receive the prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute. Moffitt is also committed to educating the next generation of Florida-trained physicians, scientists and health care professionals. The cancer center trains more students in the field of oncology than all other Florida institutions, with more than 2,000 student rotations annually. 

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 47 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research, clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the No. 6 cancer hospital in the nation and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Hospitals” for cancer care since 1999. Moffitt devotes more than 2.5 million square feet to research and patient care. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 5,200 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.1 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.