Dear Friends!
Public health experts have raised concerns over renewed outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus throughout the country. While we have seen some progress, the evidence is clear that we are not completely out of the woods yet. We have seen the heartbreaking losses of the pandemic across the country and in our own community. Many Floridians are still experiencing the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. We must continue to listen to health experts so that we can move past this public health crisis safely.
As a unified community, we all have a duty to care for one another’s safety, especially during these unprecedented times. I encourage everyone to continue social distancing whenever possible. When we follow these rules, we are showing the love that we have for our neighbors and the respect we have for their safety. If we are to successfully get through this crisis and avoid its prolonged effects, we must be able to do it together.
While we continue to face new challenges, I will continue to represent the interests of our district both locally and in Washington. To keep up with recent COVID-19 developments, please visit Deutch.House.Gov. If you would like to express an opinion or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to call my office.
Alyssa Alhadeff was 14 years old when she was killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy. Recently, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law “Alyssa’s Law,” which will require teachers and school staff to have panic buttons that directly alert law enforcement in case of emergencies.
“I will never forget hearing Lori Alhadeff passionately call for action after her beautiful daughter, Alyssa, was killed at Stoneman Douglas High School. I have seen the love she has for Alyssa through her tireless work to get Alyssa’s Law passed and signed, not only in Florida but in states around the country. I will continue to work with Lori and the Parkland families to prevent school violence and to make Alyssa’s Law a part of a comprehensive strategy to save lives in school emergencies in every state.”
Rep. Roger Williams’ and my bipartisan School Violence Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2019 would expand Alyssa’s Law across the country.
Representatives Max Rose (NY-11), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and myself, recently introduced the Countering Global White Supremacist Terrorism Act, a bicameral legislation to strengthen the U.S. government’s counter-terrorism efforts against transnational white supremacy and identity groups.
As white identity and other far-right violent groups continue growing around the world, this new bicameral legislation is a recognition that the Trump Administration must align its countering violent extremism programming to address this form of radicalization. Despite the increasingly transnational nature of white identity terrorism, U.S. efforts to address this global threat lag well behind our counter- terrorism efforts against ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other Islamist violent extremist organizations. The bill directs the U.S. Department of State to develop a strategy with other government agencies to respond to the interconnected global white identity terrorist movement. The bill also requires that the State Department report on these groups and determine whether they should be subject to sanctions under existing U.S. law.
“White identity groups pose a severe and deadly threat to societies around the world. The world has seen how a white supremacist attack in one country can inspire people in other countries to use violence and the role of the dark web in spreading their hateful ideology
and terrorist tactics. The United States must develop a whole-of-government strategy to confront these terrorist groups as seriously as any other transnational extremist group.”
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if we can be of assistance. Warm Regards.
