Delegation for 2.25.25: Haitians — China — NASA — 911 — DOGE

Haitian dilemma

Another population of foreign nationals living in Florida has just lost legal protection due to a decision made by President Donald Trump’s administration. Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem partially vacated a decision by former President Joe Biden’s administration to extend temporary protected status (TPS) through Feb. 3, 2026.

The decision reduces the time TPS covers individuals from 18 to 12 months. As of Aug. 3, almost 521,000 Haitian nations in the U.S. will lose that status. “The Secretary is also making a corresponding change to the registration deadline for new applicants under the new designation,” a public notice reads. The last time first-time registrants can apply is also Aug. 3.

The decision upset members of Florida’s congressional delegation, especially as violence continues to disrupt the island, including killing international police deployed there.

“The turmoil in Haiti is real, and instead of turning our backs, we should be supporting the Haitian people,” said Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Miami-Dade Democrat. “The United States has long been a beacon of hope for those seeking refuge from danger, and we cannot abandon that responsibility now.”

However, Noem told Reuters in a statement that legal protections for foreign nationals displaced by international unrest were never meant to be permanent.

“President Trump and I are returning TPS to its original status: temporary,” she said.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, About half of Haitians living in the U.S. reside in Florida. Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties host the highest concentrations of Haitians of any county in the country.

Florida is also home to the nation’s only Haitian American member of Congress, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. She suggested that the ramifications of stripping so many Haitian Americans of legal protections would be sweeping and harmful to Florida communities and others throughout the U.S.

“The abrupt removal of nearly half a million workers will have an immense and irreparable impact on businesses across the country and our economy at large,” the Miramar Democrat said.

“Haitians with TPS status legally work and pay taxes in the U.S. Across the country, they have strengthened our workforce, supporting our airports, our hospitals, our small businesses and our schools. This decision will jeopardize our national security and significantly affect and damage the economies of numerous communities nationwide. I urge the administration to revisit and reverse this decision.”

China Initiative

Partnerships between U.S. academia and Chinese researchers have become controversial in recent years. Sen. Rick Scott wants to ensure the Justice Department remains vigilant about potential intellectual property theft.

The Naples Republican filed the Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act to codify policies also pushed by Trump to counter China’s spying.

“The Chinese Communist Party is one of the greatest threats to America’s national security and way of life as it seeks global domination by any means necessary,” Scott said.

“President Joe Biden recklessly ended the China Initiative that President Trump established during his first term, turning a blind eye as Communist China committed at least 60 known cases of espionage on the United States and our citizens during his administration. Now, President Trump is back in action to hold Communist China fully accountable for its exploitation of the United States. Our bill, the Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act will bring back the successful CCP Initiative to help President Trump face this threat head-on and Make America Safe Again.”

As written, the legislation requires the Justice Department to target trade secret theft, espionage, and cyberattacks linked to the Chinese government. It will also coordinate efforts with the FBI and other agencies to safeguard U.S. infrastructure from technology and supply chain threats.

NASA relocation?

Add Sen. Ashley Moody to those voices who want NASA headquartered in Florida instead of Washington.

The Plant City Republican on social media suggested that such a move would bring efficiency to the space agency.

“We need to move NASA’s headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast,” she posted on X. “The move would save taxpayers money, encourage collaboration with private space companies, and tap into Florida’s talented workforce in the aerospace industry to spur further innovation.”

She chimed in about six weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly called for the Trump administration to consider relocating the headquarters. DeSantis later said in a Tallahassee news conference that the Trump administration should cancel plans to build a new NASA facility near Washington.

Connecting to 911

New legislation filed by Rep. Kat Cammack could connect 911 services to a plethora of federal funding.

The Public Safety Communications Act would establish a national Office of Public Safety Communications to administer Next Generation 911 technologies grants, evaluate services, and communicate public safety practices to public and private providers. Cammack, who is married to Gainesville firefighter Matthew Harrison, said the work of first responders should be a national priority.

“As the wife of a first responder, I know how important public safety communications are to law enforcement and emergency response personnel,” Cammack said.

“New technologies are emerging daily that can help to improve the work of our first responders, which is why coordination is critical. I know this is a bipartisan effort that should garner support on both sides of the aisle and I look forward to welcoming my colleagues to join this legislation.”

DOGE days

While the government efficiencies implemented through the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency have received mixed reviews, Rep. Aaron Bean is ready to embrace cutting government spending.

The Fernandina Beach Republican, a Co-Chair of the Congressional DOGE Caucus, will appear at a DOGE Day news conference at the House Triangle today. He and colleagues will unveil Representative-led initiatives focused on eliminating waste and improving government efficiency there.

That comes as Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead on a budget proposal with some party moderates concerned about $800 billion in proposed Medicaid cuts.

But Bean appears ready to embrace the leanness.

Citrus protection

Other Florida lawmakers representing farm-rich areas voiced concern about threats to the state’s produce. Reps. Greg Steube and Daniel Webster just introduced the U.S. Citrus Protection Act to combat imports from the East.

“Florida’s citrus growers have fed Americans for generations and remain a cornerstone of our state’s agricultural economy,” said Webster, a Clermont Republican. “For too long, China has flooded the market with risky imports, threatening American farmers and food security. The U.S. Citrus Protection Act puts American agriculture first and ensures that we are not dependent on foreign adversaries for our food supply.”

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida leads the nation in the production of Valencia oranges. This crop provides a vital foundation for nearly $9 million in annual sales of agricultural products from the state.

“Florida citrus farmers are a cornerstone of U.S. agriculture. Every year, the Sunshine State delivers fresh produce and countless byproducts that feed America and the world. Yet, foreign adversaries flood our markets with high-risk, pest-laden citrus imports, threatening the livelihood of American farmers and their families,” said Steube, a Sarasota Republican.

“Grocery stores in America should be stocked with oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and other fruits harvested right here in the United States. My bill prioritizes U.S. growers by banning citrus imports from China, ensuring Florida farmers come first.”

Hidden fees

As tourists book space in various ways, Rep. Kathy Castor wants to ensure customers aren’t surprised by the bill.

She introduced the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, restricting unfair and misleading price advertising for short-term lodging and requiring accurate price listings that include all mandatory fees.

“Families shouldn’t have to play a guessing game when planning a trip. Sneaky hidden fees are a burden. They drive up costs and leave families frustrated at checkout,” the Tampa Democrat said.

“Our bipartisan Hotel Fees Transparency Act will rein in out-of-control junk fees and lower costs, ensuring that the price you see for hotel stays is the price you pay — no hidden fees, no surprises. It’s about fairness, transparency and saving hardworking families both time and money so they can focus on making memories together, not worrying about unexpected charges.”

A version of the bill sponsored by Castor and Rep. Young Kim, a California Republican, passed in the House last year but never moved in the Senate. Castor reintroduced the measure this year with Kim and Reps. Russell Fry, a South Carolina Republican, and Kevin Mullin, a California Democrat.

Swimming lessons

Florida consistently suffers the highest number of youth drowning deaths in the nation. Steube wants to make sure more children here get swimming lessons.

The Sarasota Republican introduced The Safe Water Instruction for Minors (SWIM) Act, which would authorize basic swimming lessons as a qualified expense for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA).

“Every year, Floridians lose friends and loved ones to preventable drownings. Our state has the fourth highest rate of childhood drownings,” Steube said.

“Learning to swim not only introduces young people to a recreational activity but also teaches them an invaluable skillset that saves lives. It’s common sense that our tax laws are adjusted to permit HSAs and FSAs to fund water safety lesson expenses. Swimming is a vital life skill, and water safety lessons are demonstrated to reduce drownings by 88%. By giving Americans more freedom to make decisions with their hard-earned money, Congress can protect America’s youth while reducing costs for working families.”

He filed the bipartisan bill with Reps. Don Davis and Deborah Ross, both North Carolina Democrats, and Guam Resident Commissioner James Moylan, a Republican.

The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance also support the bill.

“Learning to swim is not — and should not be — a luxury that only certain families can access,” said Rowdy Gaines, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance’s vice president of Partnerships and Development (and an Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer and Florida native).

“Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and we must raise awareness of water safety as a critical aspect of community health. By allowing parents to use HSA or FSA funds for swim lessons through the SWIM Act, we can significantly reduce drowning rates and remove financial barriers that prevent many children from learning this essential life skill.”

Tough on Russia

House Foreign Relations Chair Brian Mast slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin while marking the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

“Today’s three-year anniversary marking the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is no cause for Russian celebration,” Mast said in a statement released through his committee. “It marks the anniversary of the largest tactical and strategic blunder in Russian history.”

The comments from the Stuart Republican stand in contrast to comments from Trump, who recently placed the onus on Ukraine for the ongoing conflict. “You should have never started it,” Trump posted on social media in comments directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Mast, however, clearly called out the Russians as invaders in his Monday statement.

“While Russia has brought brutality against civilians and soldiers alike, raping women and kidnapping children, Ukraine is slaughtering hundreds of thousands of Russian conscripts who have invaded their country,” Mast said. “Ukraine is likewise annihilating the soldiers Vladimir Putin imported from Kim Jong Un’s North Korea and overcoming the financial and military support flowing from China and Iran.”

However, Mast suggested he still trusted Trump to bring peace and said the U.S. would not appease Russia in the process.

“President Trump has recognized the need to end this carnage,” Mast said. “He will never be Neville Chamberlain, he will not seek a premature peace that allows the enemy to regroup, and he will settle for nothing less than sustained peace backed by a Europe which is capable of defending itself from Russia.”

Out of the wilderness

Two days after Trump’s victory, the Biden administration dropped all plans in November to redesignate much of the Big Cypress National Preserve as wilderness. Now, Florida lawmakers want Congress to make sure such a move cannot be considered in the future.

Rep. Scott Franklin, a Lakeland Republican, spearheaded legislation last year that would prevent the designation, which the Miccosukee Tribe opposes.

“The Miccosukee Tribe and local Gladesmen who’ve properly managed the Preserve for generations understand how to protect the land better than any D.C. insider,” Franklin said. “This straightforward bill will curb overreach and ensure no future administration can repeat the Park Service’s harmful management practices at the Preserve. I thank my Florida colleagues for joining our effort to protect this important treasure.”

Congress established the Preserve in 1974, making it the first national preserve in the country. At the time, conservation groups and native tribes worked together to seek land protections. However, the wilderness protections proposed by the Biden administration would have prohibited further development of roads and any other permanent structures on some 729,000 acres of land.

Miccosukee Tribe Chair Talbert Cypress testified to Congress last year that such a change in designation would negatively affect the Tribe, which has long been responsible for managing land use and conserving land at the Preserve.

“While wilderness designations are in theory designed as conservation tools, they have developed a troubling history with respect to their impact on Indigenous peoples,” Cypress said.

Franklin said no future administration should be able to consider the wilderness designation. He reintroduced the Big Cypress National Preserve Protection Act to put that bureaucratic restriction in statute, and Scott introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

Podcasting from the Hoover

The FBI will have two prominent conservative activists with roots in Florida in charge.

Days after the Senate confirmed Kash Patel, a former Miami-Dade Public Defender, as the new FBI Director, Trump announced on Truth Social that Dan Bongino, a Palm Beach resident and former congressional candidate, would be deputy director.

Bongino served in the Secret Service under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He has since become prominent as a social media figure, podcaster and political activist.

While Patel moved from Florida years ago and has run a nonprofit and political consulting firm in Virginia, Bongino has been involved in Florida politics and was an information conduit last year for developers behind a controversial plan to build a golf course in a Palm Beach state park.

On this day

Feb. 25, 1839 — “Seminoles sent on Trail of Tears” via the Seminole Nation — Gen. Zachary Taylor conducted 96 Seminoles to Tampa Bay. They were then brought west by Captain Pitcairn Morrison. The party ascended the Mississippi River, stopping at Fort Jackson, Louisiana, to switch to the Buckeye. They passed Natchez on March 28, where a boiler on the steamer exploded and killed several passengers. The party arrived at Little Rock on April 2, where low water levels delayed them. They arrived at Fort Gibson on April 13.

Feb. 25, 1863 — “Five-dollar bill created by the National Currency Act” via the Smithsonian — The Act established a uniform currency to be issued by charter banks. Later that year, the National Academy of Sciences, of which Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was a member, in response to a request from Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, formed a committee to review proposals for preventing the counterfeiting of paper money. Historical currency images can be viewed at the Smithsonian, scanned from the Joseph Henry papers.

Happy birthday

Best wishes to Rep. Darren Soto, who turns 47 today, Feb. 25.

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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.