Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersDecember 6, 2017

With the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program and other health programs expiring, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy has introduced a reauthorization bill that is becoming the Democrats’ favored vehicle facing Republican alternative measures. On Tuesday Murphy introduced House Resolution 4541, which would reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) community health centers funding, and other critical public health […]

Drew WilsonNovember 28, 2017

Nearly 8,000 pupils from the Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and various Caribbean nations affected by Hurricane Maria have enrolled in Florida public schools, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said Tuesday. At a State Board of Education Meeting in Lake County, Stewart said the tally of new pupils included 7,212 Puerto Rican children and 710 […]

Staff ReportsNovember 21, 2017

Public power personnel from four Florida municipal electric utilities will be headed to the U.S. Virgin Islands Tuesday and Wednesday to assist with ongoing power restoration efforts after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) announced. “After Hurricane Irma tore through nearly the whole state, Florida utilities were the grateful beneficiaries of mutual […]

Scott PowersNovember 17, 2017

School districts and colleges in Florida and other states may be in line for some of $1.24 billion in federal support for taking in Puerto Rican children displaced by Hurricane Maria, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy announced Friday. Murphy, a Democrat from Winter Park, has been leading the charge, which has included several other Florida Congress […]

Scott PowersNovember 1, 2017

Confusion and concern are mounting as Central Florida governments working with Puerto Rican and Virgin Island evacuees await direction from state and federal officials, leaders of Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties warned Wednesday. In a letter Wednesday to Florida Division of Emergency Management Interim Director Wesley Maul and copied to FEMA Administrator William Long and […]

Scott PowersOctober 31, 2017

Federal and state comprehensive, strategic plans are desperately needed to coordinate services for Hurricane Maria evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands so that they can best find the services wherever they’re available in Florida, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Tuesday. Jacobs warned that someone needs to be coordinating where tens of […]

Scott PowersOctober 6, 2017

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto spent the early part of the week touring Puerto Rico and then on Thursday met with the House Natural Resources Committee, leaving convinced that the island is in desperate straights and that the administration of President Donald Trump still has not come to terms, but that Congress has. In an interview […]

Scott PowersSeptember 29, 2017

Airbnb, the nation’s largest vacation rental home marketing business, announced Friday it is extending its Disaster Response Program two more weeks in Florida to help with displaced evacuees and relief workers from Hurricane Irma and evacuees from Hurricane Maria. The company and a few of its host properties have agreed to offer rent-free stays for […]

Terry RoenSeptember 25, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott activated 400 members of the Florida National Guard Monday to help Key West residents remove debris and clean out flood damage. Scott said the activation will help “families get into their homes faster so they can make needed repairs and get back to their normal lives.” “We know the Florida Keys were […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 25, 2017

As part of its recovery efforts, AT&T has set up a new website to help family members of those in Puerto Rico connect with loved ones after Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Starting Saturday, the company staged relief flights with a variety of restoration equipment — generators and humanitarian supplies – to offer aid to Puerto […]

Tag: U.S. Virgin Islands

Stephanie Murphy CHIP reauthorization bill lining up as Democrats’ offering

Florida public school enrollment has jumped by 8,000 post-Maria

Despite holiday, lineworkers headed to Virgin Islands

Stephanie Murphy leads effort to get $1.2B to help schools accept Puerto Rican migrants

Orange, Osceola, Seminole leaders urge Florida, FEMA to plan better for Puerto Rican refugees

Teresa Jacobs expresses frustration over lack of FEMA, state coordination plans to help evacuees

Darren Soto: Congress understands Puerto Rico plight

Airbnb extends disaster response for Hurricanes Irma, Maria

Governor sends National Guard to help Keys residents

AT&T working overtime to help connect with friends, family in Puerto Rico