Employers operating in different industries would be able to pool employee retirement plans under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH). Under current federal guidelines, only businesses with a common interest or organizational relationship are allowed to pool Read more…
The landmark 21st Century Cures Act recently approved by the House included sweeping reforms to the nation’s mental health system led by U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA). The inclusion of Murphy’s Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act in the Read more…
Legislators applauded the recent landmark agreement between House and Senate leaders to spur medical innovation, fight addiction and improve social welfare programs through the 21st Century Cures Act. The House is expected to vote this week on the final version Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) sought to take advantage of “a golden moment for tax reform” by urging the enactment of comprehensive legislation when Congress convenes in 2017. Buchanan, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, acknowledged an Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) recently told the Ripon Advance that he expects that his bipartisan legislation to help Florida orange growers fight a disease that has infected 99 percent of commercial citrus groves will advance in the Senate before Read more…
Members of Florida’s congressional delegation applauded the passage of a continuing resolution (CR) that would allocate $1.1 billion to fight the spread of Zika virus at home and abroad. The CR, which would fund government operations through December, will allocate Read more…
U.S. Reps. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) announced on Wednesday that they will host subcommittee hearings on Medicare Part A and unemployment insurance, respectively. Tiberi, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, will convene Read more…
Amid rising scams targeting the elderly, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called for passage of legislation on Tuesday that he co-authored to help eliminate scams targeting seniors. Under the Seniors Fraud Prevention Act, H.R. 2633, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Read more…
Noting that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) scandal may have remained hidden without employees exposing fraud, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called for passage of stronger whistleblower protections on Monday. The House of Representatives previously approved the Thoroughly Investigating Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called on President Barack Obama on Thursday to stop accepting Syrian refugees, warning that they pose national security risks. In a letter to Obama, Buchanan cited recent warnings made by FBI Director James Comey about Read more…
House Republicans called for federal resources to be directed to Florida on Friday following reports that mosquitoes had likely transmitted Zika virus in four cases. The Florida Department of Health announced that it had gathered sufficient information to conclude that Read more…
Republican congressional leaders called for bipartisan solutions on Thursday following the release the latest Medicare and Social Security trustees report that concluded that the programs would be insolvent within 20 years. Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund will run dry by Read more…
Legislation introduced on Monday by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) would help eliminate inappropriate foster care placements through the promotion of evidence-based support services for parents that strengthen families. Companion legislation will be offered in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Read more…
The House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation on Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) introduced to help improve hospital accessibility, treatment options and reimbursements models. The Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care (HIP-C) Act, H.R. 5273, would take steps to Read more…
U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) continued their push on Friday for federal funding and resources to help combat the spread of Zika virus. As of Thursday, 165 cases of Zika have been reported in Florida, and Read more…
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, convened a hearing on Tuesday that explored methods to end the cycle of poverty. The hearing included testimony from legislators, former welfare recipients, representatives for nonprofit Read more…
The House of Representatives approved legislation on Tuesday that would ensure that state and local governments have access to tools to fight the spread of Zika virus. U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) introduced the Zika Vector Control Act, H.R. 897, Read more…
The House of Representatives approved $622.1 million in emergency funding on Wednesday for federal agencies to fight the spread of the Zika virus. Combined with the $589 million that was previously redirected to Zika activities, the House measure would bring Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) convened a hearing on Wednesday that explored ways to protect children from the nation’s heroin epidemic. Buchanan, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources, said that the impact of parental Read more…
Buchanan, Boustany introduce legislation to ensure small businesses don’t pay higher taxes than corporations U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Charles Boustany (R-LA) introduced legislation on Wednesday that would ensure that small businesses don’t have to pay higher tax rates Read more…
The Obama administration announced on Wednesday that federal agencies will be able to use existing funds to help fight the Zika outbreak, a move previously called for by legislative leaders. U.S. Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX), the chairwoman of the House Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday to withdraw a plan to remove the manatee from the Endangered Species Act’s highest level of protection. A public comment period for a proposal to Read more…
Republican legislative leaders voiced bipartisan support on Tuesday for efforts to combat the nation’s drug epidemic after President Barack Obama addressed the National Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit. Obama said that the epidemic required a bipartisan approach that goes Read more…
Republican members of the House Ways and Means Committee requested answers on Thursday about IRS efforts to stop improper earned income tax credit (EITC) payments. U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), the chairman of the committee, led a letter from Republican Read more…
U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Kristi Noem (R-SD) highlighted a report on Thursday that found that states have sidestepped spending requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. One-third of states have avoided financial obligations that are Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) earned the U.S. Human Society’s highest grade on Thursday for his work to prevent animal cruelty and to protect wildlife. The U.S. Humane Society gave Buchanan a score of 100-plus. The group also designated him Read more…
A proposal by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) to screen the social media activity of foreigners seeking entry into the U.S. was backed on Thursday by the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. Committee Chairman U.S Rep. Michael McCaul Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) co-sponsored legislation on Tuesday that would direct unspent federal dollars to fight the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. The Zika Response and Safety Act, H.R. 4446, introduced by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), would give Read more…
The House approved U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s (R-FL) measure on Tuesday to prevent “over income” Americans from accessing federally subsidized public housing. The measure, an amendment to the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, H.R. 3700, that passed the House 427-0 Read more…
Following reports that the Veterans Administration (VA) requires another year before it can begin issuing identification cards to veterans, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) said on Thursday that the agency needs to “pick up the pace and move faster.” “The Read more…
A new measure introduced by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) to safeguard the Social Security numbers of more than 100 million working Americans was recently signed into law by President Barack Obama. The Taxpayer Identity Protection Act, which was rolled Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), citing recent reports that an ISIS terrorist disguised as a refugee killed 10 tourists in Istanbul, called for swift congressional action on Wednesday to halt Syrian refugees from entering the United States. Buchanan said that Read more…
The bipartisan Bikeshare Transit Act was introduced on Monday by U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) to provide additional flexibility to local communities in their use of federal programs for bikeshare programs. “Bikeshare programs help people stay Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) sent a letter on Thursday to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calling the agency’s decision to downgrade the manatee from endangered to threatened “misguided and premature” because of dangers the animal continues to face. Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday to designate a “critical habitat” for endangered panthers following reports of another panther death in southwest Florida. A one-year-old Florida panther was killed last week Read more…
Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) on Friday would require the screening of social media accounts of people seeking entry into the United States. Buchanan said that ISIS reportedly has more than 40,000 Twitter accounts. “The war on Read more…
Legislation that would require the development of a social media strategy to disrupt terrorist groups from recruiting and communicating was supported on Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL). The House passed the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act Read more…
U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced last week that he will lead the Ways and Means Committee’s Tax Policy Subcommittee. “Our tax code is out of date and out of touch with our American values,” Boustany said. “Its structure favors Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) on Friday introduced the Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act, which assists Florida citrus growers fighting citrus greening, a bacterial disease that has been bludgeoning the state’s orange industry. Specifically, the bill would provide tax incentives Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) recently released a statement calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act. The bill was recently passed in the House by a 251-173 vote. The bipartisan legislation, which Read more…
An agreement was reached this week on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), with the deal now being reviewed by Congress. However, bipartisan opposition to the agreement in Congress and the backdrop of a presidential campaign will make the road to Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) received an endorsement this week from a heavy hitter for his pending legislation aimed at preventing federal authorities from unfairly seizing a senior citizen’s tax refund. Buchanan was pleased to gain the support of the Read more…
After several months of work bringing the legislation to reality, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) saw his Veterans Identification Card Act, allowing all veterans in America to receive an official identification card from the VA, signed into law by President Obama Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) was happy with this week’s Senate passage of his legislation to allow all veterans to receive ID cards that verify their veteran status. The bill is expected to receive swift approval from the House before Read more…
After the release of a report by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that concluded the federal government’s spending and debt are out of control, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), a member of the House Budget Committee, voiced his concerns Read more…
With the U.S. House of Representatives voting unanimously last week to pass legislation authored by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) that will preserve Medicare Advantage coverage for thousands of senior citizens, the bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. The Read more…
The House Ways and Means Committee advanced the Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (H.R. 2506) on Tuesday, introduced by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), which would preserve Medicare Advantage plans used by senior citizens. The Obama administration has threatened Read more…
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) voted on Wednesday for the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act, which would end the National Security Agency’s (NSA) ability to indiscriminately collect U.S. citizens’ Read more…
Following a discussion with the United States Postal Service administration, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) said on Wednesday that Holmes Beach, Florida, will continue to receive full postal service, including the operation of all of its current post office boxes. The Read more…
The U.S. Humane Society presented Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) with its Legislative Leader Award for his record on behalf of animal welfare issues on Tuesday. The senator said he was honored to receive the award. “Promoting the humane treatment of Read more…