Congressman Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 778, the No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act. This legislation prohibits U.S. courts from recognizing or validating an individual’s assertion of rights of a mark or trade name that was confiscated by the Cuban government without the consent of the original owner or their successor. The prohibition only applies if the individual knowingly used the same or substantially similar mark or name of a confiscated business ... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch has cosponsored H.R. 360, which would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate the lives of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley. These girls were killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in September 1963. This tragic event is recognized as a catalyst for the civil rights movement. The medal will reside and be on display at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. On the 50th co... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has cosponsored H.R. 683, the Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act. Notably with President Obama’s decision to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, there have been attempts by the federal government to grant equality to same-sex servicemembers. However, there are still significant differences between gay and lesbian troops and their straight counterparts in terms of benefits offered to spouses. Same-sex spouses are still restricted from receiving medical and ... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 684, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. States are permitted to impose a sales tax on products that are sold in the state. Under current law, companies and corporations are not required to pay a state sales tax if they do not have a physical presence in the state or if they sell their goods over the internet but do not have a physical presence in the state. States are unable to collect taxes on these companies, ther... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 717, the Reuniting Families Act. Under current law, it is very difficult for same-sex couples to sponsor a foreign-born spouse for a visa. Legal application for citizenship or for a green card should have no bearing on sexual orientation. Furthermore, families who have followed proper legal immigration procedures have waited upwards of 10 years in an attempt to receive visas. There is no reason why law-abiding families... Read more

Congressman Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 720, the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2013. Under federal law, being a suspected or known terrorist does not disqualify one from buying guns and explosives. Therefore, if a background check reveals that the purchaser is a known terrorist, the federal government has no legal basis to prevent the purchaser from buying a gun. Currently, there are far too many gun regulation loopholes througho... Read more

Congressman Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R.725, the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2013. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allocate funding for comprehensive sexual health education programs in schools. Funding will be directed to age appropriate, medically accurate, and evidence-based programs that provide young people with the information they need to make responsible, safe decisions. The comprehensive sexual education... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has cosponsored H. R. 680, the Rilya Wilson Act. Rilya Wilson was a four year old girl that went missing in 2001 while her foster mother continued to collect payments from the state. It took 15 months for the Florida Department of Children and Families to discover the disappearance, and a full week for it to be reported to local authorities. This bill amends title IV of the Social Security Act to add a requirement for states to meet in order to continue receiving f... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has cosponsored H.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013. It is difficult for people with disabilities or families with disabled family members to cover the high costs of medical insurance and other daily expenses. Individuals with disabilities deserve access to IRS-sanctioned tools to lay the groundwork for a brighter future. H.R. 647 would ease financial strains faced by individuals with disabilities by making tax-exempt savings account... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has cosponsored H.R. 460, the Patients’ Access to Treatment Act of 2013. Every year, thousands of Americans struggle to pay for the medications necessary to improve their lives. Patients with a range of conditions, including multiple sclerosis and some forms of cancer, can benefit from specialty and biologic drugs; however their high costs prevent many Americans from accessing them. The bipartisan bill H.R. 460 will make these critical treatments more affordable to... Read more