Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) introduced the Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense (EQUAL Defense) Act to support public defenders in representing defendants unable to afford legal representation on their own. As the U.S. Supreme Court held in the landmark case Gideon v. Wainwright, every individual charged with a crime has the right to counsel, and if they cannot afford the legal representation, the state must provide it. However, public defenders today are often overworked and lack ... Read more

This morning, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) voted to pass a landmark bill to extend civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans. The Equality Act adds sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes and prohibits discrimination in employment, public education, housing, and other areas. "No one should face discrimination because of who they love or how they identify," said Congressman Deutch, a Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. "Homophobia and transphobia are inc... Read more

Today, during National Police Week and Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Representatives Susan W. Brooks (R-IN-05), Ted Deutch (D-FL-22), Fred Upton (R-MI-06) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) reintroduced the Jake Laird Act, a bipartisan bill named after an Indianapolis, Indiana, police officer who was shot and killed in 2004 in the line of duty by a man who struggled with mental illness. This bill provides grants to encourage states to adopt laws, similar to Indiana’s 2005 Jake Laird Law, that en... Read more

Following this morning's F.B.I. briefing for the Florida Congressional delegation, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) issued this statement: “Today’s classified briefing was important, but much of this information can and should be shared with Florida voters and the American people, and I asked the FBI to reconsider their decision to block the disclosure of the information. "I am thankful that bipartisan members of the Florida delegation are working together to protect our election infrastructure, b... Read more

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) issued this statement following reports that the Trump Administration has plans to relocate migrants to Palm Beach County and Broward County: "There's a stunning amount of confusion surrounding the Administration's outrageous immigration policy, even more today than usual. While I'm compelled to point to the President's mean-spirited, ongoing effort to demonize immigrants and divide our country rather than seriously addressing this issue, I hesitate saying more abo... Read more

Moments ago, as the U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R. 987, the "Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act," the House approved Congressman Ted Deutch's (FL-22) amendment that directs Affordable Care Act navigators to raise awareness of the ACA's mental health and substance use disorder parity laws. Congressman Deutch's floor remarks can be viewed here. According to a 2014 poll commissioned by the American Psychological Association, that year only 7 percent of ... Read more

Today, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), along with Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the No President Is Above the Law Act, which would pause the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting president, whether it was committed before or during the president’s term of office. This legislation would ensure that presidents can be held accountable for criminal conduct just like every other A... Read more

Today, Chairman Ted Deutch (FL-22) issued this statement to mark Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence Day: “Over the last 71 years, Israel has withstood wars, unending security threats, and global efforts to delegitimize its very right to exist. But 71 years later, Israel stands as a strong democratic nation leading the world in tech innovation and scientific research. And 71 years later, the United States remains steadfastly alongside our ally and strategic partner, as we have since President Ha... Read more

Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22), Scott Peters (CA-52), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced the bipartisan Suicide and Threat Assessment Nationally Dedicated to Universal Prevention (STANDUP) Act of 2019 to encourage schools to expand evidence-based suicide prevention training to students in grades 6 through 12. The legislation would provide training to students and schools for threat identification, triage, and intervention, as well as guidance and protocol for coo... Read more

The Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Kay Granger (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), issued this statement on the tragic shooting in a synagogue in Poway, California: “On this day, we solemnly commemorate Yom Hashoah and the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. We also extend our deepest condolences to the victi... Read more