Val Demings

Last month, our Nation marked 20 years passed since the worst terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.

Of course, we know to enhance the 9-1-1 system, our Nation is moving forward with the roll-out of Next Generation 9-1-1.

The Honorable Val Butler Demings, a Representative in Congress From the State of Florida, and Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery:

How can we as Members of Congress assist in your efforts to make sure that we are able to protect the public but also make sure that we protect our systems as well?

The support of Congress is critical to FirstNet's and, in turn, public safety's success.

America is a great Nation, but with all the challenges we face--protecting our homeland, repairing our broken infrastructure, taking care of our seniors, creating an economy that works for working people--extremist politicians continue to…

We are a Nation of laws at the border. We are a Nation of laws on January 6. Those were criminals and not tourists.

If we would remember that, I think we all could be better partners and never risk our Nation being attacked by anyone in such a cruel and vicious way.

Well, Joy, it's great to be back with you, and I tell you what, every day it seems like we take it to a new level.

I have seen -- we've all heard the stories of elementary school-aged children who were shot and killed in their classroom, and high school students right here in Florida gunned down in their classroom, and I was pretty outraged about that.

We have allowed this to become yet another pointless political battle. The numbers in Florida as the whole nation knows are out of control, and what we need to do is practice whatever safety measures we have to get this virus under…

If there are any cooking of the books, if you will, to show an artificial decline then certainly everybody counts what everybody accountable.

The health, safety and well-being of the people that the governor and the people of the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, state and local official, the health and safety of the well-being of the people that we represent is…

But I think that's something we've seen before, Joy, whenever the going gets tough, whenever the battle gets a bit harder, it appears Marco Rubio wants to be in anyplace other than here in Florida dealing with people like the Proud Boys…

We would all be better served if we would continue to leave the health, safety and well-being of our children into the hands of the people who protect them and look after them every day.

We need to lead with science and not politics. We’ve seen one time after the other where our politicians have made this -- the health and safety of Floridians, the health, safety, and well-being of our children -- a political issue.

It is headed to the Senate. We expect the Senate to do the right thing. You know, I said awhile ago that if the filibuster, that antiquated procedural process, stands in the way of pertinent legislation, particularly voting rights or civil…

My mother was a maid and my father a janitor, but they were good, decent, honest people who saw voting as their duty and knew their vote mattered regardless of who they were and where they lived. When did some of us, as elected officials…

On July 11th and since, Cubans have bravely told us what they want for their future, and that's freedom.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for this opportunity. We all know the United States is a diverse nation with diverse people, diverse viewpoints, and diverse perspectives. Every community in America--no matter their age, gender, ZIP…

It does not take a lot of imagination to envision the damage that a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) attack could do to our country.

CWMD is at a crossroads.

We are here today to discuss the state of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD).

I think it is very important for us to recognize that technology does move along very quickly.

Well, Joy, good to be with you. And, look, I did an op-ed a few months ago, where I said, bring back Shane (ph), because we know that white supremacist have always been amongst us, which is sad enough in itself. But there used to be a time…