Done deal — Veterans Day — blasted — snapper — Alzheimer’s

Divisive deal

A bipartisan deal emerged in the Senate to reopen the government, which will likely happen later this week. But the resolution, which is likely to hit President Donald Trump’s desk, has created angst within the congressional delegation on both sides of the aisle.

On the Republican side, Sen. Rick Scott was part of a bloc of Senators who initially delayed a vote amid negotiations with Majority Leader John Thune. Florida’s senior Senator has actively opposed any discussion of extending health care credits under the Affordable Care Act, a Democratic demand.

The deal doesn’t extend the subsidies, but Thune has promised a vote on the topic after reopening and before the end of the year.

POLITICO reports that Scott only signed on to the deal after a conversation with Trump. Thune relayed to the press that, in his own discussions with Sens. Scott, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson, the bloc expressed a desire to consider a bill that would prevent a government shutdown. The three Senators all co-introduced the Eliminate Shutdowns Act earlier this year, with Sen. Ashley Moody, a Plant City Republican, later signing on as the bill’s only other co-sponsor.

But when the Senate voted Tuesday to move forward with a deal, Scott joined nearly all Republicans in supporting it. His office stressed that roll call marked the 15th consecutive time Scott voted in favor of reopening the government. He also voiced urgency on social media when he saw something pass.

“It’s been 40+ days since Democrats started their shutdown,” Scott posted. “The result? 40+ days of our FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), TSA (Transportation Security Administration), federal workers and so many others not getting paid, over a week of our nation’s poorest families worried about their next meal and days of pointless flight cancellations. It’s time to get the government back open.”

But Democrats in the House voiced irritation when enough of their colleagues in the Senate broke ranks and advanced a deal.

“House Democrats are fighting to secure bipartisan legislation to fund our government and prevent an unfolding health care coverage calamity that will financially crush tens of millions,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat and co-Chair of the Florida congressional delegation.

“The Senate proposed bill critically fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and leaves future health care funding in jeopardy for veterans exposed to deadly toxins. This proposal will not solve the health care mess Donald Trump and Republicans foisted on the American people. Costs will soar. Basic health care and access to doctors will be pushed out of reach for millions.”

Sunshine State Democrats roundly opposed the deal, with Rep. Maxwell Frost of Orlando calling it “unacceptable,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Parkland implying it was a “trainwreck,” and Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa decrying it as a “colossal mistake.”

But Republicans already passed a similar resolution in September, and likely won’t face troubles passing it with a simple majority later this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office announced a roll-call vote should take place 36 hours after the Senate formally passes a continuing budget resolution, and there’s little doubt it will find support in the lower chamber.

“I applaud the seven Senate Democrats and one Independent who put country over politics and voted to advance a clean CR,” said Rep. Vern Buchanan, Republican co-Chair of Florida’s congressional delegation. “We are one step closer to restoring stability for families, workers and small businesses across America.”

Honoring veterans

Veterans Day is prompting bipartisan praise for those who served in the military.

“Today, we honor the brave men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces. Thank you to our veterans and their families for your courage, sacrifice and dedication to our country,” posted Rep. Laurel Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican.

Several members of Florida’s delegation also noted that this year marks the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marines.

Many noted the Corps’ birthday in separate social media posts. ”Today we celebrate 250 years of the United States Marine Corps,” Moody posted Monday. “Thank you to the brave men and women who have defended our nation with unwavering courage and dedication.”

Rep. Kat Cammack, a Gainesville Republican, co-sponsored a resolution commemorating all men and women in the armed forces.

“Every veteran has worn the uniform with pride, standing guard over our freedoms and defending the values that make America the greatest nation on earth,” the Gainesville Republican said. “As the wife of a first responder and someone who grew up in a military family, I’m deeply honored to co-sponsor this resolution and say thank you — for your service, your sacrifice and your unwavering love of country. Here in North Central Florida, thousands of veterans continue to serve their communities as business owners, first responders, and leaders. This resolution is a reminder that freedom endures because of their courage.”

Many spotlighted members of their own families who served the public in uniform.

“As we celebrate Veterans Day and the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, I’m thinking of my son Ben, a proud Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan,” posted Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat.

“To Ben and all who’ve served, thank you for your courage, sacrifice and love of country.”

Arctic blast

A week after learning the Arctic Frost investigation included subpoenas for Scott’s phone records, the Naples Republican wants Attorney General Pam Bondi to release more information. He joined a letter to the Justice Department leader calling for the release of any grand jury materials on what his office labeled a “witch hunt probe.”

“The American people deserve to know more about the ‘reasonable grounds’ that Judge (James) Boasberg found to avoid informing us of these unlawful subpoenas. The Stored Communications Act makes clear that the government — when seeking a non-disclosure order under § 2705(b) — must submit an application that sets forth the factual background showing reasonable grounds for the gag order,” the letter states.

“It is our understanding that this application is currently under seal in the Arctic Frost grand jury materials. We urge you to immediately move to unseal and provide this application that accompanied the gag order. Judge Boasberg’s order was a blatant abuse of power, and we must get to the bottom of how he arrived at the baseless conclusion that duly elected members of Congress would destroy evidence or intimidate witnesses.”

That move came notably after Scott also sent a message to Verizon CEO Daniel Schulman, demanding to know why the communications company released his phone logs to Special Counsel Jack Smith.

“Rather than notifying my office that my Senate data was being compromised, as provided for in Section 6628(c), Verizon concealed this information from me,” Scott wrote.

Of note, Scott was never accused of a crime. He was one of seven Senators who voted against certifying all of the electoral votes for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential contest.

Snapper sensation

Fishermen will have more opportunities to pull in catches on the Atlantic coast.

The Trump administration opened the decision of setting red snapper season to the states. Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration should allow 39 days of fishing off Florida’s Atlantic coast. That would include 30 days in May, with the rest of the season unfolding over three weekends in October.

“The Trump administration has taken action to rein in the bureaucracy and return this power to the states, where it belongs. To that end, Florida has submitted a formal request to the federal government for state management of the recreational red snapper fishery,” DeSantis posted.

“Just as it has on the Gulf Coast, Florida’s management of Atlantic Red Snapper fishing will boost local economies along our Atlantic coast, supporting tackle and bait shops, hotels, restaurants, and the entire recreational fishing community.”

That’s good news to Rep. John Rutherford, a Jacksonville Republican who has pushed to open the season while federal officials have shrunk the calendar to just a couple of days in recent years.

“Florida has requested a 39-day South Atlantic red snapper season for 2026! That would be 37 days longer than this year,” he posted.

“Thank you, Gov. Ron DeSantis, for your leadership on state management of this fishery and longer red snapper seasons. I look forward to working with you to continue fighting for recreational anglers in Northeast Florida, our coastal communities, and the Great State of Florida. As co-Chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force in the House, I am committed to supporting state management and to Make Fishing Great Again!”

Shorting stocks

The reopening of the government could also offer a new opportunity to advance stalled bills in Congress. That includes a stock-trading ban that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has pursued for much of the year.

“Speaker Johnson has notified me that as soon as we return and the government is reopened, the bill to ban insider trading is going to be marked up in Committee,” the St. Petersburg Republican posted.

Luna introduced a resolution in August to seek immediate consideration of the End Congressional Stock Trading Act (HR 1908), which would ban members of Congress, as well as their spouses and children, from trading or owning individual stocks, bonds, commodities or complex investment vehicles.

“No one sent to Congress should be enriching themselves through Wall Street while writing the very laws that regulate our markets,” Luna said then.

She later appeared at a bipartisan news conference where members said the bill could be forced to the floor through a discharge petition.

Veterans group grants

Today marks the nation’s 54th Veterans Day. Castor, ahead of the occasion, announced major federal grants to two nonprofits that help veterans in the Tampa Bay region.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul South will receive almost $1.7 million through two grants, which will fund four case managers. Meanwhile, more than $340,000 will go to Boley Centers for a case manager there. All of the positions funded by the grants will be dedicated to helping veterans.

“Every day is Veterans Day in Tampa Bay, and I am proud to have championed over $2 million for organizations that better the lives of those who have served our country selflessly,” Castor said.

“Our veterans deserve access to high-quality resources to find safe, affordable housing and mental health services. Community partners at St. Vincent de Paul South and the Boley Centers will be able to expand their already wide reach in our veteran community to continue ensuring our service members and their families have the tools to thrive when they return home from serving our country. I applaud these nonprofits for effectively serving those who have served us.”

Michael Raposa, CEO of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul South, and Kevin Marrone, president and CEO of Boley Centers, welcomed the support.

“This funding represents more than financial support; it is an investment in our community’s shared commitment that homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. With these resources, Saint Vincent de Paul CARES will continue to provide safe housing, tailored case management, and long-term stability for those we serve,” Raposa said.

“We are honored to receive this support, which will directly strengthen our work helping veterans secure housing and the individualized mental health services they need to thrive,” Marrone added. “Rep. Castor’s continued advocacy reflects the belief that no veteran should be without a home or support system. We look forward to working together to ensure that those who have served our country receive the care and stability they deserve.”

Addressing Alzheimer’s

In a recent Axios Live interview, Buchanan said he knows too well the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on families. His own father first started showing symptoms at age 58 and lived in his son’s home for 10 years. Now, Buchanan serves as Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and has made research a high priority.

“We’ve got to work on two parts. One is the research, and a lot of the effort that’s being done in that space,” Buchanan told reporter Peter Sullivan. “A lot of it’s pretty promising, as you mentioned, being able to analyze someone’s blood work and some different prescriptions that could make a big difference.”

The Longboat Key Republican noted Florida’s acute interest as a state rich in retirees.

“Just in terms of Florida, 580,000 people are challenged with Alzheimer’s, and Medicaid, just in Florida, spends almost $4 billion a year. I think these are very real opportunities.”

The Congressman has focused on prevention, including nutrition and exercise. He noted the bipartisan nature of the Alzheimer’s fight makes it easy to find allies in Congress.

“We have a lot of people on both sides of the aisle that want to weigh in and make a difference, because everybody’s been impacted by it like I have. Maybe it’s not an immediate family member, but it’s somebody else that they know of, a loved one or a good friend,” Buchanan said.

“This is curable, I’m hopeful, and we’re going to keep pushing very aggressively to make sure it becomes a reality.”

Breaking bread

This week, the White House hosted the Syrian President for the first time since 1946.

According to Reuters, Trump welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and lifted sanctions on the country, all under a year after the U.S. offered a $10 million bounty on the onetime dissident leader’s head.

“Today, the Trump administration suspended the mandatory Caesar Act sanctions in order to support Syria’s efforts to rebuild its economy, restore ties with foreign partners, and foster prosperity and peace,” posted Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio, formerly Florida’s U.S. Senator, also said his agency issued an advisory with the Commerce and Treasury Departments on providing U.S. relief in Syria. But he said Trump has been clear that “the United States expects to see concrete actions by the Syrian government to turn the page on the past and work toward peace in the region.”

During the visit to Washington, al-Sharaa also met with Rep. Brian Mast, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Stuart Republican sounded cautious optimism about developments in Syria and about expunging the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the terrorist group better known as ISIS, from the Middle East.

“Last evening, the new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and I broke bread. We had a long and serious conversation about how to build a future for the people of Syria free of war, ISIS and extremism,” Mast said.

“He and I are two former soldiers and two former enemies. I asked him directly why we are no longer enemies. His response was that he wishes to ‘liberate from the past and have a noble pursuit for his people and his country and to be a great ally to the United States of America.’”

Mast expressed hope that al-Sharaa has now officially joined “the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.”

Women’s rights update?

At the end of January, the Trump administration missed a deadline to report to Congress on global efforts to advance women’s rights. Frankel expressed disappointment, especially as a law Trump signed in his first administration authorized the report.

“In 2017, President Trump signed the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act into law with broad bipartisan support, reaffirming America’s leadership in advancing women’s participation, protection, and empowerment worldwide. The law requires the administration to submit regular reports to Congress detailing how it is carrying out this national-security mandate,” Frankel said.

She said the information in the tardy report provides vital guidance to lawmakers and must be produced as soon as possible.

“These reports are essential for Congress to conduct oversight, evaluate progress, and ensure the United States is living up to its commitments to elevate women’s leadership in preventing conflict, building peace and strengthening global stability. The delay blocks transparency, undermines informed policymaking, and weakens our credibility with allies who look to the United States for leadership on Women, Peace, and Security,” she said.

“At a time of growing global conflict, WPS principles are more vital than ever. As co-Chair of the bipartisan WPS Caucus, I am calling on the administration to follow the law, release this overdue report, and reaffirm America’s commitment to peace through women’s leadership.”

On this day

Nov. 11, 1921 — “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier dedicated” via Arlington National Cemetery — The Unknown was placed on a horse-drawn caisson and carried in a procession through Washington, D.C., and across the Potomac River. A state funeral ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery’s new Memorial Amphitheater, and the Unknown was interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nationwide, Americans observed a two-minute silence at the beginning of the ceremony. President Warren G. Harding officiated at the ceremony and placed the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, on the casket. Numerous foreign dignitaries also presented their nations’ highest awards.

Nov. 11, 1942 — “Draft age is lowered to 18” via History.com — With the United States now a participant in the war, and not merely a neutral bystander, the draft ages had to be expanded; men 18 to 37 were now eligible. Black people were passed over for the draft because of racist assumptions about their abilities and the viability of a mixed-race military. But this changed in 1943, when a “quota” was imposed to limit the number of Black men drafted to reflect their share of the overall population, roughly 10.6%. By war’s end, approximately 34 million men had registered; 10 million had been inducted into the military.

___

Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.