Florida at the helm

Amid controversy about the arrest and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, it fell to Floridians to defend the U.S. on the domestic and international stage.

That unfolded at the United Nations, where Michael Waltz gave an emphatic defense of the action during an emergency hearing.

“If the U.N. … confers legitimacy on an illegitimate narco-terrorist and the same treatment in this charter of a democratically elected President or head of state, what kind of organization is this?” Waltz said.

That followed a weekend of consternation from U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres about the ongoing developments in Caracas.

“I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted,” Guterres said in a statement reported by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who played a critical role in the decision to apprehend Maduro, argued to U.S. national media that the mission was both warranted and legal. He noted that the U.S. years ago issued indictments on drug trafficking charges against Maduro and several others within the congressional delegation.

“We can pick and choose which ones we go after, and we have court orders for each one,” Rubio told CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “That will continue to be in place until the people who have the control over the levers of power in that country make changes that are not just in the interests of Venezuela, but in the interests of the United States and the things that we care about.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump asserted shortly after Maduro’s arrest that Rubio and a few others in the administration were “going to run” Venezuela in the near term. Rubio, for his part, later clarified that he will work with Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s Vice President, who on Monday was sworn in as interim President of Venezuela.

Both Rubio and Waltz, for years, closely followed the situation in Venezuela as members of Florida’s congressional delegation. Nearly half of Venezuelans in the U.S. live in Florida, a number that has surged during the 15 years Maduro has been in power, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Before holding their current posts, Rubio served as Florida’s senior Senator, while Waltz represented parts of North and Central Florida in the House. Over his 14 years on the Hill, Rubio pushed for regime change in Venezuela, including visiting the South American nation’s border and encouraging Maduro’s own military to ignore orders and allow humanitarian aid across the border.

Waltz, meanwhile, crafted multiple bipartisan pieces of legislation that impose sanctions and pressure Maduro.

A Florida story

Meanwhile, the sitting members of Florida’s congressional delegation offered varied support and criticism of the administration’s actions. But there appeared to be bipartisan agreement on one key fact: Maduro belongs in prison and out of power.

Rep. Maxwell Frost demanded an immediate briefing of Congress regarding the situation on the ground. He expressed strong skepticism about positive outcomes should the U.S. indeed try to run the government in Venezuela or install a seemingly friendly regime there. He also raised questions about whether the administration bypassed legal requirements to obtain congressional approval before a military operation.

“But a lot of things can be true at once,” the Orlando Democrat said. “There are a lot of people in the Venezuelan diaspora celebrating today, and the reason there is a diaspora is that there is a brutal dictatorship in Venezuela.”

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents the largest concentration of Venezuelans in the country, said she was upset that the U.S. didn’t immediately install Edmundo González, whom most international observers believe won an election against Maduro in 2024, to head the government.

“To replace one unelected regime with another, which apparently Donald Trump has decided is him, is wildly inappropriate,” the Weston Democrat said.

But among Republicans in the delegation, the chief reaction to Maduro’s arrest was joy. Sen. Ashley Moody publicly defended the action’s legality as a drug enforcement operation. “Do not become the mouthpiece of our foreign adversaries,” the Plant City Republican said to Democratic critics.

South Florida’s Cuban American contingent in Congress held a news conference in Doral celebrating a “glorious day” for the Venezuelan diaspora. All expressed confidence that Venezuela would quickly become self-sufficient and free.

“They have the largest reserves of oil in the world, so they’re going to be able to pay for their own reconstruction. They’re not going to be asking and asking or begging any other country, including ours, to lend them money,” said Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican who chairs the House Western Hemisphere Committee. She also said Maduro’s arrest removes a foothold for Russia, China and Hezbollah in South America.

Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez, both Miami-Dade Republicans, suggested the end of Maduro’s regime could mark impending trouble for Nicaragua and, perhaps more quickly, Cuba, which provided security for Maduro that was neutralized in the raid.

Sen. Rick Scott, days after the arrest, held a news conference alongside Cuban dissident leader José Daniel Ferrer and an associate of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. He also signaled, in contrast to Trump’s remarks about Machado this week, a belief that Machado will play a key role in the region’s future. “She’s well respected by Venezuelans,” the Naples Republican said.

But he signaled that it could take time for a new government to come into power. “We would all like it to happen in a day, right? And I think it’s going to happen, but it’s going to take time to make that happen,” Scott said.

Denouncing communism

The power shift in Venezuela unfolded days after Scott filed legislation to raise awareness of the fallout from communism. His bill (S 3244) would designate Nov. 2-8 as “Anti-Communism Week” to increase education about the problems faced by nations adopting the form of government.

“Communism is one of the most destructive and deadly ideologies in human history, responsible for the suffering and deaths of millions while crushing freedom wherever it takes hold,” Florida’s senior Senator said.

“As a nation founded on liberty and individual freedoms, we must never forget these horrors or allow dangerous ideals to be repackaged, idealized or sold to future generations. Designating Anti-Communism Week serves as a reminder of this evil ideology and reaffirms America’s unwavering commitment to freedom and opportunity for all.”

Salazar will carry a version of the bill in the House.

“Communism has left a trail of death, suffering, and shattered nations across the globe, from Cuba to China, from Venezuela to North Korea. Too many Americans, especially in our schools, are now dangerously unaware of the real history and real horrors behind these failed systems,” she said.

“That’s why I’m proud to lead the Anti-Communism Week bill, which formally designates a week when we will reaffirm America’s commitment to freedom, educate our youth about the deadly consequences of communist ideology, and honor the memory of the tens of millions who have died under it. If we lose sight of history, we risk repeating it. This week isn’t just symbolic; it’s a necessary stand for liberty and truth.”

Serving seniors

Moody, before heading home for the holidays, joined a bipartisan effort to strengthen services for America’s seniors. She co-sponsored legislation (S 2120) to reauthorize the Older Americans Act.

That bill would guarantee funding through 2030 for nutrition, social and health services helping seniors for 60 years. It also aims to streamline programs and improve user flexibility.

“Florida is not only the Sunshine State, but we are also a Silver State — the proud home of nearly 5 million seniors,” she said.

“As the former Florida Attorney General, fighting for our older Floridians was one of my main missions — and it is a fight I continue today as one of the newest United States Senators. I’m proud to co-sponsor the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, which would strengthen services for our seniors, and support them as they face aging-related diseases and threats.”

Scott, who chairs the Senate Special Aging Committee, has already signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill.

Up to SPEED

A change in permitting policies has cleared the House. The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (HR 4776) passed last month on a narrow 221-196 vote, largely along party lines.

Rep. Dan Webster, a Clermont Republican, worked on the bill as it made its way through the House Natural Resources Committee. He said the legislation would restore the original intent of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) from 1969, which authorized federal assessments.

“The SPEED Act — legislation I helped develop — delivers long-overdue, common sense reforms to help streamline the permitting process and expedite critical energy and infrastructure projects,” Webster said.

“For too long, statutory flaws in NEPA have slowed or stalled important projects, driving up costs for taxpayers. By passing the SPEED Act, Congress can cut bureaucratic red tape, establish clear timelines and put the United States back in the business of building again.”

But the bill still proved controversial, with all but 11 Democrats voting against it and one Republican. Florida’s delegation in the House broke along straight party lines, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats voting “no.”

Making the trade

A stock trading ban, championed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and opposed by leadership of both parties, continues to gain steam. A discharge petition filed by the St. Petersburg Republican that could force a vote had 74 signatures as of Dec. 17, and could pick up more as House members return to Washington on Tuesday.

Luna, meanwhile, has continued to publicly push for the bill, including during a speech at Turning Point USA’s conference in December, when she said she may yet convince Speaker Mike Johnson to support some level of restrictions.

“Do you think Congress will ever vote to codify Trump’s agenda, like capping prescription prices, when members collectively hold hundreds of millions in Big Pharma stocks that would be negatively impacted? This cannot continue,” she posted on social media.

“I am happy to announce that we have a commitment from Speaker Johnson that in the first quarter of 2026, we will finally deliver this win for the American people and end this corruption for good.”

Keeping bigger bonuses?

For many, the end of the year brought holiday bonuses. Rep. Jared Moskowitz wants the IRS to provide one more gift during the season: tax relief.

The Parkland Democrat filed the Holiday Bonus Tax Relief Act, which would exempt up to $2,500 in bonuses paid out from November through January. As written, it would cover those bonuses paid out starting in November 2025.

“If your employer gives you a holiday bonus, Washington, D.C., shouldn’t take a cut,” Moskowitz said. “This bipartisan, pro-worker, pro-family legislation makes sure workers can keep more of their year-end bonus when they need it most: around the holidays. This is the anti-Grinch bill, and we should pass it immediately.”

He filed the bill with Rep. Ryan MacKenzie, a Pennsylvania Republican. It also includes safeguards to prevent abuse, such as reclassifying standard income as bonuses. It also includes language to grow the exemption after 2026, indexed with inflation.

Smithsonian struggle

The White House, ahead of Christmas, threatened to withhold federal funding from the Smithsonian Institution if its museums don’t purge “improper ideology” that portrays American history negatively.

“Funds apportioned for the Smithsonian Institution are only available for use in a manner consistent with Executive Order 14253 ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,’ and the fulfillment of the requests set forth in our Aug. 12, 2025 letter,” reads an excerpt of a letter from Domestic Policy Council director Vince Haley and White House budget director Russell Vought and first reported by The Washington Post.

But Rep. Frederica Wilson said Congress should not tolerate such whitewashing of America’s story. She suggested that in many cases, the White House’s directive doesn’t just gloss over dark moments in history but erases the stories of people of color.

“This White House is advancing a vision of America rooted in white supremacy and exclusion. This administration has shown nothing but contempt for immigrants, diversity and Black people. And all these threats to withhold funding are just about whitewashing our history. But America was built on the backs of immigrants! Black immigrants were brought here in chains as slaves to build this nation,” Wilson said.

“We can never forget that, and today, we’re an immigrant-rich country. So, as this White House goes after all the museums, we must stand up and protect the truth. All Americans must unite to protect our history and protect the Smithsonian’s independence to ensure unbiased content across its institutions. When we lose our history, we lose our democracy. And we must fight back and stand up for our history and democracy. The soul of our nation is on the line.”

Marriage troubles

While Salazar spent much of the weekend praising the results of the Trump administration’s Venezuela raid, the Coral Gables Republican also issued intense criticism a week before on the mass deportation agenda.

She said a new report from American Families United spotlighted the destructive impact of anti-immigrant policies on American families. The report focused on an administration policy to deport immigrants even if they are married to citizens. That has caused financial hardship for many spouses and children left behind as parents return to their countries of origin. Key findings show that 97.5% of impacted families reported emotional hardship, while 78% reported financial hardship.

“This report exposes a system that is failing American citizens,” Salazar said.

But she suggested that her Office has a solution in mind. She promoted the Dignity Act, a moderate immigration reform proposal she has pushed since her first year in Congress. It would create a path to legal status for those who have lived in the nation for years and have no criminal record, so long as individuals pay fees used to fund border security.

“The Dignity Act puts American families first, restores order and common sense to immigration enforcement and ensures U.S. citizens are no longer separated from their loved ones and treated as collateral damage,” Salazar said.

Personnel notes

Some of the communications staff serving Florida’s congressional delegation made moves as 2025 came to a close.

Kaley Stidham, beginning Tuesday, will serve as Communications Director for Rep. Mike Haridopolos, an Indian Harbour Beach Republican. She wrapped up her time this week in the same capacity, working for Rep. Kat Cammack, a Gainesville Republican.

Stidham will replace George Alderman, who left Haridopolos’ Office in November for a communications post at NASA.

Elsewhere, Wilson has ads out to replace Alvaro Perpuly as Communications Director. Perpuly is leaving the Hill to relocate to New York City and will remain in the political and media scene there.

Another Florida figure, Brian Hughes, departed NASA as the agency’s Chief of Staff. The longtime Florida government and political leader had followed Susie Wiles, the Jacksonville consultant-turned White House Chief of Staff, to Washington, first working with the National Security Council and later at the space agency.

He said he had agreed to stay with the agency only until Jared Isaacman’s confirmation as NASA Administrator. He was succeeded in the administrative role by Jackie Jester, who had previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff.

On this day

Jan. 6, 2021 — “Florida delegation universally condemns violence in Capitol” via Florida Politics — Protesters in Washington objected to a scheduled certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. But even those House members who said they would join in objection to electors from several Biden states said the protests seen in Washington were unacceptable. Rubio strongly called on Trump to restore order: “There is nothing patriotic about what is occurring on Capitol Hill. This is third-world style anti-American anarchy.” Added Scott: “No one has a right to commit violence.” And Waltz tweeted: “This is despicable. This is not who we are as a country.”

Jan. 6, 1853 — “The train wreck that derailed Franklin Pierce” — The President-elect boarded a train bound for New Hampshire with wife Jane and 11-year-old son Benny. Frigid weather may have been a factor as the car hit rocks upon the tracks, breaking an axle. Several cars were derailed, toppling off the embankment and plunging into a rocky field. Benny, standing up to look out the window, was horribly maimed in front of his parents’ eyes, the only casualty among some 60 passengers. Survivors later sued the Boston and Maine Railroad, but Jane believed their son was the price paid for Franklin’s political ambitions. She never forgave her husband for betraying the promise he had made to keep out of politics.

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