LARGO (FOX 13) - A new push has been announced to protect veterans and federal workers who use medical marijuana. Wednesday, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL) announced a bipartisan bill that would make it illegal to fire or deny employment to federal workers who are prescribed cannabis, while allowing military veterans more treatment options. Medical cannabis treatment is legal in Florida, however, even with a prescription, someone can be fired or denied employment if cannabis comes up on a dru...
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The Senate on Tuesday voted to renew the National Flood Insurance Program hours before it was set to expire during the height of hurricane season. The House passed a temporary extension for the program last week, authorizing it only through November, and the Senate followed suit Tuesday. Critics of the National Flood Insurance Program say it needs structural changes, not short-term extensions. Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson speaks with Rep. Charlie Crist (@RepCharlieCrist), former governor of Flori...
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U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., got his proposal offering U.S. support for defending Israel from drone attacks across the finish line in the U.S. House. Back in February, Crist and U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., teamed up to bring out the “United States-Israel Joint Drone Detection Cooperation Act.” The bill authorizes the White House “to enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to counter unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten the United States or Israel.” Crist’s office noted d...
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Today, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) held his fourth town hall for Pinellas constituents. Originally scheduled to end at noon, Crist stayed for over three hours to answer questions and hear community concerns firsthand from constituents who filled the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg. (Please click here to view videos of the town hall, which was live-streamed on the Congressman's Facebook page). "It was an honor to spend the day with my Pinellas neighbors, discussing the issues...
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This week, a congressman from Florida helped get a bill having the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) install on-site medical waste treatment systems in its facilities through the U.S. House. At the end of May, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., unveiled the “Department of Veterans Affairs Creation of On-Site Treatment Systems Affording Veterans Improvements and Numerous General Safety Enhancements Act” (VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act) with U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., as the main cosp...
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Five Democratic members of Congress called on Friday for the Justice Department to investigate a case in which a Florida man who shot and killed another man during an argument over a parking space was not arrested or charged by the sheriff’s office. The sheriff of Pinellas County cited Florida’s so-called Stand Your Ground law in declining to charge Michael Drejka, who the authorities say shot Markeis McGlockton last week in the parking lot outside a convenience store in Clearwater, Fla. Mr. Dr...
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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Charlie Crist are calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Assistant Attorney General John Gore, three senators and two members of Congress requested the department's Civil Rights Division open the investigation. McGlockton, 28, was shot July 19 at a convenient store near Clearwater in what authorities have so far deemed a "stand your ground" shooting. Along with...
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Millions of Floridians could soon find themselves without crucial flood insurance in the middle of hurricane season. Senate lawmakers have until Tuesday to extend the National Flood Insurance program. Lawmakers in the House approved an extension earlier this week. A lapse would not be unprecedented. The federal program, which provides flood insurance for more than 5 million homeowners, went without authorization for a month in summer 2010. During that time, an estimated 1,400 home-sales closings...
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This week, a congressman from Florida helped get a bill having the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) install on-site medical waste treatment systems in its facilities through the U.S. House. At the end of May, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., unveiled the “Department of Veterans Affairs Creation of On-Site Treatment Systems Affording Veterans Improvements and Numerous General Safety Enhancements Act” (VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act) with U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., as the main cos...
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The zipping and whirling of a 3D printer welcomed U.S. Representative Charlie Crist to the Clearwater (Fla.) Public Library’s Maker Studios in mid-July. The bright blue plastic filament was steadily building the 700th print job submitted by patrons at the Innovation Studio – one of five makerspaces at the Main Library. During Rep. Crist’s visit, the Clearwater Maker Studios showcased some of the ways libraries around the country are adapting to the growing technology, business, and creative need...
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