FL-27 Newsletter Vol. 118, Issue #50 Dear Friends/Amigos, This week I was back in Washington pushing forward the legislative priorities that you, the constituents of District 27, care about. We secured major wins on everything from foreign policy, to fighting Artificial Intelligence (AI) abuse, to helping Miami small businesses. Learn about those wins below. I also wanted to let you know that my Miami district office will be holding a Spanish-language webinar with representatives from USCIS on February 21 at 5pm about the parole process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. To register, click the link here. It is an honor to serve you in Congress. Let me know how I can better serve you by calling my office at (202) 225-3931 with your opinion. Sincerely/Atentamente, María Elvira Salazar U.S. Representative (FL-27) FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM IN VENEZUELA As 2024 passes, the Maduro regime has ramped up its attacks on opposition leader María Corina Machado's candidacy for the presidency of Venezuela. In a shock to no one, the regime violated the Barbados Agreement merely months after being negotiated with the Biden Administration. Even worse, the United States lost its leverage against the Maduro regime by releasing Alex Saab and the Narcosobrinos while removing sanctions against the state-owned oil company PDVSA, the regime's economic lifeline. In response, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID), and myself released a statement demanding the Biden Administration re-establish sanctions on the Maduro regime, recuperating the leverage we lost. I plan to follow up on this in a roundtable discussion I will hold with María Corina Machado this Wednesday, February 7 at 11am in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Make sure you catch the conversation here! NEARLY 300 ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS, AND CREATORS SUPPORT MY NO AI FRAUD ACT! I am thrilled to announce that nearly 300 artists, songwriters, actors, and other creators announced their support for my No AI FRAUD Act. My groundbreaking legislation protects ALL Americans from AI abuse by providing an individual right to our voice and likeness, and therefore the legal tools they need to fight AI deepfakes. Famous artists and actors including Cardi B, 21 Savage, Bradley Cooper, Fran Drescher, and Rosario Dawson joined together with almost 300 of their counterparts in support of the following declaration: “The No AI FRAUD Act would defend your fundamental human rights to your voice & likeness, protecting everyone from nonconsensual deepfakes.” I am proud of this major accomplishment, and I hope my colleagues in Congress pass this legislation ASAP! To read more about the open letter from creators across the music and film/TV industries, click here. MY BILL GIVING SMALL BUSINESSES MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTS PASSED IN COMMITTEE! In a unanimous and bipartisan vote, the House Small Business Committee passed my bill, the Enhancing Competition in Contracting Orders Act! The bill would allow small businesses across America to compete with larger firms for the same federal contracts. The opportunity competition creates is the American way and Miami small businesses will now have the chance to unleash prosperity by accessing top-tier federal contracts. Read more about H.R. 5450 here. CASEWORK TESTIMONIALS! My office is one of the best in Congress and is always happy to help our constituents with federal casework. Whether it’s navigating the difficult immigration bureaucracy, securing Social Security benefits, or getting your passports renewed on time before a family vacation, my staff is always willing to help my constituents solve their toughest challenges! Read some testimonials below: “Very grateful for the attention received in the Miami office. Once again, thank you for responding to my concerns. Regards.” – LU “La atención fue excelente y fueron muy amables. Felicidades a todo el equipo de trabajo.” – C “I’m very grateful to all of you for lending me a hand with checking the status of an immigration process that had almost a year of delay. I’ll always be utterly grateful for this. Thank you and God bless you all.” – AL If you need help with federal casework AND reside in Florida’s 27th congressional district, call my office at (305) 668-2285! CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA! ‌ ‌ ‌ Have questions? Reach me at: [link removed] Washington, D.C. 2162 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3931 Miami, FL 5725 SW 8th St Suite 200, Miami, FL 33144 Phone: (305) 668-2285 Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar | 2162 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]