Hi, it's Ted!

Congressman Ted Deutch believes that we have an economic and moral responsibility to pass a cleaner and healthier environment on to the next generation. Living up to that responsibility demands that Congress pass bold legislative initiatives that protect our most precious environmental resources, limit the carbon pollution responsible for global climate change, and speed the adoption of cleaner and more affordable renewable energy. Ted’s commitment to protecting our environment is evident in his legislative record. His work on environmental issues, from protecting Florida’s coastlines from offshore drilling to fighting efforts to roll back clean air standards, has earned him a 97% Lifetime Score from the League of Conservation Voters. Ted was also the first member of Florida’s congressional delegation to join the Safe Climate Caucus, a coalition of members from across the country working together to protect our communities from the devastating threats posed by global climate change. In 2016, he co-founded the Climate Solutions Caucus – the first bipartisan task force on climate change in the House of Representatives. Ted is a vocal defender of South Florida’s environmental treasures, including our pristine coastlines and the unique ecosystem home to the Everglades. Recognizing that more than six million Floridians rely on the Everglades for safe and clean drinking water, Ted has voted for legislation to advance waterway projects in South Florida vital to preventing flooding and saltwater contamination. He has also authored legislation to boost federal grants for the hydrokinetic energy research being pioneered at Florida Atlantic University. Ted believes that the future of America’s energy security does not lie with dirty fossil fuels but instead with renewable energy technologies that are poised to deliver long term savings to consumers and create millions of new jobs. Instead of wasting billions of dollars on taxpayer subsidies to oil companies, Ted believes the government should enact responsible and accountable incentives that promote growth in our emerging green energy sector. He will continue to advocate for federally-guaranteed loans, research grants, and other incentives to promote clean energy solutions that will lower consumers’ utility bills, reduce carbon pollution, and promote environmental and public health.

Congressman Ted Deutch is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism Subcommittee. Ted is committed to working across the aisle in the 116th Congress to promote a strong and smart foreign policy that protects our national security and advances human rights around the globe. Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Iran Congressman Deutch is deeply engaged in issues related to Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program and believes that a nuclear-armed Iran poses an unacceptable threat to the United States, Israel, and the world. Before his election to Congress in 2010, Ted gained national recognition for his work in the Florida State Senate passing the nation’s first law divesting public pension funds from Iran. Ted’s work on Iran sanctions led him to testify before Congress on divestment, hold strategy discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and eventually pass his own legislation cracking down on companies that financially support Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Ted has consistently used his voice and vote to make clear his categorical opposition to Iran possessing a nuclear weapons program. He was an original co-sponsor of the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act in the 113th Congress, which intensified economic pressure on the Iranian regime. He opposed the Iran nuclear agreement, and is committed to ensuring the strictest implementation and verification of the agreement going forward. Congressman Deutch introduced the Iran Sanctions Extension Act which made sure that the backbone of U.S. sanctions policy remains intact in the event that the nuclear agreement is violated and sanctions must be snapped back into place. In addition, Ted remains committed to preventing the Iranian regime from spreading terrorism around the world, pursuing ballistic missile capabilities, and abusing the basic human rights of its people. Ted introduced the bipartisan Zero Tolerance for Terror Act which seeks to swiftly impose sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism and its illegal ballistic missile activity. His bill to impose sanctions on Iran’s proxy Hezbollah was signed into law in December 2015. Human Rights Congressman Deutch has worked on global human rights issues since his days as a student at the University of Michigan, where he actively protested the repression of Jewish communities by the Soviet Union and advocated for their right to leave the country. As a member of Congress, Ted has used his position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee to combat human rights violations wherever they may occur. He has worked to shed light on the dire humanitarian crisis in Syria that has displaced millions of families, co-introduced the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act, and introduced congressional resolutions condemning the use of human shields by the terrorist group Hamas. He cosponsored the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act, which imposed additional financial pressure on the North Korean government for its egregious human rights abuses against its own people. Ted was also a co-sponsor of the Sudan Peace, Security, and Accountability Act, which called on the Administration to take a more comprehensive approach to address the humanitarian and human rights crises in Sudan. Afghanistan Congressman Ted Deutch is deeply grateful to the men and women of our Armed Forces who have served in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001. The heroism and commitment displayed by our troops in Afghanistan proved instrumental to U.S. efforts to dismantle al Qaeda’s central leadership, create stability for the Afghan people, and set the stage for Afghanistan’s first democratic transfer of power. After more than a decade of conflict, Ted strongly supported President Obama’s proposal to end combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and provide the Afghan people the opportunity to determine the future of their own country. Mindful of the significant challenges remaining in Afghanistan, Ted has outlined several areas of ongoing concern, including the effectiveness of Afghan security forces and the willingness of government leaders to adopt much-needed civil and democratic reforms. Given the recent incursions by ISIS-aligned fighters in Afghanistan and the resurgence of Taliban activity, Ted supported the 2016 decision to delay the withdrawal of some U.S. troops in order to continue counterterrorism activities. However, the ultimate security of Afghanistan must be maintained by Afghan security forces. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee whose jurisdiction includes Afghanistan, Ted will continue to perform oversight related to U.S. spending and troop presence there during the 115th Congress. Israel Congressman Ted Deutch is a passionate and outspoken advocate for Israel. A lifelong activist in the pro-Israel community, Ted has successfully spearheaded efforts in Congress to strengthen Israel’s security, combat anti-Israel bias, and enhance cooperation between Israel and the United States. More information about Ted’s work championing the U.S.-Israel relationship and protecting Israel’s security is available here.

Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) has led efforts to fight for the justice and dignity of Holocaust survivors and combat anti-Semitism at home and abroad throughout his tenure in Congress. Yet Ted’s commitment to these issues span decades. Before representing large numbers of Holocaust survivors in Congress, he was a Florida State Senator who secured funding for a new Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services senior center.  Before serving in the Florida Senate, he was a leader in national and local Jewish community organizations. And before taking on leadership roles in the Jewish community, he was a student activist at the University of Michigan fighting for the rights of Soviet Jewry. Now as a Member of Congress, Ted continues to lead efforts against anti-Semitic hatred and violence. In January 2015, Ted delivered an address to the first-ever United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Combating Anti-Semitism. There, he urged the international community to recognize the proliferation of anti-Semitism as a threat not only to their own Jewish communities, but as a precursor to hatred and discrimination against minorities of all backgrounds. Recently, he was appointed to the Steering Committee for the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism, an organization of legislators from all over the world who share a commitment to ending anti-Semitic hatred and bigotry. During the 114th Congress, Ted also co-founded the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism with seven of his House colleagues. The Co-Chairs relaunched the Task Force for the 116th Congress. Together, they work to mobilize their Congress to play a leading role against anti-Semitism by organizing events and other initiatives, including a roundtable discussion with the Ambassadors of Germany, France, and Great Britain and a forum on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. In November 2015, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass H.Res. 354, a resolution Ted introduced expressing concern with the growing number of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe and around the world. Ted considers representing one of the nation’s largest populations of Holocaust survivors a profound privilege. He sits on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, which serves as the Board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. In January 2015, Ted introduced a resolution (H.Res. 49) honoring the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the deadliest concentration camp during the Holocaust. His joint amendment ensuring Holocaust remembrance is included in national commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II was signed into law in January 2019. In his meetings with European Ambassadors and Heads of State, as well as in direct letters to foreign leaders, Ted regularly raises the need for countries to better meet the needs of Holocaust survivors and do more to ensure property restitution allows for fair compensation of their rightful heirs. For example, Ted led a letter to the Prime of Minister of Hungary opposing the erection of a government-funded memorial to a known Nazi collaborator, which contributed to the international pressure that eventually led to the monument’s postponement.