A temporary Social Security Administration office opened its doors at 9 a.m. Monday at 801 Banyan Blvd. in downtown West Palm Beach. The office opened nearly a year after the old Social Security Administration office along Congress Avenue closed its doors in August 2014 because of mold and ventilation issues. Approximately 40 employees are working in the temporary location. U.S. Rep Lois Frankel has been pushing for the temporary office. "We have such a large number of older citizens here, senio... Read more

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., teamed up with an unlikely ally on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, to introduce a bill bolstering security at American embassies. The Texas Republican has been a leading critic of President Barack Obama, including his handling of the Benghazi attacks which led to the deaths of four Americans. Weber garnered national attention for saying Obama could not be trusted to handle the Ebola crisis due to his lack of leadership on Benghazi and, during last year’s... Read more

Prospects for a new federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale took a giant step forward this week when Congress told federal officials to find a way to replace the current moldy, dilapidated and insecure building on Broward Boulevard. The congressional action set in motion a 120-day feasibility study by the U.S. General Services Administration to lay plans for a new structure, very likely in a different location. "We do not think it should be opulent in this day and age, costing a lot of taxpayer do... Read more

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, joined two Democratic Florida legislators in blasting Gov. Rick Scott and state House Republican leaders for refusing to accept $2.8 billion in federal Medicaid money. “There are 800,000 Floridians who are not being included in our health care system. It is unfair and it’s inhumane. And it’s illogical–we’re refusing free money,” said Frankel, who was joined by state Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, and House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Be... Read more

On Tuesday – 11 days after Florida lawmakers passed a bill that requires a 24-hour waiting period for abortions – U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel urged support for a federal bill that would nullify the bill and other abortion regulations imposed by states. While Florida lawmakers await Gov. Rick Scott’s signature on the state’s most recent abortion regulation, Frankel acknowledged that the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2015 has little chance of passing since support is split along party lines in the R... Read more

Calling it “a subject very near and dear to my heart,” U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel was at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens Monday for the ribbon cutting and official opening of the Veterans Resource Center. More than 60 people, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs West Palm Beach office and local veterans organizations, attended the ceremony at the center on the second floor of the library. The Veterans Resource Center gives student veterans a place to ... Read more

About a year and a half ago Bruce Gamradt walked into the student lounge at Palm Beach State College’s Palm Beach Gardens campus and immediately knew veterans wouldn’t feel comfortable there. It was too noisy and crowded. The resident of Ibis Golf & Country Club in suburban West Palm Beach would know, he’s a veteran, too. It took some time to find the appropriate space but now there’s a place on the second floor of the library that’s more quiet and peaceful, an area veterans would feel comfortab... Read more

In “dysfunctional” times, alum remains optimistic about democracy In West Palm Beach, they still call her the mayor. But the earthy, plainspoken Lois Frankel, a familiar face on the art deco boulevards of the city she governed for eight years, is in the big leagues now. She is serving her second term as the US representative from Florida’s 22nd congressional district. It is the most visible–and arguably the most influential–position Frankel (CAS’70) has held in a distinguished public service car... Read more

Two members of the Florida delegation teamed up this week to fight for a U.S. Department of Education grant program to ensure colleges and universities across the nation have student centers for veterans. On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the vice chairman of the House Veterans Committee; U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla.; and U.S. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., brought out the “Veterans Education Empowerment Act” which would create the grant program. Schools with at least 15,000 students, ... Read more

Most of the attention and analysis of tonight's State of the Union address will focus on how Congress and this divided nation respond to President Obama's agenda for 2014. Hopefully, some of the attention will spill over onto Fort Lauderdale's Jeff Colaiacovo and the reason he will be a guest in the House gallery. For he is somebody whom Americans should unite in caring about. His cause is of great importance. Colaiacovo, who earned two Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam, will be represent... Read more