FIU is thankful for the efforts of our federal partners and our Florida congressional delegation. Representing the agenda of the university in their respective committees and legislative initiatives, these members have made FIU's rise as a Carnegie top-tier institution possible as it helps federal agencies address global and domestic challenges.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020:
Higher Education Act:
FIU is thankful for the efforts of our federal partners and our Florida Congressional delegation. Representing the agenda of the university in their respective committees and legislative initiatives, these members have made FIU's rise as a Carnegie top-tier institution possible as it helps federal agencies address global and domestic challenges.
Senator Rubio was elected to the United States Senate in 2010.
His political career began as city commissioner for West Miami before being elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, becoming the majority leader in 2003, and then Speaker in November 2006.
Before becoming Speaker, he authored the book 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future based on conversations with Floridians at "idearaisers" that he and his colleagues hosted around the state. More than half of these ideas later became laws.
In 2009, Rubio won his campaign for the U.S. Senate. In April 2015, Rubio announced his plans to run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
Rick Scott was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Before joining the Senate, Scott was the 45th Governor of the State of Florida. As promised during his campaign, Scott is focused on creating jobs and turning Florida’s economy around.
After attending high school and community college, Gov. Scott enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served on active duty aboard the USS Glover as a radar man.
In 1987, while still practicing law, Scott started Columbia Hospital Corporation. Rick Scott left Columbia in 1997 at age 44, the company had grown to become the world’s largest health care company, making it the 7th largest U.S. employer.
Rick Scott was elected for Governor of Florida in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. During his time as Governor, Rick Scott successfully championed more than $10 billion in tax cuts and reduced more than 5,200 burdensome regulations, allowing Florida businesses to create nearly 1.5 million new jobs and helping the unemployment rate drop to one of the historic lows.
Panthers in District:
Alumni: 40,233
Students: 11,515
Faculty/Staff: 3,641
The pursuit of freedom and the American Dream shaped Maria Elvira Salazar’s early life and career, and it continues to drive her today. Born in Miami’s Little Havana to Cuban parents, who emigrated to the United States, Salazar graduated from the University of Miami and later from Harvard University before a successful career in journalism covering local stories for Univision.
She became the anchor for CNN Español, the first time a major news network had a broadcast fully in Spanish. During her career, Salazar has covered the White House, Gulf War and Salvadoran Civil War and then go on to be a national news anchorwoman at Telemundo and have a long run with her own top-rated show on Mega TV. Winning five Emmy Awards, she was recognized for her passion for freedom and uncovering oppressive, communist and socialist regimes in Latin America especially in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Salazar resides in Miami with her two college-aged daughters and her husband. She is currently a regular guest on various local and national news programs.
Panthers in District:
Alumni: 37,217
Students: 14,325
Faculty/Staff: 4,306
Born in Cuba in 1954, Gimenez immigrated to the United States with his family following the Cuban Revolution in 1960. His family settled in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood and Gimenez has been a Miami-Dade resident ever since. Congressman Gimenez has dedicated his life to his community as a firefighter, an administrator and as an elected public servant. Prior to his election to Congress, Gimenez served 9 years as Mayor of Miami-Dade County.
After graduating from Christopher Columbus High School, Gimenez earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Barry University and spent twenty-five years as a firefighter with the Miami Fire-Rescue Department, nine as Chief. Gimenez was appointed Manager of the City of Miami in 2000 and then an elected as a member of the Board of County Commissioners from 2004 to 2011. Congressman Gimenez and his wife, Lourdes, have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Alumni 22,258
Students 10,075
Employees 2,242
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Florida’s 25th Congressional District. The district stretches from the suburbs west of Miami along the northern border of the Everglades, along Alligator Alley, to communities east of Naples and Marco Island.
FIU’s College of Law is named after Diaz-Balart’s father, Rafael – a former Cuban politician.
Diaz-Balart was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. Prior to his time in Congress, Diaz-Balart served 14 years in the Florida State Legislature in both chambers, House and Senate.
For his first two terms in Congress, Diaz-Balart was a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee. He is also a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, a caucus of Hispanic Republican Congressmen.
Diaz-Balart is a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations and is chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, in addition to serving on the House Committee on the Budget.
Alumni 18,292
Students 7,108
Employees 1,542
Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson represents Florida’s 24th Congressional District. The 24th District includes parts of northwest Miami-Dade and southern Broward counties.
Representative Wilson is a former educator, elementary school principal, community leader, school board member, state legislator, and founder of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project.
Congresswoman Wilson successfully campaigned for a seat on the Miami-Dade County School Board in 1992. Subsequently, Representative Wilson won seats in the Florida House of Representatives in 1998 and the state Senate in 2002, where her peers elected her Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore and Minority Whip.
In 2010, Representative Wilson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Wilson serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce as well as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Panthers in District:
Alumni: 17,549
Students: 5,168
Wasserman-Schultz has dedicated her public life to serving South Floridians and standing up for justice, equality, and opportunity wherever and whenever it is threatened. As Florida’s first Jewish Congresswoman, she has earned the respect of her colleagues for working tirelessly on behalf of seniors, children, and families for nearly three decades.
First sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2005, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate. As a mother of three, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz has worked to prioritize the safety and security of our nation’s youth. After announcing her own battle with breast cancer in 2009, Wasserman Schultz introduced the EARLY Act, a piece of legislation designed to increase breast cancer education and awareness.
Currently Wasserman Schultz serves as a Cardinal on the Appropriations Committee, making history as the first-ever woman to Chair the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, where she is committed to ensuring our nation’s veterans have the resources and support they need. Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz attended the University of Florida where she served as president of the Student Senate. A proud South Floridian who represents parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz resides with her family in Weston.
Alumni 6,421
Students 1,533
Employees 372
Congresswoman Lois Frankel represents Florida’s 22nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which stretches from Riviera Beach in Palm Beach County to Ft. Lauderdale and Plantation in Broward County.
After serving 14 years in the Florida State Legislature, including as the first woman Democratic minority leader, Frankel became mayor of West Palm Beach in 2003.
On November 6, 2012, Frankel became the first woman to represent Florida’s 22nd congressional district. She serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure and Foreign Affairs committees.
Alumni 3,004
Students 793
Employees 110
Congressman Ted Deutch, 49, represents Florida's 21st district, home to communities throughout western Palm Beach County and Broward County in South Florida.
In 2006, Deutch was elected to the Florida State Senate where he served as a senator for four years.
Deutch was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. In addition to serving as a member of the House Democracy Task Force, Deutch serves on the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and is the creator the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance.
Deutch is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the House Ethics Committee, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as Ranking Democrat of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
Alumni 7,972
Students 3,823
Employees 561
Freshman Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2022, becoming the first Haitian American Democrat to be elected to Congress. She now proudly represents Florida’s 20thdistrict. Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick is honored to serve on the House Committee on Education and Labor, as well as the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Haitian Caucus, and the Caribbean Caucus.
Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Government from Howard University. In a further pursuit of education, the Congresswoman also earned a Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University.
While in office, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick intends to tackle rising unemployment rates, the soaring cost of living, inadequate access to quality health care, and lack of equitable opportunities. As a Haitian American woman in Congress representing one of the largest Haitian communities in the United States, she vows to be a voice for the voiceless representing her beautifully diverse district. Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick has established herself within her district as a healthcare executive working up to the position of Chief Executive Officer for Trinity Healthcare Services Inc. She has an established track record within the healthcare industry improving the quality-of-care people needed for nearly two decades.
Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick is married to Corlie McCormick and she is a proud mother of two.
Alumni 1,168
Students 351
Employees 41
Byron Donalds grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and he is also the proud son of a hardworking and loving single mother. His mother dedicated her time instilling in him that greatness requires sacrifice, which drives him as a devoted family man and United States Congressman.
Byron is a graduate of Florida State University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and marketing. Byron's career led him to Southwest Florida, where he worked in the banking, finance, and insurance industries. Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, Byron represented Hendry County and east Collier County in the State Capitol. During his tenure in the Florida House, Byron served as the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee Chair during the 2018-2019 Legislative Session and served as the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee's Chairman 2019-2020 Legislative Session. While serving in the Florida House, primarily focused on elder affairs, criminal justice reform, and ensuring that each child has access to a world-class education.
Byron is committed to serving and giving back to the community that gave him so much. He has served Southwest Florida in many ways, including previously serving on the Board of Trustees for Florida Southwestern State College after being appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott. Byron continues to volunteer in his church as a youth leader and a mentor. He also enjoys volunteering as a coach in youth football and basketball leagues.
Congressman Byron Donalds lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Erika, and their three sons: Damon, Darin, and Mason. Byron has spent his entire adult life serving others, whether it be through volunteering, business, or leadership. He is committed to representing Florida's 19th Congressional District's conservative values in Washington DC to ensure a stronger Florida and a stronger nation.
Alumni 2,361
Students 527
Employees 63
Congressman Brian Mast represents Florida’s 18th Congressional District, which includes Port St. Lucie and Martin counties as well as a portion of Palm Beach County.
Prior to his election to Congress, Mast followed in his father’s footsteps by serving in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, earning medals including The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. While deployed in Afghanistan, he worked as a bomb disposal expert under the elite Joint Special Operations Command. The last improvised explosive device that he found resulted in catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs.
Congressman Mast remained on active duty following the injuries and provided expertise to the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms during his recovery process. After his retirement from the Army, he continued working in counter-terrorism and national defense as an Explosive Specialist with the Department of Homeland Security. Mast subsequently received a degree from the Harvard Extension School and volunteered to serve alongside the Israel Defense Forces to show support for the freedom Israel represents throughout the Middle East and the world.
Congressman Mast is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee.
