In the News
Congressman Al Lawson working to get proper burial for veteran after remains found by workers
by Joe Daraskevich
Congressman Al Lawson is working to get a proper burial for a veteran whose remains were disturbed last week during a construction project. Lawson says he's pushing for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to allow the veteran to be buried in the Jacksonville National Cemetery, but he's also working to figure out why the remains were disturbed in the first place. "It's interesting," Lawson tells our news partner Action News Jax. "What I'm trying to figure out from the DOT … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
Florida congressman says funding needed to lower infant mortality rate in Jacksonville
by First Coast News Staff
February 13, 2020
Al Lawson Announces USDA Grant for Madison County Hospital
by Kevin Derby
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a $189,000 grant for the Madison County Hospital. The funds come through a USDA Rural Development grant and will be used to buy new equipment for the hospital's operating room. Lawson, who sits on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, weighed in on the grant on Wednesday. "These funds will dramatically improve the quality of health care available in Madison County, keep health care … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Lawson votes to workers’ right to organize bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (D-Fla.) recently voted to pass H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, to hold employers accountable for violating workers' rights, end the use of forced arbitration and strengthen the right to join in union.The PRO Act advances vital protections for working men and women across the country, including:* Introducing meaningful, enforceable penalties for companies and executives that violate workers' rights.* Expanding workers' … Continue Reading
February 05, 2020
Tallahassee's two Congressmen have different takes on Donald Trump's State of the Union
by James Call
The political divide separating the nation over impeachment - in a presidential election year - runs through the All Saints neighborhood, mere blocks from the state Capitol in Tallahassee. Up the hill and to the west is the campus of Florida A&M University - part of the 5th Congressional District, which runs from Quincy to Jacksonville through a tier of counties that hug the Georgia line. It's represented by Congressman Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee. To the south is College Town, an … Continue Reading
January 27, 2020
Florida lawmakers in D.C. aim to stamp out hair-based discrimination
by Allison Stevens
WASHINGTON - About a year ago, a New Jersey teen was forced to cut his dreadlocks in order to participate in a high school wrestling match. The wrestler, Andrew Johnson, received a hurried haircut after he was told by a referee that his hair violated wrestling rules. He won the match and state officials opened a civil rights investigation, The New York Times reported. Now members of Congress are trying to make sure that never happens again. Florida Democratic Reps. Al Lawson, Frederica … Continue Reading
January 26, 2020
Rep. Al Lawson helps to secure grant for Alzheimer’s research at FAMU
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - U.S. Representative Al Lawson has helped to secure a $396,048 grant from the National Institute on Aging for important research at Florida A&M University. According to a press release, the grant will allow researchers the opportunity to study the early differences of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) from Alzheimer's disease by using imaging biomarkers. LBD is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein in the brain can lead to problems with thinking, … Continue Reading
December 31, 2019
http://jacksonvillefreepress.com/lawmakers-celebrates-passage-of-the-future-act/
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (Fl-05) recently joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress for the enrollment signing of H.R. 2486, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent Using Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act. The act allocates $255 million in annual funding for HBCUs, and other Minority-Serving Institutions, as well as simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by eliminating up to 22 questions and allowing the IRS to share applicants' tax information directly … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Val Demings, Frederica Wilson, Al Lawson join call for reform of opportunity zones
by Scott Powers
With a growing list of media reports on a program designed to aid poor neighborhoods providing tax breaks for rich ones, Democratic U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Frederica Wilson, and Al Lawson on Tuesday joined a call for reform of the opportunity zones tax breaks program. The most recent of those reports came last week when a ProPublica investigation revealed that then-Gov. Rick Scott had selected a census tract of a super yacht marina and in West Palm Beach and a tract of a luxury apartment … Continue Reading
November 18, 2019
Al Lawson Gets Small Business Debt Collection Protection Bill Through Key Committee
by Kevin Derby
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., scored a win on Capitol Hill as his "Small Business Fair Debt Collection Protection Act" cleared a key committee. Earlier this month, Lawson brought out the bill which: protects small businesses from harassment by third-party debt collectors" and "extends protections under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to small businesses with loans or obligations that are less than $5 million so that debt collectors have guardrails on what they can do to collect … Continue Reading
November 08, 2019
New bill supports lowering of prescription medicine costs
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Congressman Al Lawson is putting his efforts behind a bill that would lower the cost of prescription medicine. He spoke at the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans meeting on Friday about why he is supporting the bill. Lawson says there seems to be a push going on right now to completely undo things under the Affordable Care Act, but there are some positives to the Act, such as help for senior citizens. He says with this new bill, being on multiple medications won't … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Florida Delegation Raises Concerns About Public Housing in Jacksonville
by Kevin Derby
Another member of the Florida congressional delegation is raising concerns about a public housing project on the First Coast. Last week, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., wrote U.S. Housing and Urban Development Sec. Ben Carson regarding the Valencia Way (formerly Eureka Gardens) housing complex in Jacksonville. "For more than three weeks, the 790 residents have been forced to live without gas and hot water -- with no rapid solution in sight," Lawson's office noted. "Property owners Millennia … Continue Reading
October 11, 2019
Rep. Lawson Isn't Giving Up on Getting A Jacksonville VA Hospital
by CYD Hoskinson
North Florida Congressman Al Lawson (D-FL 5th District) wants veterans to know he's still pushing for a Veterans Administration hospital in Jacksonville, even though the project, he said, is currently on hold. Lawson talked about his proposal recently on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, explaining why he won't give up on the idea. "We have to continue to convince the VA that it's necessary for them to do it. Jacksonville has the largest number of veterans in the state, you know, and … Continue Reading
October 06, 2019
FL Representative visits FSU to address food insecurity
by Casey Chapter
Rep. Al Lawson (D-Leon) visited Florida State's food pantry to learn how it benefits FSU students. (Photo: Casey Chapter/FSView) On Wednesday, Oct. 2, Representative Al Lawson (D-Leon) visited Florida State's food pantry to learn about how it helps students and what more can be done to assist students in need. Isabella Hernandez came to Florida State University as a first-generation college student. She quickly found that her paychecks were spent on classes, books and medical needs, … Continue Reading
September 20, 2019
Lawson, Rutherford Introduce Bill for Cecil Field National POW/MIA Memorial, Museum
by Bill Bortzfield
An under-construction memorial and museum in Jacksonville to honor all former prisoners of war and those still missing in action is moving closer to receiving a national designation. Jacksonville area Congressmen Al Lawson (FL-05) and John Rutherford (FL-04) have introduced legislation to make it official. The House bill would give the POW/MIA Memorial & Museum at Cecil Field a national designation upon its completion, according to Lawson's and Rutherford's offices. In an email to WJCT … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
North Florida Congressman Brings Out Economic Affordability Plan
by Kevin Derby
This week, a North Florida Democrat unveiled proposals to reform federal student loans, Social Security benefits and federal real estate programs for first-time homeowners. From his seat on the U.S. Financial Services Committee, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., brought out his "Economic Affordability Plan" which consists of three bills. "Too many Americans are hamstrung by student debt or denied the cornerstone of wealth-building through homeownership and lack retirement security," Lawson said … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Questions linger as Calloway Cove families line up for food
by Kelly Wiley
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A North Florida congressman has questions for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development following a massive fire at a government-subsidized apartment complex that sent seven people to the hospital and displaced 11 families. According to HUD, 28 more families were evacuated days after the fire at Calloway Cove in an abundance of caution. U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Democrat representing Florida's 5th Congressional District, partnered with Northeast Florida … Continue Reading
July 29, 2019
Al Lawson, Val Demings Champion HUD Inspection Act
by Kevin Derby
Two Democrats in the Florida delegation are championing a proposal to have the U.S. Housing and Urban Department (HUD) crack down on federally assisted housing properties that do not comply with federal laws. At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-NC, brought out the "HUD Inspection Act." Lawson introduced the bill on Friday and weighed in on why he had introduced it. "It is my firm belief that everyone should … Continue Reading
July 29, 2019
North Florida Rep. Al Lawson Introduces Bill to Tackle College Food Insecurity
by Abukar Adan
Democratic Representative Al Lawson introduced the College Student Hunger Act, which allows more low income college students to access the Supplemental Food Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits. He said students are overwhelmed by the rising cost of tuition and books. "So therefore, you know, they have a problem struggling just to get a meal," he said. "And I think it causes problems not only in their test scores, but also in their graduation rates, having to work extra jobs, you … Continue Reading
July 20, 2019
Jacksonville post office renamed after civil rights activist
by Roxy Tyler
Congressman Lawson with the Pearson family. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - U.S. Rep. Al Lawson and U.S. Postal Service officials on Friday hosted a dedication ceremony to mark the renaming of the Kings Road post office in honor of civil rights activist Rutledge Pearson. Lawson filed the bill to rename the post office on Aug. 1, 2017. The bill passed Congress earlier this year and became law on March 28, 2018. "Mr. Pearson was an instrumental leader in the fight for civil rights and his efforts, … Continue Reading