"I have always felt that Florida’s greatest asset is its environment and I want to ensure that we preserve this resource for our children and grandchildren." —U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Florida PIRG have worked together on numerous public interest issues, dating back to 1992, when she became the youngest woman ever elected to the Florida Legislature, at age 26. Born on Long Island, N.Y., she attended the University of Florida where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science. In 2004, Rep. Wasserman Schultz was elected to Congress by voters in Florida’s 20th district in south Florida, which she is proud to call home.

What has been the most challenging aspect of going from the Florida Legislature to the halls of Congress?

The partisanship. I knew that Washington was a partisan town, but I never quite understood just how isolated we are up in Washington. At least in Tallahassee you talk in committee and meet on the floor. In Washington, not only do you sit on different sides of the chamber, but even in committee rooms they divide us up by party. This level of division makes it difficult to have informal exchanges with members of the opposing party. Despite this difficulty, I have worked hard to build coalitions across the aisle and have been successful in passing some important legislation because of this outreach.

During your term in the Florida Legislature, you were a leader on child safety issues. Any plans to tackle child safety issues at the national level?

In May I plan to introduce a national version of the Florida Residential Pool Safety Act that I introduced and passed while I was in the Florida House in 2000. My legislation focuses on four parts: physical barriers to limit access, outlet suction drain covers to prevent entrapment, safety shutoff systems for pumps in case of blockage and public awareness campaigns. Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable childhood death and we must work harder to prevent these tragic deaths.

You have been one of the strongest opponents of offshore drilling in Florida waters. What’s motivates you to take on this fight?

I have always felt that Florida’s greatest asset is its environment and I want to ensure that we preserve this resource for our children and grandchildren. Millions of tourists come to Florida to enjoy our environment, our beaches, the incredible bird life or sport fishing and diving. Our economy is dependent upon these visitors and just one spill would put our fragile environment and our economy in jeopardy. Given the oil and gas industry’s spotty track record when it comes to protecting the environment and the consequences a spill would have on our state, I feel strongly that we need to do everything we can do to protect ourselves from that danger.

Do you have other consumer or environmental priorities this session of Congress?

I think we have to be constantly vigilant when it comes to the Everglades. We already have seen efforts from the state to back away from their commitment to restoring the Everglades. We have to make sure that the federal government maintains its commitment to this agreement.

What would you say is the role of groups like Florida PIRG in protecting and promoting the public interest?

In addition to informing your members of legislation they need to be aware of, organizations like Florida PIRG provide me with another way to get a sense of my constituents’ sentiments on issues facing me in Congress. The ability of Florida PIRG to educate and mobilize your membership, and the public at large, plays a vital role in passing legislation that protects our state and in stopping legislation that moves us in the wrong direction.