Ted Deutch (D-FL-19)

Ted Deutch Congressman Florida District 19

Ted Deutch Biography from House.gov

Biography of Ted Deutch

Congressman Ted Deutch serves Florida’s 19th district in the House of Representatives. His priorities in the 112th Congress include strengthening the health and financial security of America’s retirees, creating economic opportunity for South Florida families, and advancing the security interests of the United States, Israel, and our international allies. Ted first won election to Congress in a special election held on April 13, 2010 and was then elected for a full term on November 4, 2010.

Ted has quickly established himself as an energetic advocate for the South Florida community. An Assistant Whip to Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, he was recently highlighted the Washington newspaper Roll Call as a young, rising voice in the House Democratic Caucus, and the Forward newspaper named him one of America’s “Top 10 Jewish Politicians to Watch in 2010.”

Despite his relatively short tenure in Congress, Ted has hit the ground running with several legislative initiatives. The New York Times recently highlighted the Preserving our Promise to Seniors Act, his legislation to improve retirement benefits for all Americans and protect Social Security, for its comprehensive approach to strengthening our nation’s most successful domestic program. Ted’s commitment to protecting the hard-earned benefits of America’s retirees and ensuring seniors have access to quality Medicare benefits led him to join the House Democratic Seniors Task Force.

A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a lifelong activist in the pro-Israel community, Ted is an established leader on Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program. During the 112th Congress, the Iran Transparency and Accountability Act, his legislation to expose sanctionable business in Iran, was incorporated into a larger, bipartisan package of sanctions. As a Florida State Senator, Ted passed the nation’s first Iran divestment legislation and empowered Florida to divest over a billion dollars from Iran’s energy sector.
In the State Senate, Ted also authored and passed legislation to reduce smoking in Florida and fund critical health care programs, including cancer research. He quickly became known as a tireless advocate for Florida’s retirees by securing funding for a new, state-of-the-art seniors center in Delray Beach and fighting to protect seniors’ access to long-term health services. His work has been recognized by organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and the Florida Education Association. Ted’s passion for service has earned him the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship and the James and Marjorie Baer Leadership Award from the the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.

Ted Deutch, 45, was born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is the youngest son of Jean Deutch and the late Bernard Deutch, a World War II veteran who earned a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge. After graduating from Liberty High School in 1984, Ted went on to study at the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School. Ted and his wife of 19 years, Jill Deutch, moved to South Florida in 1997. They live in West Boca Raton with their three children, Gabrielle, Serena, and Cole, all three of whom attend Palm Beach County public schools.

Biography from TED DEUTCH FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE

Congressman Ted Deutch was elected to represent Florida’s 19th district in the United States House of Representatives by a Special Election on April 13, 2010. Prior to his election, Ted served four years in the Florida State Senate, where he quickly became known as a hardworking, talented legislator and a rising Democratic voice in Florida. Ted’s priorities in Congress include strengthening the health and financial security of America’s retirees, creating economic opportunity for small businesses and young families in South Florida, and protecting the national security interests of the United States, Israel, and our international allies.

As a Florida State Senator, Ted earned national recognition for passing legislation making Florida the first state in America to exert economic pressure aimed at thwarting Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The language of Ted’s law was later incorporated into sanctions legislation at the federal level as part of the Iran Sanctions Act of 2010. Within his first month in Congress, Ted’s expertise on divestment and the identification of companies supporting Iran’s energy sector was solicited for testimony by the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Intergovernmental Affairs. His interest in national security matters and the Middle East is inseparable from his lifelong activism in the pro-Israel community.

Ted also passed legislation in Florida that reduced smoking across the state and funded critical health care programs, including cancer research. Organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and the Florida Education Association have recognized Ted for his advocacy on behalf of seniors, children, and working families. Ted considers the opportunity to serve in Congress a great honor and a continuation of his lifelong commitment to bettering the community and the world. This commitment to service has earned him prominent awards, including the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship and the James and Marjorie Baer Leadership Award from the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.

While Ted is new to Congress, he has already hit the ground running with legislative initiatives on behalf of Florida’s 19th district. Within his first few weeks in office, the House unanimously adopted a Deutch amendment to extend Home Star Energy Rebates to victims of natural disasters. Ted has also partnered with the House Seniors’ Task Force to introduce a Seniors Bill of Rights, a collection of principles aimed at strengthening Social Security and Medicare and ensuring that seniors can live lives of dignity. Ted has been appointed to serve on the House Foreign Affairs and House Judiciary Committees, both of which oversee issues of importance to South Florida.

Ted Deutch, 44, was born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is the youngest son of Jean Deutch and the late Bernard Deutch, a World War II veteran who earned a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge. After graduating from Liberty High School in 1984, Ted went on to study at the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School. Ted and his wife of 19 years, Jill Deutch, moved to South Florida in 1997. They live in West Boca Raton with their 14-year old twin daughters, Gabrielle and Serena, and their 11-year old son, Cole.

AWARDS

American Cancer Society, National Distinguished Advocacy Award, 2009
Univeristy of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine Legislative Champion, 2009
American Jewish Congress Distinguished Civic Achievement Award, 2009
Florida Bar Family Law Section, Chair’s Award for Legislative Excellence, 2009
Florida Bar Equal Opportunities Law Section, Equal Opportunities in the Profession Award, 2009
Florida Hospital Association, Legislator of the Year, 2009
Private Care Association of Florida, Legislator of the Year, 2009
American Social Health Association, Legislator of the Year, 2008
Florida Association of Counties, County Champion Award, 2008
FEA, Champion for Public Education, 2008
FACTE, Legislator of the Year, 2008
Palm Beach County League of Cities, Legislator of the Year, 2008
ORT America, Tikkun Olam Award, 2008
Healthy Florida Alliance, Legislator of the Year, 2008
American Cancer Society, Legislator of the Year, 2008, 2007
Florida AFL-CIO, Legislator of the Year, 2007
FEA, Friend of Education Award, 2007
Boca Delray Democratic Club, Person of the Year, 2007
Miami Herald, “Freshman Most Likely to Succeed”, 2007
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, James and Marjorie Baer Leadership Award
South Florida Business Journal, Up and Comer’s Award Finalist
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Recipient
United Jewish Communities National Young Leadership Cabinet
American Israeli Public Affairs Committee New Leadership Network