Rep. Lois Frankel, a U.S. Congresswoman representing Florida’s 22nd district since 2013, has recently addressed several public health and immigration issues on her social media account.
On September 3, 2025, Frankel commented on the implications of removing vaccine requirements in Florida: “Eliminating vaccine requirements is reckless and dangerous. It puts everyone at risk, especially endangering children, seniors, and those with weakened immune systems. It threatens Florida’s economy, which depends on people being healthy and tourists feeling safe.”
The following day, September 4, she criticized former President Donald Trump’s actions regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans living in the United States: “Trump is stripping TPS from another 268,000 Venezuelans living here legally—on top of 350,000 already forced out this year. All while he calls Maduro illegitimate & Venezuela unsafe. We need immigration reform, not senseless cruelty just for the sake of it.”
On September 5, Frankel addressed the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where fifteen people have died: “15 people have died in the DRC’s Ebola outbreak. It’s a stark reminder that diseases know no borders. This is exactly why we need strong global cooperation with WHO and CDC to contain deadly viruses, and Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of WHO puts all of us at risk.”
Frankel’s statements come amid ongoing debates about public health policy and U.S. immigration practices. The issue of vaccine mandates remains contentious in Florida as state officials consider changes to existing health protocols impacting residents and visitors alike.
The discussion about TPS for Venezuelans follows years of political instability in Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro’s government—a regime that U.S. officials have often criticized as illegitimate due to concerns over human rights abuses and electoral irregularities.
Global health concerns persist as outbreaks like Ebola underscore the importance of international collaboration between organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recent decisions by U.S. leadership regarding participation in these institutions have sparked debate about their impact on pandemic preparedness.
Frankel was born in New York City in 1948 and currently resides in West Palm Beach at age 74. She holds a BA from Boston University (1970) and a JD from Georgetown University (1973). Before her time in Congress, she served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1986 to 2002.
