Responding to NASA's claim that it cannot build a new rocket under the time and budget constraints, congressional members say they won't take no for an answer. "The production of a heavy-lift rocket and capsule is not optional. It's the law," U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and three other members of the Senate Commerce Committee said in a joint statement. Earlier, NASA told Congress that a Dec. 31, 2016 target date could not be achieved.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns took to the floor of Congress to speak on the mass shooting that occurred in Arizona on Saturday. I thank my distinguished colleague; and on behalf of myself and my constituents from the 6th Congressional District in North-Central Florida, we offer our thoughts and prayers to our colleague Gabrielle Giffords and her family, said Stearns. I also join the American people in extending our condolences to the other victims of this terrible event. This is a heartbreaking loss.

Most members of Floridas congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, backing requests made first at the end of December by then-Gov. Charlie Crist and later by Gov. Rick Scott to cover 36 of the states 67 counties under a disaster declaration due to the cold weather.

On Thursday, Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, turned to one of his staunchest allies, Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, who chairs the House Economic Affairs Committee, to investigate how the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) handles claims resulting from the Gulf oil spill.

Newly inaugurated Florida Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera weighed in on Wednesday on the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti.

Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, filed a bill Thursday that would prohibit doctors, physicians or medical providers from asking patients if they own or have access to firearms. An identical bill was filed in the House on Wednesday by Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, which would make doctors' inquiries of gun ownership by patients a felony punishable by a $5 million fine or up to five years in jail.

Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, filed a bill Wednesday aimed at loosening regulations on firearms and ammunition. The bill, SB 402, would prohibit counties from developing ordinances requiring a waiting period for delivery of handguns and restricts state officials from regulating firearms except as prescribed by law. The issue of gun control reentered the national debate this weekend after a mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz. on Saturday left six dead and more than a dozen injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a Manhattan bankruptcy judge has been asked to sign off Thursday on a $7.2 billion deal to settle the largest lawsuit in the Bernard Madoff fraud -- and it involves the late Palm Beach billionaire Jeffry Picower. A hearing has been requested by a trustee appointed to recover funds for Ponzi-burned investors. Federal authorities announced the deal with Jeffry Picower's estate last month.

State Sen. Paula Dockery -- a member of Rick Scott's transition team -- appears to be drifting away from the governor on key issues. In a series of Twitter tweets today, the Lakeland Republican blasted proposed cuts in the higher-education budget and beat the drum for high-speed rail. By contrast, the fiscally conservative Scott has broadly called for state spending reductions while taking a dim view of the rail venture.

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., named Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan to the Trade and Oversight subcommittees under the umbrella of the full Ways and Means Committee. I am honored by the opportunity to serve on such important subcommittees, said Buchanan. Through these subcommittees I will work to ensure that Southwest Floridas needs are addressed." Buchanan vowed in his new position to fight for free-trade agreements, maintaining that these measures would lead to new jobs in the Sunshine State.

According to a report released Thursday by Realty Trac, a California-based company that tracks foreclosed properties, 2010 set a record for foreclosure activity in the United States, with more than 3.8 million foreclosure filings on more than 2.8 million properties -- an increase of 2 percent over 2009 and 23 percent over 2008.

Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. -- joyously described for CNN's international audience Thursday morning what it was like to be part of the moment Wednesday when their friend Gabrielle Giffords opened her eyes for the first time and touched her husband Mark's hand. Wasserman Schultz recounted telling the Arizona congresswoman, 'Come on, you've got to get better, because we expect you up in New Hampshire this summer" at Wasserman Schultz's vacation home.

Cheryl Conley, Florida's 2011 Teacher of the Year, is among four finalists to be National Teacher of the Year. Conley, fourth-grade teacher at Osceola Magnet Elementary School in Vero Beach, has taught a total of 11 years, the last four at Osceola Magnet. Conley and three fellow finalists -- Annice Brave of Illinois, Michaelle Shearer of Maryland and Paul Anderson of Montana -- were selected by the Council of Chief State School Officers, based in Washington, D.C.

While Democrats complain about Gov. Rick Scott's freeze on $1 million-plus contracts, he's getting more support from the right. Ax the Tax, a statewide grass-roots anti-tax group opposing proposed commuter and high-speed rail projects, and the Florida TEA Party saluted Scott's stand. "Fortunately, all of the actual research reports are pointing to a huge financial deficit for the two major rail projects -- the SunRail commuter rail and the high-speed rail project," said Doug Guetzloe, founder and chairman of Ax the Tax.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, is open to ideas for tax cuts coming from Gov. Rick Scott, but doesn't plan on pushing for any himself. Haridopolos frequently referenced the state's $3.5 billion budget shortfall Wednesday in calling for spending cuts in Medicaid, education and other areas, and said that any tax cut proposals from Gov. Scott should come with offsetting cuts in spending. Gov. Scott's budget proposal will be released next month.