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Dear Neighbor,
Wishing every mom a very Happy Mother's Day today. Mothers have a special role in our society, as there are few things more beautiful and enduring than a mother's love for her child. I am fortunate to have an incredible mother, Evelyn Bilirakis. She has been a source of inspiration as well as a true friend and mentor. She taught me the importance of patience, tenacity, and grace. My sons are also fortunate to have a wonderful mother. My wife, Eva, has done a tremendous job raising our four sons. I hope all the moms in our community enjoy their special day!
Continue reading for a brief overview of my efforts on your behalf last week. Continue reading to learn more about my efforts on your behalf last week!
Making Washington Work for You
There has been a great deal of attention on the national stage about the United States reaching its debt ceiling and what will happen if the House, Senate and President don't come to an agreement before that ceiling is reached. I want to be clear: the House did its job and passed a responsible debt ceiling plan that kept spending limits inline with what was passed last December. The Senate and President’s inaction is putting our nation’s economy in jeopardy! Also, I want to assure you that there is nothing in the Limit, Save and Grow Act that will force cuts to Veterans’ benefits. To say otherwise is simply fake news! As noted in this article, The VA Secretary and some of my Democrat Congressional colleagues are spreading false information and fear-mongering to make up for their lack of viable solutions to our soaring national debt. We have vowed to protect Veteran programs from cuts and are demanding accountability for the lies that are being spread. It is time for them to come to the table and negotiate, just as we have done every time our country has faced this situation in the past.
Another urgent matter facing our country is the national security crisis that has been created at our southern border. Securing the border is a priority for me and for the majority of my constituents. Last week, I was proud to support HR 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023 which fulfills our promise to deliver solutions to the Border Crisis President Biden has caused.
Another important national security concern is limiting the Chinese government's influence over our nation's critical infrastructure. Last week, Governor DeSantis signed a new law that will prohibit the sale of Florida’s agricultural land to Chinese nationals. This law is a step in the right direction and should be replicated on a national level, which is why I’ve co-sponsored the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act.
Additionally, as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, I understand how important tourism is to our national, state and local economies. With an economic output of $2.6 trillion in 2022, travel serves as an essential catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps to fuel connection and innovation within other industries. In my district alone, almost 21,000 jobs are dependent on travel, with an estimated economic impact of $2.1billion. I'm continuing to support travel and tourism initiatives throughout the country.
Raising Awareness
Taking care of your mental health is an essential part of wellness. This Mental Health Awareness Month, check in on yourself and the people you care about. You can find the warning signs of a mental health condition here
Community Connection
I am fortunate to have a team of dedicated staff who regularly attend events throughout our community, especially when I am required to be in Washington, DC. Through their collective efforts, I am better able to stay connected to the issues that matter most to my constituents. As part of my commitment to developing a better understanding of the issues facing constituents in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties members of my team attended several events last week. Here are a few highlights.
My team was honored to participate in the recent opening of the new Veterans Outpatient Clinic in Zephyrhills.
The Law Enforcement Memorial recently held in Dade City was a fitting and beautiful tribute to those heroes who were killed in the line of duty while protecting our community. My team was proud to join Teresa Kondek, the widow of Officer Charlie Kondek who was killed in the line of duty in Tarpon Springs in 2014. May his service and sacrifice never be forgotten!
Additionally, my team was proud to participate in a recent event to support Marjorie’s Hope, an organization dedicated to supporting the needs of Pasco’s children.
Constituent Corner
My office recently received this email after my team intervened on his Social Security case.
Many thanks to your staff who helped me out of a dire situation. I abruptly stopped receiving my Social Security checks. When I called to find out why, the woman told me that their records showed I was deceased. After weeks of trying to prove that was not the case, I reached out to your office. Within two days of contacting your staff, the whole nightmare was resolved. I am so grateful for the help and happy to be officially "alive" again!
This is just one example of the work we do each day. Constituent services are a critical element of our congressional office. The federal government is a massive operation, and my office is available if you ever need assistance in navigating the bureaucracy or cutting through red tape. We are here to serve you!
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