Dear Neighbor,

As I prepare to return to Washington, DC this week after a productive August District Work period, I do so armed with a better understanding of the issues facing our community and the families I serve.  During the last month, I've held multiple neighborhood forums in Pasco, Citrus and Hernando counties.  I've also visited many small businesses, met individually with constituents during my office hours, participated in several community events, and hosted a virtual townhall session that was attended by more than 6,000 constituents.  The input I received in each of these interactions will help to make me a better Member of Congress and will guide my work on your behalf over the coming weeks and months.  

Also, tomorrow marks the 22nd anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack on our nation.  May we all remember the victims, honor the heroes who responded to the crisis, and rekindle the spirit of unity that spread across our country after the tragedy. Our enemies sought to destroy our way of life. Instead, they discovered the depths of our resiliency, the strength of our resolve and our unwavering commitment to one another.

Please continue reading to learn more about my efforts last week. 

Making Washington Work For You

One thing that was very clear when speaking with constituents over the past several months was that they are tired of seeing their money sent overseas while Americans are hurting here at home.  This message was amplified as the coastal and low-lying parts of our community were hit by Hurricane Idalia and struggle to fully recover.  In response, my colleagues and I sent the letter below to House Leadership to urge them to put a clean disaster spending bill on the Floor for a vote, rather than tying it to a larger package that contains other spending items. Meanwhile, President Biden has been begging Speaker McCarthy for additional Ukraine funding, while both Florida and Hawaii residents are struggling to rebuild. Americans should always be our top priority.  

Pushing Back Against Government Overreach:    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently proposed a rule designating an area of approximately 28,270 square miles within the Gulf of Mexico as critical habitat for the endangered Rice’s Whale. This would jeopardize the viability of the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR), which the U.S. Air Force uses to test the U.S. military’s most advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, and is vital for any future conflict with China or Russia.  Last week, my colleagues and I sent a letter to NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad requesting NOAA work with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to create a national security exception for the proposed rule.  We wrote:  “Any continued impact to the EGTTR due to this proposed rule would be completely avoidable and unnecessary considering there are no known instances of DoD activities that has killed or injured Rice’s Whales, and the DoD secured an incidental take permit for the species following its listing under the Endangered Species Act.  A national security exception would allow for these critical national security missions to continue while acknowledging that the U.S. Air Force, and other users of the EGTTR, have operated responsibly in the Gulf for more than 50 years.”

Continuing to Provide Help to Hurricane Victims:  Many of our neighbors are continuing the clean-up process as they work to rebuild and recover from flooding damage.  Here is an overview from FEMA outlining available assistance:

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance

If you sustained loss from Hurricane Idalia and live in Citrus, Hernando, or Pasco counties, FEMA may be able to help. You may be eligible for FEMA financial assistance for temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured disaster-related expenses. To date, FEMA has approved $14 million for more than 7,000 households.  To apply:  Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App for mobile devices, or call toll-free 800-621-3362. The line is open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Help is available in most languages.  The deadline to apply is Oct. 30, 2023.

If You Have Insurance

FEMA assistance cannot duplicate insurance payments but if your insurance does not cover some of your disaster expenses, FEMA may be able to help. File your insurance claim as soon as possible and apply to FEMA. FEMA may conduct an inspection to verify loss for the purpose of your application. That is separate from any inspection your insurance provider may conduct and is limited to the basic habitability of the home. FEMA may also connect you to other sources of support in recovery.

Renters May Apply for Assistance

Renters in the 14 counties who sustained loss can apply for federal disaster assistance. This includes students. FEMA may be able to help with temporary housing or other disaster-related expenses such as personal property, transportation, moving and storage, medical and dental, funeral assistance or child-care assistance.

No Charge for Services

FEMA teams are in communities helping people apply for assistance and conducting home inspections to verify damage for FEMA. These personnel carry FEMA photo ID and never charge for services. If someone asks for money for disaster assistance, they do not represent FEMA. Be alert to fraud, which sometimes follows a disaster.

What Kind of Help Can FEMA Provide?

FEMA assistance does not replace insurance and cannot restore your home to its pre-disaster condition. But FEMA may be able to provide help for uninsured or underinsured costs. File your insurance claim, then apply to FEMA.  Applicants may be eligible for more than one type of assistance. For instance, an applicant may qualify for a $700 grant for critical needs such as food and prescriptions, as well as additional grants for needs like temporary lodging and other disaster-related expenses. There are several ways in which FEMA can help:

Rental Assistance: Financial help for rent, including a security deposit, if your primary residence was made uninhabitable by the disaster. The assistance includes essential utilities such as electricity and water.

Housing Assistance: Covers repairs to structural parts of your home, such as windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, cabinets, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, utilities, well and septic system.

Other Needs Assistance: Covers disaster-related items such as medical and dental expenses; funeral and burial costs; furniture and appliances; specialized tools used in your occupation; educational materials; moving and storage; vehicles; generators.

Critical Needs Assistance: Immediate or critical needs are lifesaving and life-sustaining items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation. Critical Needs Assistance is a one-time $700 payment per household.

Clean and Sanitize Assistance: If your home was damaged by Hurricane Idalia but you can live in it safely, FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup. This assistance is for eligible homeowners and renters.

Low-Interest Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and other sources. Apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/. Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Application deadline for physical damage is Oct. 30, 2023, and for economic injury May 31, 2024. 

Last week, my colleagues and I also implored President Biden to declare a federal fishery disaster in response to the severe impacts of Hurricane Idalia. Approving this declaration will allow for the expeditious disbursal of disaster assistance to fishing and seafood businesses that have been disrupted and/or destroyed by the storm.  Please be assured I will continue working to ensure our community has the support it needs to fully recover.  

Demanding Accountability: Last week, the House Committee on Homeland Security released a second interim report for the Committee’s comprehensive oversight investigation into the crisis at the Southwest border and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.  This report provides firsthand testimony from law enforcement and insight from the frontlines of the border crisis, outlining how cartels gained unprecedented control at the Southwest border and how President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas are incentivizing cartels’ human smuggling and drug trafficking by refusing to secure our sovereign borders or enforce our nation’s laws.   

The report also outlines how the chaos at the Southwest border under this administration has allowed cartels to expand their control and sphere of influence into the interior of the U.S., including through violent gangs like MS-13.  Unfortunately, Secretary Mayorkas has proven himself willfully ignorant to the tactics transnational criminal organizations are using. Secretary Mayorkas’ dereliction of duty has turned every city in America into a border city. During my conversations with constituents over the past several weeks, it has been abundantly clear that the majority of our neighbors are seriously concerned by the crisis at the border and want to see action. When I return to DC, I will relay this message and continue to demand accountability.  

Learning from You Here at Home: 

One of my goals is to help bring more of your tax dollars back to address issues facing our community.   Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties deserve their fair share of the money being allocated in Washington, and I will not stop working to make sure that happens.  Last week, I hosted a grant workshop for local governments and non-profits to help them learn more about existing grant opportunities and strategies they can utilize to secure those dollars to address priority needs.  

I had two forums scheduled for the day before Hurricane Idalia was scheduled to hit our coast.  Due to the impending storm, I had to postpone.  Please find the newly rescheduled events below.   I hope you will be able to join us!

Raising Awareness:  An estimated 22 Veterans per day commit suicide. This tragic and startling statistic is proof that we have to do more to support those who have bravely served our country. We have passed new laws to enhance outreach and supportive services. However, during this Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, I challenge each of you to reach out to the Veterans in your life, thank them for their service, and let them know they are not alone!

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 joined Alicia Franklin-Penix and her family as they celebrated the dedication of their new home that was built in Holiday through the Habitat for Humanity program.  Congratulations to the Franklin-Penix family! 

My team was also proud to attend the Pasco Economic Development Council's annual event to recognize the most innovative small businesses within our community and to celebrate all of the economic growth that the county continues to experience.

Additionally, my team was honored to participate in the Prayer Breakfast for First Responders in Citrus County.  These heroes work hard each and every day to keep our community safe and we are grateful for their efforts.   

Constituent Corner

My office recently received this letter after my team successfully helped him obtain copies of his dad's military medals. 

I want to thank you for your team's effort to help me get copies of my dad's military medals. When we were transitioning my dad into long-term care after my mom's passing - these precious memories were tragically lost.  Having the replacement medals means the world to him as he seeks to adjust to his new home.  You have no idea how much this means to our family.  THANKS A MILLION!

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!  

Sincerely,

Gus Bilirakis
Member of Congress