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Dear Neighbor,
I’m sure you may have seen reports about all that drama that unfolded in Washington, DC last week which led to eight Republicans joining with every Democrat in the House to remove Kevin McCarthy from his position as Speaker. A candidate forum for those wishing to replace him and the election for a new Speaker will be held next week. To be clear, I have no intention of allowing DC drama, which has very little impact on the lives of those I serve, to distract from my continued work to cut spending, reduce the debt, lower inflation, secure the border, protect seniors and Veterans and improve the lives of my constituents. I worked with McCarthy to achieve these objectives, and I’ll work just as well with whomever we select to replace him. We have serious work to do, and I take that responsibility very seriously. As referenced in this article in the Wall Street Journal last week, I'm proud to have built a reputation as the kind of guy with solid conservative credentials who keeps his head down, gets stuff done and avoids drama. Please be assured that will continue to be my approach moving forward as I work to ensure the Republican comference governs in a way that reflects your values and does our country justice.
Please continue reading for a brief overview of my efforts last week.
Making Washington Work For You
Advocating for Veterans: The VA has recently implemented a nation-wide edict that requires all Veterans to submit travel reimbursement forms through an online portal. While this may be more convenient for some Veterans, it will not work for all. We have Veterans who live in places throughout the country that don’t have internet access and other Veterans who may not have access to or the skills necessary to use a computer. While I’ve worked with my local VA to provide alternative solutions for local Veterans in these instances, I have also filed legislation to require the VA to implement reasonable accommodations for all Veterans. This is an important issue negatively impacting Veterans throughout the country, and I will not stop fighting on their behalf until common sense prevails. Click here to learn more about my legislation.
Enhancing Programs to Protect Vulnerable Seniors: I just filed commonsense legislation to employ the basic principles of value-based health care in order to improve health outcomes for high risk seniors. We must look at the big picture. It is impossible to improve the population health of communities without addressing the factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. Prevention, education, and access are essential components of effective health care programs such as Medicare. Allowing Medicare Advantage programs to tailor supplemental benefits based upon these factors can both help save money in the long run and more importantly improve patient outcomes for high-risk seniors. This is not just a pragmatic approach, it is the right thing to do as we work to ensure all seniors receive the best possible care. Click here to learn more.
Prioritizing American Needs: While I have extreme compassion for the people of Ukraine and abhor Putin's illegal and immoral war, I have been a strong opponent of continued U.S. funding for Ukraine, as indicated by this report card. My objection has been three-fold: I do not believe there has been sufficient accountability for the funds already provided, I do not believe there is a sufficient exit strategy and metric for what constitutes success in our involvement there, and I believe we have our own dire national security needs that should be prioritized. My colleagues and I also introduced the Define the Mission Act last week. This legislation aims to provide the American people with clarity about the Biden administration’s aims in aiding Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. By clarifying the Biden administration’s strategy, it could help limit the “mission creep” and increasing escalation against a nuclear-armed Russia. Click here to read about our bill.
Demanding Answers: I was also outraged to learn that the Department of State has given US tax dollars to a group that is known to have ties to terrorists. My colleague and I are demanding answers. Click here to learn more about this issues and our efforts to respond.
Learning from You Here at Home: During my Behavioral Health Forum in Hernando County last week,we had a great conversation about mental health and substance abuse issues and the need to improve access to quality treatment options within our community. Thank you to everyone who participated. Please know this will continue to be a priority issue for me as I work on your behalf in Washington.
Also, a special thank you for all the Veterans who came out to my town hall last week. It was a great opportunity for local heroes to share their experiences directly with the leaders of James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and to advocate for the services that are needed in the community. I will never stop fighting on their behalf.
Friday was National Manufacturing Day! Boosting domestic manufacturing is key to creating a strong economy, as it generates more economic activity than other sector of the economy. For every dollar of domestic manufacturing value-added, another $3.60 of economic activity is generated elsewhere across the economy. We must continue to increase quality training opportunities, including hands-on apprenticeship programs to ensure our youth gain the skills needed to meet the demand of this critical field, which is why I was proud to attend this week’s ribbon cutting of AmSkills Workforce Education in Pasco County. I secured $3 million in federal funding to help enhance the workforce programs offered through this vital program.
Providing Free Dental Care for Veterans in Need: Do you know a Veteran in need of dental care? My team is once again proud to host Stars, Stripes and Smiles -- an opportunity for local Veterans in need to receive free dental care. I believe oral health is an important part of wellness, which is why I've filed a bill to expand Veteran access to dental care. However, in the interim, I'm grateful to the local dentists volunteering their time and skill to take care of our local heroes' urgent needs. In order to receive care, Veterans must call my office at 727-232-2921 to register as space is limited.
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 attend the Cryo-Eeze Gala to support a new organization in Pasco that is offering alternative and complementary treatments to our nation's heroes.
My team also was proud to attend the Citrus County Leadership Summit where issues plaguing the community and potential solutions were discussed.
Additionally, my team enjoyed learning about workforce development activities and AI business applications on a community tour with the NatureCoast Manufacturing Association.
Constituent Corner
My office recently received this message from a constituent after my team helped resolve a passport problem.
Just a quick note to say thanks for helping save our family vacation! We called your office in a panic five days before our flight was scheduled to leave because we still hadn't gotten our kids' passports back after waiting months. The woman I spoke with in your office was so patient and kind. That same afternoon we got an email from your office with a confirmed time slot at the Miami passport office for the next morning. We were able to get to Miami, get their passports and get back in time for our flights out of Tampa. We had an amazing trip to London together. Thank you so much for making it possible.
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! |
