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Dear Neighbor,
After multiple weeks of discussion and discourse, I was proud to vote for my friend and colleague, Mike Johnson, who was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Mike Johnson is a true conservative with a proven record of unifying Members and fighting for Republican priorities. That was evidenced by the fact that every Republican voted for him on the House Floor. He is a principled man who is known for being fair, well-organized and determined. He is also a great communicator who has promised to build consensus and govern without asking our Members to compromise their fundamental principles. I have every confidence that he will do an outstanding job as Speaker. I am eager to get back to the work of governing and will work closely with him and his team to advance a conservative agenda while tackling the many pressing issues facing our nation. Together, we will deliver on our promises to the American people to secure our border, cut wasteful spending, fund our military, support Veterans, and protect seniors. Given the limited amount of time before current government funding expires on November 17th, we have no time to waste.
Speaker Johnson has already issued an ambitious and expedited timeline for finishing a variety of time sensitive matters over the next few weeks. Our first order of business after his election was passage of a Resolution in Support of Israel and of efforts to secure the release of American hostages that have been taken by the terror group, Hamas. Israel is our most steadfast ally and partner in the fight against global extremism and terror. We must support Israel as it defends itself. The Resolution reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defense, calls on countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas’s brutal war, prevents US foreign assistance from benefitting terrorists (either directly or indirectly) and urges full enforcement of US sanctions against Iran. Additionally, it resolves that the House stands ready to assist Israel with any emergency resupply and other security, diplomatic, and intelligence support it may need.
Over the coming weeks, we will continue to press forward on our remaining Appropriations packages. I believe Speaker Johnson will work to garner consensus, promote conservative principles and move us forward as a united caucus as we work on these important issues. You have my commitment that I will continue advocating for the issues that are most important to you and to our community throughout this process. Please continue reading for a brief overview of my work on your behalf last week.
Making Washington Work for You
Cutting Wasteful Spending: After the election of the Speaker and passage of the Resolution on Israel, we got straight back to work by passing the fifth of our twelve appropriations bills, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024. This bill prioritizes funding to maintain strong national security, energy security, and economic competitiveness, while also reining in Extreme Democrats’ reckless spending. It will terminate the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, returning control of waterways that historically have not fallen under federal jurisdiction to states. It also provides the necessary funding for the continued modernization of our nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure, while eliminating billions in wasteful funding for unrelated Green New Deal policies.
Securing our Border: Last week, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced 269,735 enforcement encounters in the month of September – making it the highest single month ever. Since Joe Biden took office, there have been over 6.2 illegal crossings at the southern border. Additionally, a record number of 169 people on the Terror Watch List were encountered by Border Patrol agents in FY2023. God only knows how many more who wish to do us harm were not stopped. Now, CBP officials are warning that Hamas fighters could use the border as a way to access the United States to launch attacks against our homeland. It is clear that our adversaries are exploiting Biden's weak open border policies, and it is endangering our nation. This unprecedented crisis at our border is a direct result of Joe Biden’s radical policies that have turned every community into a border community and jeopardized our national security. We must secure our border now. This will continue to be one of my primary goals throughout the appropriations process.
Supporting Seniors: During last week’s Health Subcommittee Hearing, we examined critical shortages within the long-term healthcare industry and its potential impact on patient care, which threatens to be exacerbated by the Biden Administration’s proposed Rule change through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Click here to listen to my exchange with the expert panelists on this important topic.
Also, as noted in this recent article, Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis across the nation and here at home. There are nearly 600,000 Floridians living with Alzheimer's in Florida. By 2025, that number is expected to grow by over 24%. These patients and their families are suffering, which is the primary reason why we must continue to support investment in research for treatments and cures for this debilitating disease.
Additionally, the Medicare Open Enrollment Period is officially open. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs funds a service, known as SHINE, to provide counseling and support for seniors who have questions about their healthcare options. If you have questions, feel free to call the number below.
 Preparing for the Future: The promises of artificial intelligence (AI) are vast—from more affordable energy and better health care to a more productive workforce. However, as outlined in this story, there are also significant threats associated with this emerging technology. To lead in AI development and deployment, we must lay the groundwork to protect people’s information with a national data privacy standard. As Chinese aggression toward the United States continues to grow, we are also in a global race to ensure new technologies are used to protect our national security and unleash American innovation while safeguarding data privacy. This will continue to be a focus of our Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee.
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships: In between GOP conference meetings, last week, I was able to welcome guests, including ambassadors from the embassies of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel for the 10th anniversary relaunch of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance, a Congressional Caucus I co-founded and co-chair. Given the war in Israel, the timing cannot be better to reassert the strong commitment Greece, Cyprus and the U.S. (3 +1) have towards Israel's defense. The defense, energy, and economic cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel has served as a xxxxxx against terrorists and other nefarious actors who seek to destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean. Many thanks to the Hellenic American Leadership Council and the American Jewish Committee who have worked seamlessly to ensure the 3 +1 relationship thrives.
Combatting Addiction: As highlighted in this local news story, addiction continues to ravage our community. Pasco County experienced a 13% increase in overdose deaths from 2021 to 2022 and overdose related deaths in Hernando and Citrus remain far too high. As we work to tackle this public health crisis, we must continue to support prevention programs and ensure those seeking treatment have access to quality care. It is also important to remember that the people dying in our communities from overdoses are more than just statistics. Addiction impacts countless families throughout our community. We need to keep working to remove the stigma associated with seeking help.
Learning from You Here at Home: I want to thank everyone who participated in my annual Veterans Resource Fair yesterday. I received positive feedback from many of the Veterans who participated, and I am so grateful to all those within our community who work to help our nation's heroes.
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 enjoyed learning more about Citrus County by participating in the Citrus County Chamber's annual Business Appreciation Month Bus Tour.
My team also toured Crystal River High School's Naval JROTC program. Led by Chief Warrant Rivera, the NJROTC recently received a Distinguished Unit Award for the 2023-24 school year by the Department of The Navy. This is the fourth time in five years that the program has achieved this prestigious honor. Congratulations on this impressive accomplishment!
Additionally, my team celebrated the contributions that Rotary International Members have made in the effort to eradicate polio during this month's Brooksville Rotary meeting.
Constituent Corner
My office recently received this message from a constituent after helping address a problem she was having with FEMA.
I want to thank you for helping me when I stopped by your office in New Port Richey. I got a confusing letter from FEMA regarding my recent flooding. And the nice lady at your front desk helped calm me down. She also put me in touch with someone who could help me at FEMA.
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! |
