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Dear Neighbor,
We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who bravely answered the call to serve our nation. The price of our freedom has been paid through their service and sacrifice. On this Veterans Day weekend and always, we thank and honor them! My team and I were honored to participate in Veterans Day celebrations that were held last week throughout Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. It was wonderful to see so many of our neighbors coming out to show support for our nation’s heroes! I was especially grateful to see how many children throughout our community are being taught the value of patriotism and service.
 (Pictured above: Brookridge Veteran Ceremony in Springhill, Glen Lakes Veterans Golf Tournament in Weeki Wachee, Citrus County Veterans Day Celebrtion, First Christian Veterans Ceremony, and St. Michael Church Knights of Columbus Veterans Day Program)
 (Pictured above: Notre Dame Catholic School Veterans Ceremony in Spring Hill, YMCA Hernando Veterans Brunch, City of Brooksville Veterans Day Celebration, Volunteer Way Veterans Pinning Ceremony in New Port Richey, Pasco-Hernando Veterans BBQ, Trinity Heroes Essay Contest, Pasco County Schools Veterans Day Salute, and New Port Richey Rotary Veterans Day Program)
(Pictured above: Citrus Veterans Day Celebration, Heritage Springs Veterans Day event, Baldemero Lopez Veterans Nursing Home)
Prior to returning home for Veterans Day, I had a busy week in Washington, DC. Continue reading for a brief recap of my efforts on your behalf.
Making Washington Work for You
Restoring Fiscal Sanity: The most recent jobs report contains further proof that “Bidenomics” is continuing to hurt all Americans. Remember, inflation was just 1.4% when Biden took office. Prices are up 17.1% since then. It is time to restore fiscal sanity and stop the reckless government spending on liberal priorities.
Seeking Transparency: We are also demanding full transparency of the Biden Administration’s recent settlement with migrants who were separated from their families after illegally entering the United States. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to reward those who violated the law.
Taking a Stand: I find it completely unfathomable that Americans would actively condone the destruction of Israel and praise horrific acts of terrorism. There is no room for hatred and anti-Semitism in our society.
Advocating for Veterans: As Co-Chair of the House Military Veterans Caucus, I was proud to host an important discussion on Veterans’ Mental Health. It is vital to remember that one size does not fit all when it comes to an issue as sensitive as ensuring our nation’s heroes have access to the treatment they need to deal with both visible and invisible scars. We must continue to end the stigma associated with seeking help and empower Veterans in the development of a plan to meet their individual needs.
I was also honored to join Senator Rick Scott at Friday’s field hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging to discuss ways Congress can help ensure Veterans have access to the care and benefits they deserve. It was a great discussion with tangible action items. I look forward to working with Senator Scott to implement these exciting ideas.
Protecting Your Privacy: My colleague is correct in this column; TikTok is a dangerous tool the CCP uses to manipulate and spy-on Americans. I’m continuing to push for safeguards that will provide greater transparency and privacy protections for all Americans.
Securing our Border: As noted in this article, a wanted African terror suspect was mistakenly released into our country by border patrol. This is only the most recent indication that Biden’s reckless open border policies are making our country less safe. HR 2, a bill I cosponsored, would require the Biden Administration to secure our border and enforce the rule of law. Unfortunately, the Senate is refusing to take action on this critical measure, which is unconscionable. We need to secure the border now!
Promoting Tourism: As Co-Chair of the House Travel and Tourism Caucus, I understand the important role that this sector plays in our local, state and national economy. It is great to see the Tampa Bay area continuing to experience record growth in tourism! I will continue to support policies that boost this job creating industry.
Learning from You Here at Home:
Helping our Heroes: I was proud to partner with Pasco-Hernando State College and local dentists to provide free dental care to Veterans in need during my annual Stars, Stripes and Smiles event. Click here to learn more about how we were able to help.
Removing the Red Tape: I understand the importance of river restoration, which is why one of my first acts after becoming the representative for Citrus County this year was to facilitate multiple meetings with local leaders, project engineers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While we still encountered far too much bureaucratic red tape, I am pleased that we were finally able to get the project approved and started. Click here to read more about our efforts.
Helping Return Your Tax Dollars to our Community: I’m always pleased to help local governments throughout Florida’s 12th Congressional District receive their fair share of allocated federal funds. While I am no proponent of big government spending, and I am actively working to rein in Washington’s reckless behavior, I do have a duty to ensure my community receives its fair share of allocated federal resources. It is important for me to be transparent about my efforts to prioritize important community needs and provide targeted support. In a time when local law enforcement is understaffed, these desperately needed funds will help give Citrus County Sheriff Prendergast and Hernando County Sheriff Nienhuis the tools they need to keep our community safe. They do a remarkable job with limited resources, and I am confident these additional funds will enable them to expand their efforts.
As part of my commitment to helping return more of my constituents’ hard-earned tax dollars to my district, I have developed a robust Federal Grant Support initiative within my office. Our grant team meets proactively with local officials to assess community needs. The team then works to identify potential sources of existing federal funding for which the local stakeholders can apply. Our grant team also provides ongoing support for local applicants throughout the grant process with letters of support, grant workshops, and other helpful resources. For more information, visit my website.
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 proud to attend the unveiling of the Purple Heart Corner at Citrus High School. The Purple Heart Corner is a place where the military medals and honors can be memorialized and appreciated after the Veteran who earned the honor is no longer with us. I’m proud that Citrus County Schools is the first Purple Heart School System in the country and continues to find innovative ways to teach future generations of children about the importance of military service.
My team also attended a day of service at the Sunrise Domestic Violence Shelter in Pasco County. They were on hand as Spectrum Communications presented a $50,000 donation to the center along with laptops and three years of free internet to their clients. A team of volunteers and staff members also worked on landscaping and maintenance projects at the facility. Sunrise does a tremendous job helping domestic violence victims obtain safe refuge while rebuilding their lives.
Additionally, my team recently distributed free dictionaries to students at the Challenger K-8 School of Science and Mathematics.
Constituent Corner
My office recently received this message from a constituent who participated in the Stars, Stripes and Smiles event.
I just wanted to say my dental appointment at (PHSC) went very well. Special thanks to Congressman Gus Bilirakis and staff, as well as the team at PHSC for all you do for the veterans! Keep up your outstanding efforts in the community.
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! |
