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Dear Neighbor,
As you may be aware, federal government funding was set to expire last Friday. It is important to recognize that the House has done significant work to consider individual appropriations bills since electing a new Speaker of the House just a few weeks ago. I understand that more must be done to right-size federal spending, address Biden's open border policies, and end the weaponization of federal agencies. The two-part stopgap spending bill I supported last week provides an opportunity to achieve these goals by:
- Decoupling government funding from the White House’s $105 billion supplemental request
- Blocking the anticipated Senate-led CR with a holiday deadline – leading to a bloated omnibus and combined White House supplemental request package
- Providing a little more time for House leadership to aggressively negotiate conservative priorities in both supplemental appropriations and the twelve annual funding bills.
I do firmly believe Congress has to end the practice of passing Continuing Resolutions (CRs) because they allow business as usual to go on without taking seriously our obligation to reduce catastrophic spending levels and rein in the administration's abuses of power. However, I am also practical and realize that with narrow control over only one Chamber of one branch of government, we must be strategic in order to achieve our long term goals. Speaker Johnson has been clear that he will not support future CRs and that this last temporary measure is necessary to help increase the odds of securing future conservative wins in the coming months. He has my support in this approach.
Please continue reading to learn more about my efforts on your behalf last week.
Making Washington Work for You:
Securing our Border: In FY23, CBP encountered a record 169 individuals on the terror watch list at the border- that’s more than the combined total for the previous six years combined. I can't help but wonder: Who are they? Where are they from? What do they want? We deserve answers! The Biden Border Crisis has wreaked havoc across the United States and has put Americans in danger. We need to secure the border now!
In addition to the grave national security concerns the situation presents, the border crisis is something Americans simply can't afford. A new report from the House Homeland Security Committee outlines how American taxpayers are on the hook for up to $451 billion to care for migrants who entered the US illegally and were released into the country or escaped custody. Americans deserve accountability for the poor decision making by the Biden Administration that is adding to our fiscal troubles.
Last week, I voted to impeach Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors. Through testimony provided during Oversight and Homeland Security Committee Hearings, it has been made quite clear that he has failed to enforce the rule of law and that his poor decisionmaking has jeopardized our national security. Unfortunately, eight of my Republican colleagues joined with every Democrat in the House to block his impeachment. I will not be deterred; I will not rest until our border is secure.
Tackling the Debt: Debt per taxpayer now exceeds $250,000. It is unsustainable. We’re taking this threat seriously and won’t stop fighting to right-size government spending throughout the appropriations process.
In a recent survey, almost two-thirds of Americans say their household expenses have risen over the last year, but only 25% say they’ve seen their income raised during the same period. Also, 73% of Americans describe the economy as poor. In total, 50% of all Americans say they are worse off under President Biden than they were before he took office. We’ve got to course-correct and start making fiscally responsible choices. My colleagues and I are committing to doing so.
Helping Cancer Patients: My colleagues and I have introduced the Cancer Patient Equity Act which will lower the cost of oral cancer treatment for patients. You can read more about how it will help by clicking here.
Protecting Children: This testimony from another whistle blower further confirms what we have known: Big Tech cannot be trusted to do the right thing when it comes to protecting its youngest users. This underscores the urgent need to hold Big Tech accountable and to enact a national privacy standard that includes enhanced safeguards for children online.
Thwarting Growing Chinese Aggression and Influence: This new report should be startling for every American.
China is harnessing the power of technology to try to turn us against one another. We cannot let them succeed – our privacy and data security framework will ensure Americans know whether their data is accessible to the CCP. I also have grave concerns over a company with significant Chinese Communist Party influence expanding its reach over the U.S. tech industry. I believe this proposal by Google warrants further investigation and will work with my colleagues to ensure that happens.
Advancing Healthcare Priorities: In last week’s Health Subcommittee markup, we passed 21 bills that will help ensure seniors on Medicare have access to the treatments and equipment that give them the best chance of improved quality of life, and that providers have the stability needed to ensure they can provide the best possible care to patients. Three bills that I co-authored were passed as part of the markup.
Combatting Addiction: A recent study shows that one in six Americans suffered with a substance abuse problem in 2022, meaning addiction is more widespread than many realize. It is negatively impacting families throughout our community. We must step up our efforts to stop the illicit drug trafficking pouring into our borders. And we must do a better job with prevention initiatives and ensure quality treatment options exist for those seeking help. As a society we should work to remove the stigma associated with seeking help.
Learning from You Here at Home:
I recenlty had the pleasure of attending the Pasco Kids First Paint the Night Blue Gala. Pasco Kids First does an incredible job providing trauma-informed counseling to children in our community who have been abused. It was wonderful to see so many in our community supporting such a wonderful cause!
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 hearing from Stephanie Urchick, the incoming President of Rotary International about her upcoming trip to Taiwan during a recent meeting of the Dade City Sunrise Rotary Club.
My team also participated in the Pasco County Schools Transitional Support Night in Trinity. The event was designed to help students with developmental disabilities learn how to access community resources.
Additionally, my team was proud to participate in a recent Veterans Job Fair in Hernando County.
Constituent Corner
My office recently received this message from a constituent after my team assisted on her friend's Social Security Disability case.
I have been working with Angel in your office for the last few days on a Status Check for SSD, for a good friend, Lori. My friend had applied for SSD after a severe stroke at the age of 60 back in Feb 2023. Angel and James both responded right away and were very helpful! Angel supplied us with all the information and privacy form we needed again, along with being patient and understanding when I made an error. She provided us with guidance and direction. I wanted to give her KUDOS from Lori’s family and friends. She is a stellar employee!
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! |
