Hello everyone! What a year it's been! 2023 was full of wins for District 27, and I couldn't be more proud to represent all of you in Congress. This year, I introduced a new and improved version of the Dignity Act, advocated for policies to lower the cost of living in Miami, and stood up to socialism at home and abroad. Like I always say, when God is with you, no one can be against you. Below is all the proof showing that God has been with me every step of the way. Wishing you and your families a wonderful New Year. Onward and upward, María Elvira Salazar U.S. Representative (FL-27) The Miami District Office: Ready to Serve You My Miami district office is always ready to serve District 27. We solved more than 3,300 cases. We're the go-to office when it comes to helping our constituents with their immigration, passport, Social Security cases, and more. Immigration cases: The district office helped constituents find answers from USCIS about their cases and assisted in requesting expeditious handling of their applications. Passport cases: The district office secured hundreds of in-person appointments at passport agencies and helped speed up pending passport applications ahead of the constituent’s travel date. Social Security: The district office's goal is to ensure deserving individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to. We have helped constituents with disabilities and widowed spouses retrieve the funds they need and even helped with recovering back payments. IRS: We provided personalized support to constituents navigating bureaucratic processes to secure delayed refunds and abatements. My office addressed each constituent's unique situation and provided a swift resolution. Our casework does not end there. Here are just three of the more than 3,300 cases that my district office was able to resolve. Connected constituents stuck in Israel during the Hamas war with the State Department and assisted with evacuations. Worked with USCIS to grant humanitarian parole to a family member of a terminally ill constituent. A young girl was declared cancer-free after receiving treatment in the US a few months after arriving under a Humanitarian Parole expedited by my office.  My district office attended 269 events with constituents. In 2023, our office made significant strides in supporting entrepreneurs. We assisted constituents eager to start new businesses, provided guidance on securing government contracts, explored financing opportunities, and offered valuable assistance to existing businesses. My team hosted an informative Small Business Administration Webinar on Disaster Loans to equip local businesses with crucial information. They attended the the SAM signing for Puerto Rico, which underscored our dedication to regional collaboration. My office attended multiple grand openings throughout the district and hosted 13 remote office hours to bring our services closer to you. We also just launched the Business Growth and Acceleration Program (BizGap) with the Florida International University Business School! This year, I secured $650,000 for BizGap to help District 27 constituents start or grow their small businesses. The program will offer everything from one-on-one consulting, to trainings and workshops, to connections to small business loans/grants, community resources, and industry professionals. In Congress: Legislating on Your Behalf The historic Dignity Act was born! This year, I introduced the bipartisan Dignity Act with my colleague and amiga Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX) to fix our broken immigration system. It is the first real attempt at major bipartisan immigration reform in more than a decade. My bill completely secures the border and provides God-fearing, hard-working immigrants a path out of the shadows. Dignity puts American interests first by implementing policies to help our farmers and keep food prices affordable. It's supported by the Florida Farm Bureau, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, and the Florida Tomato Exchange! The Dignity Act ensures that we are a nation of laws and second chances. It keeps the American Dream alive for future generations. The bill is gaining momentum in Congress and across America, and I look forward to taking it over the finish line to solve this issue once and for all. The fact is, Dignity is good for Miami and good for America. I introduced 23 bills. All these bills combined reflect the main priorities that you, my constituents in District 27, care about. My direction stands strong as I continue to fight for District 27. Three of my bills passed the House of Representatives in this legislative session, two of which were signed into law! Since taking office, six of my bills have passed into law. My RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act forces the Small Business Administration to recoup the billions in stolen pandemic loans they discovered this year. The Biden Administration just announced that they will be implementing my bill at the end of this year! My resolution denouncing the evils of socialism was passed in a BIPARTISAN vote by the People’s House. We sent a very strong message to the world that America will never be a socialist country. My REEF Act turns retired Navy ships into artificial reefs to boost South Florida's marine environment health, create recreational opportunities, promote tourism, and support our veterans passed into law! It was included in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, the legislation that funds our Department of Defense. We also got 3 amendments included in critical legislation. One of them was my REJECT Latinx Act, which was formally included in the Financial Services & General Government Appropriations Act. The Biden Administration tried to force woke terminology on Latinos, and my amendment stops them right in their tracks. At Hearings: Asking the Tough Questions The House Foreign Affairs Committee named me Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. I held hearings questioning the Biden Administration’s callous treatment of our allies and accommodating attitude toward our enemies, especially in the cases of El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Panama. I also convened hearings exposing the threat Socialism of the 21st Century still poses to Latin America, including in Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Argentina. These hearings are paired with significant pieces of legislation designed to put the pressure on our enemies in Havana, Caracas, and Managua while supporting exile communities in the United States and the cause for freedom in their home countries. Some of this legislation includes my Nicaragua Political Prisoner Support Act, the CASES Act, and the VOICE Act. I will always fight against the tyranny of the Cuban regime! Because of my work on the Foreign Affairs Committee alone, it should come as no surprise that the Cuban regime hates me. In fact, my first bill in Congress, the FORCE Act, sought to keep Cuba on the “State Sponsor of Terrorism” list. The bill was passed by the Foreign Affairs Committee and is ready to be debated in the Senate. The Work Doesn't Stop I'm focusing on improvements for Miami. Aside from immigration and foreign affairs, many of the bills I have introduced are focused on specific improvements for Miami. I fought to give Miami veterans who served at the Panama Canal Zone the healthcare benefits they deserve and have still not received through the Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act. I introduced multiple bills to stimulate international trade with some of our primary Latin American partners, including Ecuador and Uruguay. As Gateway to the Americas, trade for Miami is critical! I am fighting to lower Miami housing prices by preventing illicit money from entering our real estate market while expanding opportunities for affordable housing. The threat to Miami's coast remains top of mind. I continue to be a champion to protect and address Miami’s Environment. I led on a bipartisan bill to create a national coordination strategy on adaptation and resilience for security to defend our shores. I also led on legislation to give tax credits to Miami families and small businesses to invest in natural disaster mitigation improvements to protect their homes and property. This year, the Republican Majority showed the world that America will never be a socialist country. I also introduced legislation to ensure schools have the resources to teach the dangers of communism and socialism in the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, which also passed the Education and Workforce Committee this year. CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA! ‌ ‌ ‌ Have questions? Reach me at: [link removed] Washington, D.C. 2162 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3931 Miami, FL 5725 SW 8th St Suite 200, Miami, FL 33144 Phone: (305) 668-2285 Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar | 2162 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]