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Dear Neighbor,
Last week, the House passed one of the two appropriations packages for FY 2024. While there were some cuts and some conservative policy wins in the package, I was forced to vote no on the bill because it simply didn’t go far enough. We have a $34 trillion debt. The interest payment for this year on that debt is $870 billion. We can’t restore fiscal sanity and ease the pain of inflation that every household is experiencing unless we make meaningful cuts to federal spending. We’ve got to live within our means and balance the budget. This bill doesn’t achieve that goal. From a fiscal standpoint, taxpayers would have been better off if the package didn’t pass and the statutorily scheduled April deadline would have enacted a 1% across the board cut for all discretionary spending. I also was disappointed that the package failed to end the FBI’s abuses against conservatives, and didn’t specifically prohibit funding for the following harmful initiatives:
- Red flag laws,
- DEI and CRT training
- The Wuhan Institute of Virology
- Biden’s Equity Action Plan, which is used to favor farmers based on race
- ESG investments
- Funding the Minority Business Development Agency, which a federal judge recently ruled is violating the constitution because of its racially based parameters for helping business owners.
The second appropriations package, which has not yet been released will continue funding for Homeland Security, Defense and the remaining federal agencies. I am committed to using the power of the purse to force the Biden Administration to secure the border. In order for me to consider voting for the next package, it will have to have meaningful border security provisions such as those we passed as part of HR 2.
Please continue reading for a brief recap of my efforts on your behalf last week.
Making Washington Work for You: I’m not sure what America President Biden was speaking about in his State of the Union address last week, but his empty rhetoric sure was out of touch with the experiences of my constituents. The current status of our union is chaos and disarray – because of the failed policies of this Administration. President Biden has weakened our position on the world stage, jeopardized our national security, weaponized federal agencies against the American public and worsened our financial circumstances. We need to re-enact America First policies that will create an economy that is strong, a nation that is secure, a future that is free and a government that is accountable! Click here to listen to my thoughts on the true state of our union.
Defending Your Right to Pick the Next President of the United States: Kudos to the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) for unanimously siding with President Trump and overturning Colorado’s efforts to remove him from the ballot. I was proud to join an Amicus Brief that implored SCOTUS to overturn Colorado’s unconstitutional ruling. Americans – not activist judges – should determine who our next President will be. I’m relieved to see the Court got this one right – It was a good day for our Republic!
Safeguarding our Critical Infrastructure: I’ve been very concerned about the recent data breach that is negatively affecting many Americans’ access to healthcare. I’ve been in touch with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to share my concerns about how this security breach is impacting providers and patients in my district and across America’s health care system. We are actively looking to provide timely resolution to those who are impacted and to prevent further disruption. As a senior member on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I plan to participate in all relevant hearings and briefings related to this breach to determine what went wrong and where we can make improvements to thwart future attacks. Cybercrime is the battlefield of the future and we must do more to proactively identify areas of vulnerability so we can fortify ourselves from the hostility of bad actors and foreign adversaries. I’ll continue to help lead the charge to strengthen our nation’s critical infrastructure – including health care systems – from future cyberattacks.
Combatting Human Trafficking: I enjoyed participating in a solution-oriented discussion with the Tim Tebow Foundation about how we can prevent human trafficking throughout our state and nation while providing better support to the victims of this horrific crime. Of particular concern is the high number children who are victimized while in foster care and as they transition to adulthood without a strong support system. I appreciate the good work of this wonderful organization on this issue and look forward to supporting their efforts.
Demanding Accountability: The Biden Administration has now admitted to flying as many as 320,000 illegal aliens on secret flights into the U.S., in an effort to decrease the number of illegal alien encounters at the Southern Border. This means that while record numbers of illegal aliens were flowing over the southern border last year, the Biden Administration was also directly transporting them into the country. This administration operates in secret and has been lying to the American people about their disastrous border policies. This final, obscene betrayal of U.S. sovereignty should most definitely be an impeachable offense.
Providing Hope for Children with Cancer: The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, a bill I co-authored, passed out of the House. Pediatric cancer remains the number one disease that leads to the death of American children. While survival rates have improved for some types of pediatric cancers, thousands of children are lost to cancer each year and many more encounter life threatening complications related to harsh chemotherapies. Children have significantly fewer treatment options than adults and oftentimes must rely on treatment regimens developed for adults because pediatric-specific treatments simply do not exist for many pediatric cancers and rare diseases. The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working to facilitate a better understanding of pediatric cancers and holds the promise for the development of better treatments and possible cures. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to expedite its final passage. Click here to listen to me discussing this bill on the House Floor.
Improving Travel Options for Families: I was proud to vote in favor of the Improving Travel for Families Act, which passed the House. It will allow children ages ten and under who are not a member of Global Entry to go through the Global Entry lanes with their parent or legal guardian who has Global Entry membership. It will also improve the efficiency of Global Entry interviews by allowing a parent or legal guardian to schedule a single appointment for a Global Entry membership interview for up to four children. I’ve received many complaints from constituents about Global Entry policies for families and this legislation will help alleviate some of those concerns.
Sounding the Alarm: More than 20,000 Chinese nationals have illegally crossed since the new fiscal year began on Oct. 1. That should alarm every American, including President Biden. And, it is yet one more reason he should do the right thing and close the border.
Fighting for Our Heroes: I stood along my colleagues and the House and Senate to push for passage of my Major Richard Star Act, which has overwhelming support in both Chambers. It will address the issue of concurrent receipt for more than 50k medically-retired combat Veterans, and I urge my colleagues to help me get it across the finish line this term. I call on both the House and Senate to incorporate this important policy change in the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
Keeping Americans Safe: In last week’s Energy and Commerce hearing, my colleagues and I voted unanimously in support of legislation to require TikTok’s divesture from ByteDance, its parent company, as a matter of national security and to protect the sensitive data of all American users. It has been crystal clear through prior hearings and committee testimony that Byte Dance is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This legislation will preserve the ability of Americans to continue using the popular platform – meaning there will be no change for the user – however, their privacy rights will be protected, national security interests will be upheld and the CCP will no longer have the ability to influence what is done with user’s information. This legislation has nothing to do with content moderation and has widespread bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
Prior to the vote, the CCP-controlled spy app previewed how it will one day be weaponized against America when it geolocated American cell phones, targeted them with messages that included false information and demanded the user pressure Congress to vote against the bill. The platform then locked the user out until the a phone call was made to their Member of Congress using the platform. This is just a taste of how the CCP weaponizes the applications it controls to manipulate tens of millions of Americans to further its agenda.
National Security experts uniformly assert that TikTok’s parent organization ByteDance represents a clear and present threat to our national security. As such, I am proud to support our bill to require the company’s divestiture.
Learning from You Here at Home: I was honored to give a brief legislative update to my constituents who live in Pristine Place in Hernando County. We talked about the importance of preserving Social Security and Medicare, helping our nation’s Veterans and promoting the development of cures and treatments for patients who are suffering. 
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 judge the speech contest at Citrus Elementary School. Such bright kids and wonderful presentations!
My team also attended the installation of a new trash catchment device in Hudson, called the "WaterGoat." It will help keep waterways throughout the community flowing freely without becoming congested with trash.
Additionally, my team participated in the recent the Hernando County Community Forum on Veterans' Mental Health. It is important that we encourage collaboration between stakeholders to ensure all Veterans have access to high quality mental health options.
Constituent Corner
I recently received this message from a constituent after my team helped expedite his VA Claim due to his emergency circumstances.
I want to thank Angel for her kindness in helping me with my VA claim. It was obvious she really cared about my situation and was committed to getting me urgent help. She didn't just treat me like a number I really appreciate having you in my corner.
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! |
