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Dear Neighbor,
I wish the joy, promise and spirit of renewal that accompanies this season to all my Orthodox brothers and sisters celebrating Easter alongside me today. I hope you can enjoy quality time with those you love! Christos Anesti! Please continue reading for a brief overview of my work on your behalf last week.
Making Washington Work for You: Last week was national Small Business Week. It is important to remember that since President Biden’s inauguration, the cost of federal regulations has reached $1.3 trillion. It will also take an estimated 267-million-man hours to complete paperwork to comply with the regulations enacted under the Biden Administration. Compared with the Trump Administration, regulatory costs from the Biden Administration are over 45 times higher. We need to remove unnecessary and duplicative regulations so that small businesses can innovate and thrive!
Protecting Children: I’m working with Pasco County Sheriff Nocco to ensure our laws to protect children online keep pace with technological advancements. Click here to read more.
Preventing Fraud and Abuse in Medicaid: In last week’s Health Subcommittee hearing, we reviewed several proposals to prevent fraud and abuse in Medicaid, including my LIVE Beneficiaries Act which would require states to check the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File database on a quarterly basis and verify that Medicaid patients are not deceased. An audit of just 14 states found more than $249 million in improper Medicaid payments for deceased enrollees. This is a simple and common sense way to crack down on fraud. Click here to learn more.
Preserving Emergency Communication Access: In the Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee, we discussed the importance of ensuring access to AM radio. Click here to listen.
Defending our Border: I was proud to vote in favor of critical legislation that will help us protect Florida’s coastline. The Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Water Act will allow US Customs and Border Protection and the US Coast Guard the ability to intercept traffickers and illegal aliens up to 24 miles off the coast. This bill is especially timely given the current political crisis in Haiti.
Restoring Energy Independence: I also voted for a series of bills that will protect Americans' access to public lands and waters, help unleash American energy dominance, and restore power back to the communities, tribes, and local leaders who have stewarded our resources for generations. I was proud these bills passed the House with my support and I urge my Senate colleagues to expedite their passage.
Honoring a Hero Who Paid the Ultimate Price: I was honored to be joined by the family of Captain Thomas Clem who was listed as Missing in Action when his aircraft failed to return from a mission over North Vietnam on May 3rd 1968. Following Operation Homecoming, Captain Clem’s status was reclassified as Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered. Some of Captain Clem’s family members live in my district, and as such I was pleased to support their application to have Captain Clem memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery. Upon approval of this request, Captain Clem’s family was in DC for the ceremony.
Learning from You Here at Home: I had a great time with Hernando Sheriff Al Nienhuis and other community stakeholders at the 36th Annual Coastal Conservation Association Hernando Banquet and Auction. These passionate leaders are working to conserve, promote, and enhance the present and future availability of coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public. I look forward to helping them achieve this important objective.
I was also honored to participate in a celebration of our local heroes in Brooksville. This wonderful tribute to our first responders, military personnel and Veterans is an important reminder of the service and sacrifices that are made each day to keep us safe. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.
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 participate in the Law Enforcement Memorial event in Pasco County. It is an important remember that many heroes have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our community safe!
My team also participated in this year's National Day of Prayer ceremony in Inverness.
Additionally, my team was proud to celebrate student success at this year's PACE Center for Girls of Pasco County's breakfast.
Constituent Corner
My team recently received this message after helping a constituent connect with a community resource.
I was having an issue with the FL Division of Blind Services and The Lighthouse in New Port Richey where they had closed my request for services. I gave your staff a copy of my appeal letter and explained the issue. I suffer with Progressive Age Related Macular Degeneration with Geographic Atrophy that has no cure. I requested pro-active assistance from the Lighthouse in New Port Richey to prepare myself for the eventual blindness which will follow. Just over 12 hours after that meeting, the CEO of the Lighthouse was contacted. After some disagreement with the Florida Division of Blind Services, the New Port Richey Lighthouse reached out to me and offered me a class "Adjustment to Blindness, Passages" which I attended from March 28 until completion on April 18, 2024. I have also requested classes on my HP Desktop Computer and Android Cell Phone to enhance my ability to continue to use these devices. They took note of my request in the Passages class. I wish to Thank You, Mr. Bilirakis, and especially your staff who did an
amazing job at shining the light on my issue which resulted in me starting the path to dealing with a condition I never imagined I would have.
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! |
