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Dear Neighbor,
Last Sunday, there was a second assassination attempt on former President Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course. I am grateful President Trump is safe, and I applaud his strength and resiliency. However, there must be a serious examination into the security failures that have allowed two would-be assassins to gain such close proximity to a former U.S. President and current Presidential candidate. I was glad to see Speaker Johnson expand the purview of the Bipartisan Select Committee investigating the Pennsylvania assassination attempt to include this newest incident, and I call on the Biden-Harris Administration to take these threats seriously. We must ensure adequate resources to ensure this does not happen again. Additionally, Democrats must be mindful that their dangerous rhetoric, labeling President Trump as a “threat to democracy” is fueling political violence – something that is truly dangerous to democracy.
Last week, I voted in support of the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024, which passed the House. It directs the U.S. Secret Service to use the same standards to determine the number of agents in a protection detail for Presidents, Vice Presidents, and major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. Political violence has no place in our country, but when it does rear its ugly head, we must ensure we’ve done everything possible to prevent it from being successful.
Please continue reading to learn about my work on your behalf last week!
Fighting for Our Heroes: I was proud to vote in support of this measure to ensure Veterans don’t suffer as a result of the VA’s incompetence. We are also demanding better from the VA in the future. I urge my Senate colleagues to swiftly pass this important bill.
I’m also proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Lifesaving Gear for Police Act, which was filed last week. This measure will help local law enforcement entities across the country access surplus military equipment that many local organizations would otherwise not be able to afford, including additional bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, upgraded safety gear, and larger assets like helicopters and robotics. These resources have proven helpful as local agencies conduct search and rescue missions and deliver aid to victims of natural disasters.
Strengthening Vital Healthcare Programs: My Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for (LIVE) Beneficiaries Act passed out of the House last week. As we work to ensure the long-term solvency of critical safety net programs, we have an obligation to ensure we are serving as good stewards of taxpayer dollars. This means we must always prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. By implementing simple safeguards like the ones in my bill, we can strengthen these programs and help ensure they are meeting their intended purpose of providing access to quality care for our most vulnerable citizens.
My Expanding Language Access in Telehealth Act also passed the House last week. It will improve access to telehealth services by directing the HHS to develop best practices to improve language access for Medicare beneficiaries who have unique needs, such as patients in rural communities and patients with disabilities specifically when seeking behavioral health care via video-based and audio-only telehealth. We’ve seen in recent years how valuable telehealth can be for expanding access to critical behavioral health treatment. However, it has become apparent that some seniors need additional support in order to fully utilize this tool in an effective manner. It is not enough to simply provide access to treatment, which is why our bill goes a step further and ensures that providers and patients receive the training and support they need to take full advantage of this essential tool. My bill passed as part of the SPEAK Act, a larger package which promotes patient telehealth education and knowledge.
Protecting Children and Empowering Parents: The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), my bill to empower parents with the tools they need to keep kids safe and to require that Big Tech implement improved safety measures for youngest users while protecting First Amendment rights, passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee last week. We have a solid group of bipartisan supporters in the House and Senate, and I look forward to seeing it across the finish line. As I’ve advanced this bill through the process, I’ve met with so many parents who have tragically lost their children after experiencing online bullying and other harms. Unfortunately, in most cases, the parents were unaware their child was even experiencing the abuse. We’ve simply got to do more to protect children and give parents a fighting chance when it comes to keeping their kids safe. I won’t rest until we do.
Modernizing Government Operations: Millions of Americans can now renew their passports online at their convenience & from the comfort of their own homes. If you run into trouble, my office casework team is still available to help! Click here to learn more.
Stopping Government Overreach: The Federal Trade Commission has a long, bipartisan history of protecting consumers, without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. Unfortunately, in recent years, the Commission has eroded public trust by failing to be transparent with Congress and overstepping its’ congressional mandate, resulting in losses in court, and losing the confidence of longstanding dedicated career staff, many of whom have left in recent years. During our Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee hearing, we examined how the FTC’s departure from its’ traditional standards has negatively impacted Americans’ daily lives, consumer safety, and small businesses throughout the country.
Serving as a Good Steward of Your Hard Earned Tax Dollars: Your tax dollars should not be used to fund the poor decisions that some state and local governments are making to give incentivized benefits to illegal aliens, which is why I was proud to vote in support of the No Bail Out for Sanctuary Cities Act, which passed the House last week.
Americans also don’t want their hard-earned tax dollars being used to advance a liberal agenda. That is why the House passed the End Woke Higher Education Act last week, with my support. This bill will prevent any federal funding from going to college campuses that insist on indoctrinating students with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion propaganda and that fail to provide free speech on their college campuses.
Deporting Criminals: We’ve had enough violent crime committed by illegal aliens. The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act will make illegal aliens who are convicted or who admit to committing sex offenses or domestic violence inadmissible and deportable from the US. It passed the House last week with my support!
Learning from You Here at Home: I enjoyed meeting with constituents at my Coffee with Your Congressman forum held at Weslyan Village in Hernando County. It was great to hear about the issues that are impacting their families and to listen to their ideas for how we can tackle those challenges.
Last week, the Citrus County YMCA held its inaugural Veterans' Celebration Breakfast to honor our local heroes. I was privileged to speak to this special group about the work I am doing on their behalf in Washington. I'll never stop fighting for our Veterans!
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 celebrated the unveiling of a new exhibit at the Pioneer Museum in Dade City. This treasured community resources helps teach local children about our history.
My team also attended the ribbon cutting for the Lecanto Hugging Farm.
Additionally, my team participated in the Citrus County Veteran's Foundation's annual event which raised over $500,000 to support local heroes in need.
Constituent Corner
My team recently received this note after helping one of our constituents obtain a copy of her father's military records.
Thank you so much for all your help getting me timely copies of my dad's military paperwork. This enabled me to help my mother apply for the widow's benefits. I would not have known how to go about this if it were not for your staff's help. We are forever grateful!
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! |
