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Dear Neighbor,

It has been an incredibly emotional week—one that began with preparations for the solemn remembrance of 9/11, a day that continues to weigh heavily on the hearts of Americans as we honor the innocent lives lost and the heroes who rose in the face of unspeakable tragedy. As the nation paused to reflect on that unimaginable loss and the resilience that followed, we were struck by yet another devastating blow: the brutal assassination of Charlie Kirk. The news spread rapidly, leaving countless Americans stunned, heartbroken, and searching for answers. The emotional burden of commemorating past sorrow while facing fresh grief has created a profound sense of national mourning, unity, and unease—all within the span of just a few days.  I am shocked and sickened by the senseless killing of Charlie Kirk, a courageous American patriot whose voice, convictions, and unwavering commitment to this country inspired millions. My deepest prayers are with his young, widowed wife and the two beautiful children he leaves behind. May they find peace, strength, and comfort in the midst of this unimaginable pain, knowing that Charlie has gone home to his Heavenly Father.  There is no place for political violence in our society. No cause, no grievance, no ideology can justify such a horrific act. We must reject hatred and extremism in all its forms and reaffirm our shared commitment to civil discourse, the rule of law, and the peaceful exchange of ideas.  Let us honor Charlie’s memory by standing firm in the values he championed and carrying forward the mission he so passionately believed in. May his legacy endure, and may his memory be eternal.

As summer turns to fall, I want to update you on some of the important work happening in Washington and across our district. From supporting our Veterans and service members, to strengthening national security, advancing medical research, and improving emergency communications, we’re delivering results on the issues that matter most to Floridians. Please continue reading for a brief snapshot of my work on your behalf last week.

Fighting for Our Heroes:  We’re continuing to build on President Trump’s vision of “peace through strength” by advancing strong, America-first national defense policies. Last week, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). This critical legislation maintains a total discretionary allocation of $831.5 billion, matching last year’s enacted level. Key highlights include:

• Restoring our military’s focus on lethality, meritocracy, and accountability,
• Providing full funding and new authorities to support border security,
• Codifying parts of 15 of President Trump’s Executive Orders, more than 30 Trump administration policy provisions, and taking action to eliminate DEI and left-wing ideology from the military,
• Reforming the DoD acquisition process to deliver cutting-edge technology to our warfighters faster,
• Enhancing the quality of life for our servicemembers through a 3.8% pay raise and improved family benefits, and
• Authorizing full funding for key priorities, including the Golden Dome, F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines, warships, and autonomous systems.

Unfortunately, my efforts to amend the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act—which would end the injustice of concurrent receipt for over 50,000 combat-wounded Veterans—were blocked during the NDAA debate.  However, I will not stop fighting for heroes like the one featured in this video. This is a matter of fairness, and I remain committed to seeing it through.

Improving Safety:  To further protect our communities, the House passed the Stop Illegal Entry Act (H.R. 3486), which increases criminal penalties for individuals who illegally re-enter the U.S. after removal. This is a strong, necessary step to secure our borders and keep our neighborhoods safe.

It was also an honor to speak with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) members during their annual conference. These courageous advocates have turned personal tragedy into purpose. I proudly support their mission to make our roads safer and protect future generations from preventable loss.

Helping Patients & Advancing Medical Innovation:  I recently met with FDA Administrator Dr. Marty Makary to discuss the agency’s new Rare Disease Evidence Principles (RDEP)—a much-needed framework to speed up the review of therapies for rare conditions affecting small patient populations. This is a promising step forward in our ongoing effort to deliver hope and healing to those with unmet medical needs.

I was also honored to receive the Parkinson’s Congressional Champion Award at this year's Parkinson's Policy Forum hosted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. I remain committed to fighting for cures and treatments for this devastating disease, and I’m proud to stand with the Parkinson’s community.

In another important meeting, I spoke with Alicia Schulhof, President of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, about the vital role children's hospitals play in caring for our most vulnerable patients. I will continue to advocate for the resources and support they need to carry out their lifesaving work.

In last week's Health Subcommittee, we held a mark up to advance several public health initiatives ahead of their expiration at the end of the fiscal year. These bipartisan measures aim to strengthen the healthcare workforce, improve rural and maternal health, boost the national newborn screening program and support telehealth services nationwide.

• EMPOWER for Health Act- reauthorizes Title VII programs to support physician workforce development, particularly in rural and underserved areas through recruitment and retention initiatives.
• Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act - reauthorizes Title VIII programs to strengthen the nursing workforce, expand educational opportunities, and provide loan repayment options to incentivize careers in nursing.
• Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act - reauthorizes the Rural Health Services Outreach Program, promoting innovative care delivery models to improve access to preventive and chronic care services in rural communities.
• Telehealth Network and Telehealth Resource Centers Grant Program Reauthorization Act- reauthorizes grants supporting telehealth education and infrastructure, particularly in rural regions, by continuing technical assistance through regional Telehealth Resource Centers.
• Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2025-Expands newborn screening to detect disorders early and improve long-term health outcomes.

Strengthening Critical Infrastructure & Emergency Communications:  During a recent Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing, we explored how resilient infrastructure plays a crucial role in crisis response. Click here to listen to my remarks on this important topic. 

Also, I co-authored two bipartisan bills designed to enhance the reliability of our 9-1-1 systems.   

✅ Emergency Reporting Act

• Requires the FCC to issue reports after major natural disasters detailing 9-1-1 service disruptions,
• Improves coordination with state and local agencies, and
• Directs mobile carriers to better notify 9-1-1 centers during outages.

✅ Kari’s Law Reporting Act

• Strengthens oversight of multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) to ensure callers can dial 9-1-1 directly without additional prefixes. It builds on the 2018 Kari’s Law, named after Kari Hunt, whose daughter couldn’t reach 9-1-1 from a hotel phone during a crisis

 These bills represent bipartisan, zero-cost solutions to modernize our emergency response systems and save lives.

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 had the privilege of participating in the Homes for Our Troops Home Dedication Ceremony honoring Marine Sgt. Christopher Lawrence and Army Sgt. Quincy Lopez. May these two heroes and their families find comfort, strength, and a true sense of belonging in their new homes.

My team also took a moment to “PAWS” for a good cause at a community event that trains rescue dogs as service animals and connects them with individuals in our community who need support.

Additionally, my team attended the East Pasco Friends of the NRA Annual Dinner to celebrate our Constitutionally protected freedoms and to come together in our shared commitment to defend those rights.

Constituent Corner

My team recently received this message from a constituent after helping with a problem he was having with the United States Postal Service. 

To the Congressman and staff,

I want to express my appreciation and thanks to all in resolving my mail delivery problems. Mail delivery to the residence has resumed including delivery of mail held at the post office.  Once again, thank you for your assistance.

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.  Also, if you are planning a trip to Washington, DC please let us know 90 days in advance so we can help make the most of your visit.   We are here to serve you!

Sincerely,

Gus Bilirakis
Member of Congress