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Dear Neighbor,
Last week, Florida held its primaries. I am grateful to our local Supervisors of Elections and their teams for running such a smooth and professional operation. Please continue reading to learn more about my efforts on your behalf!
Reining in Out-of-Control Spending
Last week, President Biden announced a plan to transfer up to $20,000 in student loan debt from borrowers who earn up to $125,000 per year to all hardworking Americans. At a time when inflation is already raging, this new scheme is estimated to cost at least $300 billion, with most of the benefits going to households in the top 60 percent of earners. We simply have to stop the reckless spending!
Excluding the student loan fiasco, President Biden has signed over $3.8 trillion of spending into law in just 19 months. Inflation, fueled by reckless government spending, is taking a continued toll on all Americans. They simply can’t keep pace which is why Washington has to stop the reckless spending!
According to a recent poll, 74% of Americans believe our country is headed in the wrong direction. The majority also realize we are already in a recession and do not believe that the newly passed inflation bill will help. I agree with them!
Holding Big Tech Accountable
Last week Facebook flagged House Republicans’ criticism of President Biden’s Student Loan Boondoggle as a “criticism of community standards.” Big Tech should not be in the position to silence the voices of those Americans with which they disagree! We need to hold Big Tech accountable, and my Republican colleagues and I have a plan to do just that!
Restoring American Energy Independence
In an attempt to provide a temporary reduction in the price of gas, President Biden has been selling our emergency oil reserves to the highest bidder, including China. This short-sighted policy jeopardizes our long-term national security interests and has brought our emergency reserves to the lowest level since 1986. I was also appalled that my Democrat colleagues recently blocked a proposal to keep Biden from selling our emergency reserves to China. This action is completely un-American!
Meanwhile, as the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats are patting themselves on the back for the recent dip in the national average cost of gas per gallon that have resulted from the sale of our reserves, prices in Florida are already beginning to increase again. It is also important to remember that the average price of gas is still $1.55 higher than when President Biden took office. To provide real, sustainable relief, we need to end this Administration’s war on domestic energy production and restore American energy independence!
Securing our Nation
Since October of 2021, 66 suspected terrorists were caught illegally entering our country. Border Patrol Agents also report over 500,000 known “get-aways” during this time period. How many more terrorists may have been within that group of people who successfully evaded law enforcement and entered our country? We must secure our border to ensure our national security!
Yet, as the Biden Administration refuses to spend tax dollars to build a wall to protect Americans from the invasion at our southern border, it has authorized a half a million tax dollars to build a wall around President Biden’s beach house. These hypocritical priorities are not aligned with the needs of the majority of Americans and this Administration must be held accountable!
Tackling the Overdose Crisis
Fentanyl overdoses are the number one cause of death for people 18-45 years old in America. Nearly three people a day throughout Tampa Bay die each day from an overdose. This is a national crisis and I am working to find more effective solutions. Click here to learn more! We also can't forget that most of the nation’s fentanyl is smuggled in through the southern border by cartels. It is time to secure the border and save lives.
Supporting Domestic Manufacturing
As this article highlights, some companies are bringing back domestic manufacturing jobs. This is a step in the right direction as we work to address supply chain disruptions and end our dependence on adversarial countries, like China. However, the newly signed legislation that will increase taxes on small businesses and American families may hamper this effort.
Supporting Small Businesses
Weekly, I highlight newly opened or expanded businesses in our community that my team has visited. Congratulations to our newest small business owners and best wishes for your continued success!
Congratulations to Anthony and Tina Federico on the recent grand opening of The Poké Company, a new family-owned and operated restaurant in Tarpon Springs!
Also, congratulations to Vivian Michaels, the owner of the newest Code Ninjas franchise in Trinity which offers enrichment for kids aged 5-14 who want to learn how to code. How exciting!
Constituent Corner
My office recently received the following message from a constituent after contacting my team for help on a VA issue.
Thank you so much for such a quick response. I have never experienced something like that. If only all agencies and businesses handled themselves in that manner just think what a world we would live in.
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!
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