Dear Neighbor,

When I spoke with constituents and local small business owners during my recent August District Listening Tour, the vast majority of those I spoke to were unified in their belief that our country was headed in the wrong direction and that Americans needed urgent relief.  I've been sharing that critical feedback with my colleagues in Washington, DC and I'm proud to convey that help is on the way.   As part of our recently unveiled Commitment to America, House Republicans pledge to Restore our Way of Life, Rebuild our Economy and Renew the American Dream. We will achieve these moral imperatives by creating an economy that is strong, a country that is secure, a future that is free and a government that is accountable. My Republican colleagues and I are eager and excited to get to work once we take back the Majority! Click here to learn more about the specific actions we plan to take.

Also, today is Gold Star Mothers and Families Day, a time to remember, honor, and celebrate the memory of the heroes who lost their lives defending our democracy. May their memories be eternal, and may we all support the Gold Star Families who have sacrificed so much for our country!

Below you will find a brief overview of my efforts last week on behalf of Veterans, seniors, children and other constituencies within our community.  Thank you for taking the time to review!

Honoring the Life and Ultimate Sacrifice of a Local Hero while Renewing Urgent Demand to Secure the Southern Border

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Deputy Michael Hartwick who was killed in the line of duty last week.  Deputy Hartwick served our community for 19 years, as part of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Patrol Operations Bureau. His death is a tragic reminder of the danger our law enforcement community faces each day as they endeavor to keep us safe. He is survived by his mother and two adult children. May his memory be eternal!

As part of the investigation into Deputy Hartwick's death, law enforcement has uncovered that he was struck and killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving a piece of heavy construction equipment. Instead of stopping after he hit Deputy Hartwick, rendering aid, and accepting responsibility for what he did, this individual fled the scene.  Law enforcement spent hours searching for the suspect.  Their efforts were hindered by false statements given by other construction site workers who were also in the country illegally.  It has now been discovered that the individual who struck and killed Deputy Hartwick is a 32 year old man who entered the country illegally on October 25, 2021, in Eagle Pass Texas. He was turned around by border patrol and sent back to Mexico.   There is no subsequent record of him legally entering the United States.  According to law enforcement, the suspect had no driver's license and was not trained to operate and drive the heavy construction equipment.  He is currently being charged with leaving the scene involving a death, which is a felony.  

This entire incident underscores just one of the harms that Floridians face because of the federal government’s open border policies.  It also highlights the urgent need for this Administration to finally uphold its duty to secure the border and enforce the rule of law.  I will continue to push President Biden to do so.    

Advocating for our Nation’s Veterans

Veterans remain my highest priority in Congress.  I just voted in favor of several pro-Veterans bills which will: provide a COLA for disabled Veterans and their surviving spouses (effective Dec 1st), streamline the VA home loan process, and modernize the process for Veterans to request documents related to their injuries and VA benefit eligibility. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to expedite passage of these important bills which will help our nation’s heroes.

Also, its sad that bad actors are already trying to dupe Veterans with these new, fraudulent scams. Check out these important tips to avoid becoming a victim!

Opposing More Money for New IRS Auditors

My colleagues and I have pledged not to support any budget proposal that includes more funding for IRS enforcement agents. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has recently confirmed that a large percentage of audits will be conducted on individuals and small mom and pop businesses who make less than $200,000 per year.  During these difficult times, Americans don’t need their tax dollars used to fund bureaucrats who will harass them with unnecessary audits.  

Fighting for Seniors

While partisan battles often dominate headlines, I am working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to enact policies that will help the constituents we serve. With six in ten Americans saying that reducing health costs should be a top priority, Congress must keep working towards bipartisan health care solutions. One area of agreement is that Medicare Advantage is working well for many seniors. In my district almost 60% of seniors elect to participate in Medicare Advantage. We must continue to work together to strengthen and enhance this vital healthcare option for seniors. Click here to learn more about our efforts to do so.  Additionally, we just passed a bill that will help improve administrative efficiency within the program.

As this article points out, many seniors are having difficulty trying to keep pace with raging inflation. I’m working to change the calculation of how Cost of Living Adjustments are calculated to more accurately reflect these costs. However, if you are a senior who is struggling to pay for basic necessities such as food, medicine and housing call my office at 727-232-2921 so my team can help connect you with available resources in the community. 

Protecting Abuse Victims’ Right to Seek Justice

Last week, I proudly voted for legislation to remove the federal statute of limitations on child abuse, including: sexual abuse, human trafficking, forced labor, and child pornography. Victims of these horrific crimes often grapple with the impact of abuse throughout their lives and there should not be an arbitrary time barrier that stands in the way of them getting the justice they deserve. This important bill is now headed to the President to become law.

Promoting Preparedness

I was happy to support a package to improve FEMA’s emergency responsiveness, including ensuring safety plans for animals during weather emergencies.  As Floridians, we understand the importance of preparedness and know that we must not forget our four-legged family members!

Raising Awareness

My team enjoyed participating in the recent Stronger Together Recovery Walk in New Port Richey. Addiction has impacted so many families in our community. It is important to raise awareness of the resources available for those who are struggling.

Additionally, as the Pasco County School District grapples with the impact of its critical bus driver shortage, it is important to raise awareness within the community that many middle and high school students are now crossing busy highways, like Ridge Road, State Road 52, and State Road 54. As motorists, we all need to use extra caution when driving through these school zone areas. 

Celebrating Success

My team was honored to help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Dade City Garden Club. This outstanding group has a strong tradition of promoting environmental protection, civic responsibility, education and community beautification projects.

Demanding the Border Be Secure 

ICYMI-As we celebrate the power of the American Dream and the unique contributions that legal immigrants have made to our country, we affirm our commitment to the rule of law and demand that the crisis at the border be addressed! Click here to learn more about my efforts. 

Pushing to Restore American Energy Independence

Americans deserve transparency when it comes to understanding why this Administration is waging war on domestic energy production. Click here to learn more about some of the underhanded ways the Administration has been undermining domestic energy production.  While Secretary Yellen has been warning Americans that gas prices are likely to spike again, the truth is that more pain at the pump does not have to be an inevitability. We can restore American energy independence by ramping up domestic production. 

Supporting Small Businesses

I was honored to be presented with the Advocate for American Business Award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for my bipartisan efforts to support small businesses throughout the country. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing almost half of all Americans. I will keep fighting to create conditions in which they can thrive.  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 Lorenzo Cardei and Gabriela Noanea, owners of the new Wine Library in Dade City!

Constituent Corner

My office recently received the following message from a constituent.

Thank you for your help with my 91 year old dad's VA problem.  He was having difficulty reaching someone at the VA to reschedule his procedure and had been shuffled around.  When I called your office and spoke with Kristen, she took care of it right away.  Someone called us that same day to get it scheduled.  I appreciate the way you always help our vets.  

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!  

Sincerely,

Gus Bilirakis
Member of Congress