WASHINGTON (8 May) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), the only Florida member on the House Homeland Security Committee, today released the following statement in support of the confirmation of former Florida emergency management director Craig Fugate as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

"With hurricane season just days away, it is imperative that FEMA have a proven leader at the helm. There is no question that Craig Fugate is the right man to head the agency that is so critical to my constituents in Florida as well as those residing in other Gulf Coast states.

"I understand that Senator Vitter has important questions about housing in southern Louisiana, but I believe these concerns would be best addressed with a tested emergency manager in place guiding the agency.

"We must ensure that our nation’s disaster preparedness and response plans provide clear and consistent guidance to state and local officials as we enter into this critical time of year. We can achieve this by allowing the Senate to confirm Mr. Fugate as FEMA administrator."

WASHINGTON (29 April) – Today U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), representing Florida’s 9th Congressional District, announced that federal disaster assistance is available for eligible farmers in the Tampa Bay Area. 

Pasco County is among the 24 counties designated for natural disaster assistance by the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to crop losses caused by cold weather and freezing temperatures during January and February. Producers in both primary and contiguous counties such as Pinellas and Hillsborough are eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program.

“Florida’s growers are a vital cog in the state’s economy,” said Bilirakis.  “This federal assistance will ensure that growers in Florida can recover from the losses suffered earlier this year and continue to provide a safe and abundant food supply for consumers.”

For more information, affected farmers should contact local Farm Service Agency offices.

WASHINGTON (15 April) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, today released the following statement regarding a Department of Homeland Security intelligence assessment that singles out our nation’s veterans and gun owners:

“I am disturbed and personally offended by the Department of Homeland Security’s view that returning military veterans and gun owners are likely to commit terrorist acts.  

“Federal homeland security officials should focus on specific, verifiable, and actionable intelligence to stop potential terrorist threats to our country. Instead the Department is engaging in political and ideological profiling of people who fought to keep our country safe from terrorism, uphold our nation’s immigration laws, and protect our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.  It troubles me that the Department has specifically avoided talking about foreign terrorism but seems more than willing to insult our nation’s heroes returning from battle.  

“As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, I will work to ensure that the Department aggressively pursues all appropriate efforts to stop terrorism here at home, regardless of what political or ideological beliefs individuals may hold.”

WASHINGTON (1 April) –  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 1664, the Pay for Performance Act, which included two measures sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) to provide greater accountability of taxpayer funds and protect private enterprise.

H.R. 1664 would impose compensation restrictions on federal bailout recipients who refuse to voluntarily change their excessive compensation practices. The legislation included a provision specifically advocated for by Bilirakis which requires financial institutions receiving Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to disclose the compensation of their highest paid executives, and require the Treasury to list the information in an online database. Earlier this year, Bilirakis sponsored H.R. 807, which would have amended the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to require a executive compensation database of the institutions receiving assistance under the Troubled Assets Relief Program.

"I have opposed each of the bailouts that have passed through this body, and I am a believer in free markets.  Under normal circumstances, I would argue that executive pay is best left to the company and its shareholders.  However, when companies are receiving billions of dollars of taxpayer monies, full disclosure can help guide our future legislative decisions on the use of taxpayer money," said Bilirakis. “Policy makers and those we represent should have the benefit of this information.”

In addition to the database, a Bilirakis amendment was adopted which clarifies that an institution which is not a TARP recipient will not be subject to the requirements of the bill as a result of doing business with a TARP recipient.  

“As we work together to force TARP recipients that refuse to voluntarily change their excessive and unreasonable compensation practices, we must be careful not to overreach and inadvertently restrict compensation at firms that are not TARP recipients,” Bilirakis added. “This language gives assurance to non-TARP recipients that it is OK to do business with those firms on taxpayer life support.”

The amendment also closed a potential loophole that would have allowed the largest recipients of taxpayer funds under TARP to escape the executive compensation restrictions.

WASHINGTON (26 March) – The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), one of the nation’s leading healthcare advocacy organizations, today named U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.)  a '2009 Distinguished Community Health Center Superhero' for his efforts to improve access to quality and affordable health services for uninsured and medically underserved people.

"Health care costs too much today, especially when the cost of everything else has increased significantly," said Bilirakis. "Faced with the skyrocketing costs of health care and the scarcity of health insurance for millions of Americans, strengthening community health centers is one of the most cost effective ways to help address inadequacies in our country’s health care system."

Earlier this week Bilirakis circulated a letter to the committee in Congress that provides funding for health centers asking its leaders to provide $2.6 billion for the Health Centers program this upcoming year to allow further expansions in the future. This funding will allow community health centers to continue reducing health care disparities, managing chronic illnesses, improving birth outcomes, and improving the health and well being of those they serve, regardless of their ability to pay.

Bilirakis has been a tireless champion for community health centers both in Florida and throughout the country, focusing on ways to maximize the effectiveness of federal grant dollars used for community health services to better incorporate health centers into America's medical network.

Community health centers are non-profit, community-owned health care providers serving low income and medically underserved communities. The centers provided high-quality, affordable primary care and preventive services for millions of Americans regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Their costs of care rank among the lowest, and they reduce the need for more expensive in-patient and specialty care, saving billions of dollars for taxpayers. Currently, there are over 1,100 Community, Migrant and Homeless health centers serving millions of low-income children and adults in over 5,000 communities nationwide.

WASHINGTON (24 March) -  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), member of the House Homeland Security Committee, which would strengthen America’s maritime borders by screening interdicted aliens at sea against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) biometric watch lists.

H.R. 1148 would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to formalize and expand the successful mobile maritime biometric identification program to combat aliens unlawfully attempting to enter the United States. The bill also requires DHS to ensure this biometric system is integrated into other systems within DHS and other Agencies.

"Since its inception in 2006, this pilot program has been a sweeping success. It ensures that individuals with criminal records attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea will not simply be returned to their homelands,” said Bilirakis. “I am pleased that the House has once again passed this legislation, and I am hopeful it will be signed into law. Expanding the biometric tracking system for maritime interdictions is a crucial step forward in securing our border.”

Earlier today, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano expressed that the Department would “significantly increase” the use of “biometric enforcement”, in an effort to enhance border security.

Since the beginning of the Coast Guard’s biometrics pilot in the Caribbean in November 2006, the Coast Guard has collected biometric data (fingerprints and photographs) from 2,455 migrants, using handheld scanners.  This has resulted in the identification of 598 individuals with criminal records and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico has prosecuted 271 individuals for violations of U.S. law, with a 100% conviction rate.  

H.R. 1148 is similar to H.R. 2490, which passed the House in the 110th Congress by a vote of 394 – 3 on July 29, 2008.

WASHINGTON (23 March) - U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), representing Florida’s 9th Congressional District, has introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 1624: the Military Personnel Income Tax Exclusion Act, to improve active duty military pay and help military families during tough economic times. The legislation recognizes the superb commitment of service members and their families to our nation by providing a much needed reduction of their federal income tax. Congressman Chris Carney (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Homeland Security's Subcommittee Management, Investigations, and Oversight, joined Bilirakis in sponsoring the bill.

H.R. 1624 would exempt all active duty military personnel from paying federal income tax on his or her annual pay up to the first $16,800. If enacted, the legislation would provide an across the board tax cut for all service members and result in a one-hundred percent tax cut for 66,000 of our force’s lowest paid troops.

“In its first 50 days, Congress spent $1 billion an hour. I believe we should take a couple of hours and cut taxes for our service members,” said Bilirakis. “While the debt we owe our troops for their sacrifices can never be fully repaid, this tax cut would be a step in the right direction to show our appreciation for their enduring valor.”

“Supporting and protecting our troops is not a partisan issue and that is why I am honored to be working across the aisle with Representative Bilirakis to co-sponsor the Military Personnel Income Tax Exclusion Act.  This bipartisan bill cuts taxes across the board for our men and women in uniform and provides a powerful incentive for our best and brightest to continue serving in the armed forces,” said Carney.

In addition to being an economic stimulant, the legislation would serve as an excellent recruitment and retention incentive for members of our Armed Services.

“It is critical for the continued growth and morale of our Armed Forces that we work toward improving military compensation,” Bilirakis added. “This legislation will help our Armed Forces continue to attract the quality men and women who work so tirelessly to defend our freedom.”

WASHINGTON (17 March) -  U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, today sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting information on the distribution and oversight of the nearly $3 billion in stimulus funding provided to the Department under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (16 March) - U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), representing Florida’s 9th Congressional District including portions of Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, will be hosting a seminar on consumer fraud and identity theft on Monday, March 23, 2009.

The seminar will be held at the CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D. Activity Center on 12417 Clock Tower Parkway, Hudson, Fla., from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Congressman Bilirakis will be joined by officials from the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Postal Service, legal experts and members of the law enforcement community.
 
Among the topics to be discussed include mail and cyber fraud, as well as identity theft crimes against the elderly and consumers.  Information will also be provided about efforts to curb identity theft and consumer fraud in the community and what steps the public can take to better recognize and protect against these crimes.
 
In addition to the seminar, an on-site industrial shredder will be available for the public to dispose of personal and sensitive documents free of charge.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of identity theft complaints filed. Of the 57,472 complaints of theft in Florida during 2008, 24,440 were related to identity theft.

To RSVP or to obtain additional information on this seminar, please contact Congressman Bilirakis's Palm Harbor District Office at (727) 773-2871.

WASHINGTON (12 March) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Member of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism, today released the following statement after the subcommittee’s hearing on southern border violence:

“The escalating violence stemming from Mexico's drug war is making the border increasingly dangerous for our border personnel and citizens living in border communities.  I am concerned that our brave Customs officers and Border Patrol agents may be under-armed and out-gunned in the fight to stop this violence and protect lawful border crossers.

“I am going to demand that those who are on the front lines of this battle get the training, resources, and support they need to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible.  We must act decisively to speed completion of the border fence, better equip our border officers and agents, and return the use of National Guard troops to the border to support and enhance our border security and enforcement efforts.  To do anything less would be a disservice to our border personnel and leave open a door through which criminals, drug smugglers, human traffickers, and terrorists can go to destroy the fundamental fabric of our society.”

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported that since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2009 (through February 28 of this year) there have been 338 acts of violence against Border Patrol Agents and 123 acts of violence against Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBPOs) at the ports of entry.

WASHINGTON (4 March) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), the only Florida member on the House Homeland Security Committee, today released the following statement after the selection of Florida emergency management director Craig Fugate as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

WASHINGTON (13 February) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), representing Florida’s 9th Congressional District, today released the following statement after the House passed the Conference Report to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

“Our nation is in recession and millions of Americans are hurting, which is why Congress should have put politics aside, and gotten this right.

“We began the 111th Congress with promises of change and smarter government; instead Congressional Democrats have produced a bill that does nothing to aid small businesses and will not spur economic growth according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

“Any stimulus must create jobs in a timely and targeted fashion. This so-called stimulus bill is simply a long wish list of big government spending that doesn’t meet that standard and will hand a huge ‘IOU’ to our children and grandchildren. It also must include rigorous oversight to ensure that this massive sum of taxpayer dollars is not wasted through mismanagement as with the bailouts that I opposed. 

“I maintain that the best way to create economic growth is to allow the American taxpayers to keep more of their own money to spend. We should be enacting focused and timely tax relief which would create jobs and lower the burden on families and small businesses.

“The plan I supported would have created twice the jobs at half the cost for hard working Floridians, including 141,000 more jobs in Florida. It also did not include wasteful, untargeted pork that plagues the legislation passed by Congress today.”

WASHINGTON (4 February) – Today U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.) was selected to serve as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight. Bilirakis' move to this position is especially important to the state of Florida, since he represents the state’s only member on the Committee.

WASHINGTON (28 January) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.) released the following statement after opposing the massive spending bill before the House.

WASHINGTON (23 January) – On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), joined a bipartisan group of Representatives in reintroducing legislation that would create a national silver alert communications network and establish a national grant program to help states launch ‘Silver Alert’ notification systems to locate missing individuals suffering from dementia-related illnesses.