Last week my office was hard at work on Capitol Hill holding the radicals in the Biden administration accountable and delivering upon meaningful solutions on behalf of our Southwest Florida community, the State of Florida, and the American people.
Federally-designated wilderness areas are defined as areas "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor and does not remain." Any wilderness designation of Big Cypress by Biden administration officials would not only restrict the free movement of the local Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes, but it would supercharge the spread of invasive species, destroy local small businesses, and restrict wildfire response capabilities.
I also co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to recognize and celebrate the bravery and contributions of America's linemen to the people of Southwest Florida. In the wake of Hurricane Ian's historic devastation, 42,000 linemen from 30 states descended upon Southwest Florida. These brave, selfless, and hardworking Americans helped to restore our power and spark our community's recovery. Linemen deserve recognition and I am proud to honor their tireless and critical contributions to our nation.
In foreign affairs, Israel was attacked directly by Iran for the first time in recent memory. It is my position that Biden's weakness provokes conflict. It is imperative that the United States stands firmly in support of our ally Israel as they face existential attacks from the mullahs of Iran and their terrorist proxies. We only achieve peace through strength and it is beyond time that our nation recommits to the successful policy of Maximum Pressure. Israel should take every measure necessary to ensure their national security and avert further terrorist threats from Iran.
Over the weekend, House Republican leadership put foreign aid bills up for vote. Leadership for months had been telling the American people that there would be no new Ukraine aid unless our border was secured. They did not follow through and as a result, I joined a majority of my Republican colleagues in voting against the Speaker's bill. Government has sent billions to Ukraine while completely neglecting the historic national security crisis at out own border. Simply put, it makes no sense to protect Ukraine without protecting the American people first. No one wants to see Putin win, but this major problem at home must be addressed.
Posts
