My staff and I are hard at work representing and fighting for the people of Florida’s Second Congressional District. The House of Representatives accomplished quite a bit before breaking for a month of district work.
The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670) earlier in the month. As a veteran and representative of a district with a significant military presence, taking care of our troops is a top priority of mine. The NDAA is full of provisions to rein in government overreach and undo an unnecessarily divisive agenda that does nothing to help our servicemembers. The bill also includes meaningful measures to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) aggression. Above all, this bill supports the brave men and women who serve with a pay increase of 5.2%.
Though this bill doesn’t include everything I want – particularly my amendment that would have ensured servicemembers separated due to vaccine refusal received backpay upon reenlistment – it’s critical that we keep our nation strong and ensure our servicemembers have what they need. I look forward to working with my colleagues to resolve outstanding issues not included in this year’s NDAA.
In February, I introduced the REPAIR Act (H.R. 906), a bill that would ensure access to the important repair and diagnostic data needed for auto repairs. When it comes to repairing their automobiles, consumers deserve options. In July, I spoke during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce hearing about how my bill would not only protect the business relationships between automobile owners and their mechanics but also ensure consumers continue to have more options on where to go for repairs.
Our district is full of rural communities who sometimes drive over an hour, if not more, for vehicle repairs. This bill makes it easier for constituents to take their vehicles to local mechanics of their choosing.
Florida’s Second Congressional District is no stranger to government roadblocks that interfere with local commerce. Another example is red snapper fishing. Recreational anglers have 70 days to fish for red snapper fish this year. Red snapper season was a mere three days just seven years ago. However, a series of game-changing developments transformed this situation.
Now, there’s a problem with the accuracy of red snapper counts because annual quotas are set based on Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) data, but landings are tracked using state surveys. I recently sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Raimondo with my colleague Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09), encouraging her to approve a rule conversion between these systems that would increase the quota for the anglers in the Gulf of Mexico. Accurate data means more fishing for the Florida Panhandle.
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