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Foreign Affairs

October 7, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance and of the International Religious Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives, issued the following statement marking the second anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel:

September 22, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, the bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues — Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Dina Titus (D-NV) — issued the following statement:

August 8, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), co-chairs and vice co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus, led a bipartisan group of 40 lawmakers in calling on the U.S.

August 8, 2025

Congressman Gus Bilirakis released the statement below:  

July 17, 2025

Washington, DC - Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chris Pappas (NH-01),  Dina Titus (NV-01), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), co-chairs and vice co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus, reintroduced the End the Cyprus Embargo Act, bipartisan legislation that would extend the waiver renewal period for the arms embargo on the

March 7, 2025

WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced the Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act, aiming to send a clear message to Ankara: The United States recognizes Turkey’s turn to the Middle East and no longer sees Turkey prioritizing its relationship with Europe.  With the introduction of the

November 13, 2024

Washington, DC:  U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis released the following statement after President-Elect Donald J. Trump announced that Florida’s U.S. Senator Marco Rubio will serve as Secretary of State.  

October 1, 2024

Earlier today, U.S. Congressman issued the following statement in strong support of Israel after reports of Iran’s most recent terror attack. 

February 5, 2024

The awful $118 billion Senate Bill would actually worsen the invasion at our border by incentivizing illegal entry of 5,000 per day and giving away U.S.

February 5, 2024

Washington DC:  U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis issued the following statement after introducing a measure to stop U.S. taxpayer funding from going to the government of Azerbaijan.

December 7, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Chris Pappas, who serve as Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, sent a letter today calling on Great Britain to return to the negotiation table in discussions about returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

October 27, 2023

Washington, DC:  Earlier today,theCo-Chairs and Vice Co-Chairs of the Hellenic Caucus, Armenian Caucus, Israel Allies Caucus and the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance Caucus (Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Rep. Brad Schneider, Rep. Chris Smith, Rep. Frank Pallone, and Rep. Doug Lamborn, Rep.

October 9, 2023

Washington, DC:   Earlier today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis issued the following statement condemning anti-Semitism in the wake of pro-Hamas taunts at solemn pro-Israel gatherings in the United States mourning the dead:

August 12, 2023

Earlier this week, President Biden submitted a request to Congress for emergency funding which includes an additional $24 billion in funding for Ukraine.  In the same request, Biden is seeking another $4 billion to address the crisis at the border that has resulted from his Administration’s irresponsible immigration policies.

July 18, 2023

WASHINGTON, DCEarlier today, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) along with U.S.

July 14, 2023

Washington, DC:   Earlier today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis released the following statement after voting in favor of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

July 13, 2023

WASHINGTON—Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) today introduced bipartisan legislation, supported by Republicans and Democrats, calling for additional efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Sudan and support the transition to a democratically elected government. This is the first bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S.

April 24, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), introduced the Armenian Genocide Education Act, bipartisan legislation to promote accurate and effective education about the Armenian Genocide. He was joined by Reps.

February 9, 2023

Washington, DCCongressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), one of the original founders of CHIA, is honored to be joined by his new Co-Chair, Congressman David N.

February 8, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) provided the following statement in response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address:

December 29, 2022

Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), Ted Deutch (D-FL-22), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), and Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) released the following statements after their bipartisan bill to award Benj

September 2, 2022

Tampa, FL: Earlier today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis visited Cyber Florida and the Global and National Security Institute (GNSI), both of which are housed at the University of South Florida in Tampa and led by General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie, former Commander of U.S. Central Command at MacDill AFB.

August 31, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC-Congressman Gus Bilirakis and dozens of his Republican colleagues penned a stern letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the first anniversary of the Biden Administration's disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.

July 19, 2022

Washington, DC: In response to the rapidly deteriorating political climate in the Eastern Mediterranean, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who serves as Co-Chairman for the Congressional Caucus on House Hellenic Issues and the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance, issued a stern condemnation of continued Turkish aggression toward Greece.

July 15, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC - Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Chris Pappas, Carolyn Maloney, Frank Pallone, Nicole Malliotakis, John Sarbanes, and David Cicilline applauded the House passage of a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would stop President Biden from selling F-16s to Turkey and pu

As a former member of the House Committee on Foreign affairs and current member of the Caucus on International Religious Freedom, Congressman Bilirakis’ desire to support our allies, protect religious freedom, and prevent attacks from our enemies have kept him apprised of major world events.

July 1, 2022

Washington, DC - Today, Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), along with Caucus Member Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), issued the following statements opposing the Biden Administration's apparent plans to sell sensitive F-16 modernization kits to Turkey:

June 23, 2022

WASHINGTONCongressman Bilirakis and more than 80 Members of Congress released a bicameral joint statement earlier today, calling on the Biden Administration to reverse course on its plan to erode the full and faithful implementation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 by moving the

May 13, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier today,Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), alongside, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced their bipartisan opposition to the Biden administration's proposal to sell advanced weapons and equipment to Turkey in light of its continued vi

February 24, 2022

"My prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they watch violence unfold on their streets and continue to grapple with a violent invasion led by a power hungry, unstable leader," said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. "Sadly, this tragedy may have been avoided if President Biden would have backed up weeks of tough talk with serious action.

February 22, 2022

Washington, DC: After the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released an unprecedented update to its natural gas pipeline policy statement that will severely impede new and pending pipeline projects, causing energy costs across the country to remain sky-high and weakening America's energy independence, Congre

February 2, 2022

"The recent rise in anti-Semitic behavior throughout our country and around the globe is simply appalling.

January 24, 2022

Washington, DC: Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Nicole Malliotakis recently sent a stern letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken vociferously objecting to the Administration's recent reversal of support for the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline.

January 20, 2022

Washington, DC: Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis and a group of his colleagues co-sponsored a House Resolution condemning the heinous terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022.

January 4, 2022

Continuing his strong record of legislative achievement, two more bills co-authored by Congressman Gus Bilirakis have recently been signed into law. The Department of Defense (DOD) Burn Pits Health Provider Training Act implements mandatory training for all DOD medical providers on the potential health effects of burn pits.

December 9, 2021

Washington, DC: Saddened by the overdose epidemic that is worsening throughout the nation, Congressman Bilirakis took to the House Floor late last night to spur much needed Congressional action as deaths involving synthetic opioids continue to skyrocket.

December 9, 2021

Washington, DC: As members of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance (CHIA), Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Ted Deutch, and Nicole Malliotakis celebrate the inclusion of the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

December 8, 2021

Washington, DC: Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) proudly cast a vote in favor of this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which is now headed back to the Senate and then to the President to become law.

November 2, 2021

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Gus Bilirakis, alongside his Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), led a group of colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken opposing US plans to sell Turkey F-16s and demanding info

August 18, 2021

Bilirakis Issues Statement on Afghanistan, Calls For Immediate Action

July 16, 2021

Bilirakis Has Productive Dialogue with Turkish Officials as He Seeks to Improve Relations in Eastern Mediterranean

June 25, 2021

Reps. Bilirakis, Deutch Introduce US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act

April 26, 2021

Bilirakis Issues Statement on the Formal Recognition of the Armenian Genocide

March 17, 2021

Bilirakis Leads Hellenic Caucus Members Commemorating 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence

March 15, 2021

Bilirakis Leads Effort to Remove China from UN Security Council

July 10, 2020

Contact: Summer Robertson

727-232-2921

Bilirakis Condemns Erdogan's Actions

July 20, 2017
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, released the following statement on the 43rd anniversary of the illegal occupation of Turkish troops in Cyprus.
May 25, 2017
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), who serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus and the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance, released a letter to the Trump Administration today demanding justice for the Americans attacked by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s security detail.
May 16, 2017
As President Trump welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House this week, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) joined a bipartisan letter to the Trump Administration expressing concern for human rights and democracy in Turkey.
February 27, 2017
U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) joined over 150 bipartisan colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to take swift action to address the over 60 anti-Semitic threats made against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) nationwide.
January 5, 2017
U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) released the following statement today regarding the passage of bipartisan legislation condemning the recent anti-Israel resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council.
December 30, 2016
Bilirakis Blog

Looking back on 2016, a turbulent year for sure in politics, we often saw the biggest rivalries and the loudest pundits take center stage. All along, my main focus was always working hard on behalf of Florida's 12th District. We accomplished some important legislative wins for our communities, with 16 initiatives I wrote being signed into law this year.

Issues:SeniorsForeign Affairs
November 30, 2016
Last week, Israel suffered devastating wildfires that swept across its northern and central regions. An international coalition assembled to assist Israel in the response and relief efforts. Among the first to respond were Greece and Cyprus. Co-Chairs of the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance (CHIA) Caucus Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) praised these efforts.
November 28, 2016
Congressman Gus Bilirakis released the following statement on the death of Fidel Castro.
October 31, 2016

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Affairs and the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) released the following statement regarding the rising tensions in the Aegean over recent Turkish provocation.

September 26, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, introduced a resolution today calling on Great Britain to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. The Marbles were removed from Greece 200 years ago by Thomas Bruce, seventh Earl of Elgin and transported to Great Britain.

September 14, 2016

Washington, D.C.– Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, yesterday hosted a joint meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, ahead of his swearing in on September 28, to discuss the future of Greece and the relationship between Greece and the United States.