Press Releases

On Saturday, May 19, 2012, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Palm Harbor), Vice Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, will host his annual Military & Veterans Resource Fair and appreciation event. The fair, which has become a popular event for area veterans, provides services and resources for servicemembers and veterans.

"I have made it a priority to be an advocate for veterans and their families in the United States Congress and we must ensure veterans receive the benefits they have earned through their service to our nation," Bilirakis said.

"I applaud the efforts of the intelligence and counter terrorism community, the CIA, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security for thwarting this potential disaster," Bilirakis said. "This is a reminder that there are people in this world who will stop at nothing to harm us and disrupt our way of life. We must remain vigilant in our national security and defense efforts to combat more sophisticated attacks."

The hearing, titled "First Responder Technologies: Ensuring a Prioritized Approach for Homeland Security Research and Development," will address the needs of state and local first responders, and will examine how to best enable them to assist during emergencies.

"Egregious injustices, such as those suffered by Chen, are unacceptable in a civilized world and must end today. The U.S. Administration must support Chen's freedom, as failing to do so would send a negative message to those fighting for basic human rights around the world."

"We must build a solid foundation for economic growth, and that begins with improving our nation's fiscal situation," Bilirakis said."These events will give local taxpayers an inside look at the budget and let them use their priorities to create a model federal budget."

As leader of the largest port in Florida, both in terms of cargo tonnage and land area, Wainio will address the vital role ports play in fueling local, state and national economies.

"As our economy continues to recover, ports will play a significant role in the country's return to prosperity," Bilirakis said. "Tampa Bay is lucky to have such a pivotal port in its backyard, and we must ensure that it continues to serve as a local economic driver and as a gateway to national and international commerce."

"America's small businesses create two-thirds of the new jobs in this country, yet they face numerous obstacles that are preventing a robust economic recovery. This bill will help reduce those burdens and provide job creators the opportunity to grow, hire and create meaningful opportunities for residents throughout Tampa Bay."

According to the Small Business Administration, there were nearly 400,000 small businesses (with less than 500 employees) in Florida in 2009, employing nearly 3 million individuals.

"To uphold the integrity of the alliance, long-held NATO rulings and agreements should be honored and should not be allowed to be circumvented," Bilirakis said. "As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I can tell you first hand that this is a very important issue. The United States, as a NATO member, needs to consider expansion cohesively and within the framework of the alliance."