Press Releases
The POW Benefits Act (H.R. 1197) would remove the current 30-day internment requirement in order for former POWs to be eligible for disability compensation and adds two new conditions – type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis – for consideration of service connected disability compensation. Additionally, this legislation creates a process for other diseases related to a POW veterans' captivity to be considered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
The fair will take place June 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the CARES Hudson-Bayonet Point Enrichment Center in Hudson, Fla.
The Silver Alert Grant Program Act, H.R. 5898, would provide U.S. states and territories with the means to implement an Amber Alert-like notification system to help families, friends and authorities locate missing older adults suffering from dementia-related illnesses. The bipartisan measure currently has 76 co-sponsors hailing from all ends of the political spectrum, including all of Florida's Congressional delegation.
The American Heroes' Homeownership Assistance Act would provide current and former service members who were deployed to a combat zone since 2001, including spouses of soldiers killed in action, with a one-time tax credit toward the purchase of a primary residence up to 10 percent of the purchase price, or $7,500.
Bilirakis and Putnam introduced the legislation in an effort to make homeownership more affordable for soldiers and their families who have suffered through the hardship of their combat service, regardless of income.
The press conference will be held on June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark Village located on 2655 Nebraska Avenue in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Although Florida has more people 65 and older than any other state, it has yet to implement a Silver Alert System. Florida State Representatives Tom Anderson (R-Dunedin) and Kurt Kelly (R-Ocala) will discuss planned efforts to introduce legislation for a Silver Alert system in Florida.
From August 1944 to March 1945, Staff Sergeant George Costage fought gallantly during thirty-five combat missions as a gunner in a B-24 bomber over occupied Continental Europe. Congressman Bilirakis worked with Costage to have his service record corrected to reflect his achievements in aerial combat over occupied Continental Europe during World War II.
The Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 5658, authorizes $601.4 billion to support our national defense, including $70 billion to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, $2 billion for unfunded readiness initiatives requested by the services and $153.2 billion to meet the needs of service members and their families. The bill passed by a vote of 384 to 23.
Presented on Thursday at the 24th Annual Cyprus, Hellenic and Orthodox Issues Conference, the Livanos Award distinguishes Greek individuals who have worked for great achievements in society while remembering their Hellenic values.
Last week, the House failed to pass the emergency supplemental appropriations measure after the Majority voted to strip from the measure nearly $162.5 billion in funding for troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. While Bilirakis voted in favor of the troop funding portion of the three-part supplemental measure, he opposed the other two amendments that largely contained multi-billion dollars in domestic spending, a $54 billion tax increase aimed at small businesses, and restrictions on military commanders in Iraq.