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"Congressional inquiries to the VA are usually done at the behest of our constituents, largely comprised of veterans and veterans' service organizations. The VA has a robust team that should be capable of responding to Congressional requests accurately and in a timely manner," said Bilirakis. "When there is a breakdown of communication between our Committee and the VA, this inhibits us from doing our jobs on behalf of our nation's veterans. The VA needs to be held accountable for its failure in identifying and resolving these obstacles.

"It is an honor to receive this award, because I believe in conservative values and principles. Limited government, fiscal responsibility, and individual freedoms are all ideals in which I strongly believe. The American Dream is not dead," Bilirakis said. "I believe in giving all Americans the opportunity to lift themselves up, and I believe in the virtue of hard work. This is the slowest economic recovery in American history, and too many women and men across the country still feel like we are in a recession. The recovery is the product of the failure of big government policies.

"April is Autism Awareness month, and today – April 2 – is Autism Awareness Day. Autism is serious, and it does not discriminate. People in all racial, socioeconomic, and ethnic groups are impacted. One in 68 children is diagnosed with autism. This is an alarming statistic," Bilirakis commented. "It is an issue that truly overcomes partisan lines. Through collaborative efforts, we can shine the light on autism."

To view the entirety of Representative Bilirakis' remarks, click here.

"Generic drugs are effective alternatives that offer a more affordable option for an individual who wants to save money. FDA's new regulations change drug labeling from a top down, synthesized approach, to one that will cause confusion for drug companies and consumers," Bilirakis said. "The results of these regulations for generic drug companies are clear; they will be forced to spend more money protecting themselves from frivolous lawsuits and increased costs.

"The Flood Insurance Integrity Act will require a review of the NFIP, and will provide transparency and shed much needed light on how flood rate maps are updated. The NFIP must be administered with integrity," said Bilirakis. "This is a good government bill. Americans who need flood insurance should be able to know how those costs are calculated. My legislation guarantees oversight and transparency – the American people deserve nothing less."

"I've never been able to understand how Turkey, a country positioning itself for entry in to the European Union can continue to deny its citizens even basic human rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. By keeping tens of thousands of troops in Cyprus, Turkey continues to display hostility to the rule of law and international norms," Bilirakis said. "Ankara's threats to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque and to shut down Twitter and YouTube are but two examples of intolerance unbecoming of a NATO member.

"I've never been able to understand how Turkey, a country positioning itself for entry in to the European Union can continue to deny its citizens even basic human rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. By keeping tens of thousands of troops in Cyprus, Turkey continues to display hostility to the rule of law and international norms," Bilirakis said. "Ankara's threats to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque and to shut down Twitter and YouTube are but two examples of intolerance unbecoming of a NATO member.

"Vladimir Putin likes to invoke the idea of the international law only when it suits him. His invasion of Ukraine, his annexation of Crimea, and his seizure of Ukrainian assets are a clear violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. The Cold War is over, and the former Soviet Union lost," Bilirakis said. "Despite Mr. Putin's best efforts to remake the Soviet Union, it will not work. The world has changed. The international community will not allow such a flagrant use of force to go unanswered.