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The legislation comes after it was discovered that Pvt. Lawrence Davis Jr., a World War II veteran with no next of kin, was buried in a cardboard box at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla.
"America's veterans deserve to be laid to rest the same way they served this nation: With dignity and honor," Bilirakis said. "This legislation recognizes their service and ensures that veterans who do not have immediate family are not forgotten and receive proper respect upon their passing."
On Tuesday, Gus gathered leaders within the tax and consumer protection industry to discuss the growing problem of tax refund fraud.
Since 2008, the IRS has identified 470,000 incidents of identity theft affecting more than 390,000 taxpayers. After reviewing only 30 percent of the 100 million returns filed this year, the IRS has already confirmed 2.6 million cases of fraud.
Last year in Hillsborough County, "Operation Rainmaker" resulted in 49 arrests, $100 Million intercepted, and $5 Million recovered.
"Like many Americans, I am extremely disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the President's health care law, which is bad news for patients, doctors, and our nation's economy. The law's big-government approach to health care does not actually solve our health care problems, will cost trillions of taxpayer dollars without reducing the cost of health care, and adds uncertainty to a struggling economy.
"Operation Fast & Furious" was a flawed and deadly program. We must get to the bottom of it and those responsible must be held accountable. The American people and Congress have lost faith in the ability of Attorney General Holder's ability to properly uphold the law and the interests of the United States," Bilirakis said. "That is why I have been calling for his resignation since last December, and is why I voted today to charge him with contempt."
This is an opportunity for the community to meet with the Congressman's staff without an appointment and is intended to complement the availability of his district offices in Palm Harbor and Plant City.
Constituents are invited to bring any issues, concerns, or requests for assistance related to Congress and the federal government.
For more information, please contact Bilirakis' Palm Harbor office at (727) 773-2871 or visit www.bilirakis.house.gov.
WHAT: July Community Outreach in Hudson, Fla.
The following article appeared in the Tampa Bay Times on June 22, 2012:
It was one of those "read the fine print" moments.
A Department of Veterans Affairs job-training program for unemployed veterans scheduled to launch on July 1, allowing veterans to get up to a year of training at community colleges, would have excluded schools that offered even a single bachelor's degree.
That would leave 23 of Florida's 28 community colleges ineligible to participate, including St. Petersburg College, according to the chancellor of the Florida College System.
"I congratulate the citizens of Greece on a successful election during this pivotal time. My hopes and prayers go out to the citizens, their new government, and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras as they lay the groundwork for Greece's future."
On Wednesday, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it was reversing its rule and would allow the benefits to be applied toward classes taken at all two-year institutions that are VA approved.
"I am pleased to learn that the VA has changed its mind and is now expanding its program in a way that will help veterans rather than make the process more burdensome and bureaucratic," Bilirakis said. "As our nation's heroes transition from the battlefield to the workforce, programs such as VRAP will help bridge the gap and provide them with the tools they need to succeed."
As Vice Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Gus chaired a hearing on June 19 examining the Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims backlog.
During the hearing, Gus also addressed a problem with the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), which is meant to provide one year of training and education benefits to certain unemployed veterans.
Watch his opening statement here and read more below:
By Rep. Gus Bilirakis
Published June 14, 2012
https://bit.ly/Mt8TeI
President Obama's misunderstanding of the economy seems to be far worse than we thought. That's what Americans are realizing after the president's astonishing comments at a press conference last week.
"The private sector is doing fine," he insisted. In other words, unless you're a government worker, the president thinks you're doing "fine."