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"These long-awaited bipartisan agreements will help create thousands of jobs here at home and will have a long-term positive impact on our economy," he said. "For too long, America has been losing ground to foreign competitors and I am pleased the House acted on these measures, which will open up new markets for American goods and make us more competitive globally."

"It is extremely troubling that the United States government would willfully allow weapons to be acquired by dangerous criminal and drug trafficking organizations," said Bilirakis, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. "It is also very disturbing to find out that Attorney General Holder and the Obama Administration might have known about this program."

H.R. 2401, the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act, would help prevent burdensome regulations that leave businesses hanging on by a thread. The act would evaluate how various regulations proposed or implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would impact the economy.

"We must stand by Israel during this tumultuous time in the Middle East and insist on a resolution that allows Israel to exist in peace as a Jewish state. Any two-state solution must be one that requires Hamas to renounce violence, accept Israel's right to exist, and accept prior agreements made by the Palestinians.

After reports that gun walking programs may have existed throughout the country, and possibly in the Tampa area, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-09) began questioning the involvement and intent of this flawed and dangerous program.

"As the Palestinian Authority is on the threshold of making a unilateral declaration of statehood before the UN, it is even more important that the United States reexamines its foreign assistance to the PA, particularly during these devastating economic times," Bilirakis said.