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Terrorists have made it clear of their desire to use Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) against the U.S. According to terrorism experts, there is a strong likelihood of a WMD attack. The U.S. must be prepared for this grim possibility.
On Thursday, Gus, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, and Rep. Dan Lungren (CA) Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies, held a joint hearing to address these concerns.
A recent report from the Associated Press uncovers yet another flaw in the health care law, a flaw that would let several million middle-class people become eligible for Medicaid.
Medicaid is designed to provide our nation's most vulnerable citizens the health care they need, but because of this flaw, married couples at nearly four times the federal poverty level will now qualify for Medicaid.
"Billions of taxpayer dollars are being used for education programs for our nation's veterans," Bilirakis said. "While I believe these programs provide valuable and necessary resources, we must be able to track the progress and success of the Post 9/11 GI Bill to ensure that we are spending money in the most effective and efficient manner while affording our military heroes an education."
"We are making a difference in Afghanistan, and I believe that we are on track for a successful transition to Afghanistan control, but we must continue to make progress – the kind of progress that allowed us to kill Osama Bin laden and weaken al Qaeda and the Taliban – and not take steps backward," Bilirakis said. "Having been to Afghanistan, I have seen the advancements being made and I trust our Generals to tell us when the timing is right for a troop drawdown."
Last Friday, June 10, Gus held a Congressional hearing in Clearwater, FL, to discuss emergency preparedness issues. As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, Bilirakis is responsible for ensuring that federal, state and local agencies are prepared for potential disasters. And with hurricane season under way, Bilirakis wanted to meet with officials about successes and challenges they face as they work to address emergencies.
"This report is extremely disheartening and discouraging and brings to light a major problem within the VA," Bilirakis said. "The GAO has made valuable recommendations and I am hopeful that the VA can expedite these changes. Our veterans and those who work with veterans deserve the comfort of knowing that these environments are safe and secure, and we must get to the bottom of this problem and improve the situation."
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, Bilirakis is responsible for making sure the country is prepared for potential disasters.
"Today's jobs report makes it clear that we need an economic environment that is focused on families and small businesses, not Washington," Bilirakis said. "We must continue to create a climate for job creators to put people back to work by reducing regulatory burdens, fixing the tax code and forcing Washington to live within its means like American families."
"Disasters can strike at any time, often with little warning," said Bilirakis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications. "We must work to create a culture of preparedness. Taking mitigation steps now can make a huge difference and in many cases reduce loss of life and property damage, while saving money and reducing insurance rates in the long run."
The bill would provide a tax credit of 25 percent of qualified hurricane and tornado mitigation property expenditures up to $5,000 for any taxable year.
"Disasters can strike at any time, often with little warning," said Bilirakis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications. "We must work to create a culture of preparedness. Taking mitigation steps now can make a huge difference and in many cases reduce loss of life and property damage, while saving money and reducing insurance rates in the long run."
The bill would provide a tax credit of 25 percent of qualified hurricane and tornado mitigation property expenditures up to $5,000 for any taxable year.