Media

Washington, D.C. — Earlier today, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Neal Dunn (R-FL) teamed with Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL), along with other Republican members of the Florida congressional delegation to urge U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to reverse its burdensome allocation for monoclonal antibody drugs (mAbs) and return to a state-based model in which states and local healthcare providers can directly order mAbs from drug manufacturers.

Continuing his strong record of legislative achievement, two more bills co-authored by Congressman Gus Bilirakis have recently been signed into law. The Department of Defense (DOD) Burn Pits Health Provider Training Act implements mandatory training for all DOD medical providers on the potential health effects of burn pits. This legislative change will help ensure the early identification and treatment of health issues caused by burn pit exposure.

Palm Harbor: U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis applauds the United States Air Force's recent decision to select MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa as its home base for 24 new KC-46 Pegasus tankers. MacDill Air Force Base is already home to 28 associate units from all branches of the military, including: U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and the 927^th Air Refueling Wing.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis held a roundtable discussion this week with local emergency room physicians, behavioral health clinicians, health department officials, law enforcement and other community leaders to learn more about how fentanyl is impacting the Tampa Bay area and identify ways Congress can provide more effective assistance. According to the CDC, 100,000 Americans have died from fentanyl-related overdoses in the past year. Pasco and Pinellas counties report approximately 800 fentanyl deaths in 2021 alone.

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) introduced the Protecting the Health of America's Older Adults Act. This bipartisan legislation would create a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve the health and well-being of older adults and provide grants to state and local health departments to implement age-friendly public health programs.

Oldsmar, Florida, Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas (AAAPP), a nonprofit focused on coordinating services to keep seniors healthy and independent, today announced a community program in collaboration with Ring to support senior safety in Pasco and Pinellas counties. Attached are pictures from the Press Conference announcing this initiative. During the press conference, Ring also presented AAAPP with an additional $20,000 donation to support the work of this worthwhile senior advocacy organization.