Florida State Wide
Who is hindering the passage of the FAIRtax? The answer: those who benefit from the current system. A recent Rasmussen survey may provide a partial answer to who those people are.
Scott Rasmussen provides a revealing look at a group that he calls “America’s elite 1%”. This group is defined as people who make over $150,000 a year, live in densely populated areas and have postgraduate degrees. Here is some of the results of the survey:
* The elite 1% represents 1% of the population and are extraordinary influential.
* A heavy concentration of them went to one of 12 elite schools.
* About half of the policy positions in government and half the corporate board positions in America are held by people who went to one of those 12 schools.
* They are in power centers – Manhattan or D.C. Continue reading
Dear Friends,
In the last few days, Governor DeSantis signed the following education bills into law:
HB 931 establishes a statewide school chaplain program, which:
▪ Authorizes school districts and charter schools to allow volunteer chaplains to be on school campuses and provide additional counseling support to students.
- Chaplains will be assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board.
- A student may only receive support offered by school chaplains with written parental consent.
HB 1317 authorizes districts to allow civic and patriotic organizations to visit schools to encourage student participation and involvement. These organizations include: Continue reading
When was the last time you engaged in pandiculation? No, it’s not a religious ritual or a Beyoncé dance move, and certainly not an intimate interplay. In fact, you needn’t look any further than your beloved four-legged companion to witness the essence of pandiculation.
Pandiculation is our body’s innate mechanism for awakening the sensorimotor system and priming us for movement. Picture yawning and stretching, extending your arms, elongating your spine, and rotating your head, or observe the graceful stretch of your pet after waking from a nap. Pandiculation isn’t merely stretching; it involves a controlled contraction of muscles at their maximum length, alleviating accumulated stress from inactivity.
The benefits of pandiculation are manifold, encompassing improved posture, circulation, mobility, strength, proprioception, pain reduction, lymphatic flow, and neural, somatosensory, and cognitive stimulation. It’s an instinctive response observed even in utero. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the number of Americans rescued from political turmoil in Haiti by the State of Florida now exceeds 200 individuals. Since the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s first state coordinated rescue flight on March 20, a total of 220 Americans have been successfully evacuated from Haiti to Florida. The evacuations have been executed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (the Division).
“When Floridians and other Americans are in need, the State of Florida acts,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I’m pleased to announce that we’ve been able to successfully rescue more than 200 Floridians and other Americans from Haiti. Even when the federal government fails to act, Florida will always step up.” Continue reading
Submissions will be used to support Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— First Lady Casey DeSantis announced a new website to collect family-oriented, kid-friendly recipes for a project designed to benefit the Hope Florida Fund. She invites Floridians and parents from across the state to submit their favorite recipes.
“In the DeSantis family, we love cooking with the kids,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “I am asking Floridians to share their favorite kid-friendly recipes to be included in a project that will benefit the Hope Florida Fund. The Governor and I look forward to submissions from parents and cooks in the Sunshine State.” Continue reading
Dear Neighbor,
This week was a long one—and it’s still not over! The House will be in session through tomorrow to consider several important pieces of legislation. I spoke about what’s been happening today on the House Floor in a Facebook Live here.
It was a busy week in the Energy & Commerce Committee as we reviewed several pieces of legislation that deal with protecting you and your privacy online. This is of utmost importance to me and my colleagues because you deserve to be protected, not taken advantage for advertisers and third-party groups that use and sell your data for their own benefit. For more on this, take a look below. Continue reading
This week, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and I urged Floridians to help us fight the opioid crisis by participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.
Tomorrow, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Floridians can safely dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medications at a local drop-off location. National Drug Take Back Day is a biannual event hosted by the Drug Enforcement Administration every April and October.
Nationally, more than 112,000 people died from drug overdose in 2023. According to the 2022 Florida Department of Law Enforcement Medical Examiners Annual Report, Florida lost more than 8,000 to opioid-related overdoses. Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Cammack joined Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19) in a bipartisan letter alongside Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Scott Franklin, and 14 additional colleagues from across the Sunshine State in demanding that the Biden administration does not proceed with any proposed wilderness designation at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Federally-designated wilderness areas are defined as areas “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor and does not remain.” Any wilderness designation of Big Cypress by Biden administration officials would not only restrict the free movement of the local Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes, but it would supercharge the spread of invasive species, destroy local small businesses, and restrict wildfire response capabilities.
Representatives Byron Donalds (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) and Scott Franklin (R-FL) were joined in support by Representatives Aaron Bean (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (RFL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), María Salazar (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).
“Big Cypress National Preserve is an iconic fixture of our Southwest Florida community that must be protected from debilitating federal overreach,” said Rep. Donalds (R-FL). “I proudly stand with my constituents, local stakeholders, and environmental officials from across the Sunshine State in demanding that the Biden administration does not proceed with any wilderness designation of the preserve. It is imperative that we block this disastrous and completely unnecessary potential action by out-of-touch bureaucrats in Washington.”
“As we approach the 50th Anniversary of the Big Cypress National Preserve, it is crucial to continue protecting this outstanding natural and sacred land for future generations,” said Rep. Díaz-Balart (R-FL). “As the first-ever National Preserve in the National Park Service, this land stands as one of the most ecologically diverse areas of our country. Any proposed wilderness designation by the Biden Administration would pose significant threats to the sacred cultural sites of the Miccosukee Tribe and Seminole Tribe, and way of life enjoyed by the Tribes, constituents and tourists who visit America’s first Preserve for camping, fishing, and hunting. As the Member of Congress representing a majority of the Preserve, I remain steadfast in my commitment to safeguarding its future.”
“In Florida, we know no one is better at preserving our state’s natural beauty than the locals who have lived with and alongside the land for generations,” said Rep. Franklin (R-FL). “If the Biden Administration finalizes this determination, it will be in vehement opposition to the will of our state’s agencies, Tribal Nations and the affected counties in my district. I thank my Florida colleagues for joining the effort to stop this overreach from the federal government.”
“I’m glad to join Rep. Donalds and my Florida colleagues in opposing a wilderness designation for Big Cypress National Preserve,” said Rep. Cammack (R-FL). “The wilderness designation will restrict access for the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes which rely on this area for cultural, ceremonial, and burial significance, along with hunters and fishermen who work to manage invasive species. This most restrictive designation isn’t good for the Sunshine State.”
“America’s family caregivers work around-the-clock to provide essential care for their loved ones, and over half—56 percent—act as advocates on behalf of their family members. The last thing these caregivers need is more red tape that distracts from their support for those in their care,” said Rep. Kat Cammack. “I’m honored to introduce this bipartisan and bicameral ABC Act with my colleagues to lower the burden around the important medical decisions caregivers must make every day. Together we can support the 48 million caregivers that make up a critical part of our health care landscape in the U.S.”
“Family caregivers work around the clock to support their loved ones—often balancing their jobs and family responsibilities at the same time—and Congress must do our part to make their lives easier,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the ABC Act, a bicameral, bipartisan bill that will cut through bureaucratic red tape to provide caregivers with the support they deserve.”
“There are over 48 million family caregivers in the United States who provide essential services so their loved ones can continue to lead an independent lifestyle,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “I’m proud to join a bipartisan and bicameral group in introducing the ABC Act to streamline policies and alleviate administrative barriers so our caregivers can spend less time on stressful paperwork, and more time caring for patients in need.”
“Family caregivers face daily and numerous challenges when it comes to their many important responsibilities to help provide for the health and wellbeing of care recipients,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “By streamlining the overly burdensome and bureaucratic process, the bipartisan bicameral Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act would allow family caregivers to focus more on people rather than paperwork. This legislation would help ensure that the federal government is a partner, not an obstacle, for the over 48 million family caregivers around the country.”
“Family caregivers are the backbone of our nation’s long-term care system, and they are overwhelmed managing their loved one’s care,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond. “The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act could help reduce the stress family caregivers experience by making it easier to navigate resources, eligibility, benefits, and health systems when providing care. AARP thanks Representatives Cammack, Magaziner, Malliotakis, and Panetta for their dedication to family caregivers and urges Congress to swiftly pass this important bipartisan, bicameral legislation.”
The bill’s Senate companion, S. 3109, was introduced by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ed Markey (D-MA).
The bill has been endorsed by dozens of organizations, including AARP, the ALS Association, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Heart Association, Autism Speaks, the Family Caregiver Alliance, the Home Care Association of America, the National Alliance for Caregiving, and many more.
Including 400 Law Enforcement Officers Recruited from Illinois, California, and New York
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has reached the milestone of nearly 5,000 bonuses awarded through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program. This program encourages Floridians to join the profession and attracts out-of-state law enforcement officers to relocate to Florida. To date, 1,267 law enforcement recruits from 49 states and U.S. territories have relocated to Florida because of the program, including 400 recruits from anti-police jurisdictions like Illinois, California, and New York. Each of the nearly 5,000 law enforcement officers has received a $5,000 bonus after taxes, bringing the total amount awarded though the program to more than $32 million to date.
“Florida’s investments in law enforcement recruitment are investments in the safety of our communities,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida is a law-and-order state, and we will continue to pursue policies that attract the best law enforcement officers in the nation to serve and protect Floridians.” Continue reading
