PENSACOLA, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis deployed more National Guardsmen and Florida Highway Patrol Troopers to Texas to assist Texas officials as they work to secure our southern border. Fifty National Guardsmen departed Pensacola in this wave, alongside 76 Florida Highway Patrol Troopers.

“The Biden Border Crisis has made every state a border state, requiring the states to step up and defend our territorial sovereignty,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I want to extend my sincerest thanks to every law enforcement officer, National Guardsman and member of the State Guard who is serving in Texas.”

Since 2021, Florida has sent more than 2,400 law enforcement officers to assist Texas at the southern border. With those officers, the state has also sent more than 600 assets including boats, command buses and ATVs.–

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the establishment of a bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to explore how Congress can ensure America continues to lead the world in AI innovation while considering guardrails that may be appropriate to safeguard the nation against current and emerging threats. Congresswoman Kat Cammack was tapped as a member of the new group along with three other Republicans from the Florida delegation.

Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries have each appointed twelve members to the Task Force that represent key committees of jurisdiction and will be jointly led by Chair Jay Obernolte (CA-23) and Co-Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36). The Task Force will seek to produce a comprehensive report that will include guiding principles, forward-looking recommendations and bipartisan policy proposals developed in consultation with committees of jurisdiction.

“Because advancements in artificial intelligence have the potential to rapidly transform our economy and our society, it is important for Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to understand and plan for both the promises and the complexities of this transformative technology,” said Speaker Mike Johnson. “I am happy to announce with Leader Jeffries this new Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence to ensure America continues leading in this strategic arena.” Continue reading →

Dear Neighbor,
This week I was back home in the district after three long weeks in Washington! It is always great to be home working with my team to best advocate for the policy issues that impact and matter the most to you. This week, we visited Alachua, Marion, and Gilchrist Counties to meet with folks and hear from them about what’s most on their minds. We’re looking forward to sharing more details and photos from those stops next week.

While back home in Florida, I joined a letter with 80 of my peers to demand President Biden take a cognitive test. America is the greatest and most powerful country in the world, and the chief executive must be mentally and physically equipped to tackle the challenges we face. We’re concerned about President Biden’s mental fitness and are united in ensuring the president—no matter the party—is up to the job.

Additionally, the 2024 Congressional Art Competition is now open. I am so proud of the art our students produce in Florida’s Third, and I can’t wait to see what this year’s competition has in store. Interested applicants can read more about submitting their artwork here. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 5 at 5pm ET. Continue reading →

Dear Neighbor,
It was a big week in Washington. The House finally impeached DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for the utter negligence at the southern border. We will continue to hold him accountable and push for stronger border security that puts an end to the crisis.

In the Energy & Commerce Committee, we made meaningful headway in gathering support for the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act. I am a proud sponsor of this bill and had the chance to speak about it during a legislative hearing with the bill’s namesake in the audience. Advocating for the sanctity and quality of life for people with disabilities is our responsibility and one I take seriously.

Additionally, I spoke on the House Floor this week about the Biden administration’s LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) export ban. The House also passed H.R. 7176, the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act, to reverse this LNG ban to protect our American energy jobs and our economy. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 30-year prison sentence for a man operating an elaborate real estate investment scheme. Miquel Angel Perez defrauded more than 20 victims out of retirement and life savings through a scheme involving real estate pitches and false promises of wealth made from investments. A Pasco County jury found Perez guilty of 22 felonies, including racketeering, grand theft, exploitation and mortgage fraud. The judge sentenced Perez to 30 years in prison.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This real estate schemer claimed to be a successful investor but instead stole people’s hard-earned money, leaving many in deep debt and with poor credit. He tricked more than 20 victims, including senior citizens, to gain millions in investment funds all to fund his own lavish lifestyle. Now, thanks to our law enforcement partners and Statewide Prosecutors, his next real estate venture will be relocating to a jail cell.”

According to the investigation, Perez held free investment seminars and showed attendees how to purchase and convert single-family residences into assisted living facilities for a profit, in exchange for the attendees’ investments. Perez claimed to garner great success in real estate investments, and accumulated millions in net worth—promising to help attendees attain a similar lifestyle. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE — Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution charged a man for stealing more than $28,000 worth of electrical wire in a fraudulent barcode scheme. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigation, Edrey Santo Rojas stole rolls of wire through fraudulent sales and returns from multiple Lowe’s and Home Depot stores in 15 counties throughout Florida and the Southeast United States. In a seven-month period, Rojas fraudulently used authentic barcodes from lesser-priced electrical wire to purchase expensive rolls of wire. Rojas then conducted fraudulent returns by taking products in the store that matched the receipt from the prior purchase to customer service for a full refund. Rojas is charged with multiple felony counts of retail theft.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This thief stole more than $28,000 worth of wire rolls from home-improvement stores throughout 15 counties in a fraudulent barcode scheme. He committed more than 70 different thefts crossing multiple judicial circuits. Thanks to law enforcement and our Statewide Prosecutors, his spree is wired shut and now he faces multiple felony charges.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution charged a man for stealing more than $28,000 worth of electrical wire in a fraudulent barcode scheme. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigation, Edrey Santo Rojas stole rolls of wire through fraudulent sales and returns from multiple Lowe’s and Home Depot stores in 15 counties throughout Florida and the Southeast United States. In a seven-month period, Rojas fraudulently used authentic barcodes from lesser-priced electrical wire to purchase expensive rolls of wire. Rojas then conducted fraudulent returns by taking products in the store that matched the receipt from the prior purchase to customer service for a full refund. Rojas is charged with multiple felony counts of retail theft.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This thief stole more than $28,000 worth of wire rolls from home-improvement stores throughout 15 counties in a fraudulent barcode scheme. He committed more than 70 different thefts crossing multiple judicial circuits. Thanks to law enforcement and our Statewide Prosecutors, his spree is wired shut and now he faces multiple felony charges.”  Continue reading →

“Is anything happening with the FAIRtax? Why don’t I ever hear about the FAIRtax on tv? Will the FAIRtax ever pass?” These are a few of the questions that I hear on a fairly regular basis. Let’s take them one at a time:

“Is anything happening with the FAIRtax”:

Just a few weeks ago Steve Hayes (Chairman of Americans for Fair Taxation) was invited to testify before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Taxation in Washington, D.C. This proved to have both negative and positive results. Those members who do not like the FAIRtax and enjoy the rewards of having an incomprehensible income tax code to further their own political gains asked scripted questions to people other than Steve. They in turned gave scripted answers that misconstrued or lied about the FAIRtax without giving Steve a chance for rebuttal. Fortunately, the chairman asked Steve direct questions that gave him the opportunity to set the record straight. After the meeting, Steve was approached by 3 different Congressmen wanting to talk more about the FAIRtax. Steve is in the process now of trying to set up one-on-one sessions with these members to teach them more about the FAIRtax and find common ground in hope of pushing the FAIRtax bill forward. Continue reading →

Have you ever thought there is so much good about the FAIRtax that, when someone asks you about it, you are tongue-tied because you don’t know where to begin? Imagine getting a question about the FAIRtax while riding in an elevator, and you have twenty seconds before the door opens.

Why Democrats Should Support the FAIRtax

AFFT president Steve Hayes’ testimony before the House Ways and Means subcommittee on taxation was largely political theater. Both sides used the occasion to advance their own talking points—Republicans touting the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and Democrats attacking the FAIRtax at every turn. Continue reading →