Dear Neighbor,
It was another busy week in Florida’s Third District, focused on supporting our local businesses, strengthening American innovation, and fighting for our hardworking communities!
This week, I had the opportunity to visit local businesses, connect with some of North Central Florida’s brightest minds in agriculture and healthcare, and see the exciting innovations happening right here in our backyard. I also traveled to Cedar Key to hear firsthand about the community’s continued recovery from devastating hurricanes and the challenges still facing our hardworking seafood producers.
Every stop was an opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand the needs of our communities. I’m taking those conversations back to Washington and continuing to fight for more opportunities, stronger communities, and a brighter future for North Central Florida.
As always, thank you for the trust you place in me to serve as your voice in Washington.
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Standing with Cedar Key as Florida’s Rural Coast Rebuilds
This week, I joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the City of Cedar Key, UF’s Nature Coast Biological Station, and the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association for a boat tour of Cedar Key in Levy County. We saw firsthand the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricanes Idalia and Helene and hear directly from the folks working to rebuild their community.
Hurricanes Idalia and Helene hit this community hard. On Seahorse Key, storm damage and erosion now threaten the historic lighthouse and the cemetery where U.S. servicemembers and lighthouse keepers are laid to rest. That history deserves protecting.
We also toured the clam beds and oyster reef restoration that keep Levy County’s working waterfront going. Shellfish producers face unique challenges every storm season, and federal disaster programs don’t always account for them. That’s why I’ve cosponsored the Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act and the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act to close those gaps.
As the lone Florida Representative on the House Agriculture Committee, I’m fighting to improve disaster assistance for our producers and make sure our rural coastal communities aren’t left behind. I’ll continue working with local leaders to protect our historic sites, strengthen our working waterfront, and help Cedar Key recover and rebuild.
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Innovation in Action at San Felasco Tech City
I visited San Felasco Tech City in Alachua to see firsthand how local businesses are creating jobs, developing new technologies, and bringing more economic opportunities to North Central Florida.
Home to more than 70 companies, San Felasco Tech City brings together businesses in advanced manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, and renewable energy. From vinyl record production and glass photo printing to cutting-edge medical technologies, I enjoyed seeing the incredible work happening right here in our backyard.
Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy, and I’m committed to making sure they have the tools and opportunities they need to grow. I’ll continue fighting to cut unnecessary red tape, encourage American innovation, and help create more good-paying jobs right here in Florida’s Third District.
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Strengthening North Central Florida Agriculture, Healthcare, and Innovation
I led a healthcare roundtable with leaders from the University of Florida, local businesses, and agricultural and healthcare organizations to talk about strengthening American agriculture, advancing medical research, and keeping our nation competitive.
We discussed the important work happening right here in North Central Florida, from protecting our food supply and advancing agricultural research to developing new healthcare technologies and combating infectious diseases. We also explored how to strengthen partnerships between our research institutions, local businesses, and the federal government so new discoveries become real-world solutions.
As the lone Florida Representative on the House Agriculture Committee and a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I’m proud to bring North Central Florida’s priorities to Washington. I’ll keep working to support American research and innovation, strengthen our farmers and healthcare providers, and make sure the work happening in our district creates more opportunities for the people we serve.
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Restoring Accountability in the People’s House
This week, I joined Jimmy Failla on FOX Across America to discuss political double standards and the urgent need to restore accountability and integrity in Congress.
No member of Congress is above the law. The American people are tired of Washington operating under a different set of rules than the rest of the country. The People’s House should set the standard for transparency, integrity, and accountability, not be the exception.
