The Webster Wire

Listening to Floridians

Dear Friends:

Under President Trump, America’s borders were secure, but since day one in office, President Biden has taken over 60 executive actions that have undermined our border security, weakened our national security, made our communities less safe, and harmed American families. Securing the border is my top priority. I voted to pass H.Res. 1112, a resolution denouncing the Biden Administration’s immigration policies demanding that President Biden take action now to end this border crisis.

I also recently sent a letter demanding Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas release of a report on the total number of illegal aliens currently residing in the United States, using the most recent data available. The American people deserve an exact accounting number of illegal aliens residing in the country, especially if the federal government’s policies have caused that number to surge since the previous estimate. Since January 2021, the Southwest border crisis has reached heights not seen in recent history, and at least 4.7 million illegal aliens have been released into the interior under the Biden Administration’s policies.

I’ve been to the Southern Border and seen first-hand how President Biden’s failed policies have perpetuated this crisis. I’ve sponsored and helped pass legislation in the U.S. House that would finish building a border wall and establish comprehensive border security and immigration policies. I won’t stop fighting to secure our border and hold President Biden accountable. I am determined as ever to keep pushing my House colleagues, the U.S. Senate, and White House to embrace policies that secure our borders and protect the American people.

Delivering for Small Business

America’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I also supported legislation last week that will help provide increased resources for small businesses and removes unnecessary burdens to ensure that government does not stand in the way of economic development and job creation. As a small business owner, I know firsthand the challenges small business owners face daily.

The following bills I supported passed the House of Representatives last week:

• H.R. 5333 – Investing in All of America Act, amends the definition of private capital in the Small Business Investment Act to provide increased access to capital for small business, particularly those in rural or low-income areas.
• H.R. 7103 – Agency Accountability Act, holds federal agencies accountable by requiring them to testify to Congress should the agency fail to satisfy certain goals for awarding federal contracts to small businesses. 
• H.R. 7985 – Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act, requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue a report to Congress on the challenges and needs faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities when starting a business.
• H.R. 7987 – Plain Language in Contracting Act, requires federal agencies to use plain language when writing federal contracts to small businesses to ensure they are written in a clear and understandable manner.

Key Veterans Bill Pass the House

I am committed to ensuring that those who have already sacrificed so much for this country receive the benefits they were promised when they entered our nation’s service. Last week, I supported the passage of several bills that strengthen veteran mental health and suicide prevention programs, and improve education and employment programs for veterans transitioning back into civilian life.

• H.R. 3722 – Daniel J. Harvey and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act, which adds mental health and suicide prevention to the Transition Assistance Program, and strengthens the existing Solid Start Program to increase awareness for veterans about the mental health programs available to them.
• H.R. 5914 – Veterans Education Transparency and Training (VETT Act), improves the process for veterans enrolling in higher education by simplifying the educational form requirements and establishes an online resource portal through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs providing information about the training for VA school certifying officials.
• H.R. 3738 – Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration Act, establishes a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration dedicated to assisting veterans’ transition back into civilian life by administering education, employment, and housing opportunity programs already operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
• H.R. 1767 – Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act, restores VA education benefits for student veterans in cases where the VA determined the student veteran was unable to complete the course or program because of school closure or the program was determined ineligible for VA education benefits.
• H.R. 4016 – Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act, requires the VA to reissue benefits in the event of fraud by a fiduciary before making a determination of negligence on the part of the VA. 

Our veterans and their families sacrifice to defend the freedoms we hold dear. I have and will continue to support initiatives that help our nation’s military members get the assistance they need, and improve veterans access to education, retraining and employment opportunities. We owe them a debt we can never repay. If you need assistance with an issue before the VA, please contact my office. We are here to serve you.

Blocking Biden’s Agricultural Labor Regulation

I along with Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) and over a dozen of my House Republican colleagues last week introduced legislation to block the Biden Department of Labor’s finalized H-2A unionization rule set to take effect June 28, 2024. This 600-page rule will increase costs for our nation’s agricultural producers and allow temporary agricultural employees to unionize. This legislation utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to rescind the Department of Labor’s recent policy. The finalized rule from President Biden’s Department of Labor is a clear attack on the agriculture industry. Agriculture is one of the three pillars of Florida’s economy and farmers and ranchers all over the country grow and raise the food that ends up on our kitchen tables. I will always work to protect our farmers and ranchers from unnecessary and restrictive Washington mandates.

Seeing and Serving You

Last week in Washington, I met with Rene Rodriguez-Aragon of the Florida Rural Letter Carriers Association last week. As a subsidiary of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, this labor union is devoted to improving the methods used by rural letter carriers, protecting their working conditions, and upholding their commitment to serving Florida’s rural communities. During our meeting, we discussed H.R.82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, which repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive other benefits, such as a pension. I am a cosponsor of this legislation as I believe in protecting and preserving the promises we have made to Americans who have invested into this program for decades. I will never support pulling the rug out from Americans and will fight to ensure they receive their hard-earned benefits.

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Pam Jones, my Community Relations Representative in Lake County, recently attended the Lake County Sheriff Appreciation Dinner at the Clermont Performing Arts Center. Nearly 300 were in attendance and Sheriff Peyton Grinnell presented certificates to honor all the volunteers. Sheriff Grinnell also presented a mock check that represents all the hours the volunteers gave to help keep Lake County safe.

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Pam Jones also recently attended the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of Genesis of Central Florida with the South Lake Chamber and Executive Director David Colby. Tracy Taylor is President of the Genesis of Central Florida dealership in Clermont, and the Hyundai of Central Florida dealership in Clermont as well. Congratulations on the Grand Opening!

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Cindy Brown, my Community Relations Representative for Sumter County recently attended the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners meeting. She joined representatives of the Sumter County Farm Bureau, Sumter County Cattlewomen, and Sumter County Cattlemen, as they received a Proclamation endorsing May as National Beef Month in Sumter County. I appreciate our amazing Central Florida agriculture and farming industry.

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It was an honor and pleasure for my office to work to obtain military awards for World War II Navy, Veteran Al Flohr. My office contacted the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) on behalf of Mr. Flohr to add a medal to which he was entitled to but never received after his honorable and brave military service.

Cindy Brown, my Community Relations Representative, worked with the Villages Honor Flight leadership to organize a special presentation for Mr. Flohr at April 2024 Honor Flight Monthly Luncheon. Ret. U.S. Navy Captain Lee Tuttle presented the awards to Mr. Flohr. Thank you, Mr. Al Flohr, for your service and sacrifice! My office is grateful for the opportunity to honor our veterans. If you are a veteran or know a veteran in need of assistance, please contact us. We are here to serve you.

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Your servant,

Daniel Webster
Member of Congress

Constituent Corner

A constituent from Sumter County was incorrectly billed for care she received through the VA Community Care Program. Our office contacted the VA who waived the charges to her and reprocessed the medical claims to correctly bill her private insurance.

Constituent services is a critical element of our congressional office. The federal government is a massive operation, and my office is available if you ever need assistance in navigating the bureaucracy or cutting through red tape. We are here to serve you.

Survey

The U.S. Constitution requires the government to conduct a census every 10 years, which is then used to determine how the 435 Congressional districts are distributed across our 50 states. Currently, noncitizens are counted in the census and used in the apportionment process.

Do you think only the population of American citizens should be used for congressional and electoral apportionment?

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Results of last week’s survey which asked…“Do you think federal funding should be stopped for universities that fail to protect students from antisemitism?”