American Veterans
Representative Gus Bilirakis's (R-FL) bipartisan Major Richard Star Act has garnered strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate but has gotten nowhere since it was introduced in August 2022. This led him and Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA) to demand action in a recent letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to bring the bill […]
A bill introduced by Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL) to strengthen Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) provisions has recently passed the House as an amendment to the larger "Dole Act," a legislative victory he said "ensures Reservists and Guardsmen who return from active duty are not disadvantaged or discriminated against in their civilian […]
Veteran homelessness rates have reached a historic low under the Biden-Harris Administration, a milestone that Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (R-FL) praised in a recent statement, saying, "This momentous achievement reflects the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration and congressional Democrats to support the men and women who served our country." The Military Times confirmed the news, noting […]
Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) have introduced a bill improving the recruitment and retention of staff for the Board of Veterans' Appeals. This would, in turn, increase the Board's timeliness and ability to process claims. The Board, as described by their website, is charged with assisting veterans in making appeals claims and […]
As adviser to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on veterans issues, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) told The Floridian in a recent interview that there is a clear difference in the priority by which veterans are treated between the Trump Administration and the Biden-Harris Administration, slamming the latter for "doing everything they possibly can to eliminate community care." […]
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, better known as DEI, has been scrutinized by Republicans, who allege that such a system does the opposite of its intended purpose in practice. The latest instance appeared in Veterans Affairs facilities, where race-based support groups and workshops exclude white veterans. As a result, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) recently wrote letters […]
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Mere days after Gov. DeSantis announced that the state's version of the national guard will be sent to the Texas border to fight illegal immigration, U.S. Marine veteran Mark Thieme was unanimously confirmed Monday as the new director for the state guard. This makes Thieme the third director in less than two years. "I […]
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Top Republican Lawmaker Sen. Jay Collins has proposed a slew of hard-hitting bills this session, covering issues ranging from foster homes to communism to veterans. In an exclusive interview with the Floridian, he outlined his wide-ranging agenda for 2024's legislative season. "I am unequivocally pro-life," Collins, who is adopted, said of his child permanency […]
Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) is leading a bipartisan amendment to the 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act providing protections to veterans who use medical cannabis. According to the Veterans Affairs website, while veterans will not be denied benefits for medical cannabis use, VA doctors cannot prescribe, recommend, or provide any assistance in […]
Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) will introduce three bills designed to aid America's veterans and active service members in the Armed Forces' healthcare, benefits, and safety standards. First, the Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to gather data on veterans who had perished by suicide or drug overdose […]
In late April, House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, and Grow Act to cut Federal spending. The Biden Administration accused the bill of cutting funds for veterans' healthcare. Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) struck back against the allegation in an op-ed for Fox News, saying President Biden "views [veterans] as political pawns." "As a veteran, and as a member of Congress […]
Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) has introduced a bipartisan bill designed to address potential flaws in the mental healthcare system and reduce military suicides. Named the Treating Invisible Wounds on Base Act, Rep. Buchanan's bill would require the Department of Defense to examine the accessibility of mental health services in the military, and then propose how […]
Today is Veterans Day, and we honor those who served in our armed forces. To celebrate, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL-17), a veteran himself, appeared on Fox to discuss his Veterans' True Choice Act. The bill, first introduced in 2021, allows former service members to receive coverage from TRICARE Select, part of the Dept. of Defense. […]
In spite of Memorial Day coming up, President Joe Biden (D) has shut down permits from veteran groups to use government property for coordinated veterans events. American Veterans (AMVETS), requested to use the Pentagon's parking lot as the staging area for their, "Rolling To Remember Memorial Day," event grounds. AMVETS has been granted permits by […]