Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis is a Republican representing Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which includes all of Pasco and northern parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. He was first elected to Congress on November 7, 2006. Gus serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He is the Ranking Member of Consumer Protection & Commerce Subcommittee and a Member of the Health Subcommittee and Communications and Technology Subcommittee. With 38 bills he authored signed into law since 2015, Congressman Bilirakis was recently designated as the Most Effective Republican Lawmaker in the State of Florida by the Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt University.
Congressman Bilirakis proudly serves as a Member on the Health Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act – better known as Obamacare – and the rest of the American health care system. Congressman Bilirakis believes all Americans deserve access to high quality, affordable healthcare, which is why he is a staunch opponent of Obamacare. He opposed the legislation when it passed in 2009, and has worked to repeal and replace the law as it has not provided the affordable coverage that was promised. Bilirakis supports the infusion of free market principles and cost transparency into the health care system, which he believes is the best way to lower costs and increase access to affordable care. He has always opposed a government takeover of health care, and has long been an advocate for Health Savings Accounts, access to catastrophic care, and protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Congressman Bilirakis believes Obamacare is broken and that Democrats and Republicans must work together to develop solutions that actually deliver on the promise of affordable options for quality care.
Children’s Healthcare
One of the Congressman’s highest priorities is the sustainability of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, provides healthcare for approximately 9 million children. With his help, it was reauthorized during the 115th Congress for 10 years, the longest period since the program’s inception. Additionally, legislation he authored, which was also signed into law, allows families who make too much to qualify for CHIP to purchase the same plan directly from the state at a discounted rate.
Combatting Addiction
Opioid addiction is a complicated and serious public health crisis. The Congressman believes we must ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to prosecute bad actors within the system, while providing better access to effective treatments for those who are suffering. Florida has received over $126 million in State Opioid Response Grants to address the ongoing crisis. (updated 2/18/20) The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law along with several provisions authored by Congressman Bilirakis. The legislation promotes treatment and recovery, encourages prevention, protects communities and fights fentanyl. It is the most comprehensive effort to battle opioid addiction to date. Additionally, the bill encourages the development of and access to non-addictive opioid alternatives to treat pain, improves data to identify and help at risk patients and families and addresses high prescribing rates while enhancing prescription drug monitoring programs—something that our local experts told me was desperately needed. The INTERDICT Act, which Congressman Bilirakis supported was also signed into law. It requires U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to increase the number of chemical screening devices used to intercept Fentanyl and other illicit drugs which are being illegally imported to the United States. Large amounts of Fentanyl have been coming into our country from China and the Congressman believes we must stop the spread of this potent and deadly drug.
The opioid crisis has had a dramatic impact on Floridians. While there was a brief decline in opioid deaths in Florida from 2010-2013 after legislation to shut down pill mills, the deaths have spiraled out of control since 2013. According to a recently released study from the National Safety Council, more Americans are more likely to die today from accidental opioid overdoses than from car accidents. In Florida, 14 people a day, or 10,784 people a year, died in 2016, and estimates indicate that opioid deaths in Florida are on target to continue to increase. Florida has also seen a significant rise in the number of babies born addicted to opioids. It is more important than ever for leaders at the federal, state and local levels to be working together to coordinate resources and strategy.
The Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act, which Congressman Bilirakis authored, was signed into law. It established quality standards for providers offering treatment during this important phase of recovery. Prior to its passage, regulations for addiction recovery providers varied from state-to-state and were virtually non-existent in some states. As a result, patients and families were unable to confidently identify quality sober living environments.
Anyone who exploits those suffering from Substance Use Disorder for personal gain or profit deserves to be held accountable for their immoral and unethical behavior. The Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act is a critical step to making sure that can happen.
Building on the work of the SUPPORT Act, Congressman Bilirakis introduced the EASE Behavioral Health Act. This bill expands reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth - making it easier, and more accessible for patients to receive the critical treatment they need. These provisions were signed into law at the end of 2020.
Providing Hope
Congressman Bilirakis’s bill, the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, was signed into law at the end of the 115th Congress. It renews critical surveillance and research programs to better treat and understand congenital heart defects (CHDs). About 40,000 babies will be born over the next year with a congenital heart defect, and 5% will not live to see their first birthday. The road ahead may be scary and uncertain for any parent of a newborn who has CHD, but this bill gives hope to those coping with the diagnosis.
Congress also gave patients hope by passing S. 292, the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (or STAR) Act, the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever taken up by Congress 2 Congresses ago. Congressman Bilirakis was a strong supporter of this initiative. Additionally, he supported the Right to Try Act of 2017 which provides greater access to experimental and potentially life-saving drugs to terminally ill patients. This bill was signed into law as well.
Community Health Centers
Additionally, Congressman Bilirakis’s Community CARE Act which reauthorized community health centers nationally for two years was included as part of the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act and passed under the Bipartisan Budget Act 2 Congresses ago. Last Congress, the Energy and Commerce Committee, of which Bilirakis is a member, passed the Reauthorizing and Extending America's Community Health (or REACH) Act which included a 4-year reauthorization of Community Health Centers - the longest in program history. Community Health Centers offer access to care for the insured, uninsured and underinsured providing high quality health, mental health, substance abuse and dental on a sliding scale basis. Congressman Bilirakis has proven himself to be a champion for expanding this healthcare resource for Americans.
Rare Diseases
As C0-Chairman of the Rare Disease Caucus, Congressman Bilirakis understands that rare diseases are not a rare problem; more than 30 million Americans are living with one or more rare disease. Sadly, between 93% and 95% of the more than 7,000 known rare diseases have no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy. Traditional regulatory processes have become more complex involving combinations of therapies, genomics, novel diagnostic tests, multi-systemic diseases, small patient populations, and precision medicine. As a result, numerous parts of the regulatory system need to cohesively work together. The development process for a rare disease drug currently takes an average of 15 years, which leaves rare disease patients and their families waiting without access to life-changing or even life-saving treatments. Further complicating the situation is that when new therapies for rare diseases are finally approved under the current structure, patients often face unnecessary delays and barriers to access, resulting in avoidable health deterioration.
In response, Congressman Bilirakis introduced the Speeding Therapy Access Today (STAT) Act of 2021. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation was developed with the input of the rare disease community, and is aimed at improving the development of and access to therapies for the rare disease community. The STAT Act will tackle these issues by enacting targeted, impactful, and attainable policy reforms at the FDA to accelerate development of therapies across the spectrum of rare diseases and disorders and facilitate patient access to such therapies. Specifically, the STAT Act will improve rare disease coordination, stakeholder engagement, and policy development within FDA by expanding existing authority to create a Rare Disease Center of Excellence, which is a model that has proven effective in stimulating development for cancer drugs.
Cost of Medication
Congressman Bilirakis knows the cost of medication is too high and unaffordable for many Americans. Additionally, he understands the financial ruin that can stem from a surprise medical bill. In his opinion, all options for lowering drug costs need to be on the table. For surprise bills, patients should be held harmless in payment negotiations between providers and insurers and should never receive a surprise bill. Last Congress, we passed and President Trump signed the No Surprises Act into law to address unfair medical billing practices. Provisions of the bill are slated to take effect next year. (updated 03/09/21)
Additionally, two Congresses ago, the FDA Reauthorization Act (or FDARA) passed. It will help lower the cost of important medication and devices and expedite the process for approving new treatments and cures for patients. A provision authored by Congressman Bilirakis was signed into law as part of the package. It created competition within the generic market, and ultimately lowered costs by expediting the review process for drugs in which there are no generics currently on the market. It has already led to the development of a generic competitor for the EpiPen, which was desperately needed as the manufacturer spiked the rate of that life-saving medicine due to lack of competition. To date, Bilirakis’s provision has led to the development of 75 various therapies for which there wasn’t previously a generic competitor.
Additionally, Congressman Bilirakis joined his colleagues last Congress in introducing H.R. 19, the Lower Cost, More Cures Act which represents more than 40 bipartisan, bicameral provisions to lower prescription drug costs without sacrificing innovation. H.R. 19 encourages innovation of groundbreaking new cures, promotes more low-cost options for patients, and curbs how drug companies can game the system. H.R. 19 provided the first-ever out-of-pocket cap for seniors in the Medicare Part D program; capped the cost of insulin for seniors in the Medicare Part D program; increased transparency and removed uncertainty at the pharmacy counter; cut the cost of drug administration, including cancer treatment, for Medicare beneficiaries by as much as half; and stopped subsidizing other developed countries’ health care through stronger trade agreements.
Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi pushed HR 3 instead of allowing bipartisan negotiations on HR 19. According to the White House Council of Economic Advisors, the highly costly and partisan Pelosi drug price bill last Congress - H.R.3 - could lead to as many as 100 fewer drugs entering the U.S. market over the next decade, which represents fewer lives bettered and saved. Additionally, Pelosi’s own California Life Science’s Association admitted that policies under H.R. 3 would reduce the number of drugs brought to market by small and emerging companies by 88% in California alone. As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Rare Disease Caucus, Congressman Bilirakis believes one less cure is one too many.
Congressman Bilirakis was very encouraged to see the last Administration’s dedication to lowering drug costs - exploring all options including registered drug importation from Canada. As we look ahead with the new Administration, Congressman Bilirakis believes we need to continue to do more on a bipartisan basis when it comes to lowering the price of prescription drugs without sacrificing access to the latest treatments and cures, and he is committed to continuing to work on this issue with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle and this current Administration to deliver for American patients.
Additionally, Congressman Bilirakis is a member of numerous health care-related caucuses through which he advocates for many important causes, including the:
Environment
Congressman Bilirakis believes that climate change is real and has been active in Congressional hearings focused on reducing carbon emissions, boosting renewable energy options, and modernizing the nation’s power generation. The Congressman wants clean air, clean water, and environmental protection; but as he explains below, those things do not have to be achieved at the expense of jobs, prosperity, and national security.
Energy Production
During the pandemic, many Florida families have struggling to pay their bills and now they are grappling with rising costs of fuel. These cost increases have a harmful impact on the Florida and national economies. Congressman Bilirakis firmly supports an “all of the above” energy strategy that includes increasing domestic production, providing incentives for the development of renewable resources, and promoting conservation. New and emerging technologies will allow the United States to better harness the existing swath of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources that are available. The federal government has the responsibility to not pick winners and losers among the various energy sources.
Representative Bilirakis is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over federal energy policy. He intends to use this position to work in a bipartisan fashion to eliminate barriers to domestic energy production and encourage economic growth. He is also a cosponsor of legislation to build the Keystone Pipeline – an instant boost to domestic energy production that will lower energy costs, ensure less dependence on hostile nations, and create tens of thousands of jobs, in areas where job opportunities are scarce.
Unfortunately, this Administration is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to energy production. Congressman Bilirakis fully supports the recently unveiled House Energy and Commerce Republican plan to secure America’s energy future and provide a competitive advantage against China - the world’s top carbon polluter. The Congressman believes these solutions will help modernize our infrastructure and ensure America continues to lead the world in reducing emissions- while keeping energy costs low for Americans. These pro-consumer and pro-environmental energy solutions are a far better option for achieving these goals than the job-killing proposals put forth by leading Democrats, such as the Green New Deal, cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline and restricting domestic oil exploration.
Infrastructure
Congressman Bilirakis believes infrastructure is an area where there is a real opportunity to build bipartisan consensus, but not if leaders in the House and Senate insist on using the budget reconciliation process and avoid compromise. Many prior infrastructure proposals would have benefited important local projects in the Congressman’s district if implemented. This includes:
The Congressman is optimistic about the chances for bipartisan cooperation that will lead to a much-needed re-investment in the nation as we work to strengthen and modernize its crumbling infrastructure.
Ridge Road
The Congressman is relieved that the Ridge Road project was finally permitted and is under construction. This project is necessary for the safety and timely evacuation of both Pasco and Pinellas residents. There are currently only two east/west routes that can evacuate our coastal residents inland during a storm. Even worse, one of those routes is prone to flooding and can bottleneck to one lane during a storm. This is dangerous and unacceptable.
The Congressman worked closely with Pasco County officials, the Army Corps and President Trump in order to expedite approval of the permit. When a funding snag arose amid construction, Congressman Bilirakis stepped in and worked with the state to ensure the project could progress. He looks forward to celebrating the opening of the Ridge Road Extension project soon.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary underwriter of flood insurance. Hurricanes over the last decade have placed the program over $23 billion in debt. The program is currently funded through September 30, 2021.
However, it is important to note that in the event the program lapses, all existing Flood Insurance plans would continue to operate, and claims would be paid. But no new plans could be added to the program during the lapse. Congressman Bilirakis is working in a bipartisan manner to ensure that doesn’t happen, as it would be catastrophic for our state and regional housing market and economy.
The majority of constituents who participate in this program live in modest homes, many of which are not even on the water. While the program received a short-term extension and Congress provided emergency funding to keep it operational, it is imperative to ensure the long-term sustainability of this critical program.
In the 115th Congress, the House passed NFIP legislation which would have been beneficial to Florida policyholders. The Congressman was able to share the concerns outlined by Pasco and Pinellas counties with House leadership, and was able to secure many rewrites to the bill that would benefit Floridians. This bill would have ensured the continuation of the program for five years, with safeguards to ensure affordability, encourage private providers to enter the market, and give greater transparency to the program. Unfortunately, the Senate did not pass the bill, however, the Congressman remains committed to the long-term success of this vital program.
Some constituents find that they are paying premiums much higher than their risk of flooding dictates. This is because the rate tables NFIP uses to determine premiums are outdated and are not based on reliable data. Congressman Bilirakis has previously filed the Flood Insurance Integrity Act, legislation which would help fix this problem. The House is once again working on another NFIP bill, and Congressman Bilirakis is hopeful that a bipartisan compromise can be reached. He understands that we must continue to work towards long-term reauthorization of NFIP to ensure stability in the housing market in our area.
Congressman Bilirakis has always demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advocating on behalf of Veterans and their families in Congress. He has worked throughout his tenure to ensure veterans receive quality and timely services while promoting transparency and accountability throughout the VA.
GI Bill
Congressman Bilirakis has been a long-time advocate for the Veteran community and has always strived to work on a bipartisan basis to increase educational opportunities for Veterans. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, or the “Forever GI Bill,” was signed into law with Congressman Bilirakis’s strong support. It improved and extended GI benefits past the original 15 year timeframe. It contained a bill Congressman Bilirakis sponsored that modernizes the VA information technology systems. Unfortunately, the VA has not done a good job implementing this portion of the new law, but through consistent oversight on the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, which Congressman Bilirakis previous served as the Lead Republican, the VA has been making progress. One additional change to the GI Bill happened through passage of Congressman Bilirakis’s SIT-REP Act, which holds the Veteran harmless for 90 days if the VA or institution is late in processing GI Bill payments to the school.
Congressman Bilirakis also introduced legislation signed into law which expands eligibility for the Fry Scholarship, which currently provides GI Bill benefits to surviving children and spouses of active duty Members who die in the line of duty. His bipartisan bill provides parity and expands the scholarship benefit to include Reservists and National Guard Members who die as a result of their service but not while on active duty.
Another legislative success by Congressman Bilirakis is enactment of the Ryan Kules Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act, which he authored. This law improves and expands the VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Program. This program provides grants to the nation’s most severely disabled Veterans. The Student Veteran Empowerment Act, also authored by Bilirakis and signed into law at the end of 2020 will protect student Veterans using the GI Bill from predatory practices of certain schools and restore benefits if a school closes mid-semester.
Appeals Process
Veterans are still waiting far too long for the VA to process benefit applications. However, we have made some progress in recent years. Congressman Bilirakis was an original cosponsor of the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, which was signed into law. It is designed to streamline the process and get Veterans the benefits they have earned more quickly. Congressman Bilirakis is committed to continuing to work with his colleagues to streamline the Veterans appeals process even further. He is also glad to see the VA has made this issue a priority and is working to eliminate the number of legacy appeals as soon as possible.
The VA Committee held multiple implementation hearings to ensure the VA is on track to fully addressing its claims and appeals processing reforms. The Congressman has been pleased to learn that much of the backlog of legacy appeals was being worked down by the VA, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHOICE Program/Community Care
Congressman Bilirakis was proud to cosponsor the VA MISSION Act, which became law in June 2018. The MISSION Act was fully implemented in June of 2020. This landmark bill made significant reforms and improvements to the Veterans Choice Program, which allows Veterans to seek private care when the VA can’t see them in a facility near their home in a timely manner. It is critical that we care for our Veterans and that they have the option to receive speedy and high-quality care from their local community providers. The VA MISSION Act streamlines and consolidates the Choice Program with other duplicative VA community care programs to create one new cohesive Veterans Community Care Program. Congressman Bilirakis was proud to support its passage and will continue to advocate for our Veterans’ health care needs.
Veteran Transition
There is still more work to be done to ensure that our Veterans receive the care and benefits to which they are entitled. Congressman Bilirakis is particularly concerned about the transition process for Veterans as they reintegrate into civilian life. Our nation spends at least six months preparing military personnel for their service and less than a week preparing them for successful transition. Congressman Bilirakis was an original cosponsor to the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Bill Mulder Transition Improvement Act, which was signed into law in January of 2021. President Trump had also signed an Executive Order to help with the transition process, specifically granting mental health treatment for one year after a service member separates from the military. Congressman Bilirakis commended that action and believes it is a positive step in the right direction. It is essential to reduce the suicide rate among Veterans, and so many of the 20 veterans who commit suicide daily are within that transition window and thus are not yet eligible for VA care.
Congress also increased funding for local programs that assist with ending homelessness for Veterans and increasing suicide prevention initiatives in the most recently adopted budget. Congressman Bilirakis was proud to host an oversight hearing with his Democratic colleague and Subcommittee Chairman on the issue of Veteran homelessness here in New Port Richey in Pasco. It was a productive conversation to learn more about how to continue to reduce homelessness across our area. Congressman Bilirakis then worked with the VA Committee to make reforms to the Transition Assistance Program at the Department of Defense, enacting a portion of this bill in the National Defense Authorization Act. With the help of Congressman Bilirakis, Congress also created a more individualized process for servicemembers to undergo counseling and training for civilian life well before their discharge.
Veterans Suicide/Alternative Treatments
The VA, in coordination with the DoD, must do more to combat Veterans’ suicide. In particular, Congressman Bilirakis firmly believes that one size does not fit all when it comes to addressing Veterans mental health needs. The VA’s Whole Health Initiative, created in part by his PROMISE Act legislation, is beginning to integrate alternative therapies into the VA health care model, and he is hopeful that they will continue to examine additional integrative therapies that will help our Veterans mentally thrive.
Congressman Bilirakis is also greatly looking forward to reviewing the findings and recommendations of the COVER Commission, which was created by his bill, the COVER Act, in 2016, to establish a nonpartisan independent Commission to look at evidence-based, alternative therapies for PTSD and TBI mental health treatments. This Commission is instrumental in recommending new, non-drug and transformational integrative treatments for Veterans getting care at the VA.
VA Dental
Congressman Bilirakis also plans on reintroducing his VET CARE Act, to expand Veterans’ access to dental care, while saving the VA money. Many people do not realize that very few Veterans receiving health care through the VA qualify for dental care. Oral health is an important part of overall wellness and studies show that preventative dental treatment of patients with certain chronic illnesses provides long-term savings in health care costs for treating the medical illness. He hopes to demonstrate those potential savings in a pilot project that can be replicated for all Veterans in the years to come. The Health Subcommittee held a Legislative Hearing that included the VET CARE Act, and the VA Full Committee passed the bill unanimously out of markup in spring of 2020, but unfortunately the bill was held up by the Speaker. Congressman Bilirakis remains hopeful that this bipartisan bill can advance again this Congress.
Burn Pits
Accessing the Veteran’s healthcare system is difficult for some of our Veterans who have been exposed to dangerous conditions during their service. Veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals in burn pits during their deployments are battling illness. The VA has begun a database of exposed Veterans, but that does little to help those Veterans who are suffering now and need access to healthcare and compensation. This is especially heartbreaking given the fact that other federal agencies have already determined that exposure to many of the chemicals that were in burn pits and polluted air do contribute to many of the diseases with which these Veterans are being diagnosed.
To honor this commitment, Congressman Bilirakis introduced the Protection for Veterans’ Burn Pit Exposure Act, which would mandate a determination of presumption of service-connection for disability benefits at the VA for diseases discovered by the National Academies of Science & Medicine shown to have an association connected to toxic exposure. The National Academies are currently looking at the available valid medical research amongst our scientific federal agencies and educational institutions to develop these connections, and we must ensure we do our part to provide the benefits our Veterans have earned and deserve. Congressman Bilirakis has also been working with his Senate colleague, Senator Tillis, on the TEAM Act, which would provide a process for Veterans to access these disability benefits, and also provide them with VA healthcare in the meantime. Congressman Bilirakis strongly supports these efforts and will continue to work with his colleagues to provide burn pit-exposed Veterans the benefits they have earned.
As the grandchild of Greek immigrants, Congressman Bilirakis understands the power of the American dream and the unique cultural, intellectual and economic contributions that have been made to our nation by people of all backgrounds who have immigrated to the United States legally.
The Congressman is gravely concerned about the current border crisis that has been caused by the current Administration’s policies and executive orders on immigration. In February of 2021 there were 100,441 Southwest border encounters, which is a 173% increase when compared to February of 2020. Border crossings are up and are projected to increase even more, with an expected increase of 117,000 unaccompanied minors.
Congressman Bilirakis does not support amnesty or allowing those who have broken our nation’s immigration laws to begin a path to citizenship. He believes in the rule of law, and that we must not reward those who have come here illegally. Instead of demanding that the current border crisis be tackled, the Speaker has recently put amnesty bills on the Floor. Congressman Bilirakis has voted against these partisan amnesty bills because they do nothing to fix the issues in our immigration system. Providing large scale amnesty without fixing the problems in our immigration system would only encourage more people to illegally migrate to the United States, exacerbating an already crisis level issue at the border. Congressman Bilirakis believes that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that immigration reform proposals protect our national security, meet our economic needs, and adhere to American values. He also believes that children who are brought to our country, regardless of the circumstances should be treated with dignity, respect, and the sensitivity required to ensure their physical and emotional wellbeing. And, he supports keeping families intact.
The Congressman is also open to allowing renewal of DACA, if it is tied to ending chain migration; the visa lottery system; enhanced penalties for deported criminals who return to the U.S.; and border protection. In a previous Congress, he cosponsored the Securing America’s Future Act, which provides a 3 year renewable legal status for DACA children, while implementing the above border security initiatives as well as other provisions. Unfortunately, this bill failed to pass the House. Additionally, Congressman Bilirakis does not support sanctuary cities, and has voted to stop federal funds from supporting these cities in the past. Congressman Bilirakis will continue to work toward a sensible immigration policy that rewards those who obey the law and promotes legal immigration to attract the best and brightest people to our nation.
Congressman Bilirakis understands the importance of Social Security and Medicare and believes these critical programs must remain fiscally solvent to ensure retirement security for current seniors, our children and grandchildren. However, Social Security has been operating at a deficit of $40 billion a year since 2010. Unless Social Security is modernized and strengthened, seniors could be in jeopardy.
To compensate for inflation, Social Security (SS) recipients usually receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment. For 2021, the Social Security Administration announced a 1.3% COLA increase. (updated 03/09/21). Seniors who pay their Medicare premiums with their Social Security benefits are protected from additional premium increases. Under the “hold harmless” provision for these seniors, Medicare premiums cannot increase beyond the S.S. COLA. About 70% of beneficiaries are protected under the hold harmless provision. Happily, the Tax Reform law is also helping seniors keep more of their money, by dropping the average senior from a 15% tax rate to 12% and doubling the standard deduction. Congressman Bilirakis knows seniors need to see more money in their pockets each month to make ends meet, and he is working with his colleagues on a way to ensure that happens.
Congressman Bilirakis is also a strong supporter of the Medicare program. Medicare is extremely important to seniors, and arguably the most popular aspects of the program – Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D – operate successfully because of free market principles. Medicare also needs to ensure its fiscal viability for current and future beneficiaries.
Congressman Bilirakis often says, “Don’t let politicians scare you. Everyone on both sides of the aisle want to preserve Social Security and Medicare.” He has filed legislation that would remove the politics from the equation by creating a bipartisan commission of experts to review all options for ensuring the long-term solvency of both vital programs. This approach worked in the early 80s and he believes it can be of help again.
Another issue impacting seniors is the recent increase in predatory and obnoxious robocalls. Robocalls are increasingly becoming a hassle for every American, especially seniors. The FCC has begun proceedings to fight back against these calls and empower service providers to block these abusive calls before they reach your phone. The House and Senate recently passed, and the President signed into law, the TRACED Act, which is the most significant action taken to combat robocalls. This bill provides more authority for the FCC to crack down on bad actors who prey upon the elderly and other vulnerable populations. The new law included legislation authored by Congressman Bilirakis to specifically ask the FCC to address One Ring Call Scams. This is one of the newest forms of cell phone scams, in which a person receives a call with one ring, prompting them to call back. Upon doing so, the caller is hit with exorbitant by-the-minute fees. The Congressman will continue to do all he can to protect seniors. Be sure to check out his consumer protection tab on the home page to learn more information.
Official Information & Services from the Federal Government
State & Local Information and Services
Our nation is threatened by a debt crisis that has been caused by unrestrained federal deficits that if unchecked, will threaten economic prosperity and job growth. By 2022, we will be spending more in interest on our national debt than we do to protect and defend our country. Our federal spending programs must be carefully examined so that wasteful and duplicative programs are eliminated in order to make government more efficient and accountable. President Trump followed actions taken in the House and issued an executive order to repeal two regulations for each regulation an agency creates. Reports show that the Trump Administration actually cut 22 regulations for each new one. Meetings with private sector and public utilities say these actions have been a boon to their ability to operate.
A Balanced Budget Amendment would restrain the unchecked growth in federal spending and force the American government to live within its means, just as families and businesses must do. Congressman Bilirakis has previously voted on a balanced budget Amendment on multiple occasions, but it has failed to get the 2/3 support required to advance. He has serious concerns about continuing to increase the federal deficit. Recent budget bills contained far more funding than federal agencies even requested. We must continue to pass pro-growth legislation and reign in our spending—focusing on what is most essential and streamlining other areas.
If we do not take action now, then we risk becoming the first generation to leave our country worse off for our children and grandchildren. Congressman Bilirakis believes that we must implement serious spending reforms to restore the fiscal credibility of the United States at home and in the global market. During these difficult economic times, Americans have had to spend less, and the federal government should do likewise.
Economy/Jobs
Buoyed by the unprecedented success of Operation Warp Speed’s vaccine production coupled with states beginning to relax restrictions as vaccination efforts continue to accelerate, America is coming back -- and the 379,000 payroll jobs added in February of 2021 (nearly double the consensus estimates of economists) suggest America’s recovery is accelerating. (updated 03/09/21)
The Great American Comeback that began under the previous Administration continues with unemployment continuing to fall to 6.2 percent, its lowest level since March 2020, as businesses prepare for a post-pandemic world. (updated 03/09/21)
According to the BLS, among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asians declined to 5.1 percent in February. The rates for adult men (6.0 percent), adult women (5.9 percent), teenagers (13.9 percent), Whites (5.6 percent), Blacks (9.9 percent), and Hispanics (8.5 percent) continue to largely trend downward as well. As states and America’s businesses continue to reopen, most job gains in February were realized in the leisure and hospitality industries followed by gains in temporary help services, health care and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. (updated 03/09/21)
With a third vaccine now available for distribution, expectations are set for a record recovery from the pandemic-induced recession. (updated 03/09/21) Congressman Bilirakis believes we should absolutely continue to reopen American businesses as safely, smartly, and swiftly as possible.
Tax Reform
This economic success was triggered by historic tax reform signed into law in December of 2017. Before tax reform, individuals and businesses were spending 6.1 billion hours preparing their tax returns. Further, the tax code was often unfair with various tax loopholes and many households not paying federal income tax at all. Congressman Bilirakis is proud of his efforts to modernize the tax code, making the system simpler and providing immediate relief to Middle Class Americans and small businesses, including lowering federal tax rates seniors pay by an average of 3%.
The package doubled the standard deduction, lowered the tax rate for all tax brackets, preserved essential deductions, dramatically increased the child tax credit, and included pro-growth policies that will continue to strengthen our economy. Congressman Bilirakis understands that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the innovators that employ most Americans.
The top tax rate on these businesses is 25%, a significant reduction from the previous 39.6% rate. Additionally, the corporate tax rate has been lowered to 21%. These combined measures have already helped to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, boost wages, and bring back businesses that fled overseas due to our disadvantageous tax system. In fact, tax reform contributed to an increase in GDP of 4.2% and 3.4% in the second and third quarters of 2018, respectively.
A great deal of misinformation circulated about tax reform. However, independent researchers at the Tax Foundation estimate that the bill provided an average middle income family in Florida with a gain of $2,252. Under the old scheme, the average senior was in a 15% tax bracket. Under the new reforms, the average senior falls into a 12% bracket, allowing seniors to keep more of their own money and improve their quality of life. The Tax Foundation found that the average middle income person in Congressman Bilirakis’s Congressional District saw a tax cut of $1,395.
Congressman Bilirakis has been a long-time proponent of the public education system, both in the Florida Legislature and now in Congress. As a father of four boys, all of whom graduated from or currently attend public school, he understands the link between a robust public education system and a vital and thriving nation.
While education is primarily an issue that is governed by individual state legislatures, the Congressman has been supportive of the federal government’s role in ensuring equity for students from low socio-economic backgrounds and for those students with special needs. As such, he has regularly supported increases in Title I and IDEA funding. The Congressman is also a long-time proponent of Career, Technical and quality Apprenticeship education programs, and has supported legislation to strengthen the opportunities for students throughout the nation.
Congressman Bilirakis has also previously supported legislation to increase access to higher education by raising the maximum Pell Grant (federal assistance that deserving students do not have to repay) award. He also has voted to improve the Head Start program to help close the learning gap between children from disadvantaged families and their more well-off peers. In the 113th Congress, Bilirakis supported legislation, which is now law, to help make college more affordable by permanently reducing interest rates on federally-subsidized student loans. He also voted in favor of legislation that would return the control of the public school system to localities, by empowering teachers, families, and local school boards.
Congressman Bilirakis sought a seat on the Homeland Security Committee shortly after his election to Congress because few issues are as important as defending America’s citizens from those who seek to hurt us. In December 2010, Gus was named Chairman of the critical Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications Subcommittee. As Chairman, Bilirakis' position was vital to the state of Florida, as he oversaw FEMA, emergency grant programs, communication during emergency situations, and disaster response and recovery efforts.
In March 2011, Gus introduced the Student Visa Security Improvement Act, which would improve the background checks conducted on student visa applicants from high-risk areas and enhance America's ability to ensure that foreign students are abiding by the terms of their visas once in the U.S. He has also introduced the Metropolitan Medical Response System Program Act of 2011, H.R. 1411, to assist state and local governments in preparing for and responding to mass casualty incidents resulting from acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies.
During the 111th Congress, Gus served as Ranking Member (Lead Republican) on the important Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight. In this role, he was his party's top congressional watchdog over the Department of Homeland Security. He also served on the Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee.
The Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act, which was signed into law, includes two proposals sponsored by Congressman Bilirakis. First, ensuring that rail and mass transit security coordinators are American citizens and requiring the real-world testing of rail tank cars carrying hazardous materials to determine the way to best protect them from attack.
He also has introduced legislation that will help the Coast Guard determine the identity of interdicted aliens so that they are not simply released to continue their illegal and dangerous behavior and ensure that terrorists do not slip through cracks in our border defenses. Gus also introduced a resolution, which the House approved unanimously, which encourages increased maritime domain awareness and highlights a program called America’s Waterway Watch, which serves like a neighborhood watch program for the water. Gus has championed the most important issue to Florida’s port community: ensuring that maritime workers are only required to have a single port access identification card with the most stringent standards possible.
Currently, through his work on the Communications & Technology Committee, the Congressman continues to improve emergency communications systems. He has sponsored multiple pieces of legislation, which have become law, to achieve this goal.
Most recently, Congressman Bilirakis has re-iterated the need for strong support of the law enforcement community. The circumstances of George Floyd’s death helped highlight a number of much needed police reforms. Now more than ever, law enforcement officers, who are placed in harm’s way on a daily basis as they work to keep our community safe, need our support. Congressman Bilirakis is an original cosponsor of the Community Policing Act, which would establish a five-year grant program for local police departments that focuses on increased de-escalation training and community outreach programs to strengthen the relationship between police officers and citizens.
He is also a cosponsor of the JUSTICE Act, which seeks to provide long-term solutions focused on police reform, accountability, and transparency, while also promoting efforts to find solutions to systemic issues affecting people of color. Trust is critical in allowing law enforcement to be protectors of their communities, and this legislation seeks to help restore that trust.
In the Constitution, Congress is tasked with the responsibility to raise and support our country’s national defense. Congressman Bilirakis is proud to support our nation’s women and men in uniform and understands the important role Congress plays in protecting the freedoms of our democracy.
Despite the budgetary and fiscal climate, it is imperative the security and long-term success of the country is not sacrificed through arbitrary cuts to the military’s budget. Our country is a beacon of liberty and freedom with interests across the globe, and there is no doubt non-state actors and foreign governments have interests that are hostile those of the United States. The United States must stand ready and capable to respond to potential threats.
Representative Bilirakis understands the importance of providing our brave men and women of the Armed Forces with the resources they need, and to ensure the Department of Defense (DOD) has the ability to develop new technologies and maintain existing infrastructures to meet those emerging threats. He is a member of the:
Congressman Bilirakis believes it is his duty to provide the resources that the military and law enforcement experts deem necessary in order to keep our country safe from those who wish to do us harm. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2021 marks the 60th consecutive year in which Congress provided for the support of our nation’s security and defense.
Congressman Bilirakis believes that his constituents send him to Washington to get things done, and he is proud of the fact that his amendments to the NDAA passed with bipartisan support. These amendments focused on helping Veterans with burn pits exposure and increasing safety and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean in the face of the increasingly destabilizing force of Turkey. The NDAA provided vital resources that are needed for readiness and safety. These are integral to our nation’s continued security.
As a former member of the House Committee on Foreign affairs and current Co-Chairman of the Caucus on International Religious Freedom, Congressman Bilirakis’ has always supported our allies, protected religious freedom, and sought robust defense funding to prevent attacks from our enemies.
Eastern Mediterranean
As the grandson of Greek immigrants, Congressman Bilirakis is heavily invested in Hellenic affairs. The region is vital to American interests, and Greece is a strong ally of the United States. He is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Affairs and the founding Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance. Israel is a strategic ally in the region as well, sharing a common defense strategy with the United States, Greece, Cyprus, and other allies to thwart existential threats from bad actors in the region. In an increasingly connected world, it is important to recognize that upheaval and unrest in the Middle East can have ripples that echo across the Atlantic. American interests must be protected at all cost, and Congressman Bilirakis embraces the opportunity to work with world leaders to ensure a peaceful future in the Middle East and at home.
Congressman Bilirakis was glad to see his Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act signed into law. It recalibrates the American diplomatic, military, and economic policy in the Eastern Mediterranean. The strengthening of the United States’ relationships with Greece, Cyprus, and Israel will significantly improve efforts to promote peace, prosperity, and security in the region.
Turkey
Congressman Bilirakis strongly opposes the illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus, and has been a strong proponent of the reunification of Cyprus, on behalf of all the Cypriot people. He believes strongly in protecting religious freedoms across the globe, and stopping the persecution of religious minorities, including Coptic Christians in Egypt and Eastern Orthodox Christians in Turkey.
Turkey continues to demonstrate that they are an American ally in name only. Their offensive against our Kurdish allies is extremely concerning and Congressman Bilirakis believes that we cannot stand by and let egregious human rights violations happen.
Congressman Bilirakis was extremely proud of Congress’ decision to vote on Turkish sanctions. The PACT Act passed with his support and the overwhelming support of his colleagues. He is also very pleased that the House of Representatives finally voted with an overwhelming majority to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. Genocides, whenever and wherever they occur, cannot be ignored. The Congressman been fighting for this recognition since first elected to Congress, and he was glad to finally set the historic record straight.
Sudan
Sudan was a brutally repressed country that suffered numerous human and religious violations under the long-serving dictator President al-Bashir. As Co-Chairman of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, Congressman Bilirakis was able to travel to Sudan and meet opposition leaders, advocate for President al-Bashir to step down, and allow for democracy and freedom.
Weeks after his visit, President al-Bashir was overthrown, paving the way for a democratic and peaceful transition to civilian governance. However, this has been threatened by remnants of the oppressive al-Bashir regime. The Transitional Military Council has violently suppressed popular public protests. The Sudanese people deserve the opportunity to have a free and democratic Sudan. Congressman Bilirakis has been a staunch advocate for the Sudanese people, cosponsoring letters, resolutions, and briefing focused to ensuring a free and democratic Sudan.
Russia
While the Congressman applauds efforts to build bridges with world leaders, including those with a long-standing history of aggression and hostility toward the U.S., such as North Korea and Russia, he has far more confidence in the findings of the U.S. intelligence community than in the empty words and denials of Vladimir Putin, a known bad actor on the world stage. While the Congressman does not believe it altered the outcome of the 2016 election, there is undeniable evidence that Russia attempted to interfere with our electoral process. He has previously supported sanctions against Russia, expulsions of their diplomats, closures of their diplomatic facilities, and indictments of their officers and believes it is important to continue to hold those who seek to destabilize our democracy accountable for their crimes. Additionally, Congress has provided significant funding to help safeguard the integrity of our elections process.
Iran
Iran has been a destabilizing and antagonizing force in the Middle East for a long time. Congressman Bilirakis supported President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran Deal because it was inherently flawed. He believes it is a huge mistake for President Biden to be reversing that position. Iran has proven itself untrustworthy, and the U.S. should not be providing relief to an aggressive state sponsor of terrorism and violator of human and religious rights. President Biden is in the position to continue to hold Iran accountable for their destabilizing effects in the region. Iran is not a trustworthy actor, and any return to the Iran Deal would simply reward no positive change in behavior and risk the chance of nuclear weapons in Iran’s hands. The Congressman believes that the United States needs to review all options available to encourage Iran to abandon its nuclear program. He also believes we need to make sure not to make hasty decisions that unnecessarily escalate tensions between the United States and Iran.
North Korea
As a world leader, the U.S. must consider the numerous consequences to action, whether it be unilateral, in conjunction with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), or in conjunction with the United Nations (UN). The United States, as well as our Asian and European allies, must be better prepared to respond quickly and more forcefully than before to transgression of international law.
On August 8, 2017, intelligence reports stated that North Korea has developed the capacity to fit a miniaturized nuclear warhead into a missile, faster than expected and further threatening US national defense and global security. North Korea then continued its hostile and provocative actions on August 29, 2017, when it launched a ballistic missile test over Japan’s mainland and into the Pacific Ocean. In response, the then Secretary of Defense sent a strong message that the United States will not back down from these threats and reassured our commitment to defending our homeland, stating: “The DPRK must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people.”
The Congressman applauds President Trump for taking a historic step in trying to broker peace. While the Congressman believes that the dialogue was a historic development as we work toward denuclearization and stabilization of the region, we must be ever vigilant and pay heed to President Reagan’s admonition to “trust, but verify.”
China
The Congressman has been clear about his opinion that China is not a friend of the United States, and indeed, poses the biggest threat to our national security than any other nation. He believes that the time has come for a new approach in how we interact with China. We must continue to hold China accountable for its bad behavior and take a firm stance that further misconduct will no longer be tolerated.
Representative Gus Bilirakis filed a resolution urging the United Nations to take necessary and appropriate procedural actions to remove the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from the UN Security Council. He believes this significant action is long overdue given the PRC’s horrible record on human rights and continued bad acts on the world stage. For more than forty years, the U.S. has tried to engage China as a responsible partner on the international stage by expanding economic engagement.
Too often, the United States’ foreign policy has turned a blind eye to China’s bad behavior. This approach has been an utter failure. In the past year alone, China has violated an international treaty and dismantled Hong Kong’s civil liberties, continued its oppression of ethnic and religious minorities (most notably the Uyghurs, Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners), expanded its military, engaged in aggressive behavior against its regional neighbors, violated other nations’ sovereignty at sea, and engaged in fatal skirmishes as part of a land grab on the Indian border and most egregiously silenced medical professionals and concealed vital information from the world about COVID-19. The Congressman believes that China’s inexcusably poor management and lack of transparency regarding the spread of COVID-19 undoubtedly worsened the spread of this deadly virus which ultimately led to a global pandemic that has resulted in the deaths of more than 2.6 million people and caused catastrophic economic hardship around the globe. The Congressman believes China must be held accountable for these actions.
While the Congressman believes China is not an honest actor when it comes to the global economy, and believes we must rectify the trade imbalance that exists, he is not a fan of tariffs because he believes that they will ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers. The current Administration has maintained tariffs on Chinese imports not related to the COVID-19 response due to Chinese unfair trade practices, including theft of American intellectual property, and unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. (updated 03/09/2021)
Throughout history, humanity has encountered many faces of evil. The Congressman believes our brightest moments as an international community have been those in which we present a united front in our efforts to identify and eradicate its presence. He also knows that our darkest moments as a human race have come during times when those who knew better stood silently, making excuses for passivity and allowing injustice and persecution to reign. America must remain a beacon of principled courage, recognizing and promoting the basic human rights of all people. If we remain silent in the face of these transgressions, we neglect that moral imperative and do so at the peril of civil society. The Congressman supports our nation’s military leaders and trust that they will continue the mission of military readiness to combat any adversaries that threaten our democracy. If we are not safe, nothing else matters, and the Congressman is dedicated to improving our national security to ensure our families, loved ones, and communities live in peace.
Our nation is threatened by a debt crisis that has been caused by unrestrained federal deficits that if unchecked, will threaten economic prosperity and job growth. If we do not take action now, then we risk becoming the first generation to leave our country worse off for our children and grandchildren. Congressman Bilirakis believes that we must implement serious spending reforms to restore the fiscal credibility of the United States at home and in the global market. During these difficult economic times, Americans have had to spend less, and the federal government should do likewise.
Congressman Bilirakis supports reforming the tax code, which will eliminate a barrier to economic growth for everyone. The federal tax code has grown far too complicated for individuals and small businesses. It now contains approximately 4 million words; almost triple the number from just ten years ago. He supports tax reform that makes the tax code simpler and fairer for everyone, which will free capital, increase investment, and lead to more jobs for Americans.
As the unemployment remains unacceptably high, promoting job creation must be a priority for Congress. Small businesses and entrepreneurs create jobs, not the federal government and to foster real economic growth Congress must reform the tax code and relieve the burden of excessive regulations on our nation’s job creators. Economic prosperity for our region will not come from bureaucrats in Washington or Tallahassee, but from the hard work and ingenuity of the American people. Instead of more handouts, government needs to give a "hand up" to those in our communities who want to pursue their own unique vision of the American dream. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment and the Economy, Congressman Bilirakis advocates for modernizing and reducing excessive and ineffective regulations that are standing in the way of local job creation.
Tourism and travel employ over one million Floridians. In recent years, tourism to Florida has resulted in more than $70 billion for its economy. According to VISIT Florida, every 85 visitors to our state results in a new job created. That is why I have introduced the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act, which would extend the activities of Brand USA - a public-private partnership that markets the United States as a tourism destination - through 2020. This will continue to bring jobs and economic growth to Florida.