Gus Bilirakis

I would like to congratulate again you, Madam Chair, for another term leading this great subcommittee.

I am really looking forward to working also with the Republican leader, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, my great friend.

I appreciate it. And I look forward to working with you for our constituents and, well, the whole country.

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed) for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 578, the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act. ALS is a rare, fatal, progressive, neurodegenerative disease with an ability to strike…

The story of Austin Tice's disappearance and presumed imprisonment is tragic and frustrating. I met with Austin's loving parents, Marc and Debra, last year in my office, where they told me about the heartbreaking details of his abduction…

I appreciate the time very much. This legislation builds upon the IPAWS Modernization Act, which I authored and which became law in 2016. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney), the chairman of the committee…

I want to thank the ranking member and the chairman for all of their good work and, of course, Congressman Peters. This is a great committee, and we get things done, that is for sure. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7293, the…

I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 4861, the Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act. Our Nation remains in the midst of a suicide crisis, Mr. Speaker. Over the past…

I thank the chairman for putting forth this bill, and I also thank my good friend Ranking Member Roe, who does an outstanding job. He has really done excellent work. It has been an honor to serve with him on behalf of our veterans. I thank…

I thank my good friend from Texas for yielding. Madam Speaker, today is a sad and mournful day for worldwide Christians, the most persecuted believers on Earth. In accordance with Turkish President Erdogan's grand plan to reconstitute the…

I thank the ranking member for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I rise in favor of my amendment, which is included in the en bloc package. My amendment builds upon the successes of the East Med Act, signed into law last year, by taking…

I appreciate the ranking member yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, since the establishment of the PPP, I have heard from countless local, small businesses that the application process was difficult to navigate. In response to these…

Our Nation's family-owned businesses and sole proprietors shouldn't have to compete with national or international chains during this time of crisis.

We need to establish automatic mechanisms, such as those included in the bipartisan PPP Extension Act introduced by Rep. Kilmer, so that we do not keep lurching from crisis to crisis.

I submitted to Committee and leadership a letter asking that any future funding of PPP loans contain a set-aside specifically for the truly small business, the mom and pops of our Nation.

This is a historic moment in the U.S. House. We need to pass an unprecedented economic package that will prevent financial disaster for millions of Americans. We must get people working again. This bill funds programs for small businesses…

Thank you very much. Yes, that is why we have you here. I appreciate what you are doing.

I apologize for my tardiness. I was at the prayer breakfast and I missed the bus, so the story of my life.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. It has been a great experience to work with Representatives Roe and Takano to improve the lives of our heroes. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 80, which will approve the VA…

No veteran should go hungry. I mean, all of us agree with that.

I just want to emphasize that all of us want our veterans, obviously, and their families, to have food security.

This law was a bipartisan effort, as I said, to require work or training for work in exchange for the time-related financial assistance.

Food security for veterans, as well as all Americans, is an essential component for a stable life.

We want to prevent multi-generational poverty, something that--again, that is what we should be striving toward.

I want to thank my Republican colleagues who have toiled honorable in defense of the Constitution and the rule of law under difficult circumstances. Madam Speaker, it is a darn shame that we have found ourselves in this position today…