On the recordJanuary 25, 2023
Today, I want to introduce myself not just to the great people of Florida's Seventh District but to the rest of America. While I may not be in your district and your exact Representative, if you believe in our constitutionality, if you believe in the rights, liberties, and freedoms in which American exceptionalism once excelled in, then I will be your Representative. {time} 1730 I came from a very humble upbringing. I grew up in a small town called Auburndale, Florida, in central Florida. My mother and father both suffered from drug and substance issues. They were in and out of prison nearly all of my life--my father spent nearly 30 years, my mother spent nearly 7 years. I bounced house to house until I was finally adopted and taken in by my grandparents. That is a very humbling experience for me, not just because so many Americans today are suffering from these things, but to also understand that I can hear your plight. Also, I understand the significant importance of being a nuclear family member. My grandparents didn't have much. My grandfather was a welder, my grandmother used to do hair on the back patio for women in the community. We lived on very little after my grandfather's disability. But the one thing that we always had was our love, our faith, and this Nation. I went on to serve in the 82nd Airborne and as a member of the Joint Special Operations Command, to serve honorably in our Armed Forces, and to be a Bronze Star recipient.…
