Last week, Congress remained in recess, which meant I was happily in Southwest Florida spending time with my family, touring the district, and meeting with constituents.
While the nation mourns the loss of 13 American heroes, communities across the nation are reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, millions of Americans are still unemployed, the Delta variant is sweeping the nation, and yet our President decides that now is a good time to go on vacation. In a time where Americans are desperate for strong leadership to navigate us through these treacherous waters, Joe Biden is hiding; escaping the disasters his Administration created, dodging the press, and turning his back on the American people. The President’s blatant disregard for Americans is disrespectful, completely unacceptable, and makes him unfit to sit in the Oval Office.
The five heroes that we lost in the tragic U.S. Navy helicopter crash in San Diego last week is heartbreaking. Erika and I are extending our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of these fallen heroes. Join me in prayer for our active duty, our Navy, and the entire military community – may we uplift them, pray for them, and honor all of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The men and women that make up our Navy are selfless warriors who dedicate their lives to defending America both at home and abroad.
In Southwest Florida, and around the nation, School Districts are expanding their power, stripping rights away from parents, defying Executive Orders, and enforcing mandates to permanently mask our children. Throughout the entirety of this pandemic, my stance has always been clear: if you feel safe with a mask, please wear one. If you feel safe without a mask, you shouldn’t be mandated to wear one. No governing body, at any level, shouldn’t be mandating the individual health choices of the people. To think we as a nation are at a point where uniformed police officers are removing students from a classroom refusing to wear a mask is Orwellian, dystopian, and unAmerican. Our children should be in school receiving an education, not being used as a pawn for political theatre.
Labor Day Weekend is so much more than picnics, barbecues, and a three-day weekend: it’s a time to recognize and reflect upon the contributions & achievements of the American Worker throughout our nation’s history. In unprecedented times such as these, we are even more grateful for the workers that drive our country forward, for their flexibility during this pandemic, and their continued effort to better their communities.
For updates on recent happenings on Capitol Hill, events in Southwest Florida, and more – keep reading!
