Our Nation will be forever indebted to the men and women who sacrifice and bravely serve in the United States Armed Forces.  On the Space Coast, Military personnel and their families are better known as neighbors and friends. Veterans play an important role in our communities - in fact the 15th Congressional District has one of the highest Veteran populations in all of Florida. 

As a legislator, I have had the unique opportunity to meet with Veterans from across the state and discuss issues affecting Veterans, especially those recently returning from the Middle East.  These men and women often come home and find things in their everyday life are turned upside down - and we as a community must do everything we can to support them. 

During my tenure in Tallahassee, I have:

• Supported the creation of a non-for-profit Direct-Support Organization for the Department of Veterans affairs to help raise funds, acquire grants and financial donations.
• Proposed legislation to ensure a parent does not loose custody rights if they are deployed or activated in military service.
• Voted to include operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to the list of qualifying military campaigns, allowing veterans who have served honorably in these efforts to receive wartime services benefits.
• Co-Sponsored a bill that expands exemption from permitting and licensing fees for veterans making their home wheelchair accessible
• Supported increased penalties for those disturbing assemblies, including funerals, honoring a fallen veteran.
• Provided life insurance for members of the Florida National Guard.
• Voted in support of the Florida Uniformed Service-members Protection Act of 2003, which addressed situations new and unique to Military members and their families, who often must move or endure disruption of their normal lives.

To see more details of these bills and all of the other veteran and military related bills I have supported since 2003, please click here.