The Webster Wire

Listening to Floridians

Dear Friends:

On Saturday, Hamas terrorists carried out an unprovoked and coordinated attack against Israel. These terrorists have targeted residential neighborhoods, showing a blatant disregard for human life by killing innocent men, women, and children.

Since then, Israel has responded to these horrific attacks by taking the actions necessary to defend themselves. While serving in Congress, I have, and will continue to support legislation and advocate for policies that aid Israel against threats to its existence. H.R. 4365, the Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 that was recently passed the House, included funding priorities that I submitted to ensure our support for Israel. These priorities include funding for the continuation of the Iron Dome, Arrow Weapon Systems, David’s Sling, and U.S.-Israel missile defense research.

I opposed the Iran Nuclear Deal and attempts to remove their sanctions. Unfortunately, just last month, President Biden released billions of sanctioned Iranian assets back to Iran, a well known funder of Hamas activities.

America’s steadfast support of Israel is indispensable to countering the constant threats from terrorist organizations and neighboring states, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, that are determined to terrorize the Israeli people. I am also continuing to pray for Israel and its people. 

Resources for U.S. Citizens in Israel 

I am closely monitoring the situation in Israel, and my office has been in contact with Americans who are currently in Israel. The Department of State has a 24/7 coordinating group communicating with U.S. citizens to provide them assistance. U.S. citizens seeking to get in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel can fill out this form https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake or call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131.

If you are, or know of U.S. Citizen in Israel, please enroll your contact information in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important information and updates from the US Embassy, and help the U.S. Embassy and family members get in touch in case of an emergency.

Please feel free to share these resources with family, friends, and neighbors. If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. We are here to serve you.

Good News

Last week, I along with several colleagues asked Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to grant asylum status to the Romeike family. The Romeike family was facing the possibility of deportation to Germany from the Biden Administration even as they work to gain full green card status. I was first made aware of the Romeike family’s case more than a decade ago when they sought asylum in the United States from Germany due to the German government’s ban on homeschooling. In 2013, just days after I wrote a letter on their behalf to then-Attorney General Eric Holder, he granted the Romeikes “indefinitely deferred action status,” enabling them to live and work in the United States. I’m thrilled to report that ICE just granted a one-year stay of removal for the Romeike family! My office will continue working with them and the Biden Administration as they seek residency. 

Reducing our Debt and Deficit 

The House is on the verge of adopting something I’ve been voluntarily doing since day one – saving funds allocated to run my Congressional Office Budget and putting them towards debt and deficit reduction. Each year, I have saved money from my Congressional Office Budget and have returned over $4.5 million to date. Included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Legislative Branch budget bill is a requirement for all unspent money from the Members’ Representational Allowance to be used for debt and deficit reduction.

Additionally, every year I deliver a personal check to the Bureau of Fiscal Service at the Treasury Department to roll back my salary to the 2008 amount. Although it is a small step given the trillions of dollars the federal government spends, it is a step in the right direction.

Seeing and Serving You

Cindy Brown, my Community Relations Representative for The Villages, participated in The Villages Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday. She participated as part of the volunteer committee and joined over 900 walkers as they walked to bring awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and raised over $180,000 for caregivers and research for a cure of the disease. Research funding has a direct impact on the lives of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and on their families. For this reason, I have continued to advocate for funding for the National Institute of Health (NIH). I empathize with the toll Alzheimer’s has taken. My mother had Alzheimer’s disease the last two years of her life, and my wife and I cared for her in our home during that time. Thank you to everyone who participated and volunteered to make this event successful for our community.

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On Thursday, Cindy joined Darla Huddleston, Executive Director and Wendi Hileman, Project Director at E3 Family Solutions for their “Fall into the Holidays” community event. The event brought members of the community together to further E3 Family Solutions mission to “Equip youth to make healthy choices, Empower parents to build strong families, and Encourage communities to be family friendly.” E3 assists in the community through the provision of educational programs that promote positive youth development for middle and high school students, communication tips for parents and community engagement. Thank you to E3 Family Solutions, Board members and staff for the great work you are doing in Lake and Sumter Counties.

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Last week, Pam Jones and Cindy Brown, my Community Relations Representatives visited the different National Night Out Events hosted by police departments in various cities in my district. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes and enhances police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. In each city, many residents came out to meet the police department and enjoy the festivities.

At the Waterfront Park in Clermont the Clermont Police Department hosted the event along with the City of Clermont and also in attendance was the City of Tavares PD, Town of Howey-in-the-Hills PD, City of Mascotte PD, Town of Lady Lake PD, Town of Oakland PD, and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

 Chief Charles Broadway with the Clermont Police Department 

 

The Ocoee Police Department and the City of Ocoee in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department held their event at Bill Breeze Park.

City of Ocoee Chief Saima Plasencia
 

The Winter Garden Police Department and the Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department with the City of Winter Garden held their event at the Downtown Pavilion.

City of Winter Garden Chief Steve Graham

Cindy Brown joined the community to honor and celebrate the Leesburg Police Department and Chief Rob Hicks at Ski Beach in Leesburg.

The Wildwood Police Department and Chief Randy Palmer held an event at Lakeside Landings in partnership with CSX and First Responders Children’s Foundation to giveaway toys to children in the community.

Cindy also spent time at the First Responders Recreation Center, where she met with The Villages Fire Department’s Fire Chief, Brian Twiss, and Pat Breeden, Undersheriff for Sumter County’s Sheriff’s Department.

Thank you, to all of the Law Enforcement officials who support, defend, and protect our communities!

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Pam Jones, my Community Relations Representative for West Orange County, attended the Orange County Farm Bureau Annual Membership Meeting and Dinner on my behalf as I was called back to Washington. Members filled the center at the Central Florida/Orange County Fairgrounds along with dozens of Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from high schools across Orange County. Mark Byrd was the emcee, and we heard from President John Madison, Kathrein Markle with Farm Bureau Insurance, Orange County Public Schools District Coordinator of Agriculture Education Danny Garner, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. 

 
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson and
Miss United States Agriculture 2024 North Florid, Lillian Dodge
 

Orange County Farm Bureau Board

 
Orange County Farm Bureau President John Madison and
Winner of the Orange County Farm Bureau Speech Contest, Kaelynn Peavy of Ocoee High School FFA

Your servant,

Daniel Webster
Member of Congress