The Webster Wire

Listening to Floridians

Dear Friends:

Over the weekend, riots broke out in Los Angeles after DHS and ICE arrested and detained criminal illegal aliens, including those with a record of murder, sex offenses and other violent crimes. Despite what Democrats and their media allies claim, these demonstrations were anything but peaceful. Rioters targeted law enforcement, vandalized federal buildings, threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles, and endangered the public by setting multiple vehicles on fire. President Trump took swift action by deploying the National Guard to protect federal buildings and restore law and order.

These riots in LA demonstrate the urgent need for the Senate to pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. This bill would help secure our border and support Border Patrol and ICE operations by:

• Providing a $10k bonus to Border Patrol and ICE agents.
• Funding at least 1 million annual removals.
• Hiring 10,000 new ICE personnel, and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
• Expanding ICE detention capacity.

(Photo: Reuters)

Supporting America’s Small Businesses

Small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy and are a vital part of our economic prosperity. That's why, last week I voted to pass a series of bills that would codify in federal law more of President Trump’s executive orders to protect American small businesses. These bills include:

• H.R. 2966 – American Entrepreneurs First Act: Codifies the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) new verification requirements to ensure that taxpayer-funded assistance only goes to American citizens.
• H.R. 2931 – Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act: Relocates SBA offices from sanctuary cities and jurisdictions to non-sanctuary municipalities to ensure that federal resources benefit American small businesses and communities.
• H.R. 2987 – CEASE Act: Protects the integrity of the small business loan program by limiting the number of for-profit Small Business Lending Companies (SBLCs).

Protecting American Research from Foreign Influence

Last week, I introduced the Research Integrity and Foreign Influence Prevention Act, to safeguard America’s research institutions from foreign influence and exploitation. Foreign countries of concern like the Chinese Communist Party have utilized Special Administrative Regions, like Hong Kong and Macau, to infiltrate and exploit American universities and research institutions. My bill would close this loophole and ensure that territories under the control and influence of foreign countries are treated no differently than their governing regimes.

Protecting Marine Ecosystems

I also introduced the Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 last week, bipartisan legislation that prohibits shark feeding in the exclusive economic zone off the State of Florida. As a Floridian and a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I am committed to the responsible stewardship of our marine ecosystems and safety of our waters. This bill mirrors current Florida law which helps ensure the safety of Floridians and provide commonsense conservation of marine wildlife.

Attention K-8 Students!

Second Lady Usha Vance announced recently her summer reading challenge for all K-8 students. The challenge is easy to enter: students will read 12 books of their choice, fill out the reading log, and submit for a prize by September 5, 2025. Participants will also be entered into a raffle for the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. For additional information, please visit www.wh.gov/read.

Seeing and Serving You

It was great to meet with Laura Kelley, President of Kelley Transportation Solutions last week. We discussed the East Florida Fuel Offering Resilience Trust Safety (EFFORTS) pipeline project. This project would span from Port Canaveral to Orlando International Airport, providing jet fuel, gasoline and diesel to support Central Florida’s growing economy and communities. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, I am committed to ensuring the safe transportation of American energy.

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Florida’s waterways and lakes play a crucial role, from agriculture, to recreation and commerce. That’s why it was great to meet with the Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week in my Washington office. The Jacksonville District provides planning, engineering, and construction of projects related to water resources, infrastructure, and homeland security. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided an update on all of their projects and current timelines.  

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Last week, I met with Art Bodenheimer, Chief of Police of Lake Alfred and Chair of the Highway Safety Committee for Florida’s Police Chief’s Association. We discussed legislation concerning truck size and weight, as well as the impact these trucks have on state and local roads in Florida.

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Pam Jones, my Community Relations Representative for West Orange County, attended the Orlando VA Healthcare System’s 10^th anniversary celebration with CEO and Director Timothy Cooke. Pam shared a message on my behalf to acknowledge, congratulate, and celebrate the services and care given to our veterans and their families. The state-of-the-art facility on 65 acres serves six counties and over 142,000 veterans. Orlando VA Healthcare System has been serving veterans and their families since it opened in 2015 and offers a wide range of health, support, and facility services along with the Community Living Center.

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Pam also attended the West Orange Habitat for Humanity event with Executive Director Marilyn Harraway. Joined by over 150 guests, West Orange Habitat for Humanity celebrated their 35^th anniversary, the Past Presidents Recognition, the groundbreaking of 7 new homes, and the dedication of 4 homes for families. Thank you, to West Orange Habitat for Humanity and volunteers for your service to our community!

Your servant,

Daniel Webster
Member of Congress