Dear Friend,
Welcome to this special edition of Mario’s Message, honoring the brave servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the veterans who continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
In commemoration of Memorial Day, we honor the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. I extend my heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to their families and loved ones. I hope all took a moment to reflect, remember, and recognize their extraordinary sacrifices.
I am proud to represent approximately 17,000 veterans and their families within Florida’s 26th Congressional District. This edition highlights my ongoing efforts to support veterans and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive.
As always, your input is very important to me. If you need assistance with any federal matter or would like to share your thoughts on legislation, please call, visit, or write to any of my offices. My office locations and contact information remain the same, and my team and I are always here to help.
It is an absolute honor to serve you.
In 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan established “Decoration Day” on May 30th through a Memorial Day Order, as a time for the nation to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to our country. On the 100th anniversary, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, designating Memorial Day as a federal holiday beginning on the last Monday in May in 1971. This preserved the day as a moment to pay tribute to the service members and their families who guaranteed the very freedoms and way of life we cherish today.
In recognition of our veterans, I have proudly cosponsored the following legislation in the 119th Congress:
- National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act – Formalizes a 26-acre National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum in Florida, honoring more than 142,000 POWs and over 90,000 MIA service members since WWII
- Major Richard Star Act – Repeals the unfair offset of retirement benefits and disability compensation, providing full concurrent receipt for nearly 42,000 Chapter 61 veterans who were discharged due to combat-related injuries
- Military Spouse Hiring Act – Provides a tax credit to incentivize employers to hire military spouses
- Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act – Protects veterans who have chosen to use the Veterans Community Care Program for continuity of care
And just last week, I was proud to have voted in favor of the following bills, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives:
- H.R. 217 – CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2025 – Allows local communities across the country to assist with the planning and construction of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities through private subsidization of projects, leading to on-time and on-budget completion.
- H.R. 1147 – Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act – Makes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) more accessible for our disabled veterans by establishing a permanent advisory committee within the VA to allow for direct and regular communication with the Secretary on behalf of disabled veterans.
- H.R. 1286 – Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act – Simplifies forms required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans and survivors to ensure a smoother process and that veterans receive the benefits they rightfully earned.
- H.R. 1578 – Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025 – Provides educational resources for veterans filing electronic claims and steers veterans to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accredited entities. This will limit the ability of predatory companies to take advantage of and unfairly profit off veterans trying to access their hard-earned benefits.
- H.R. 1815 – VA Home Loan Program Reform Act – Provides the Department of Veterans Affairs with the permanent authority to offer partial claims – bringing the VA’s mortgage loss mitigation toolkit in line with those available through the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. This measure expands foreclosure prevention tools and is a critical step toward housing stability for veterans.
- H.R. 1823 – VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act – Addresses concerns stemming from the VA’s 2024 budget request, in which the department cited a $3 billion shortfall. Despite that request, the VA ultimately carried over $5 billion in unspent funds. This legislation ensures accountability so that Congress has accurate, timely information to support Veterans effectively.
- H.R. 1969 – No Wrong Door for Veterans Act – Strengthens Veteran suicide prevention by reauthorizing the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program through 2026 and makes key improvements—requiring local VA coordination, modernizing screening protocols, expanding access to emergent care, and holding grantees accountable.
- H.R. 2201 – Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act – Supports military sexual trauma victims by improving the VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act.
- H.R. 1364 – ASSIST Act of 2025 – Ensures disabled veterans, with the help of the VA, are empowered to make the vehicle modifications they need to travel safely.
