Florida News Straight From the Source
U.S. Congressmen Brian Mast (FL-18) today questioned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ national leadership during testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. [Read more…] about For First Time Ever, Army Corps Admits To Knowingly Discharging Toxic Water To St. Lucie And Caloosahatchee
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) joined Republicans from the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate today to announce the formation of the bicameral Roosevelt Conservation Caucus (RCC). [Read more…] about Mast Joins House and Senate Colleagues to Announce New Conservation Caucus
U.S. Representatives Brian Mast (FL-18) and Angie Craig (MN-02)’s Local Water Protection Act today passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously. [Read more…] about Mast Bill To Help Prevent Toxic Agricultural Runoff, Other Water Pollutants Passes Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
President Donald Trump today signed the Water Resources Development Act into law that includes authorization of the EAA Southern Storage Reservoir (known as S.B. 10 on the state level) written by U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18). The bill had previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives twice (in June and September) and the Senate once (in October). [Read more…] about Mast’s EAA Southern Storage Reservoir Legislation Signed Into Law By President
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) has named U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) to serve as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation for the remainder of the 115th Congress. [Read more…] about Rep. Brian Mast Named Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18), U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL) and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (FL) teamed up to write language authorizing the EAA Storage Reservoir, to be built south of Lake Okeechobee, which is included in the compromise version of the Water Resources Development Act unveiled today. [Read more…] about Mast, Rubio, Nelson Secure Deal For Federal Authorization of EAA Storage Reservoir In Water Infrastructure Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives today approved a bipartisan measure spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Brian Mast (FL-18) and Stephanie Murphy (FL-7) to help more disabled veterans transition to the civilian workforce. The measure, passed as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2019 Legislative Branch appropriations bill, increases funding for the U.S. House’s Wounded Warrior Program, which provides two-year paid fellowships for disabled veterans to work in the Washington or district offices of Members of Congress. There are currently 47 disabled veterans working in House offices through the Wounded Warrior initiative, and this new funding will help the program reach its ultimate goal of supporting 110 paid fellowships.
“After I opened our Congressional office inside the West Palm Beach VA, we set out to hire a wounded warrior to help us because I know that veterans are among the most qualified applicants for any position thanks to the skills they learned in the military,” Rep. Mast said. “This amendment is a win-win: giving disabled veterans a great opportunity to transition into a new career while improving constituent services in Congressional offices across the country.”
The Mast-Murphy amendment increases funding for the Wounded Warrior Program by $250,000, from $2.75 million to $3.0 million. In addition to Reps. Mast and Murphy, U.S. Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-5) and Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2) co-led the amendment.
“Our veterans, especially those wounded in the line of duty, have fought hard to protect our nation, and Congress should fight just as hard for them,” Rep. Murphy said. “The Wounded Warrior fellowship program helps veterans succeed after they leave the military by affording them potentially life-changing personal and professional opportunities to gain experience in congressional offices. Veterans can use the valuable skills they honed in the military to help constituents, including fellow veterans, in congressional districts across the country. I’m proud to work with Congressman Mast to create more opportunities for disabled veterans to get the skills, training, and expertise that will help them succeed.”
Shortly after opening the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA facility, Rep. Mast announced that his office was seeking a wounded warrior or medically retired veteran for a fellowship working at the office. The office is in the final phases of selecting a fellow to handle military and veterans-related casework from a qualified group of candidates.
Wounded warrior fellowships enable disabled veterans to gain professional experience and develop their skills while they determine their long-term career interests and goals. Participating veterans perform a variety of duties, including legislative work and constituent advocacy. As a result of their military service, fellows provide invaluable support to Member offices, especially on defense and veterans issues. To qualify for the program, an applicant must be an honorably discharged veteran released from active duty within the last five years. The applicant must have a 20 percent or greater service-connected disability or be a Purple Heart recipient.
For more information on the Wounded Warrior Program, click here.
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today announced that he has secured a commitment from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves to include authorization of the EAA Reservoir as part of this year’s Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) as soon as the Army Corps completes its required review of the Post-Authorization Change Report. Rep. Mast serves as Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
“Authorization of this storage reservoir is a priority, and we are committed to including authorization of this project in this year’s Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) pending [the Army Corps’] timely and favorable recommendation,” Chairmen Shuster and Graves wrote in a letter led by Rep. Mast to the Army Corps on May 22, 2018.
Late last week, Rep. Mast convened a meeting with Chairmen Shuster, Chairman Graves and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James (who overseas the Army Corps of Engineers) to discuss the importance of the EAA reservoir. Before inclusion of the authorization in the Water Resources and Development Act, the Army Corps must compete its review of a Post-Authorization Change Report. The Committee leaders urged the Army Corps to expedite review of the proposal and committed to including authorization of the project in WRDA pending the Army Corps’ favorable recommendation.
Following the meeting, the Members of Congress sent a follow-up letter to the Army Corps. Click here to read the full letter.
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18), the newest member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the VA MISSION Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, 347 to 70:
“Since opening the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA facility, we’ve met with hundreds of veterans and opened more than 100 cases to help veterans that are having issues with the VA. As I’ve seen firsthand with my own healthcare from the VA, there are many great doctors who go above and beyond for our veterans, but it’s also clear that there are many areas where the VA needs to seriously step up its level of service. The VA MISSION Act is great progress toward ensuring that veterans get more choice and the high level of care that they were promised when they put on a uniform in defense of our country becomes a reality for everybody.”
The legislation accomplishes five objectives:
BACKGROUND
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Mast followed in his father’s footsteps by serving in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, earning medals including The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. While deployed in Afghanistan, he worked as a bomb disposal expert under the elite Joint Special Operations Command. The last improvised explosive device that he found resulted in catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs.
In Congress, Rep. Mast has emerged as a leader on veterans issues, and earlier today, he became the newest member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
Rep. Mast also opened the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA facility in January. Through this office, veterans from around the area have improved access for assistance with any VA-related issues. The office is located in room 1A-366 of the West Palm Beach VA. Since the opening of the office, many other Members of Congress have asked Rep. Mast about the process to open his office so that they can replicate the service for veterans at their local VA facilities. Unfortunately, opening the office took more than a year of navigating bureaucratic red tape. That’s why he introduced the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act to cut down on this bureaucracy by requiring the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit a Member of Congress to use a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of meeting with constituents of the Member. Rep. Mast testified before the VA committee on this bill earlier today.
He also introduced and got signed into law The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act. This bipartisan bill extended a number of expiring authorities impacting veterans’ benefits, health care, and homeless programs, including nursing home care, support services for caregivers, transportation, child care assistance, adaptive sports programs and housing and home loan services.
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) announced today in a Facebook Live video that he will join the Veterans Affairs Committee. Rep. Mast, a 12-year Army veteran, has emerged as a leading advocate for veterans during his short time in Congress. He will also continue to serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The announcement can be watched HERE.
Rep. Mast Quote: “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to serve our veterans on the Veterans Affairs Committee. Our first-of-its-kind office in the West Palm Beach VA has resulted in more than 100 new cases that we’re taking a look at to help veterans in our community, and being on this committee will give me an even better platform to advocate for my fellow veterans.”
Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe Quote: “I am thrilled to welcome Representative Mast to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Brian is already a tireless advocate for veterans, and – as a veteran himself – is keenly aware of the challenges our nation’s heroes face. Representative Mast will be an excellent addition to the committee, and I look forward to working with him to reform VA.”
BACKGROUND
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Mast followed in his father’s footsteps by serving in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, earning medals including The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. While deployed in Afghanistan, he worked as a bomb disposal expert under the elite Joint Special Operations Command. The last improvised explosive device that he found resulted in catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs.
In Congress, Rep. Mast has emerged as a leader on veterans issues. He opened the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA facility in January. Through this office, veterans from around the area have improved access for assistance with any VA-related issues. The office is located in room 1A-366 of the West Palm Beach VA.
Since the opening of the VA office in January, many other Members of Congress have asked Rep. Mast about the process to open his office so that they can replicate the service for veterans at their local VA facilities. Unfortunately, opening the office took more than a year of navigating bureaucratic red tape. That’s why he introduced the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act to cut down on this bureaucracy by requiring the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit a Member of Congress to use a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of meeting with constituents of the Member. Rep. Mast testified before the VA committee on this bill earlier today.
Rep. Mast also introduced and got signed into law The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act. This bipartisan bill extended a number of expiring authorities impacting veterans’ benefits, health care, and homeless programs, including nursing home care, support services for caregivers, transportation, child care assistance, adaptive sports programs and housing and home loan services.
