Issue 1: December- February INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Message from the Representative HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 34: UPDATES FROM THE CAPITOL: Rep. Massullo Passes Drug Swap Bill Through its First Committee Rep. Massullo Passes EBT Bill Through its First Committee Rep. Massullo Introduces Alternative Graduation Paths Bill for High School Students Rep. Massullo Spoke with the Nature Coast Republican Club Rep. Massullo Participated in the Citrus County Legislative Delegation Meeting UPCOMING EVENTS Respectfully, After a few short months on the job, my staff and I have been working hard for the people of Florida, and Citrus County. In our district I had the privilege of speaking with constituents in the Nature Coast Republican Club about my goals for this session. I also had the pleasure alongside Senator Simpson to listen to the concerns our residents believe we should take to the Legislature. In Tallahassee, I’m proud to have introduced legislation that will improve quality of life, education reform and ensure dependability of commercial health coverage in Florida. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Thank you for your confidence District 34. If my office can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us. My staff and I are here for you. Editorial: Americanism A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE Rep. Massullo Works with the State to Improve Withlacoochee Trail
Transcript
Issue 1: December- February
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:A Message from the Representative
HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 34:
UPDATES FROM THE CAPITOL:Rep. Massullo Passes Drug Swap Bill Through its First CommitteeRep. Massullo Passes EBT Bill Through its First CommitteeRep. Massullo Introduces Alternative Graduation PathsBill for High School Students
Rep. Massullo Spoke with the Nature Coast Republican ClubRep. Massullo Participated in the Citrus County LegislativeDelegation Meeting
UPCOMING EVENTS
Respectfully,
After a few short months on the job, my staff and I have been working hard for the people of Florida, and Citrus County. In our district I had the privilege of speaking with constituents in the Nature Coast Republican Club about my goals for this session. I also had the pleasure alongside Senator Simpson to listen to the concerns our residents believe we should take to the Legislature. In Tallahassee, I’m proud to have introduced legislation that will improve quality of life, education reform and ensure dependability of commercial health coverage in Florida. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Thank you for your confidence District 34. If my office can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us. My staff and I are here for you.
Editorial: Americanism
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE
Rep. Massullo Works with the State to Improve Withlacoochee Trail
HAPPENINGS IN DISTRICT 34
Rep. Massullo Spoke with the Nature Coast Republicans Club
Rep. Massullo Participated in the Citrus County Legislative Delegation Meeting
Representative Massullo met with the Nature Coast Republican Club members on December 10, 2016. He spoke with the constituents about many aspects of the Florida Legislature. He discussed the design and bill process within the Legislature. Rep. Massullo also disclosed bills he planned to introduce to his colleagues in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Citrus County’s Legislative delegation took place on January 6, 2017. Representative Massullo and Senator Simpson presided over the meeting with Rep. Massullo acting as chairman. This meeting was held to hear suggestions from residents about how both members can help county groups and individuals during their terms in the state Legislature.
Rep. Massullo and his staff are hard at work with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the division of Parks and Recreation to renovate the Withlacoochee Trail within District 34.
Rep. Massullo Works with the State to Improve Withlacoochee Trail
UPDATES FROM THE STATE CAPITOL
Rep. Massullo Passes Drug Swap Bill Through the First Committee:
Rep. Massullo Passes EBT Bill Through the First Committee:
Rep. Massullo Introduces Alternative Graduation Paths Bill for High School Students:
Rep. Massullo met Ryder and Beckett of St. Augustine, who directly benefit from his co-sponsored bill, HB 2159.
Representative Massullo introduced House Bill 95 this legislative session joined with a companion bill by Senator Mayfield. HB 95 would improve the safety and dependability of commercial health coverage in Florida. It would protect customers from unwarranted prescription coverage reductions during the health plan year. Floridians’ benefits would be ensured when they sign up for open enrollment. The legislation unanimously passed through the Health Innovation Subcommittee and is waiting to be heard in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee.
House Bill 593, Restrictions on Use of Public Assistance Benefits, was introduced by Representative Massullo alongside a companion bill from Senator Bean. It was heard in the Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee in February and successfully passed. This legislation would prohibit the use of electronic benefits transfer cards to purchase soft drinks or candy. This bill empowers recipients of the SNAP/EBT program to make healthier choices which will lead to less health problems.
Representative Massullo has initiated House Bill 407 accompanied by a Senate Bill from Senator Montford. This legislation’s purpose is to allow students who have earned 24 credits and held a 2.0 or better grade point average to still graduate, if they met the requirements of earning a related industry certification, complete a portfolio of classroom performance or gain an adequate score on an alternate test such as an Advanced Placement exam or the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test. It is waiting to be heard in the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee.
MARCH 18: SHRIMP-A-PALOOZA MARDI GRAS HOMOSASSA STYLE
MARCH 23: LEGISLATIVE DAY 2017
MARCH 13-17: CITY OF INVERNESS OF BIKE WEEK
MARCH 25: CLEAN AIR BIKE RIDE WITHLACOOCHEE STATE TRAIL
APRIL 1: 4TH ANNUAL SCUF SCHOOLHOUSE HUSTLE 5K/10K/1-MILE
AmericanismAmericanism is defined as loyalty to the United States and its institutions. But what is “loyalty” and how can we as Americans exemplify it by our lives? Loyalty is faithfulness and devotion and those two attributes come at great price. Two hundred forty years ago a small group of individuals formed a nation like no other in the entire world. A nation based on the rule of law; governed by the people where liberty, equality and the pursuit of happiness would be innate tenants for all its citizens. It was a novel idea to be sure and one that would require much sacrifice to defend and maintain. But those people were determined and against all odds they fought and won freedom for us and our great nation, the United States of America, was born. From that time on America has been a light to the world. That small candle has brightened in the last two centuries to become a powerful beacon of freedom for all to see. Millions of Americans have given up everything; their freedom, their liberty, their happiness and even their lives, to protect and defend those very values for their families and fellow Americans. They fought, suffered and died in deserts, in jungles, in foreign lands, and sometimes right here at home so you and I could wake up tomorrow morning in a country where ‘We the People’ govern and where our freedom is paramount. I can hardly imagine all the blood and pain that has been paid for what most of us take for granted each and every day.
Being an American is not a right, it is a privilege! Any of us could have been born in some third world country ruled by some evil dictator with little hope or opportunity. We are blessed to be Americans and whether you believe in a sovereign God or random chance, we are part of the greatest nation on earth. That privilege comes with the great responsibility that we ensure that our nation will never perish from the face of the earth. The execution of that responsibility is our “loyalty”… our “Americanism”. It requires hard work and dedication to education so we are well informed of our history, science, arts, humanities and our current world. It requires sacrifice of time and energy to provide a livelihood for our families and aid for our neighbors, our government and those in need. And at times it may require us to lay down our very lives when those individuals and ideals that we love are threatened. Americanism isn’t easy, but being an American requires all of us to do our part. And make no mistake that while our light may not be as bright today as it once was to the world, because of who we are and those who came before us, it can shine brighter than ever if we so desire. We just need to wake up and realize we are honored to be citizens of the United States of America and what a privilege it is for us to try and make our country better, because America is exceptional…it can be nothing less. That’s Americanism!
