U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (FL)
Recent News About U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (FL)
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Rep. Waltz Co-Leads National Maritime Strategy Report
On Wednesday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6), U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), and U.S. Congressman John Garamendi (CA-8) released the bipartisan “Congressional Guidance for a National Maritime Strategy” that provides a comprehensive vision for planning guidance, strategic objectives, and actionable steps to revitalize our nation's maritime sector. In an era of great power competition, aging infrastructure, and the threat of high-intensity war, Congress must adopt a maritime strategy vital to U.S. national security and the world....
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Dear Secretary Austin
"Waltz, McCaul Demand Answers on Abbey Gate Bombing Investigation
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House Overwhelmingly Passes Waltz Bill to Secure Florida’s Coastal Border
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan, bicameral Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Water Act, introduced by U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-06), to secure U.S. coastal borders, including Florida’s, from drug and human trafficking. The bill was also introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL)."We cannot leave Florida’s coastline wide-open like the Biden administration has our southern border," said Rep. Waltz. "We must protect Floridians and all Americans by securing our country’s borders, especially as the...
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Waltz, Soto Introduce the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Commemorative Site Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Mike Waltz and Darren Soto have introduced the bipartisan Jackie Robinson Ballpark Commemorative Site Act to honor the historic location where Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball. The legislation aims to designate the Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Tortugas, as a National Commemorative Site and initiate a feasibility study for its designation as a National Historic Landmark.Waltz expressed the importance of preserving Jackie Robinson's legacy, stating, “Jackie Robinson changed the course of...
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Waltz, Houlahan Introduce Bill to Protect JROTC Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Mike Waltz (FL-06) and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) have joined forces to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at safeguarding and expanding Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs across the nation.Waltz emphasized the significance of JROTC programs in fostering civic engagement among youth and addressing military recruitment challenges. He stated, “Our JROTC programs help promote civic participation amongst our youth and help address the recruitment shortfalls our military faces today.” Waltz also...
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Waltz, Comer Press NOAA on Whale Rule That Could Hurt Commercial Vessels & Supply Chains
U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz and Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability James Comer have raised concerns over a proposed rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that could impact commercial vessels and supply chains while aiming to protect whales' habitats.In a letter addressed to NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad, Congressman Waltz expressed his apprehensions about the potential negative effects of the proposed expanded habitat protections for the Rice and North Atlantic right whales. He emphasized that the rule could endanger the...
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House Oversight Committee Passes Waltz Bill to Stop FEHB Fraud and Government Waste
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability passed the FEHB Protection Act of 2024, introduced by U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-06) to stop fraud within the largest employer-sponsored health insurance program in the country – the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program.The FEHB Protection Act of 2024 codifies recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to implement verification requirements for the FEHB...
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Waltz Grills Generals Milley & McKenzie on Afghanistan Withdrawal
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz of Florida passionately confronted Former Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff General (Ret.) Mark Milley and Former Commander of U.S. Central Command General (Ret.) Kenneth McKenzie Jr. during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing regarding the Biden Administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.Waltz expressed his frustration, stating, "The more I listen to this hearing, the more infuriated I get." He emphasized the impact on Gold Star families and veterans, remarking, "It is not about us, it is about them."...
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Waltz Requests John Kerry Correspondence with Iranian Official, Cites Likely Logan Act Violation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz, along with several other congressmen, sent a letter to former Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, requesting all private correspondence with former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Jarif during the Trump Administration. The letter also accused Mr. Kerry of likely violating the Logan Act.In the letter, Waltz expressed concerns about Kerry's actions, stating, "John Kerry undermined a sitting U.S. president and emboldened a state sponsor of terror by engaging with a foreign adversary as a private citizen." He...
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Waltz Presses Biden’s National Security and Intel Officials on U.S. Security Threat Assessment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6) engaged in a rigorous exchange with Biden Administration National Security and Intelligence Officials during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Tuesday. The discussions covered various critical topics, including President Biden’s classified documents, the threat of al-Qaeda, energy policies benefiting Russia, Hamas, and concerns about domestic terrorism facilitation at universities.During the hearing, Congressman Waltz questioned Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, about the...
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Waltz Invites Gold Star Mother Paula Knauss Selph to State of the Union
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-06) has extended an invitation to Gold Star Mother Paula Knauss Selph to attend the State of the Union address. Paula's son, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss, was one of the 13 American servicemembers killed in the ISIS-K terrorist attack at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.Waltz expressed his concerns regarding the lack of accountability from the Biden administration, stating, "It has been over two years since the death of Paula’s son, Ryan, and the Biden administration still has not...
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Waltz Presses Defense Secretary Austin on Secret Hospitalization
U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about his unannounced hospitalization and lack of communication with the President. Waltz emphasized the importance of civilian oversight and the chain of command in the military.Waltz pointed out the necessity for timely communication within the military chain of command, highlighting the potential risks associated with a delayed transfer of authorities. Secretary Austin confirmed that the decision to transfer authorities was made while he was...
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Waltz, Panetta Introduce Bill to Increase DoD Contracts with Veteran-Owned Businesses
On Thursday, U.S. Congressmen Mike Waltz and Jimmy Panetta introduced the bipartisan Contract Our Veterans Act in the House, aiming to increase contracts between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and small, veteran-owned businesses. The bill proposes that five percent of the DoD's yearly federal contracts go to veteran-owned small businesses.Waltz emphasized the benefits of this collaboration, stating, "It is a win-win scenario for both our Department of Defense and veteran-owned small businesses to work together. Not only will it help promote entrepreneurship amongst...
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Waltz Presses Former Biden Admin Official on Failure to Uphold the Doha Agreement
On Thursday, Congressman Mike Waltz questioned former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad regarding the failure of the Biden Administration to uphold the Doha Agreement during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. During the hearing, Waltz highlighted the importance of acknowledging the sacrifices made by veterans and Gold Star families in keeping America safe for over two decades. He emphasized the significance of preventing another 9/11 attack and the need to learn from the mistakes of the war in Afghanistan.Waltz then...
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Waltz Bill to Protect American Privacy Signed into Law
On February 10, 2024, President Joseph Biden signed into law the Moving American's Privacy Protection Act (MAPPA), a bipartisan legislation aimed at safeguarding the personal information of Americans. The bill, introduced by U.S. Congressmen Mike Waltz and Bill Pascrell, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to remove personally identifiable information (PII) from cargo manifests before public disclosure.According to Congressman Waltz, "The personal information of every American should be safe and secure. However, due to the current public disclosure of cargo...
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Waltz, Houlahan Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect the Families of our Fallen Patriots
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan have introduced a bipartisan bill in the House called the Protecting the Families of our Fallen Patriots Act. The aim of this bill is to ensure that Gold Star families, the families of fallen service members, receive the retirement benefits they are entitled to.According to Waltz, "The surviving spouses of our fallen patriots should be allowed to provide for their young children without the worry of losing part of their benefits," He further added, "These struggling families have already...
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Waltz Presses DoD Officials on Accountability for Poor Military Housing Conditions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman and Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Mike Waltz, recently addressed Defense Department officials regarding the accountability for the deteriorating state of military housing on bases nationwide. During the hearing, Waltz expressed his concern over the conditions that service members are currently living in, emphasizing the need for immediate action.Waltz began by highlighting the magnitude of the problem, stating, "We have, by my count, five hundred installations, five hundred thousand buildings, and nine...
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U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz Discusses U.S. Maritime Security in Heritage Foundation Event
On Monday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-06) participated in a discussion organized by the Heritage Foundation and the Allison Center for National Security. The event centered around the topic of U.S. maritime security and whether the country's Navy is adequately prepared to counter the threat posed by communist China.During the event, Congressman Waltz joined Senior Research Fellow Brent Sadler in analyzing the current state of the U.S. Navy and exploring potential strategies to reverse its decline. The discussion aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by the Navy...
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Waltz Questions FDA’s Telework Policies
U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz has raised concerns about the telework policies at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), stating that they have had a negative impact on the agency's ability to approve critical drugs and therapeutics. In a letter addressed to Commissioner Robert Califf, Waltz emphasized the need for federal agencies to fully reopen and provide necessary services to the American public."It has been four years since the pandemic hit our country yet a number of federal agencies that adopted telework policies have still not fully reopened to serve the...
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Lawmakers Call on Biden to Prioritize U.S. Maritime Defense
On Tuesday, a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to prioritize the strengthening of the United States' maritime power. The letter, spearheaded by U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz and Senator Mark Kelly, highlighted the increasing influence of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea and the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the Houthis.In the letter, the lawmakers called on President Biden to take several key actions to bolster maritime defense. This includes establishing an interagency maritime...