Gus Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 7189, the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024, and I urge my colleagues to support this particular bill. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will reauthorize a national congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and awareness program at HHS for the next 5 years through FY 2029. I am so proud to have been involved in the creation of this pivotal program and its reauthorization efforts, and I am grateful to my colleagues on this bill; Representatives Schiff, Carter, Soto, Salazar, and Cardenas, as well as our bicameral partners, Senators Durbin and Young, and I thank them for their efforts. I have been glad to lead the Congressional Congenital Heart Caucus with Representative Schiff. Over the last years, we have become all too familiar with the struggles this patient community faces on a daily basis, unfortunately. In particular, I also thank the broad set of stakeholders that support this initiative and the thousands of advocates speaking on behalf of the approximately 2 million patients living with congenital heart defects. This includes the Adult Congenital Heart Association, Conquering CHD, Mended Little Hearts, and The Children's Heart Foundation. I thank them for their partnership on this issue and again for support of this bill. We have to get this done together, folks. Let's pass this in a bipartisan fashion. Now, the advocates that come up here do an outstanding job for family members and friends that have congenital heart defects as well as the patients. In the United States, more than 40,000 babies are born with heart defects each year, making it the most common type of birth defect. It is estimated that more than 2 million people are currently living with a heart defect nationwide, but thankfully, they are living much longer into adulthood. Thankfully, medical care and treatments have advanced. Individuals with heart defects, as I said, are living longer and healthier lives. Thank goodness. This bill will continue the support for research and education regarding congenital heart disease and the impact heart defects have on individuals throughout every stage of life. It would also require HHS to develop a strategy to address any research gaps and workforce shortages, particularly as it relates to healthcare providers who treat adult patients living with congenital heart disease. Importantly, this strategy will be developed with the input of expert stakeholder groups and relevant Federal entities. I urge my colleagues to support this particular bill. It is so very important, Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for giving me the opportunity to speak. She has done such an outstanding job as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. We are so very fortunate. She thinks of her constituents and the American people as a whole first, and we really appreciate her service. I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 8084, the Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility, or the LIVE Beneficiaries Act. I am grateful to have worked in a bipartisan fashion alongside Representative Craig, and I thank her for her support of this commonsense bill focused on Medicaid program integrity and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse to save taxpayer dollars. Our legislation requires CMS to ensure that States are certifying, at least on a quarterly basis, that enrollees are not listed on the Social Security Administration's Death Master File database. We also include a provision to give States the ability to check other death records to make sure Medicaid beneficiaries are not deceased. I mean, what we want is to save money for our senior citizens and those who need Medicaid, as well. This is a good bill. Unfortunately, it is a must-pass bill. It shouldn't have to happen, but we are going to save dollars, and we are going to take care of this with this particular bill. We also require immediate disenrollment of beneficiaries should they verify the death of Medicaid enrollees. This repeals the current CMS guidance that forced States to collect additional information about their beneficiaries to ensure their records are correct. CMS has started to recognize this problem and take some administrative steps with States but not enough. This bill will help ensure we are abiding by good governance standards in statute. We know that too often fraudulent, wasteful payments occur in the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and we should continue to find ways to cut down and save taxpayer dollars wherever possible. Again, the money is intended to go to our seniors and those who are on Medicaid. That is what we are doing with this bill. I commend Representative Garcia for his bill, as well. I also thank the chairman and the ranking member. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 8084.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Stephen Pappas. A lifelong Washingtonian, Stephen was born in 1930 to the late Steve and Georgia Pappas and was a proud graduate of Western High followed by his ophthalmology residency at Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. In 1961, Dr. Pappas completed his clinical fellowship in the retina service at Harvard's teaching hospital, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, in Boston. He returned to Washington as the first formally fellowship-trained retina specialist in the region. A deeply patriotic American, Dr. Pappas was honored to serve as Chief of Ophthalmology at the Naval Dispensary in Washington, D.C. from 1961 to 1963, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He later served as a civilian consultant at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda from 1968 to 1976. In 1963, he founded his solo ophthalmology practice, providing compassionate, state-of-the- art care. In 1978, he moved his growing practice, Retina Consultants, from the District to Bethesda. One of the founding members of the Washington Hospital Center Retina Clinic, he supervised and trained generations of ophthalmology residents as a volunteer from 1963 to 1994. He was also assistant clinical professor in Ophthalmology at both GWU and Georgetown. He continued to value his professional relationships with mentors, peers, and mentees for his entire career and beyond. His distinguished career was marked by many local and national accolades. Despite these remarkable professional achievements, Dr. Pappas will most be remembered as a man of faith who was truly devoted to his beloved wife of 62 years, Virginia (Ginny) Nicoludis Pappas, as an incredible father to Dr. Stephen Pappas, Jr. (Michelle) and Adrienne Kalavritinos (Jack), and as a loving papou to his four grandchildren: John, Analiese, Mark, and Alexander. He was an active, early member of the St George Greek Orthodox Church in Bethesda, MD. Faith, family and friends were paramount in his life. His remarkable ability to connect through his warmth, sense of humor, and genuine caring will be remembered by all who knew him. May his memory be eternal.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2964, the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act, or the WIPPES Act. Wastewater treatment systems have been increasingly impacted by clogs resulting from the flushing of nonflushable wipes. These drainage issues are expensive to repair and can be a headache for both homeowners and municipalities. Based on the available data, there is a disconnect between consumer understanding of whether certain wipes products are flushable based on the information directed toward consumers. To address the ongoing infrastructure and environmental issues caused by the misinformed flushing of nonflushable wipes, consumers must be clearly notified when a wipe is nonflushable, which is what H.R. 2964 would achieve. H.R. 2964 would require covered entities to label covered products clearly and conspicuously with ``Do Not Flush'' labels and symbols. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McClain from the great State of Michigan. She is doing an outstanding job, and I thank her for her leadership on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this particular piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2964) to require the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations requiring certain products to have ``Do Not Flush'' labeling, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this particular bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge a ``yes'' vote. This bill is necessary. It is very practical. Let's get it out of the House as soon as possible. I urge a ``yes'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank the chairman of the full committee and the ranking member of the full committee and, of course, the ranking member of the subcommittee, which I chair. This is a great commonsense bill. It is all about transparency. I encourage final passage, and let's get it to the Senate as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 6543, the No Hidden FEES Act, and urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this piece of legislation. After spending their hard-earned money on a vacation for their family, Americans don't need to be hit with unexpected fees added to their hotel room bookings, which happens all the time. These resort fees often confuse and deceive consumers, which is why the House needs to pass this bill sponsored by my good friend and colleague, Representative Young Kim. H.R. 6543 will protect consumers from unfair and deceptive advertising of prices for hotel rooms and other places for short-term lodging. Last month, we passed similar legislation for live event ticketing when we overwhelmingly passed the TICKET Act, which was my bill, bringing price transparency to the market. Representative Kim's bill will take this commonsense approach in the lodging space. Such price transparency is needed for consumers so they know how much they will be paying for lodging upfront, and this is exactly what H.R. 6543 does. I thank the stakeholders for working with us on this initiative to ensure that consumers know exactly the price they are going to pay upfront. I applaud Representative Kim, as well as my fellow Floridian, Representative Castor, for introducing this important piece of legislation, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), a great Member of Congress.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6543) to prohibit unfair and deceptive advertising of prices for hotel rooms and other places of short-term lodging, and for other purposes.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1823, legislation to designate the East Fort Dade Avenue post office in Brooksville, Florida, as the Specialist Justin Dean Coleman Memorial Post Office Building. I never had the chance to meet Army Specialist Coleman, but after hearing from his family, advocating for this particular piece of legislation with my colleagues, and vowing to honor his memory, I certainly wish I had. A native of Tampa Bay, Justin attended the Nature Coast Technical High School in Hernando County. Upon graduation, he felt called to service and enlisted in the Army in June 2007. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 10th Mountain Division. While serving during Operation Enduring Freedom, his expected 96-hour mission to retake Barge Matal from the Taliban turned into a 60-day mission, Mr. Speaker. Justin and his platoon searched for Taliban combatants in a house-to- house sweep through a local village. Sadly, during those sweeps, Specialist Justin Dean Coleman was shot and killed while maintaining a security patrol for his platoon. Due to Specialist Coleman's sacrifice, his platoon was able to identify the enemy and successfully counterattack, which resulted in no other soldiers dying that particular day. A true hero, Mr. Speaker, Specialist Coleman made the ultimate sacrifice, earned the Bronze Star, and will forever be remembered for his bravery. Clearly, Specialist Justin Dean Coleman is a hero who deserves to have the Brooksville, Florida, post office named in his honor. Lastly, I recognize the tireless advocacy of Justin's father, Dean Coleman. For many years, Dean has been on a crusade to honor his son with this recognition. He has been a tireless advocate for his son's memory. May his son's memory be eternal. As Dean's new Federal Representative, I am glad we are here today to move this dream forward, and I will not stop advocating for Justin Coleman and the entire Coleman family until this bill is signed into law. Let's honor this American hero by passing H.R. 1823.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize and honor the service one of my constituents, Sgt. Ryan Lennox, of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. On November 28, 2022, Sgt. Lennox was transferred to the Special Operation Division as a K9 Sergeant. However, during this timeframe the Patrol Division was understaffed with squad and platoon supervisors. This prompted Sgt. Lennox to be asked to take a temporary duty assignment as a Patrol Sergeant while continuing to lead, supervise and guide his K9 Patrol Squad. Sgt. Lennox willingly accepted the dual responsibilities and continued to shine in both roles. Examples of his accomplishment during this period include: Attending a Patrol K9 School with his new K9 partner Ranger; Passing the K9 state standards course; Leading and Supervising a K9 squad, ensuring all administrative duties were completed; Assisting patrol units as a K9 handler. Within a year, he successfully led the search and location of multiple suspects; Leading and supervising a patrol squad, ensuring all administrative duties were completed; Planning, leading and successfully executing several SWAT operations and monthly SWAT trainings; Co-teaching SWAT school, and Planning, leading and successfully executing several operational missions. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Sgt. Lennox exhibits every day he comes to work. Sgt. Lennox is a shining example of what it means to be a Pasco County Law Enforcement Officer. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other law enforcement officers should strive to attain. It is evident that Sgt. Lennox has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Detective Roscoe Watts, of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. Detective Watts has exhibited exceptional dedication, determination, and unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of justice throughout his distinguished career. Detective Watts's exemplary performance is best highlighted by his successful resolution of the attempted robbery at the Sunoco gas station. Through his diligence and unwavering work ethic, he was able to bring the perpetrator to justice, ensuring that they received a just and deserving 20-year prison sentence. His tenacity in the face of adversity and commitment to protecting the community sets him apart as a role model for his peers. Furthermore, Detective Watts's dedication was equally evident in his investigation of a battery within the Core Civic Jail, which tragically resulted in the victim's death due to their injuries. Detective Watts meticulously conducted interviews, analyzed video surveillance, and worked tirelessly to apprehend the suspect. His relentless pursuit of the truth led to the suspect's guilty plea to manslaughter and a 20-year prison sentence, offering closure and justice to the victim's family. Outside of his professional duties, Detective Watts continues to give back to the community through his selfless volunteer work with CASA, the Key Training Center, and the Church Without Walls. His efforts, including running multiple miles to raise funds for the Key Training Center, exemplify his dedication to making the world a better place. Detective Watts's exceptional contributions to law enforcement, his relentless pursuit of justice, and his selfless dedication to community service have undoubtedly made our community more safe. He is a true embodiment of selfless sacrifice, and his legacy of service is an inspiration to us all. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Detective Roscoe Watts exhibits every day he comes to work. Detective Watts is a shining example of what it means to be a Citrus County Law Enforcement Officer. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other law enforcement officers should strive to attain. It is evident that Detective Watts has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Officer Joseph Bologna, from the New Port Richey Police Department. Officer Bologna has been with the New Port Richey Police Department's K9 unit since July 2021 when he transferred from the Oviedo Police Department with more than ten years of service. He was one of the initial first law enforcement teams to respond to the Pulse Night Club shooting, and used that experience to help make him an even better officer. Officer Bologna's true passion is being a K9 handler and trainer. He has trained police K9s for approximately 13 years and is state-certified. He has assisted with ten State of Florida-certified K9 patrol schools. Additionally, he has trained with national K9 training associations throughout the United States. He feels the best part of being a K9 team is the apprehension of multiple dangerous suspects, removing large amounts of narcotics off the street, and participating in community events. He has also had the honor of assisting federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. Officer Bologna is so well received in the department that he had three separate nominations from supervisors for the department's Officer of the Year Award. Officer Bologna's performance on the street, community involvement, and city representation have been stellar. Officer Bologna is a wonderful family man who enjoys being with his wife and wonderful sons. Officer Bologna is busy learning about his latest addition to his family, the New Port Richey Police Department's newest K9, Rex. Rex is still a puppy and attending Patrol School, pending his graduation this month. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Officer Bologna exhibits every day he comes to work. Officer Bologna is a shining example of what it means to be a New Port Richey Law Enforcement Officer. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other law enforcement officers should strive to attain. It is evident that Officer Bologna has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Deputy Chris Downey, of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. On February 13, 2024 Deputy Downey responded, along with School Guardian Brent Coleman, to a 13 year-old student having a medical emergency in a common area at the school which is at the base of a large set of stairs. The student was found face down and unresponsive to verbal or physical stimulus. Due to the perceived method of injury (fall) the student was carefully rolled to his back while maintaining control of his head and neck. The student was found to have an erratic pulse and was not breathing. CPR was initiated and an AED and EMS was requested. Upon application of the AED, a shock was recommended. Shock was applied by the device and CPR continued. This and two additional cycles were completed before a non-shockable rhythm was established. The student was air-lifted to a children's trauma center where he underwent a procedure to correct the medical condition. Investigation revealed that the initial assumption of a fall was incorrect. The child had navigated the stairs just fine and collapsed after exiting the stairs due to a previously undiagnosed medical condition. The child has since returned to school and is in good spirits. It has been well-established that, without the swift actions of both Deputy Downey and School Guardian Brent Coleman, this child would not have survived this medical episode. This is just one example of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Deputy Downey exhibits every day he comes to work. Deputy Downey is a shining example of what it means to be a Hernando County Law Enforcement Officer. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other law enforcement officers should strive to attain. It is evident that Deputy Downey has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Lt. Matthew Hare, of the Inverness Fire Department. For the past three years, the Inverness Fire Department has been going through a rebuilding phase. Lt. Hare has been a vital part of this process and has been the go-to guy for any project that needs to be completed. He is constantly working to improve his skills and further his education. His excellent work ethic has allowed him to become one of the department leaders and he is a role model to his peers. Lt. Hare operates in a manner that brings great credit to himself, his family, the City, and the citizens he serves. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Lt. Hare exhibits every day when he goes to work. He is a shining example of what it means to be an Inverness First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Lt. Hare has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Communications Officer Michael Whitaker, of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. On Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, Officer Whitaker was working in the Communication Section as an Intake Operator when a constituent called 911 to advise that his 3- month-old daughter, Harmonie, was choking and could not breath. After de-escalating the parent and helping him become calm enough to follow instructions, Officer Whitaker proceeded to provide lifesaving instructions on how to clear the baby's airway. The father followed all the instructions and was able to clear her airway. With Harmonie able to breathe fresh oxygen again, EMS arrived on scene and transported her to a nearby hospital for observation. Thanks to Officer Whitaker's swift actions, professionalism, and composure, Baby Harmonie is doing great today. This is just one example of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Communications Officer Whitaker exhibits every day when he goes to work. Officer Whitaker is a shining example of what it means to be a Citrus County First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Officer Whitaker has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Critical Care Paramedic Rain Ollenberger, of Hernando County MedFleet. Paramedic Ollenberger has been a shining example of excellence since arriving at MedFleet Ambulance. Although a relatively new Paramedic, Ollenberger has developed a wealth of knowledge and shows a level of expertise in the profession of critical care paramedicine. Paramedic Ollenberger consistently delivers top-notch care to those in need and her advanced skills and quick thinking have undoubtedly made a difference in the patients she has transported. Paramedic Ollenberger's dedication to ongoing professional development sets her apart as a leader in her field. Whether she is participating in advanced medical training or sharing her knowledge with colleagues, her passion for excellence is evident in everything she does. Her compassion, skill, and unwavering commitment to providing the best possible care makes her a true asset to the team and the communities they serve. Paramedic Ollenberger has been tasked with mentoring new paramedics and EMTs as a field training officer and continues to have outstanding reviews with excellent overall development of trainees. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Paramedic Ollenberger exhibits every day when she goes to work. She is a shining example of what it means to be a First Responder. Her work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Paramedic Ollenberger has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Telecommunicator John Mann, of the Port Richey Police Department. Telecommunicator Mann is a highly dedicated employee who on many occasions has referred to the Port Richey Police Department employees as his family. Telecommunicator Mann has reported to work on numerous occasions, barely able to walk without a cane when a lesser person would stay home. Not unlike other law enforcement agencies around the country, the Port Richey Police Department has experienced a shortage of qualified personnel to fill vacancies. This puts a strain on existing personnel, but Telecommunicator Mann has helped ease that burden by stepping up to the plate whenever possible. He has covered the shifts of fellow telecommunicators when they are ill, or when the department otherwise requires coverage. His selflessness and dedication to the safety of the officers on the road have outweighed his medical issues in too many instances. As U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, he embraces the notion of service above self and this is truly evident in his interactions with others. He takes care of his law enforcement family and they are tremendously grateful for his continued efforts to keep our community safe. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Telecommunicator Mann exhibits every day when he goes to work. He is a shining example of what it means to be a Port Richey First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Telecommunicator Mann has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Officer Kenneth Korchak, of the Port Richey Police Department. Officer Korchak started his career at the Port Richey Police Department as a part-time Telecommunicator. He had already attended and graduated from the law enforcement academy and was subsequently hired as a Reserve Officer in addition to his telecommunicator duties. Officer Korchak volunteered to work patrol whenever Patrol Supervisors requested coverage for a shift. His work ethic and proactive mindset resulted in him being hired as a full-time Officer. After being promoted, he volunteered for dual duties whenever Telecommunicator coverage was needed. Officer Korchak put the agency's needs ahead of his desire to work as a Patrol Officer. He also has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to professional development, as evidenced by his participation in coursework to continually refine his skill set. Officer Korchak is one of the most proactive officers in the agency, and this is reflected in agency's monthly statistical data. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Officer Korchak exhibits every day when he comes to work. He is a shining example of what it means to be a Port Richey Law Enforcement Officer. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Officer Korchak has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.