In December, Congressman Gus Bilirakis had a busy slate. Over the span of one week, a variety of different bills Bilirakis sponsored passed in the House of Representatives. The hard-working representative was also named the Veterans’ Advisor to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Though Christmas was on the horizon, the congressman continued to work hard to serve his constituents and the state of Florida.
The first four of these measures were introduced through the passing of the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. The provisions that were authored by Congressman Bilirakis were created to improve public health by providing access to mental health services for children and by advancing critical research in this field.
The first of the bills introduced was the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which intends to stop the illegal use of xylazine, which is a potent animal tranquilizer intended for use by veterinarians on large animals. The sedative has not been approved for human use and has been the tragic cause of fatal overdoses around the country, resulting in “horrific side effects” when laced with the drug fentanyl. This bill places xylazine into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which will allow law enforcement better tools for tracking and prosecuting those who traffic the drug.
The FIND Fentanyl Act will enable a pilot program to fund state and local agencies to improve coordination between health laboratories and law enforcement in the stopping of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids through a pilot program. Another bill that addresses the fentanyl epidemic, The SWIFT Detection Act, will update the methods for which to track fentanyl and other such drugs by authorizing the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to conduct wastewater surveillance and other such projects.
The Congressman also strived to improve a hiccup in Medicaid for foster children with the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act of 2023. This will fix a technical glitch in the federal statute created by the passage of the Family First Prevention Service Act of 2018. The latter act poses a threat to the “most at-risk foster children” as they may not be able to access their much-needed behavioral and mental health services covered by Medicaid.
“Most children who are placed in the foster care system have experienced significant trauma,” Congressman Bilirakis said. “We need to prevent exacerbation of their situation by ensuring continuity of care in a setting that meets their individual needs. I am committed to ensuring foster care kids have continued access to quality trauma-informed treatment in a supportive environment that enables them to heal, without losing access to Medicaid services…”
The House also passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act over this span, as detailed by the Congressman’s office on Dec. 13. It features 17 bipartisan proposals to lower healthcare costs and price transparency for patients. All provisions in this act are offset and the bill would actually reduce the federal deficit by more than $700 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Some of the provisions included in the bill lower costs for patients and employers, lower out-of-pocket costs for certain seniors, increase access to affordable generic drugs and maintain pro-life protections.
The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act also contained a pair of measures co-authored by Bilirakis: the Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023 and the Providers and Payers COMPETE Act. The first will continue funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 Diabetes for another two-plus years. The funding, which was originally set to expire in January, would be increased by $170 million through September 30, 2026, if legislation is approved. The latter act requires an annual report on healthcare consolidation, the impact of Medicare regulations, and the effects of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s demonstration on healthcare consolidation.
“In recent years, we have seen a troubling trend of increased Medicare regulations that have made it more difficult for independent providers to compete in the marketplace,” Congressman Bilirakis said. “The resulting consolidation leads to fewer options for patients. Patients deserve healthcare options, and it is important that we carefully examine the threat that consolidation poses to patient choice.”
On Dec. 14, the Florida representative’s office announced that the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act had passed in the House. Co-authored by Representatives Bilirakis and Paul Tonko (D-NY), the no-cost legislation will reportedly “unite experts” in a national project aimed at preventing, treating, and curing Parkinson’s. As Bilirakis has lost two immediate family members to the affliction in the last six months, the cause is one that is near and dear to him.
“I will continue this fight in memory of my dear brother, other family members, and on behalf of all Americans who are still struggling with this debilitating disease,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “It takes a terrible toll on the physical, emotional and economic well-being of everyone involved. The lack of treatment options leaves patients, families, and American taxpayers in a terrible quandary. We must change our approach to get better results, which is exactly what our legislation will do.”
Bilirakis’ appointment as Veteran’s Advisor to the Speaker on Monday, Dec. 18, was well-deserved considering his vast experience on the matter. He served 14 years on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and held the role of Vice-Chairman in a similar advisory capacity to the previous speaker of the House. Beyond showing his support for Bilirakis by appointing the Florida-based representative as his Veteran’s Advisor, Speaker Johnson also spoke glowingly of the congressman and his qualifications.
“Congressman Bilirakis is widely regarded as one of Congress’ most effective members, and he has been a strong advocate in delivering real results on behalf of America’s veterans,” said Speaker Johnson. “I am proud to have Gus continue serving as Special Advisor to the Speaker on Veterans’ issues.”
