Dear fellow Republicans,

Hope this note finds you well and safe. Worse Hurricane since Donna in 1960. I’ve been here for 37 years and never experienced anything like Irma. I’ll take a pas on going through any thing like this again.

We Republicans are tough and up and running again. Thanks to Russell Tuff our web site is up again and you are receiving our October meeting announcement. Our speaker is great and will provide a stimulating and up lifting message.

Hurricane Reg will provide a special report on his 72 hrs at CCEMC. He lived to tell the story.

And last but not least a special auction of a Patriot membership to the Alamo as part of our Salute to Veterans in November. See you Friday October 6 at the Hilton!!

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Francis Rooney spoke with Governor Rick Scott, offering his thanks and support following the governor’s meeting with President Trump to discuss the Herbert Hoover Dike, Lake Okeechobee clean-up, and Everglades restoration. The governor’s office released a statement reiterating President Trump’s commitment to partnering with the State of Florida on needed repairs to the federally-operated Dike.

Congressman Rooney stated, “I am grateful to Governor Scott for keeping this issue at the forefront of his discussions with the President. Likewise, I will continue to focus on the funding of projects already approved and included within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). I have had the opportunity to speak with the President on this topic on more than one occasion, and he understands that this is our number one priority in Southwest Florida.”

The Lake Okeechobee watershed and Everglades have far-ranging impact on the entire State of Florida and the country, but especially in Southeast and Southwest Florida, where 55% of all real estate in the state is affected – 2 trillion dollars of economic impact across 164 cities and 16 counties. CERP was enacted in 2000 and includes 68 projects.

Congressman Rooney has testified four times on water quality issues. In addition to this testimony, Congressman Rooney sent a letter to President Trump, co-signed by every member of the Florida Congressional delegation, that called on the President to support Everglades Restoration projects in his fiscal year 2018 Budget. He has also taken part in a hunt to eliminate invasive Burmese Pythons that threatened native Everglades wildlife, and is a member of both the Everglades Caucus and the Estuary Caucus.

If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man….

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together..

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

No, he responded.

Heading out I asked?

No. I’m escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq, I’m taking him home to his family..

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn’t know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you – Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.”

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the “silent majority.” We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once “silent” majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make things better for you?” is. “We need your support and your prayers.” Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.