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Diaz-Balart Hosts Roundtable to Discuss Local Transit Grants Program

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee today hosted a roundtable on the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and was joined by Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams and Executive Director Matthew Welbes
FEMA

Elevating Your Home: What You Need to Know and Do

If you are a Florida homeowner rebuilding after Hurricane Irma you may have to elevate your home to meet community floodplain management regulations. Communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) require all homes being substantially improved, or homes that have sustained substantial damage, to be built or elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis: Prevent a Holiday Fire with These Top...

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is reminding Floridians to take steps to prevent a fire during the holidays. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an annual average of 200 home structure fires start with a Christmas tree resulting in an average of six deaths, 16 injuries and nearly $15 million in damages. In addition, 58 percent of Christmas tree fires occur in January and February when a tree is often neglected and becomes dry.

Caregiver Arrested for Defrauding Medicaid Out of More Than $85,000

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a home and community based caregiver for defrauding the Medicaid program out of more than $85,000. According to the MFCU investigation, Luther Jerome Robinson, 50, fraudulently submitted billing records and progress notes for services never provided to several Medicaid recipients.

Congresswoman Wilson Continues Fight to Strengthen Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness

In another initiative to prevent the kind of negligence that led to the deaths of 14 residents of the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson has added important language to the Disaster Recovery Reform Act. The bipartisan legislation, which has been considered and approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, “focuses on improving pre-disaster planning and mitigation to reduce the future loss of life and the rising costs of disasters.”

CFO Jimmy Patronis’ Statement on Florida Community Selected to Host Remotely Piloted Aircraft Headquarters

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis released the following statement on the selection of Tyndall Air Force Base as the preferred location for the MQ-9 Reaper Wing, housing 24 remotely piloted aircrafts headquarters, a mission control element, and a launch and recovery element

Diaz-Balart Holds THUD Appropriations Hearing CDBG-DR Emergency Relief Funds

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, held a subcommittee hearing on the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) supplemental request, with Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development Neal Rackleff serving as a witness.

Miami Homeowner Arrested Following Attempt to Steal $178,200 in Damage Claims

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis and the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced today the recent arrest of Renee De La Maza for insurance fraud and grand theft following her attempt to file a damage claim against a new insurance policy after already receiving a $60,000 insurance payout from her former insurance provider for the same damages.

Diaz-Balart Secures $616 Million in CDBG Recovery Funds for Florida

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released $615,922,000 to the state of Florida as part of the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR).

Diaz-Balart Hosts Member Roundtable on Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, today hosted a roundtable on the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program

Veterans’ Home in Daytona Beach Has Residential Openings

The Emory L. Bennett State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Volusia County has openings for qualified veterans. The 120-bed skilled nursing facility, located at 1920 Mason Avenue in Daytona Beach, has a number of available rooms for both male and female veterans.

Florida Woman Recruiting Homeless to Pose as Patients Sentenced to Years in Prison

Attorney General Pam Bondi's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit today secured a prison sentence for an Orlando woman who exploited homeless men and women to commit Medicaid fraud. Christina Benson, owner of Tranquility Health Care Solutions, bilked Medicaid out of more than $200,000 by billing Medicaid for services not provided and not warranted. Last year, Benson pleaded guilty to one count of Medicaid provider fraud, a first-degree felony.

CFO Patronis Deploys Insurance Experts to the Florida Keys

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the Department of Financial Services is sending insurance specialists to the Florida Keys to assist with the handling of Hurricane Irma claims.

Attorney General Bondi Takes Action Against Companies Targeting Financially Distressed Floridians

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office filed a complaint against HOA Problem Solutions, Inc., as well as several related companies, for using deceptive and unfair practices to acquire properties from financially distressed homeowners. These Floridians’ homes faced impending homeowners’ association foreclosure auction because of outstanding HOA dues.

Florida Keys: Plan Ahead Before Returning Home to Be Safe

As the reentry process for the Lower Keys begins, FEMA stresses the importance of following guidance from your local officials. Currently only residents, business owners, disaster workers, and supply vehicles with appropriate identification, or re-entry stickers, will be permitted to enter.

ADVISORY: Buchanan to Help Community Prepare For Irma

As Hurricane Irma barrels toward Florida, Congressman Vern Buchanan will make the following stops in his district Friday to monitor preparations and make sure his communities have the resources they need.

Orlando Unclaimed Property Auction Earns $1.186M

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the second 2017 unclaimed property auction, hosted Saturday in Orlando, earned $1.186M. Nearly 60,000 individual items went up for auction, and every item sold. The highest individual grossing item was a pair of 17.6-carat diamond and platinum earrings with a starting reserve value of $19,000 that sold for $75,000. The pair features two 5.78-carat diamonds, flanked by a total of 112 diamonds

Attorney General Bondi Recognizes 25th Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew and Urges Preparedness

Twenty-five years ago today Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida. The Category 5 storm caused more than $25 billion worth of property damage and caused 44 direct and indirect fatalities in Florida. In the aftermath of the storm, looting, repair scams and price gouging complaints were reported to law enforcement and the Florida Attorney General’s Office.

Rooney, Perdue View Ranchers’ Land and Water Conservation Efforts

This morning, Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-17) and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue observed critical water quality and land conservation projects during a helicopter tour over South Florida and discussed the importance of reauthorizing these programs in the upcoming Farm Bill. These water and conservation projects help Florida’s farmers and ranchers coordinate with state and federal agencies to share in the stewardship of preserving and protecting the state’s natural beauty

Workers’ Comp Scam Leads to Arrest of Miami Construction Company Owner

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced the recent arrest of Juan Jose Castro, owner of JACM Construction Corp., after his alleged attempt to operate a shell company with the sole intent of circumventing the state’s workers’ compensation laws. A “shell company” is an entity that conducts no significant business operations and can be used as vehicle to conduct fraudulent financial transactions, such as workers’ compensation fraud.

Popular Government & Nonprofit Press Releases

Colombia tops all Foreign Searches for Miami Real Estate

Colombia continues to lead all foreign countries searching for South Florida real estate, according to new data from the MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI). The South American nation finished as the top international country using MIAMI’s search portal, www.Miamire.com, in May 2016. Colombia has now led the rankings for six consecutive months

Recent Government & Nonprofit Press Releases

Buchanan Slams “Nightmarish” Conditions at VA Nursing Homes

Congressman Vern Buchanan today demanded answers from the Department of Veteran Affairs after reports of deplorable conditions and neglect at VA nursing homes across the nation.