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Lake County Solid Waste, in partnership with the Leesburg Police Department, is encouraging Lake County residents to dispose of unwanted household hazardous materials and medications in a safe and environmentally conscious way at an upcoming collection event.

Attorney General Pam Bondi's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit today announced more than $170,000 in fraudulent taxpayer dollars reclaimed from multiple bank accounts owned by Christina Benson, owner of Tranquility Health Care Solutions in Orlando. Benson used Tranquility to recruit homeless men and women to pose as patients and billed Medicaid for services not provided and not warranted. Additionally, Benson allegedly used untrained personnel, some with criminal arrest records, in her scheme.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its eighth-annual “Top Cities” list, which ranks the 25 U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified commercial buildings in the preceding calendar year with Miami ranking eighteenth. The Top Cities list illustrates how cities across America are embracing energy efficiency as a proven path to financial savings and a healthier environment.

Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government and Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined in today’s (3/30) ribbon cutting for the new US Customs and Border Protection and US Coast Guard building in Jacksonville. In honor of the building’s dedication, he placed a formal statement in the official Congressional Record, which reads in full

Lake County’s recent heavy rainfall could lead to localized drainage issues. That’s why the Lake County Stormwater Section and the Adopt-a-Lake Program are reminding residents to keep their storm drains clean to help prevent flooding

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are honoring 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements

Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congressman David Jolly (FL-13) have introduced legislation to protect Florida homeowners from impending increases in flood insurance rates. The Flood Insurance Rate Increase Suspension Act (H.R. 4866), which was filed on March 24 by the bay area Republicans, would delay any increase in flood insurance premium rates for certain properties for 12 months.

Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) called on congressional appropriators to prioritize family homelessness and services for homeless individuals in Fiscal Year 2017. In submitting a formal letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Hastings and Johnson urged the committee to make it easier for local communities to prioritize their own needs in responding to homeless populations, and expand access to effective services for homeless individuals (Please find attached a copy of the letter.)

This week, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18), a member of the Seniors Task Force, led two major efforts in the House to protect funding for critical seniors programs, including nutrition and community-based care programs, that help older Americans live active and independent lives. Joined by U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (FL-21), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and David Loebsack (IA-02), Murphy led a letter with the support of over 40 House Democrats urging full funding of the congregate and home-delivered nutrition services provided by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) as authorized by the Older Americans Act.

Press availability with Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. The City of Tampa and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation will unveil a multi-purpose Youth Development Park to the Springhill Park Community Center in Sulphur Springs

The House of Representatives today passed the Senate companion of Congressman Alan Grayson’s (D-FL09) “Servicemember Foreclosure protections Extension Act of 2015,” which protects veterans from having their homes foreclosed on for one year after their return from active duty. This protection had elapsed at the end of 2015.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued Geographic Targeting Orders (GTO) that will temporarily require certain U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind companies used to pay “all cash” for high-end residential real estate in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, New York, and Miami-Dade County, Florida. FinCEN is concerned that all-cash purchases – i.e., those without bank financing – may be conducted by individuals attempting to hide their assets and identity by purchasing residential properties through limited liability companies or other opaque structures.

Congressman John Mica hosted a ceremony here March 9, transferring the vacant 120-bed former VA community living center at the Lake Baldwin VA medical complex from the federal government to the State of Florida. The building, dedicated in 1999, was converted to clinical and office use approximately two years ago, when a newer VA community living center was opened at the VA’s new Lake Nona campus.

Tampa residents and property owners are reminded to check their timer settings on irrigation system controllers this weekend when changing from Eastern Standard to Daylight Saving Time

“Having a working smoke alarm allows residents time to get out of a burning home, and cuts the chances of dying in a residential fire in half,” said Lake County Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Capt. Michael Vitta. “Most home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes without a proper smoke alarm, which is why it is so important to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home, and to make sure they are working at all times.”

Today, the House Financial Services Committee passed the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act introduced by U.S. Representatives Dennis Ross (FL-15) and Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18), both members of the committee. This bipartisan bill would encourage the development of a robust private flood insurance market that will provide homeowners more coverage options and lower costs. Having been ordered out of the committee with broad bipartisan support, the bill now is in line for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

U.S. Representatives Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) and Curt Clawson (FL-19) introduced legislation to enact an advanced deadline for completion of repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee to help bring relief to our waterways that are currently in crisis. The bipartisan bill calls for an emergency appropriation of $800 million to carry out these expedited repairs so that once completed, more water can safely be stored within the lake, reducing the need for damaging discharges east and west into local estuaries.

the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed H.R. 1684, the Foreign Spill Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Representatives Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) and Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18). In the event of an oil spill, the legislation would require the responsible party, regardless of origin, to pay for all American cleanup costs by applying the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) to them. Furthermore, this bipartisan bill would apply the Clean Water Act penalties on the responsible foreign party.

The Justice Department announced today that Thomas Mere, the owner and operator of Mere’s Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Park in North Fort Myers, Florida, has agreed to pay $40,000 to resolve allegations that he discriminated against African Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act.  The settlement, which is in the form of a consent order, must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

This morning, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater testified before the Florida House Regulatory Affairs Committee in support of HB 1041, sponsored by Representative Bill Hager, which strengthens the rights of life insurance beneficiaries. HB 1041 and its Senate companion, SB 966 sponsored by Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, have successfully and unanimously passed all committee stops and yesterday, SB 966 passed unanimously on the Senate floor.