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Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the approval of the second phase of Florida’s Brightline rail system.

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

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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

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).

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

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.

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 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.

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.

The median price of Orlando homes sold during the month of August increased nearly 10 percent while sales increased almost 3 percent compared to August 2016, report the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association. Inventor continued its year-over-year slide and dropped about 16 percent

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.

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.

Just like the weather, Florida’s housing market was hot in July with more closed sales, higher median prices, increased pending sales and more new listings, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 24,546 last month, up 2 percent compared to July 2016.

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.