Donalds, Byron RSS Articles

Donalds Introduces The Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act: Strengthening Border Security With Accountability

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced legislation requiring a formal evaluation of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) progress in implementing a full biometric entry-exit data system.

The "Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act" is the 23rd piece of legislation proposed by Congressman Donalds during the 119th Congress. This bill mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report to Congress on the system’s implementation. This requirement aims to identify hurdles causing delays, close security gaps, track visa overstays more accurately, and ensure full border security.

“Knowing who has come into our country is fundamental to our nation’s sovereignty and survival. Under President Trump’s leadership and with the help of the Department of Homeland Security, the border has been secured, but the work is far from over. Visa overstays and fraudulent documentation remain a large piece of the overall illegal immigration puzzle that needs to be addressed,” said Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL). "The American people have entrusted Republicans with a clear mandate to secure our borders and resolve the immigration crisis—and we are committed to delivering on that promise. This bill is a critical step forward in delivering on this mandate. I am proud to introduce the Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act to finally ensure oversight of our nation's biometric entry-exit system."

WHAT THIS BILL DOES:

This bill seeks a formal evaluation of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) progress in implementing a full biometric entry-exit data system.

BACKGROUND:

Biometric: An objective measurement of a physical characteristic used to verify identity against database records. Main types: Fingerprints, facial images, and iris scans.
In its July 2004 report, the 9/11 Commission recommended that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implement a comprehensive biometric entry-exit system to enhance national security.
8 U.S.C. 1365a(d)(3) requires the federal government to “fully implement [an] integrated [biometric] entry and exit data system."
In December 2006, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fully implemented a biometric entry system for foreign nationals. While a comprehensive biometric exit system does not yet cover every port, it is currently being mandated nationwide following a December 2025 final rule.

EXCLUSIVE:

Byron Donalds Cracks Down On Persistent Border Blind Spot Leaving US Vulnerable To Overstays
Ashley J. DiMella - Fox News Digital
April 21, 2026

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Donalds Introduces The Defining Dealer Act: Preventing Government Overreach In Our Financial Markets

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced legislation to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, establishing a clear distinction between professional firms and private traders to prevent government overreach in our financial markets.

The "Defining Dealer Act" is the 22nd piece of legislation proposed by Congressman Donalds during the 119th Congress. By defining 'dealer' as: an entity trading solely for customers—not their own accounts, this bill establishes clear, separate regulatory distinctions between professional firms and private traders.

This bill has received endorsements from the Small Public Company Coalition and the Investor Choice Advocates Network.

“It is no secret that the Biden administration deputized regulators to circumvent Congress and carry out their political agenda. Under then-Chairman Gensler, the SEC disregarded decades of securities law, and tried to put the federal government in the middle of every transaction. Thankfully, this extreme overreach has been stopped for now, but it is time for Congress to codify these long-standing principles and prevent this political interference from happening again. That is why I am proud to introduce the Defining Dealer Act, which codifies the universally understood and accepted definition of dealer as any person buying and selling securities for customers,” said Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL).

“The SEC has pursued a novel and boundless enforcement theory that treats professional investors as unregistered broker-dealers simply because buying and selling securities is central to what they do. That is not what the Exchange Act says, it is not what Congress intended, and it is not what decades of settled practice have reflected. The Defining Dealer Act restores clarity, protects capital formation, and ensures that the professional investment community can continue to serve the small public companies that depend on it,” said Marc Indeglia, President, Small Public Company Coalition.

"The Defining Dealer Act protects investors' freedom to actively manage their own portfolios without fear that the government will recast their investment activity as a regulated business — because when investors can't tell where the line is, they stop investing,” said Nick Morgan, President, Investor Choice Advocates Network.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES:

While the current SEC has sought to rectify the wrongs of the previous administration, this statutory ambiguity is ripe for malicious misinterpretation and casts uncertainty on market participants.
The "Defining Dealer Act" codifies a long-standing and universally understood definition of dealer as “any person buying and selling securities for customers.”

BACKGROUND:

Micro-caps, which are small public companies, often cannot obtain bank loans and instead turn to lenders who provide capital in exchange for convertible notes—the conversion of the loan into stock.
As a result, certain funds and individuals began doing this process frequently: buying a micro-cap company’s convertible note, converting it into stock, then selling that stock into the public market.
For decades, this was considered “investing” rather than “dealing.” Historically, “investors” buy and sell for themselves, whereas “dealers” buy and sell for customers. These micro-cap lenders never registered as “dealers,” as they believed they were investing for themselves.

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ICYMI: Donalds Joins Meet The Press

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined Meet the Press on NBC News to discuss his opposition to Cuba's communist dictatorship and the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Watch the full interview here.

"I believe there needs to be full-scale regime change in Cuba":

"I believe there needs to be full-scale regime change in Cuba. What you just heard was a dictator who wants to have the same deal as the Castro brothers. That he wants to be able to rule Cuba with an iron fist and die in office. That's what it sounded [like] to me. I think what the American people need to understand is that Cuba, for 67 years, has been a communist dictatorship. They have suppressed the free speech of the Cuban people. The Cuban people today are rationing food. You talked about their power grid. Their economy is flat on their back. And I think for what Díaz-Canel was saying —about how there don't have to be any changes for Cuba to be better—is a lie.

"A nuclear Iran is just simply unacceptable":

"I believe so. I think that's the core mission that the President has been talking about for quite some time. And it's not just over the last 40 days that we've been dealing with this; the President has been speaking about this for years. Number two, and for the American people again, please understand: what the President is having to do now is to fix the foreign policy mess of several presidents when it's come to Iran. In his first term as president, through his sanctions, he had the Iranian government flat on their back. Joe Biden comes in [and] undoes all that. The Iranians were able to reconstitute their economy and, as a result, begin the enrichment process again. So, the President is trying to use every lever possible in order to bring this situation under control once and for all. A nuclear Iran is just simply unacceptable because that is a theocratic regime who is hell-bent on global jihad. They are hell-bent on spreading terror around the globe. That's been their modus operandi for 47 years."

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ICYMI: Donalds Joins The Big Weekend Show

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined The Big Weekend Show on Fox News Channel to discuss the Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the need to end the Senate filibuster.

Watch the full interview here.

"Where this thing has all fallen apart is in the United States Senate. The House of Representatives has consistently funded all of Homeland Security":

"Speaker Johnson's done his job in [an] exemplary fashion, and I'm not just saying that to back him up. I'm telling you because it's true. It's factual. Where this thing has all fallen apart is in the United States Senate. The House of Representatives has consistently funded all of Homeland Security... Last night, members stayed longer because we made sure that we sent a funding bill for the next sixty days to cover all of the Department of Homeland Security, and that went right back to the Senate. So, I would urge my Senate colleagues, Republican and Democrat, [to] go back to D.C., [and] finish the job so these agents can be paid and so our nation can be safe."

"It's time for the Senate filibuster to end":

"It's time for the Senate filibuster to end. We are witnessing what happens with that; it does not breed compromise. What it breeds is pure obstruction. It's not helping the country. There are many public policy issues that simply cannot be solved because Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats want to oppose Donald Trump and this administration because they want to score political points."

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ICYMI: Donalds Joins The Hill Sunday With Chris Stirewalt

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt on NewsNation to discuss the ongoing military involvement in Iran and the Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Watch the full interview here.

"I think you have to give the President a wide latitude in not only his words, but in how he moves the pieces on the chessboard":

"Well, let's talk about what the President needs right now. And what he needs is maximum flexibility. When you're trying to go through and achieve the objectives that the administration has been very clear in laying out: this is the elimination of the nuclear program, [the] elimination of their ballistic missile threat capability, and then the last one is providing the environment where the Iranian people can depose this theocratic terrorist dictatorship that runs Iran. I think you have to give the President a wide latitude in not only his words, but in how he moves the pieces on the chessboard... The President needs the flexibility to conduct not just military affairs but also foreign policy in order to get the best deal done not just for the United States but for our allies in that region."

"That's what Senate Democrats sent to the House, and we said no":

"That bill was trash, and everybody knows it, because what that bill does is it doesn't fund our Border Patrol agents. It doesn't fund the ICE support agents, so it degrades the mission of ICE. It degrades the mission of being able to secure our Southern border. It actually empowers the drug cartels to start trafficking more and more fentanyl into the United States because of zeroing out those critical procedures—those critical functions of ICE and border agents. Another thing that the Democrats defunded [is] the ability to investigate child sex trafficking and to find the 300,000 kids that the Biden administration lost on purpose with their reckless border security packages. That's what Senate Democrats sent to the House, and we said no."

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ICYMI: Donalds Joins Kudlow

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined Kudlow on Fox Business Network to discuss the declining favorability of Congressional Democrats.

Watch the full interview here.

"They have no policy. They have no solutions":

"They've [Democrats] been trying to defund border security provisions, [and] defund the ability to actually deport criminal illegal aliens from the United States. They've been standing up organized protests to stop federal law enforcement. They have done that and the only thing they care about is impeachments, because they have no sensible policy to actually fix—to be blunt—the issues they created in the United States when they were in full control, when Chuck Schumer was the majority leader of the Senate, and Joe Biden was president of the United States. They have no policy. They have no solutions. But they just have so much Trump derangement syndrome [that] it takes them to doing crazy things like shutting down the Department of Homeland Security and having long-wait lines at airports all across America. That is being brought to us by the Democrat Party."

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ICYMI: Donalds Joins Fox News Live

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined Fox News Live on Fox News Channel to discuss the Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the need for the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act.

Watch the full interview here.

"The Democrats are trying to play tough. They're trying to play political games while Americans are frustrated. They should just simply do the right thing":

"The reason why the President can send ICE agents in, potentially starting Monday, is because Congress—through 'One Big Beautiful Bill'— funded ICE for the next two years through budget reconciliation. So, the Democrats have shut down Homeland Security. They have long lines in Atlanta, in Houston, in LaGuardia, in JFK, many airports across the country because the Democrats want to defund ICE, which is already funded. This is the stupidest thing going on in America, and it's purely because the Democrats are trying to play tough. They're trying to play political games while Americans are frustrated. They should just simply do the right thing."

"Everybody in the country agrees with voter ID and making sure that Americans, and only Americans, are voting in our elections":

"Mike Lee is 100% correct on this. And once again, look at this issue: everybody in the country agrees with voter ID and making sure that Americans, and only Americans, are voting in our elections. That's common sense. The only group of people who disagree with that are Democrats who are elected in this country because, the truth is, they want our election systems open to fraud and abuse. They don't want to secure the ballots. And who really is disenfranchised is the American voter... This is a very simple issue. It should pass very easily. The only people who oppose it are elected Democrats. I wonder why."

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ICYMI: Donalds Joins Varney & Co.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business Network to discuss the Democrats' ongoing block of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Watch the full interview here.

"They [Democrats] are trying to use Homeland Security as a wedge issue against Donald Trump for political power":

"Chuck Schumer is playing politics. I want the American people to understand something: the long lines at these airports, that's because of Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats, because they are trying to use Homeland Security as a wedge issue against Donald Trump for political power. That's exactly what this is. So, his whole line of 'ask the Republicans' is a joke and a lie. It is not true; it's not real. The White House has actually agreed to a couple of things, [such as] body cameras for ICE agents, etc., but that's not good enough for the Democrats. The Democrats want everything on their list, but newsflash: they're not getting everything on their list. So, the fact that Homeland Security is now shut down, the fact that our TSA agents aren't being paid, you're having longer security lines at airports. Airports are now going to have to start closing down certain terminals because they don't have the manpower to get people through security. Not to mention, border agents are not being paid. That leaves the homeland unsecured. That is because of the radical left and Chuck Schumer. They were defunding the police a couple years ago; now they're defunding the security of this nation because they want to play power politics before the midterm elections. This is sick, and that's why they never deserve to have power again in Washington, D.C., or anywhere else."

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Donalds Secures Win For Florida Condo Borrowers And Owners: FHFA Eliminates Limited Review Process

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Director Bill Pulte of the United States Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) led the effort to successfully eliminate the restrictive Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Limited Review process for condominium borrowers and owners in the State of Florida.

For decades, Florida condominium borrowers and owners have been harshly subject to a 25% down payment — a rate significantly higher than those applied in other states under the same Limited Review lending process. An extensive evaluation of the Limited Review process by the FHFA concluded that the program disproportionately burdened consumers and penalized owners in Florida.

By returning to the traditional underwriting process and simplifying access to documentation, lenders will be able to provide conventional financing options in a far more efficient manner. Floridians will now have access to the same nationwide traditional lending terms with down payments ranging from 3% to 5%. Congressman Donalds released the following statement:

"For the last 17 years, the Florida condo market has been singled out and subjected to overly burdensome Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac restrictions that don’t apply to any other state in the country. These 2008 policies are not only outdated and unfair to the Sunshine State, but they are an unnecessary barrier to condo financing and have limited the available housing options for Floridians. I want to thank Director Pulte for his leadership and his decisive action to ensure prospective condo owners in Florida are subject to the same terms and conditions as the rest of the nation."

See video summarizing the Donalds-FHFA action HERE.

What This Means For You:

This change effectively retires the remaining geographic restrictions that apply to the state of Florida. Geographic restrictions remain in effect until the Limited Review process is retired on August 3, 2026.

Lenders may implement the retirement of Limited Review immediately, but must do so for all loan applications dated on or after Aug. 3, 2026.

Established projects previously eligible for Limited Review must now be reviewed using the Full Review process or, when applicable, the Waiver of Project Review process in Selling Guide B4-2.1-02 Waiver of Project Review.

More:

See Selling Guide B4-2.1-02 Waiver of Project Review HERE.

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ICYMI: Donalds Joins The Evening Edit

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined The Evening Edit on Fox Business Network to discuss the ongoing conflict in Iran, his opposition to the Communist dictatorship in Cuba, and his unwavering support for the Cuban people.

Watch the full interview here.

"The Democrats, once again, like to just change their opinions simply because they just want to oppose Donald Trump":

"My reaction is that the Democrats, once again, like to just change their opinions simply because they just want to oppose Donald Trump. They don't want to have a consistent policy when it comes to Iran and the threat that they impose, not just to Israel, but to the Middle East, and quite frankly to most of the region, going past just the Middle East, even into Europe, our allies in Europe. They would rather play politics with what's going on as opposed to doing the right thing, and that is actually standing behind the President, standing with him on this endeavor... The Democrats don't care about common sense. They only care about political positioning. And you can see it very clearly from what Obama and Joe Biden, and Chuck Schumer were saying then compared to what the Democrats are saying now."

"It's time for the Cuban regime to come in and try to cut a deal and find a way to live in harmony and peace":

"I support the President in that endeavor. The Cuban regime has been a communist dictatorship that has taken away liberty from Cubans who are obviously still on that island, and so many more that 1.6 million that fled to Florida to basically have freedom in the United States from that communist regime. It's time for them to go away. They definitely can't sustain themselves, especially now that Venezuela that situation is under control because of the leadership of President Trump and our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. It's time for the Cuban regime to come in and try to cut a deal and find a way to live in harmony and peace. But it's not going to be with a communist dictatorship 90 miles off the coast of Florida. It's going to be with having an open society based upon individual liberty and property rights that respects the dignity of all people. That's the future for Cuba. The current regime can either negotiate or, quite frankly, they can die on the vine."

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Retirement and Social Security Fraud Prevention Panel

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 19:00:00 GMT

WHO: U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds

Lee Lefkowitz, SSA Technical Expert

Javier Morales, SSA Public Affairs & Outreach Specialist for Southern Region of Florida

WHAT: Retirement and Social Security Fraud Prevention Panel

WHEN: Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at 3:00 PM

WHERE: Lee County Administration Building E.,

2201 Second Street

Room 118

Fort Myers, FL 33901

POINT OF CONTACT: Stephanie Neurock

EMAIL: Stephanie.Neurock@mail.house.gov

This event serves as an opportunity for community members to gain insight into available retirement benefits and learn from local Southwest Florida Social Security Administration experts on ways to prevent fraud. As a large demographic of Southwest Florida residents depend on Social Security and retirement benefits, this panel will allow the public to hear from agency representatives, ask questions, and share any concerns.

Southwest Florida Media Roundtable with Congressman Byron Donalds

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 17:00:00 GMT

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MEDIA ROUNDTABLE

WHO: U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds

WHEN: August 17, 2022, at 1:00 PM

WHERE: City of Fort Myers

Oscar M. Corbin, Jr., City Hall Building

City Council Chambers

2200 Second Street

Fort Myers, FL 33901

Please RSVP by August 15, 2022 to Harrison Fields at harrison.fields@mail.house.gov.

NOTE: This event is closed to the public. Press credentials will be checked at the door.

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Veterans Town Hall

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 21:30:00 GMT

VETERAN TOWNHALL

Date: August 9, 2022
Place: Florida Gulf Coast University Cohen Center, Room 247
Address: 10501 FGCU Blvd S., Fort Myers, FL 33965
Time: 5:30 PM
Point of Contact: Helen Pferdehirt

Email: helen.pferdehirt@mail.house.gov

This event serves as an opportunity for Southwest Florida veterans to address their concerns, receive a Congressional update, and learn about available resources.

June Virtual Town Hall

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 23:30:00 GMT

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

Date: June 21, 2022
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Stream Live Online: https://www.ushouse.live/

This virtual Town Hall serves as an opportunity for constituents of Florida’s 19^th Congressional District to receive a legislative update from their United States Representative. This event offers attendees a chance to ask questions, share their concerns, and learn how legislation on Capitol Hill will impact Southwest Florida communities.

Interested participants can tune into the Livestream by visiting: www.ushouse.live.

Virtual Town Hall

Wed, 18 May 2022 23:00:00 GMT

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

Date: May 18, 2022
Time: 7 PM EST
Stream Live Online: https://www.ushouse.live/

This virtual Town hall serves as an opportunity for constituents of Florida’s 19^th Congressional District to receive a legislative update from their United States Representative. Rep. Donalds is hosting this virtual Town Hall to offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions, share their concerns, and learn ways in which legislation on Capitol Hill will impact Southwest Florida.

Interested participants can tune into the livestream by visiting: www.ushouse.live.

City of Fort Myers Roundtable

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 21:30:00 GMT

CITY OF FORT MYERS ROUNDTABLE

WHEN: April 25, 2022
TIME: 5:30 PM
WHERE: Fort Myers City Council Chambers
ADDRESS: 2200 Second Street
Fort Myers, FL 33901
EVENT CONTACT: Lara McKeever
Lara.McKeever@mail.house.gov

Rep. Donalds is hosting this Roundtable with elected officials from the City of Fort Myers to discuss the most pressing issues facing the Fort Myers community. Following the roundtable will be an open forum for constituents to hear from their elected representatives, learn ways in which legislation in Washington will impact the Fort Myers, and hear the concerns of community members.

For those unable to attend the roundtable, Rep. Donalds invites all constituents of Florida’s 19^th Congressional District to tune in to the virtual broadcast of the event. To stream the roundtable, click here.

Sanibel Town Hall

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 22:00:00 GMT

SANIBEL TOWN HALL

WHEN: April 19, 2022
TIME: 6:00 PM
WHERE: The Community House
ADDRESS: 2173 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL 33957
EVENT CONTACT: Lara McKeever
Lara.McKeever@mail.house.gov

Rep. Donalds is hosting this Town Hall to offer Sanibel, and entire Southwest Florida community, an update on legislative matters occurring on Capitol Hill. Town Hall attendees will ask questions, share their concerns, and learn of ways legislation on Capitol Hill will impact our coastal community.

For those unable to attend Rep. Donalds’ Town Hall event in person, he invites all constituents of Florida’s 19^th Congressional District to tune in to the virtual broadcast of the event. To stream the Town Hall live, click here.

Congressional Art Competition

Thu, 05 May 2022 21:00:00 GMT

CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

Date: May 5, 2022
Place: Estero Rec Center
Address: 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero, FL 33928
Time: 5:00 PM
Point of Contact:

Mercedes Price-Harry

Email: mercedes.priceharry@mail.house.gov

All current high school students in Florida's 19th Congressional District are eligible to participate in the Congressional Art Competition. Artwork must be submitted to one of my Congressional offices, in either Lee County or Collier County, no later than May 4th, 2022 at 12 PM. For entry and submission details and guidelines, I encourage all interested participants to please visit my website: https://donalds.house.gov/forms/submitartwork/

Bonita Springs Town Hall

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 23:00:00 GMT

BONITA SPRINGS TOWN HALL

WHEN: February 15, 2022
TIME: 6:00 PM
WHERE: First Presbyterian Church
ADDRESS: 9751 Bonita Beach Road SE
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
EVENT CONTACT: Lara McKeever
Lara.McKeever@mail.house.gov

Rep. Donalds is hosting this Town Hall to offer Southwest Florida residents a legislative update. Town Hall attendees will learn ways in which critical legislation on Capitol Hill will impact Southwest Florida communities, share their concerns, and ask questions.

For those unable to attend the Congressman’s Town Hall event in person, the Congressman invites all constituents of Florida’s 19^thCongressional District to tune in to the virtual broadcast of the event. To stream the Town Hall live, click here.

Naples Town Hall

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 23:00:00 GMT

NAPLES TOWN HALL

WHEN: January 25, 2022
TIME: 6:00 PM
WHERE: Vineyards Community Park
ADDRESS: 6231 Arbor Boulevard W
Naples, FL 34119
EVENT CONTACT: Lara McKeever
Lara.McKeever@mail.house.gov

This Town Hall serves as an opportunity for Southwest Florida residents receive a legislative update from their United States Representative. Town Hall attendees will learn ways in which key legislation on Capitol Hill will impact our Southwest Florida communities, share their concerns, and ask questions.

For those unable to attend the Congressman’s Town Hall event in person, the Congressman invites all constituents of Florida’s 19^th Congressional District to tune in to the virtual broadcast of the event.

To stream the Town Hall live, click here.

Directions:
When facing Vineyards Elementary School, turn left at the stop sign.
Follow the road all the way back into the park.
The Vineyards Community Center is next to the outdoor basketball court.

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