All entries tagged with “Vern Buchanan”

Buchanan: Boehner Resignation Should Be 'Wakeup Call'

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Friday Sep 25, 2015 2:48 pm

The news of Speaker of the House John Boehner's resignation surprised many in Washington, including longtime supporter Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota. Boehner has attended multiple fundraisers in the Sarasota area. Buchanan said the departure should serve "as a wakeup call that leads to a positive agenda on behalf of the American people."

Full Statement from U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota:

“The speaker’s surprise resignation presents an opportunity for new leadership to address the crippling dysfunction in Washington. The paralysis and gridlock that have frustrated so many Americans must end. It is my hope that Speaker Boehner’s resignation will serve as a wakeup call that leads to a positive agenda on behalf of the American people.”

Picture from Speaker of the House official Flickr: Speaker John Boehner signs the Veterans Identification Card Act with U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, the bill's prime sponsor.

Buchanan Speaks Out Against Opening Relations With Cuba

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Wednesday Dec 17, 2014 4:13 pm

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, released the following statement to SRQ about President Obama's decision to open diplomatic relations with Cuba:

"Revisiting relations with a Castro regime that has long been designated a state sponsor of terrorism is irresponsible and sends the wrong message to dictators across the globe."

Buchanan, elected in 2006, serves on the Ways and Means committee and this session is the chairman of the Florida Congressional Delegation. 

In 2011, Buchanan files legislation to stop Cuba from drilling for oil off Florida's shore by authorizing the Secretary of Interior to deny leases to any companies doing businesses facing U.S. trade sanctions including the Cuban Embargo.

Town Hall to Tackle Mental Health from Sandy Hook to Robin Williams

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Tuesday Aug 19, 2014 10:54 am

From the Sandy Hook shootings to the death of Robin Williams, a remarkable number of national news stories have put mental health in the headlines. Locally, the topic had been an underlying issue in the attempts to address homelessness in the region. Now, a pair of Congressmen want to tackle the matter at a public forum today at New College of Florida.

U.S. Rep. Buchanan, R-Sarasota, is hosting a town hall at the Sainer Pavilion with special guest U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pennsylvania. Murphy has spearheaded an effort to pass the Mental Health Crisis Act, a bill which could transform the way the nation deals with the mentally ill. The meeting begins today at noon and has already seen 200 RSVPs.

"We have seen in the last 20 years more serious problems with the lack of treatment for the mentally ill," said Murphy, a psychiatrist by trade. He notes that 70 years ago, the country had nearly 600,000 inpatient psychiatric beds for a population of roughly 150 million people. Today, the nation's population has grown beyond 316 million but the number of inpatient psychiatric beds has dropped to fewer than 40,000.

Buchanan, who right now co-chairs the Florida Congressional Delegation with Democrat Alcee Hastings, hopes to see strong bipartisan support for the act among Florida's representatives. Murphy and Buchanan said Hastings has been highly supportive, and that the matter will be a benefit throughout Florida.

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