RUTHERFORD ROUNDUP August 25, 2023 Welcome to another edition of the Rutherford Roundup with updates about my work across Northeast Florida and in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is my honor to serve you, and my office is always available to share information with you about the important issues we cover daily. 
Combatting the Fentanyl Crisis 
The amount of fentanyl seized at our southern border since January 2021 could kill every single American four times over. President Biden's open border policies have enabled cartels to grow a billion dollar business trafficking people and deadly drugs into the U.S. Americans deserve better. As a former sheriff, I have seen drugs destroy lives and tear families apart. I proudly voted for H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, when it passed the House in May, to restart construction of the border wall, hire more border patrol agents, and secure our border. I have also cosponsored the MAP Act, which would create additional safety requirements for opioids in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain to prevent accidental fentanyl poisonings. Please know I will continue to work with local leaders to equip them with the resources they need to protect their communities. Republicans in Congress are committed to passing commonsense legislation that will make our nation safer. JAXPORT Visit 
Last week, I visited JAXPORT to meet with port leadership about their expansion plans across Jacksonville. JAXPORT's economic impact has created hundreds of thousands of jobs and has attracted business and investment throughout our region. I am proud to represent an area of North Florida that serves as a logistics hub for the Southeast United States. 2023 Congressional APP Challenge 
Registration for this year's Congressional APP Challenge closes on Wednesday, November 1st. Middle and high school students living in Florida's 5th Congressional District can apply through my office to participate individually or in groups of four to create and submit an electronic APP that meets the criteria listed above. Read about the 2022 APP Challenge winners for District 5 here. Support Through Community 
I recently had the privilege of visiting Rethreaded, a nonprofit based in Jacksonville that aims to break the cycle of human trafficking by providing survivors an opportunity to develop professional skills, learn trade-based industries, and help them heal with the support of their community. Through their ongoing advocacy in Northeast Florida and across our state, co-founders Kristin Keen and Jason Jones have employed over 80 survivors and they continue to partner with community leaders to end the horrible industry of human trafficking. Serving You While Congress has suspended its activity for the month of August, I have been focused on meeting with residents of Florida's 5th Congressional District to report on my recent activity in Washington, to share what's ahead for this legislative session, and to learn more about the issues that matter to you. 
I joined members of the South Jacksonville Rotary Club to discuss my efforts to foster bipartisanship in the House of Representatives and my policy priorities this Congress, including my focus on making our communities safer and stronger through bipartisan, pro-law enforcement legislation like the Invest to Protect Act, the Protect and Serve Act, and the HELPER Act. 
I met with Kim Higbee, a constituent who has partnered with the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, to help families struggling with the financial and medical burden of these life-threatening conditions. As a member of the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, I remain committed to ensuring patients and their families have access to care. 
Hampton Graham, Walt Brinkman, and Anne Warner, advocates with the ALS Association, recently stopped by my office to discuss the ongoing challenges surrounding ALS research and care. Up to 30,000 Americans struggle with ALS at a time in the U.S., and this disease is aggressive and devastating to both patients and their family members. I was proud to vote for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which included $47.5 billion in funding for the National Institute of Health and $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases like ALS. I also voted for H.R. 3537, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, when it passed the House last Congress and became law. H.R. 3537 establishes grant programs through the Department of Health and Human Services to provide access to investigational drugs that diagnose or treat neurodivergent diseases. I will continue to fight to secure federal investments in the development of treatments for diseases like ALS. 
I was pleased to welcome the Weist family to my office earlier this month where I heard from six-year-old Philip about his experience living with a severe food allergy. Millions of Americans and their families are faced with food allergies and hypersensitivities that pose a daily threat to their health, wellbeing, and way of life. I believe we must work together to create sustainable solutions to these dietary restrictions that improve safety and access. 
I also met with Karen Murillo and Cheryl Jefferson with AARP to discuss the challenges seniors across Northeast Florida currently face. I am focused on using my role in Congress to make life easier for our vulnerable seniors and their caregivers. Stay Connected You can visit my website for press releases and recent news on what is happening in Congress, and follow my activity on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to find out how I am fighting for the people of Northeast Florida. It is my honor to serve the 5th District and I look forward to your feedback. | 
