By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--December 22, 2011
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“On the front a family photo and the words "2011 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays “Inside top: Quote Isaiah 7:14 “Iinside bottom: To wish you the Gift of FAITH The Hope of PEACE and the Blessings of LOVE at this Christmas season and the New Year
Representative Scott Plakon and Family Wish You and Yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a New Year filled with Joy, Peace and Happiness May the presence of the Lord fill your home this Holiday Season and His blessings be upon you and your family in 2012.Bilirakis and Plakon are both patriots.
Congressman Bilirakis specifically requested a seat on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs because he wants to be an advocate for veterans and their families in the United States Congress. He is working to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned through their service to our nation. He also chairs the Republican Policy Committee’s Task Force on Veterans’ Affairs.
Leading the fight to provide our veterans and service members with the pay and benefits they deserve, Bilirakis has introduced legislation to address the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability, expand the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program and increase military pay. Provisions based on his legislation have been incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which is working its way through the legislative process. In addition, the House passed his “wounded warrior” legislation to ensure that our wounded service members receive the care and services they need.
As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he has raised important health care and benefits issues with the VA Secretary and other top VA officials. He supported legislation to increase funding for veterans’ health care funding. Specifically, the bill provides $37.2 billion for veterans’ health care programs and creates new programs to help those with traumatic brain injuries and other mental health needs which are among the most common problems facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. He has also introduced legislation to create a test mail-order pharmacy program to save military retirees both time and money.
In addition, he is fighting to bring additional health care resources to Florida and the Ninth Congressional District. Since coming to Congress, he has worked with local and national VA officials to expand the Pasco County VA Outpatient Clinic and bring additional health care services, such as dental care, to area veterans. He also has visited the James Haley VA Medical Center (VAMC), meeting with the medical center staff and veterans to discuss the care and services provided at the VAMC.
As a member of the Veterans’ Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Bilirakis has also toured the VA Regional Office and met with VA officials to discuss veterans’ claims processing issues. He is working with his Subcommittee colleagues improve the claims processing system to reduce the claims backlog and shorten response times.
Congressman Bilirakis also knows that military service does not take place in a vacuum. He has introduced legislation to improve the benefits for veterans’ survivors. His Disability Subcommittee conducted a hearing on his legislation to allow the widows of veterans to remarry at age 55 and retain their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
This is Rep. Scott Plakon’s Christmas card:
Rep. Scott Plakon is a Christian Life Missions, Board member, a Harvest International Advisory Board member and a board member on the Sanford Rescue OUtreach Mission & Open Door Shelter for Women & Children.
As a young boy growing up in Rochester, New York, Scott Plakon's parents would take him and his two brothers on vacation every year to visit beautiful Florida. From the beaches to the Central Florida attractions, some of Scott's fondest childhood memories are rooted in Florida.
It was no surprise that when it was time to choose a college, Scott applied nowhere else but Central Florida. He was accepted at Stetson University and graduated in 1981. In spite of job opportunities elsewhere, Scott decided to stay in Central Florida after graduation. He started a publishing company with a friend which published telephone directories for 11 Florida Universities.
In 1984 Scott met Susie Rushing. They immediately fell in love and shortly thereafter they were married. The Plakon's never considered starting a family anywhere else but Central Florida because of its charm and promise of unlimited opportunity. The young family quickly began to grow and today is blessed with six wonderful children seen in the Christmas card he sent constituents.
At one time or another, the Plakon children have attended public, private and home school. The Plakon's have first hand knowledge about the strengths and challenges of educating children in our state and can relate to the concerns of parents today over what our children watch and listen to. As involved parents, Scott and Susie became involved with the Media Research Center and Scott has served as the Central Florida Chapter Director of the Parents Television Council.
Last week Canada Free Press (CFP) reader and contributor J.D. McGrath wrote us to say “The way to stop the nonsense (banning Merry Crhistmas) is to “buck the trend.
McGrath sent a description of how Republican Congressman Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) had found his way around the Marxist edict of banning the use of “Merry Christmas” on holiday greetings.
“Inside the front of the card is quoted Psalm 100:4-5 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. “It is signed Wishing you and your Family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. “He is bucking the Marxist atheism out of Washington and deserves our support. It would be interesting to actually do a survey and see what the Christmas cards from every Senator and Member of Congress actually says and compile a gallery of shame.” CFP wrote that the Daily News Record got it right when it editorialized: “In short, the GOP needs more Scalises.”Merry Christmas Congressmen Steve Scalise, Gus Bilirakis and State Congressman Scott Plakon. At lease three Republican lawmakers found their way around Marxism to take a stand to keep Christ in Christmas!
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