District: Florida’s 9th Congressional District (suburban Hillsborough, western Pasco and northern Pinellas counties)

Committee/Leadership Assignments: House Committee on Homeland Security, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Member of the Republican Whip Team, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee Veterans' Affairs Task Force, Congressional Award Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Military Veterans Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues

Contact: Phone 727-773-2871, Toll Free: 866-773-2871, Fax 727-784-6471
http://www.house.gov/formbilirakis/issue_subscribe.htm
webpage: http://bilirakis.house.gov/

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Regarding the state of the US economy, what are the prospects for recovery, and how soon?

I am very concerned about the economy, and how deficit spending will impact our nation’s future. We cannot sustain this type of debt, yet the Obama Administration continues to spend money we don’t have.

What are some of the particular challenges that you are facing in your district?

Florida’s unemployment has reached a record high and unemployment in the Tampa Bay is 13%. I host job fairs on a regular basis and provide other forums to help those who have been impacted by job losses. The entrepreneurial spirit of America, not government, is the engine of job creation in our country, and Congress simply cannot continue to create an economic environment that stifles job growth and economic opportunity. We should instead pass economic solutions that let families and small businesses keep more of what they earn so they can innovate, grow, and create jobs to kick-start our lagging economy.

What would you say is the state of our democracy in these challenging and unusually polarized times?

Democracy is alive and well. People are making their voices heard and that’s always an encouraging sign. People will certainly make their votes count in November. To me we have a very robust democracy.

In various polls conducted throughout the U.S. Congress hasn't fared well with the American people. Why is that, in your opinion, and how do you address the issue as Congressman?

First and foremost Members of Congress must listen and represent their constituency and as I’ve said before, the ultimate grade of our work will take place at the polls this November.

Would you encourage more active voter participation in your decision making as Congressman, using the advances of technology, like the Internet and other forms of communication?

In addition to being out in the community, I make a concerted effort to connect with my constituents online utilizing twitter and facebook along with my website: bilirakis.house.gov. The internet is a great venue for them to easily share their thoughts and suggestions. In addition I host telephone-town halls on a regular basis to keep in touch on key issues.

What are your thoughts on the Cyprus issue and what are some of the things you've done to support settlement efforts?

As a member of the House Committee on Foregin Affairs and Co-Chair of the Hellenic Caucus, the Cyprus issue features prominently in the work we do. I have held regular briefings and meetings with Cypriot Ambassador Andreas Kakouris, whom I consider a good friend. In addition, I passed the first pro-Cypriot resolution in years back in 2008, H Res 405, which called for the Cypriot president and northern Turkish leader to get back to the July 8th agreement talks. The resolution passed unanimously and shortly, thereafter, the talks resumed. While I don’t claim responsibility for reigniting the talks, I do think the interested parties stood up and took notice when the U.S. Congress passed such a measure unanimously.

Do you consider Turkish provocations in the Aegean a threat to regional stability and international peace? Also, what actions have you taken or do you plan to take to encourage the US to make a stronger stance against this kind of irresponsible behavior?

It is disappointing that the European Union has not taken a more active role in protecting its member state, Greece. A sovereign nation should not be subjected to military threats by its neighbor – particularly one that aspires to become a member of the EU. The U.S. must emphasize to Turkey, that provocations in the Aegean are unacceptable.

Are you aware of the state persecution against the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey and what have you done to address this issue in Congress?

I consider the Ecumenical Patriarchate the preeminent focus of the Hellenic Caucus. The continuous chipping away at religious freedom and property rights by the Turkish government cannot continue, and the Theological School at Halki must be re-opened. Orthodox seminarians must be allowed to learn and train there just like our current Patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew. The situation is untenable. Last year en route to Afghanistan, I was part of a congressional delegation that had a short layover in Ankara. I used the opportunity to demand from the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister that Halki be re-opened.

Since the Bush Administration recognized FYROM as "Macedonia", the country has become more intransigent when it comes to territorial and cultural irredentism against Greece that is its major financial supporter in the region. What kind of action on the part of the US would you promote in order for a mutually acceptable solution to be facilitated?

Resolving the name issue between FYROM and Greece has also been at the top of the agenda with the Hellenic Caucus. As you may already know, there is a pending resolution, H.RES. 486, which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should work within the framework of the United Nations process with Greece to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of finding a mutually-acceptable composite name, with a geographical qualifier and for all international uses for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Greece has exercised extraordinary flexibility by allowing FYROM to use a geographic qualifier in its name such as Northern or Upper Macedonia. It is now time for the U.S. to demand from FYROM a good faith effort in its negotiations with Greece. To date FYROM has displayed nothing but chauvinistic irredentism to Greece who has provided FYROM billions of dollars in financial assistance.