Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 – The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 246– 183 along a scrict, party-line vote. The bill, mostly crafted by senior House Democrats, failed to receive a single Republican vote because of its high price-tag and because most in the GOP feel this bill will do little to create jobs or stimulate the economy. 

Upon its passage, Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Jacksonville), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee released the following statement:

“Our country is in a serious recession and the American people are hurting and Congress must act now. But this so called stimulus bill is simply a long list of big government spending that will not work. It won’t create jobs and won’t stimulate the economy and will do more harm than good.

“Democrats made a bad bill worse by cutting back on tax relief to pay for more big government spending. The American people are asking how will $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, $2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, providing funds to organizations such as ACORN, which has been accused of practicing unlawful voter registration in recent elections, and $2 billion to support the manufacturing of advanced vehicle batteries create millions of jobs?

“Republicans have a better solution – fast acting tax relief for working families and small business that will create twice as many jobs for half the cost.

“Working Americans deserve better.”

Governor Crist was the official starter at the Daytona 500 this past weekend.

Florida’s 40,770 properties receiving foreclosure filings in January was the second highest total of any state, according to a new report by RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif-based foreclosure listing service.  Florida posted the nation’s fourth highest state foreclosure rate, with one in every 214 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing during the month.

“January REOs, which represent completed foreclosure sales to the foreclosing lender, were down 15 percent nationwide from the previous month. And, in Florida, overall foreclosure activity was down 20 percent from the previous month,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac.

Two Florida cities posted foreclosure rates among the top 10 metro foreclosure rates: Cape Coral-Fort Myers at No. 3, with one in every 80 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing, and Port St. Lucie at No. 9 with one in every 123 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing.

In Duval County there was one foreclosure filing for every 284 homes, down 26 percent from December and up 4 percent from a year earlier. Foreclosures in Clay County fell 65 percent from December and 46 percent from a year ago. In St. Johns County foreclosures were down 36 percent from December and up 67 percent from a year ago. Nassau County foreclosures were up 11 percent from December and 62 percent from a year ago.

This week, The Office of Thrift Supervision, which regulates federal savings institutions, urged banks under its umbrella to suspend foreclosures on owner-occupied homes until the U.S. Treasury Department’s home-modification plan is finalized.

“OTS-regulated institutions would be supporting the national imperative to combat the economic crisis by suspending foreclosures until the new plan takes hold, said OTS Director John Reich in a statement.

(Jacksonville, FL) – This morning, Congressman Ander Crenshaw saluted the soon to be built $35.8 million, 62,000 square-foot addition to Naval Hospital Jacksonville.  He joined Commanding Officer Raquel Bono in delivering remarks and participating in the ceremonial ground breaking.  

Rep. Crenshaw said, “Since 2003 I have worked with the Navy and my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to get the necessary funds for this critical project, and I am so pleased that this day has finally arrived.”

The addition is set to extend from the front entrance of the main hospital and will include significant upgrades that will continue to upgrade the quality of care that our sailors and their family members receive at the hospital.  

A 28,000 square-foot surgical suite, a new 8-story elevator, and a new physical therapy clinic are a few of the projects included in the expansion.

“As you know this project has encountered several setbacks and unforeseen challenges, we fought through them and worked hard to make this day a reality” said Crenshaw.  “I look forward to being a part of the ribbon cutting in the not so distant future.”

Naval Hospital Jacksonville is much larger than the one campus located on NAS Jacksonville.  It is comprised of Substance and Abuse Rehabilitation Programs and 7 Naval Branch Health Clinics from Key West, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia.  All of these centers offer high quality healthcare to more than 214,000 eligible beneficiaries, some 64,000 in the Jacksonville area alone.

The existing facility at NAS Jacksonville was constructed in 1967.   Critical inpatient functions such as surgery and obstetrics have never been upgraded.  In addition, the operating rooms fell far short of current Department of Defense and civilian hospital standards.    “Captain Bono and her staff have worked hard to instill a high level of care at the hospital, this addition is critical to ensure the facilities are on par with the medical care.”

The expansion will also been a financial influx for Northeast Florida at the time when the building sector needs a boost.  The taxpayer dollars spent here along with the billions more invested in local military construction projects not only mean better facilities for the military, but jobs that help fuel the economic engine of the Jacksonville community.

“Meeting the needs of our veterans, service personnel and their families is our nation’s highest obligation, and this addition will take that quality care to another level,” added Rep. Crenshaw.