Press Releases
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for female servicemembers. This bipartisan amendment was unanimously adopted by the House and will now will be included in the NDAA up for consideration on the floor this week. Among the cosponsors were Florida Representatives Al Lawson (FL-05) and Neal Dunn (FL-02).
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) announces the start of the 2019 South Atlantic red snapper season. Starting Friday, July 12th, recreational anglers will have two consecutive weekends to fish for red snapper.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) introduced H.R. 3585, the Bolstering Economies, Anglers, Coastal Habitats, Ecosystems, and Security (BEACHES) in Florida Act to prevent drilling off the coast of Florida. This bill creates a moratorium in the South Atlantic and Straits of Florida and extends the existing moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico on oil and gas leasing and exploration in federal waters off the coast of Florida until 2029.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) announces $17.6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to address rail congestion in Jacksonville's urban core created by major railroad interchanges. Rutherford used his position on the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds DOT to strongly advocate for this project in Washington.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) introduced H.R. 3103, the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act of 2019, which will increase access to service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PAWS Act establishes a competitive grant program through the Department of Veterans Affairs for organizations, such as K9s for Warriors in Ponte Vedra, to pair service dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04), Congressman Michael Waltz (FL-06), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced legislation to name a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in St. Johns County after Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr., the first man from St. Johns County to be killed in the Vietnam War. The new VA outpatient clinic will be located at 207 Stratton Road in St. Augustine, and this bill would designate it as the "Leo C. Chase, Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.'' Groundbreaking for the clinic is expected in October.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2326, the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William "Bill" Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act, which improves resources for members of the Armed Forces to transition from warfighter to civilian. Included in this package is Congressman John Rutherford's (FL-04) Veterans Armed for Success Act, which was reintroduced in March with the support of fellow Northeast Florida Congressman Al Lawson (FL-05).
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) is pleased to announce that the House Veterans' Affairs Committee voted to advance H.R. 2326, which included Rutherford's Veterans Armed for Success Act, to the full House for consideration.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman John Rutherford (FL-4) is pleased to announce the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) $16.6 million in additional federal funding for the First Coast Flyer (FCF) Bus Rapid Transit project. This new funding will support expansion of the FCF's Southwest Corridor, known as the Purple Line. Rutherford, who is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, sits on the subcommittee that funds DOT and has used that position to strongly advocate for this project in Washington.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) is pleased to announce he is joining the American Flood Coalition, a nonpartisan group of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups that have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding through national solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation's residents, economy, and military installations.