At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., announced that airports in the Panhandle will receive $2.6 million from the federal government to improve their facilities. 

From his perch on the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee this week, U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., brought out the “Ensuring Veteran Enterprise Participation in Strategic Sourcing Act” which, he says, will give more federal contracts to small businesses owned by veterans. 

This week, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the congressional leadership as senior deputy majority whip, brought back his proposal to amend the federal tax code to create tax-preferred savings accounts to help Americans prepare for natural disasters.

With Puerto Rico holding a plebiscite on Sunday on its status, members of the Florida congressional delegation are weighing in on the matter with one Democrat from the Sunshine State continuing to push for statehood.

This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., teamed up with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, to offer a proposal ensuring the State Department does more to battle anti-Semitism. 

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s, R-Fla., bill to reform the federal Department of Veterans Affairs passed the U.S. Senate on a voice vote. 

Tuesday marks the 73rd anniversary of D-Day, the Allied landing of Normandy and the start of the liberation of France from Nazi control during World War II. Florida played a supporting role in the amphibious landing and the start of what Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, the Allied commander, called the crusade in Europe.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott appointed Michael Dew to lead the Florida Department of Transportation. Dew replaces Jim Boxold who left the post earlier this year.

With Memorial Day now in the rear view mirror and summer underway, gas prices jumped up in the Sunshine State over the past week. 

Ashley Moody, a former judge based in Hillsborough County, is hoping to keep the Florida attorney general post in Tampa Bay. 

On Thursday, Moody, who was first elected to the 13th Judicial Circuit in 2006 before resigning that post in April, filed to run as a Republican in the state attorney general’s race next year when current incumbent Pam Bondi faces term limits. Bondi is also from the Tampa Bay area.