On Wednesday, during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I questioned the prevalence of foreign influence operations targeting Americans. Secretary Rubio confirmed what we have long known: that foreign governments are actively using disinformation and psychological operations to divide Americans and undermine our foreign policy.

 

The disturbing link between radical groups like Code Pink and the Chinese Communist Party has already shown that there is nothing organic about the chaos anti-American communists are sowing from within our own borders. I will continue working to expose and eliminate these destructive operations before they further erode the security and unity of our nation.

On Tuesday, I was honored to present $480,000 in federal funding to the City of St. Petersburg to support the purchase of new vehicles for the St. Petersburg Police Department. As demands on local law enforcement continue to grow, officers need the operational capacity and visible presence required to deter crime and secure our neighborhoods.

 

That's why I worked to ensure your tax dollars are returned to the community to keep our citizens protected. This project is a critical step toward more reliable public safety services, and I am proud to deliver support that ensures our officers are ready to respond when residents need them most.

With hurricane season officially upon us, now is the time for Pinellas County residents and families to start preparing. Knowing your evacuation zone, keeping essential supplies ready, and signing up for emergency alerts can make a critical difference when the forecast changes and every decision matters.

 

To sign up for free emergency notifications through Alert Pinellas, visit pinellas.gov/alerts to stay informed and receive urgent updates on severe weather, evacuations, boil water notices, and other local emergencies.