Rep. John Rutherford

This is a HUGE WIN for Florida’s anglers and coastal communities across the South Atlantic! Thank you, President Trump and Secretary Lutnick for your partnership and strong, decisive action to Make Fishing Great Again!

As a former law enforcement officer, I know firsthand the dangers our officers face each and every day they put on their badges, say goodbye to their families, and cross the thin blue line. Today, on Florida's Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we honor and thank those who risk their lives to protect and serve our communities all across Florida.

Opinion: Rep. Rutherford: The F-35 Lightning II is more than a plane jacksonville.com/story/opinion/…

Northeast Florida is the proud home of the 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, which hosts our nation’s battle-proven stealth fighter: the F-35 Lightning II. While we see these incredible fighter jets in our skies regularly, we may not fully appreciate just how vital this state-of-the-art aircraft is to our national security as well as our local and state economy. Read my @jaxdotcom op-ed to learn more about why the F-35 Lightning II is more than a plane 👇 jacksonville.com/story/opinion/…

Today, we commemorate the first battles of the American Revolution at Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy. We are forever grateful for our American forefathers who fought for freedom over tyranny.

I was extremely honored to join members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in paying tribute to the brave law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving our community. As a former law enforcement officer and sheriff, I know firsthand the dangers our officers face every day they put on their badges, kiss their families goodbye, and cross the thin blue line. May we forever honor and remember our fallen officers and their families.

Proud to help secure funding for the Northeast Florida Regional Airport Access Road Expansion project in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. This funding will go towards constructing new terminal access roads and intersections to better connect the North and South Terminals of the St. Augustine Airport to US-1. It will also bring more than 1,300 jobs to our area, strengthen the economic resilience of the region, and serve as a catalyst to future improvements of our growing airport.

I was proud to visit Lakeview Health in Jacksonville to celebrate their 25 years of service to our community. As co-chair of the House Bipartisan Second Chance Task Force, I believe that together we can help those struggling with mental health and addiction disorders become productive members of society again. That’s why I am thankful for the hard work Lakeview Health does every day to help keep people safe and healthy. Keep up the great work!

It was great to join members of our community in Jacksonville for the unveiling of the limited edition CocaCola AmeriCans in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. These mini cans, commemorating our nation’s founding, are being produced right here at Coke’s Jacksonville manufacturing facility. Honored to see the new can design and get a closer look at the impressive production and technology here in Northeast Florida. What a cool way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday!

Wishing you and yours a happy and joyous Easter Sunday. Jesus rose in victory over sin and death, earning for those who believe in Him Eternal Life! Hallelujah!

Over the last 40 days, Senate Democrats have held our Department of Homeland Security, and the safety and security of the American people, hostage. They have denied more than 100,000 American families billions in take-home pay, stopped critical training for U.S. Secret Service, FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard, hindered investigations into drug trafficking, cybercrime, child exploitation, and human trafficking, halted preparations for major upcoming events like the FIFA World Cup and America 250, and created chaos at our nation’s airports. The bill that the Senate passed, in the dead of night with only five Senators present in the Chamber, defunds law enforcement by reducing funding for CBP and ICE to ZERO and leaves us exposed to critical attacks and open borders, endangering the lives of American citizens. This is unacceptable. While I would rather see a full-year funding bill pass than a CR, I will not vote to defund ICE and CBP. That is why I voted yes on the CR last night to extend funding for these critical agencies until May 22, 2026. The hardworking men and women at TSA, FEMA, CISA, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, ICE, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Coast Guard must be paid for the important work they are doing right now to keep Americans safe. National security is neither a game nor a political bargaining chip. Last night, I was proud to vote to pay law enforcement, protect the American public, and reopen the Department of Homeland Security on the House floor.

Our servicemen and women put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedoms. That’s why I was honored to assist the USO by stuffing care packages for our military men and women in uniform who are serving abroad. 🇺🇸

This National Medal of Honor Day, may we remember and recognize the brave men and women given our military's highest decoration for their valiant acts of bravery. We thank you for your service and all you have sacrificed for our great country. 🇺🇸

As a former sheriff who ran three county jails, I know firsthand that when inmates have access to illegal communication devices, it undermines the security of the entire facility and puts our correctional officers in danger. I look forward to working with my colleagues to find policy solutions in Congress, implement new technologies to monitor and stop communications between criminals in and out of prison, and keep our correctional officers and communities safe.

It was great to meet with members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) from Northeast Florida this week to talk about investing in U.S. leadership in science and technology. It’s important we invest in our country’s future, and that means supporting our STEM workforce and providing funding for the research and development of innovative technologies.

Eid Mubarak to everyone observing the end of Ramadan. Hope you have a blessed holiday!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! A reminder to our Irish friends around the country celebrating today — St. Augustine did it first! Check out the story of America’s first St. Patrick’s day celebration in 1600 👇 washingtonpost.com/news/retropoli…

Calling all high school artists in Florida’s 5th Congressional District: Submit your artwork for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition! Enter for an opportunity to have your piece displayed in the U.S. Capitol. More details👇 rutherford.house.gov/art

Read more about my Rutherford Ride Along with Landstar 👇 rutherford.house.gov/media/press-re…

I was proud to join Landstar for a Rutherford Ride Along to learn more about the people and processes that keep our supply chains moving across Northeast Florida and nationwide. These men and women help drive our economy and get goods where they need to go, safely and efficiently. I was honored to walk a day in their shoes and see firsthand the professionalism and commitment these drivers, like Michael Smith, bring to their jobs. Thank you for driving our economy forward!