Congressman Al Lawson is a committed public servant who brings a hard-working, problem-solving spirit to Congress and to the task of creating jobs, improving access to a quality education from the preschool through the post-secondary level and protecting working families. Re-elected for a third term in November 2020, Lawson represents Florida's 5th Congressional District.
Congressman Lawson has devoted more than half of his life to public service and is guided by the belief that the greatest gift an individual can give is service to their community. Lawson has served the people of Florida for 28 years in the state legislature as a member of the Florida House of Representative and the Florida Senate.
I believe that a key building block for growing our economy is ensuring a high-quality education for all Americans. Students attend colleges and universities with the hopes of climbing the economic ladder, providing for their families, and working to meet new challenges with ingenuity and expertise. For more information concerning work and views related to education, please contact our office.
All Americans have a role to play in protecting Earth. Human activity is leaving a severe footprint on our planet. The effects can be seen in our communities -- most recently, with Hurricane Michael, which was the strongest hurricane to ever hit Florida’s panhandle. For more information concerning work and views related to the environment, please contact our office.
Health care should be available to as many Americans as possible. It is priority to bring down health care costs, stabilize the market and help ensure that more Americans can access the affordable health care they need and deserve. For more information concerning work and views related to health care, please contact our office.
When working families earn more, America’s economy works better for everyone. Honest, hard work should be rewarded with jobs that pay enough. Too many jobs don’t pay enough to allow Americans to build a good life or save for a secure retirement. It is important to invest in innovation industries, like clean energy, and rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges and ports to help our economy grow. For more information concerning work and views related to jobs and the economy, please contact our office.
Our brave men and women who have fought for our freedom deserve to be taken care of when they return home. Congress must work to ensure our veterans are getting the help they deserve - from job training, to access to health care and education benefits, to finding affordable housing. For more information concerning work and views related to veterans, please contact our office.
It's not too early to start getting ready. Disaster prevention should include developing a plan. Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family, such as storm surges, flooding and strong wind. Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet should you be separated. Check your insurance coverage. Be advised that flood damage is not usually covered by homeowner’s insurance.
Be prepared for possible intense weather by stocking up on non-perishable foods, baby foods or pet foods, blankets, bottled water, batteries, flashlights, medications, a battery powered radio, first aid kit, cash, important documents and any other necessities to last up to seven days. As always, please listen to local weather advisories and continue to monitor the storm.
One of the most important decisions you will have to make is whether or not to evacuate. If you are asked to evacuate, you should do so without delay. I encourage all of you to take steps now to protect your home and family. Below are some helpful tips and resources to keep you safe and informed. During severe weather and other emergencies, the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) a toll-free hotline, is activated to provide accurate and up-to-date information on emergency or disaster situations impacting Florida. the hotline is 1-1800-342-3557. Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on emergency preparedness.
As always, remember that my office is open and available to assist you. For help with emergency resources, please contact my office at either (904)354-1652 (Jacksonville), (850) 558-9450 (Tallahassee), or (202) 225-0123 (Washington, DC). You can also find me on Facebook and on Twitter at @RepAlLawsonJr.
Stay Safe,
Al