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We in Florida are so very proud to have Congressman Allen West as one of our representatives in Congress! To give all outside Florida and idea of how closely Allen stays in touch with the citizens of our Sunshine state, here is his “Weekly Update” released today concerning events of last week.

CONGRESSMAN ALLEN WEST WEEKLY UPDATE:

Dear Patriot,

Greetings to our Constituents, fellow Floridians, and to all Americans from across this great land. It is time for another weekly update from your Congressional Representative.

This week I would like to take a fairly different approach and talk about the events that bookend the past week, before sharing the week's events.

We ended our last update with my walking onto the stage of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to deliver the keynote speech, “Our Sacred Oath, The Dawn of a New America.” Judging from the response, I am deeply humbled at the reception of those words by many of you. And to the liberal press, well, you all did just as we expected, blah blah blah.

I arrived back to South Florida around midnight that night and my Sunday morning began early with a regular 5 mile run. Afterwards, the West Family headed to Boca Raton Christian Church where Pastor Bill Mitchell invited us to service. I gave a short 10 minute testimony on the courage to stand. It was a fantastic service and the congregation was just wonderful, over 900 in attendance. We had a nice ole’ fashioned Sunday church dinner with the leaders and their wives. Come to find out that Pastor Mitchell's wife and my wife, Angela, have something in common, they are both from Jamaica.

Last week ended for me Saturday morning at approximately 0430am with the final vote on the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution. I then went to the batcave to freshen up a bit and caught a JetBlue flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Upon arrival, I headed over to Umberto's Restaurant to address the Pilot Club of Ft. Lauderdale’s Patriotism program luncheon. There were some 40+ in attendance and we discussed, “What does America and being an American mean?” I believe this is the seminal question which we must all confront, lest what we see occurring in Wisconsin becomes the defining of who we are....which I shall never accept.

After that luncheon event, my Broward Deputy District Mgr, Kate Wesner, transported me over to Oakland Park for the 6th Annual Dr Carter G. Woodson Festival in celebration of Black History Month. The event was held at Jaco Pastorius park, the famed bass player for the jazz group, Weather Report, a local native South Floridian.

We had the special honor to recognize Mayor Allegra Webb Murphy, a fellow native Georgian, as she passed on the mantle of mayoral leadership. The Vice-Chair of the Broward Democrat Party came up and introduced herself and took a picture with me.....boy howdy is she in trouble!!!! She and I had a nice chat, yes, we really did, and she complimented me on my tenacity, principle, and the fact that I had joined the Congressional Black Caucus. Her comment was that, “At least I was not confused about who I was.” I just laughed within myself and thought....no, I am not confused, I am one proud American Man.

Sunday, I woke up at 0400 and headed to downtown Ft. Lauderdale to run with others who believe that health care is a personal responsibility- to take part in the A1A Marathon and 1/2 Marathon. It was a really nice morning and my goal was to try and make 1 hour 50 mins for the 13.1 mile course.

The race started out well and I was on pace to make the goal, but at mile 11 the fact that my D.C. schedule has not been conducive to training came to bear. I finished at 1 hour 53 minutes and was actually pleased.

The week itself was historic in that we endeavored to pass a Continuing Resolution which contained $100B of spending cuts under an open rule for debate of amendments. We started with some 400+ amendments, but through the debate process, some were dropped. As stated earlier, we completed the task early Saturday morning and it was truly an incredible learning experience for me. I was able to assess and examine House floor procedures and processes at their best, and as Speaker Boehner stated, “We allowed the House to work its will”.

Of course the legislation moves onto the Senate and already the President has stated he will veto it on arrival.

The week was full of great highlights and I would like to share a few with you. On Monday evening I attended the American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) reception in Washington. I was introduced along with other Freshmen House members and we all got 1-2 minutes to address the gathering. I believe that my position and support to the modern State of Israel is well know. Many of the AIPAC Board members visited with me personally in the office on Tuesday.

After that reception, I had the pleasure to do my first live interview with Greta Van Susteren, truly a fantastic interviewer who holds nothing back.

Tuesday was Marine Day for me as I was visited by former Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Carl Mundy and current Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Dunford. There are many great things about being a Congressional Representative, and having the honor to sit in the presence of men who embody the true American Warrior ethos, well, it does not get any better.

I was also honored later that day to host Mr. Qubad Talabani, Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq Representative to the United States. This young visionary leader is the son of Iraq President Jalal Talabani. Having spent a few days in Iraq and in Kurdistan, we had a fantastic discussion about the economic future as well as the security situation ahead for the worlds largest ethnic group without a homeland, the Kurds. The U.S. is falling behind Europe in the economic investment and development occurring in this most stable area where international flights go into Irbil, none of them United States carriers. I look forward to continued meetings with Mr. Talabani and hope to return to Iraq and visit Kirkuk and Kurdistan, perhaps one day soon, fly into Irbil on a U.S. carrier.

On Wednesday, I had the delight of hosting visiting South Florida High School students from Cardinal Gibbons school and my daughter Aubrey's school, Archbishop McCarthy. Later, I had meetings with representatives from Broward College and the President of Palm Beach State College, Dr Dennis Gallon. There was also a full Armed Services Committee meeting to hear the testimony of SecDef Gates and CJCS Admiral Mullen.

Wednesday was special because we had a Ft. Lauderdale small businessman, Bill Feinberg, come up to testify before the full House Committee on Small Business about how the health care law impacts his company. Bill did a fine job and was featured on several national news shows, to include Fox Business News with David Asman.....hat tip to Bill. And get ready, we shall be picking another great local small businessperson to bring their story to Capitol Hill in the near future.

Another exceptional event Wednesday, was when I sat with the Israeli Deputy Chief of Mission and shared assessments and perspectives on recent developments across North Africa and the Middle East. The world as we know it could have a very different look by years end, and we must be ready, the United States and Israel.

If Tuesday was Marine Day, then Thursday was Army Day as we began with the House Army Caucus breakfast. As I walked up, I was greeted by two former Cadets from my days as an ROTC instructor at Kansas State University. There stood Army Lieutenant Colonel's Kevin Admiral and Jim Delapp, the Aide-de-Camp and Legislative Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army, respectively. Words cannot express the emotion of seeing these two great American Soldiers and leaders standing there proudly, especially as they smiled and gave me an Airborne greeting.

The breakfast was full of men and women with whom I had served. First to come up and greet me was retiring General “Kip” Ward, Commanding General of USAFRICOM. I sat with his replacement, General Carter Ham. Army Day continued as I met with Major General (Ret) Dave Bockel of the Reserve Officers Association, of which I am a member. I also met former Secretary Hoffman and we discussed the important issue of traumatic brain injury and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. I shall champion this issue for our men and women in uniform.

My Friday was filled with catching up on administrative details and several media interviews, Joyce Kaufman AM 850 WFTL, John Gizzi of Human Events, Florida Courier, Voice of America, and BBC.

As I sit here writing this, still smarting from the soreness in my legs from that 13.1 mile run, I must share with you my closing thoughts. They come from my Pastor Scott Eynon’s sermon at Community Christian Church. Scott closed out the seven part teaching series, “The Me I Want to Be.” His topic today was, “Asking God for a Mountain” and we studied Caleb from Joshua Chapter 14, verses 6-14. Scott addressed how we must seek the “mountains” in our life and not see them as insurmountable. Sir Edmund Hillary and his climbing Mount Everest was used as a modern metaphor.

I believe that we must all “climb the mountain” as it brings out the best in us. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr spoke of “being at the mountaintop” as he rallied us to believe in the greatness of the American dream for everyone.

America now is at the base of a mountain. Actually we are in a deep valley where it is hard to see the summit. We have fallen for the failed empty rhetoric and slogans of “hope and change” as part of the “Yes we Can” blah blah blah.

Join me in a new American dream to begin the trek out of the valley, to climb the dangerous heights, and reach the summit, the mountaintop......from whence we shall view the dawn of a New America.

Steadfast and Loyal,

Allen