Washington, DC - Congressman Daniel Webster, Florida’s longest serving elected official, who ended 122 years of Democrat control and ushered in Florida’s Republican majority and whose engineering background led him to become a state and national leader in infrastructure policy will retire from public office at the conclusion of this Congress. 

“After much prayerful consideration and discussion with my beloved wife Sandy, I have decided not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives,” said Rep. Webster.  “It has been an honor and privilege to represent my beloved state in the U.S. House of Representatives. I’ve never taken for granted my responsibility to Florida’s hardworking taxpayers and families to advance common-sense reforms and principled policy. The time has come to pass the torch to the next conservative leader and spend more precious time with my wife, children and 24 grandchildren”

A small business owner, Webster will retire with a legislative record of successfully ending government regulations that stifle job growth; improving programs that invest in our nation’s waterways, roadways and highways; and securing a much-needed infusion of resources for our United States Coast Guard. He successfully pushed for the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to end use of depreciation schedules, helping small business owners reinvest back in their businesses. And last year, Congress adopted his position that American seniors deserved tax relief by including a Social Security income tax credit in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill. 

“I ran for office because I wanted to change public policy. Fighting to protect our freedoms, values, life and liberty; lower taxes; invest in our veterans and active-duty military, infrastructure and precious ecosystems has energized me every day,” Webster added. “To have been part of the development and passage of some most significant legislation in our time is something I will forever treasure.”

When not in Washington, Webster spends time in his district with hard-working Floridians and has focused his office on providing high-quality constituent services to help answer questions, find solutions, or simply attempt to cut through federal agency red tape. As a result, his office has gotten nearly $32 million returned to constituents from federal agencies including the VA, Social Security, IRS, Medicare in compensation, pension or retroactive payments.

Webster further commented, “Throughout my time in Congress, I have fought for legislative reforms that would restore a member driven process and fiscal responsibility. To set an example, I have reduced my congressional salary and office budget every year, returning over $6 million in savings to the Treasury as a small but meaningful step toward restoring fiscal responsibility. This has been the most member-driven Congress of my time, and we have made great progress in cutting spending year over year.

 “There is much work left to do before this Congress closes and I am fully focused on finishing strong. This year, the Transportation and Infrastructure is working on once-in-a decade critical transportation reauthorization bill that will fund America’s roads and highways, bridges, transit and our rail system. I will keep working to get bills over the finish line that will leverage private investment to finance public infrastructure projects; ensure America – not China or any other adversary – remains the leader in space exploration; and that the United States will set the standards that protect our technological advantages.”

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