Recognizing Lindsay Tozer

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding service and leadership of Lindsay Tozer, a volunteer advisory board member for the Service Dog Alliance of Florida, where she also serves as chair of its public awareness campaign.

Ms. Tozer has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to advancing accessibility, dignity, and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities who rely on service animals in their daily lives. While Florida Statutes 413.08 and 413.081--enacted in 2015--provide important legal protections for service animals, including coverage for animals in training and penalties for misrepresentation or interference, these safeguards have historically been underrecognized by the public and even by some in law enforcement. Recognizing this gap, Ms. Tozer led a comprehensive effort to improve public understanding and compliance with these critical laws. As campaign chair, she convened a diverse group of community leaders and stakeholders to develop a clear and effective public awareness toolkit, including rack cards, door decals, and posters. Initially piloted in Citrus County, these materials were designed for use by businesses and local governments to reduce service animal misrepresentation while reinforcing both the rights and responsibilities of handlers and establishments. Following the success of the pilot program, this initiative has now been implemented statewide. Her concise and powerful message--``Service Animals Welcome. It's a crime to misrepresent.''--has resonated widely with service animal handlers and business owners alike, fostering greater awareness and encouraging meaningful dialogue in communities across Florida.

In addition to her leadership in public outreach, Ms. Tozer serves as the organization's lead social media specialist, ensuring that information is timely, accessible, and widely distributed. She has also become a model for digital accessibility, aligning organizational communications with best practices such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and setting a high standard for peer organizations. The impact of her work has been both measurable and meaningful, resulting in a 28 percent increase in training requests and a 21 percent increase in requests for technical assistance--clear evidence of the effectiveness of her outreach and leadership. Lindsay Tozer exemplifies the very best of public service and professional excellence. She is a dedicated communicator, a trusted advocate, and a tireless relationship builder whose work has strengthened partnerships among businesses, nonprofit organizations, and local governments throughout Florida. Her efforts have helped build more informed, inclusive, and accessible communities.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ms. Tozer for her exemplary service and her lasting contributions to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.

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