TERRORIST KILLED
On Sunday, Qasim al-Rimi, a cofounder of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola in December.
On Thursday, February 6, the White House announced that Qasim al-Rimi was dead.
On behalf of the thousands of patriots in Northwest Florida, I thank President Trump for his swift action in eliminating this brutal terrorist.
During his State of the Union address, the President stated that any assault on our freedom would be met with overwhelming, disproportionate retribution. He has kept his word. We are a safer, stronger nation tonight because of his leadership.
STATE OF THE UNION
On the night of Tuesday, February 4, the President delivered his third State of the Union address. President Trump opened up his speech by declaring that “the state of our union is stronger than ever before.”
He’s right. Wages are growing to new highs, the economy is soaring, and unemployment is at a 50-year low. Our nation has prospered greatly since President Trump took office, and his policies have led to success for ALL Americans.
The President’s remarks were uplifting and triumphant. It was a moving address, and well worth watching. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the speech was overshadowed by a political stunt from Speaker Pelosi.
PELOSI’S DISGRACE
At the conclusion of the President’s State of the Union address, while he received thunderous applause and a standing ovation, the Speaker took her copy of his prepared remarks and tore them in half.
It is hard to overlook the symbolism of such a gesture — the sense that Speaker Pelosi was utterly dismissive of the President’s achievements and guests, and, more importantly, the achievements and success of the American people.
Speaker Pelosi’s gesture reflects poorly on her Speakership, and on the House of Representatives as a whole. The Speaker should not let her personal feelings about the President color her behavior as a leader in the United States Congress. This behavior is utterly unbecoming of the Speaker of the House.
I have sent a letter to the House Committee on Ethics, asking that they investigate the matter, and recommending that they censure the Speaker.
Tearing up this document was certainly distasteful — and was likely illegal, too.
A section of federal law (18 U.S.C. §2071) states that “Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys […] any record, proceeding, map, book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any public office […] shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.”
Unlike the copies of the State of the Union address available elsewhere, Speaker Pelosi’s was an original, hand-signed copy. During State of the Union addresses, the President hand-delivers a copy of his remarks to the Speaker of the House, and to the President of the Senate (the Vice President).
Those two copies are the ‘original’ documents, from which all subsequent copies are made. They are not the “personal property” of the recipients. They are the property of Congress.
There is no question whatsoever that Speaker Pelosi “mutilated, obliterated, or destroyed” the copy of the President’s address provided to her at the beginning of the evening. The video evidence is clear and abundant; the Speaker herself gleefully acknowledged her actions.
The Speaker cannot be above the law.
On Thursday night, I joined Laura Ingraham to discuss my letter to the Committee on Ethics. Watch it here:
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PRESIDENT ACQUITTED
Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced an impeachment inquiry five months ago, but the ‘impeachment investigation’ really began many months before that. For nearly a year, Democrats have been wasting Congress’s time, energy, and resources — with little to show for their efforts except heartburn.
If impeachment had not consumed Democrats’ every waking moment, we could have had many bipartisan successes — from lowering prescription drug prices to rebuilding America’s infrastructure.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. My Republican colleagues and I have been preaching that this was a political stunt since the beginning — and on Wednesday, February 5, we were proved right, when the Senate concluded its impeachment trial and voted to acquit the President on both of the baseless charges levied against him.
Of the 248 Republican members of the House and Senate, only one voted to convict the President. Mitt Romney chose pettiness and jealousy over objectivity.
We saw extreme moderates such as Lamar Alexander, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins vote to exonerate the President. This illustrates with clarity that this impeachment was purely political, and Romney’s vote was borne of bitterness, not principle.
I am glad to put this national nightmare behind us, and hope that Congress will finally get back to working to help the American people.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
CHILDCARE FOR OUR HEROES
The military families in our district sacrifice a great deal for America. But one sacrifice they should not have to make is childcare. Many military parents must drive to Eglin Air Force Base for childcare, which can add hours onto their daily commute.
Our military personnel protect our families, and we must return the favor. Not only does a lengthy and difficult commute hurt our military families, it also impacts our military readiness. The intense nature of the Special Forces Group demands the complete attention of participants, and when our operators are thinking about the strain on their families at home, they are not focused on their mission.
This week, I wrote a letter with Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio to urge to Secretary McCarthy to address the lack of childcare facilities for the 7th Special Forces Group. I look forward to hearing from the Secretary and lightening the burden for Northwest Florida’s warfighters.
Read the letter here:
Sen. Rubio, Sen. Scott, Rep. Gaetz: Letter to Secretary of the Army
JOSEPH AINSWORTH ACT
Military veterans are the heartbeat of Northwest Florida.
Under current law, veterans whose net worth exceeds a certain threshold are ineligible for pension benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) calculates a veterans’ net worth by evaluating the sum of the veterans’ assets, plus their annual income. If that value exceeds the limitation the VA has set, the veteran is not eligible to receive pension benefits.
This week, I introduced the Joseph Ainsworth Act along with fellow Florida representatives Ross Spano and Darren Soto. This bill would eliminate the ‘Net Worth Limitation’ for veterans over 99 years of age — allowing centenarian veterans to qualify for full pension benefits from the VA, regardless of their net worth.
Eliminating this rule for our military heroes who have achieved such a milestone in their life will help alleviate the financial burdens they and their families frequently endure. Furthermore, it also helps show our nation’s gratitude for these veterans’ devotion to America. It is my hope that First Lieutenant Joseph Ainsworth’s situation will be eradicated for future centenarian military veterans, and that his service to our country will be immortalized through this legislation.
A copy of the Joseph Ainsworth Act is available HERE.
VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT
The military is not a feature of our district — it is the defining characteristic.
Northwest Florida has been built by the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect America, and our cherished American values: freedom, justice, and the rule of law.
It’s easy to walk down the street and forget how lucky we are to live amongst heroes.
Since the Library of Congress started the Veteran’s History Project in 200, over 6,000 Floridians have submitted their stories, but I know there are more out there.
This week, we continued our efforts to uncover more of these stories. I look forward to hearing more about the lives of the men and women who have made our country great.
For more information, please visit my website:
Veterans History Project
OPEN GAETZ DAY
On Friday, February 21, I am excited to hosting the first Open Gaetz Day of 2020! The day will begin at the Perdido Key Chamber meeting in Pensacola, then on to Destin Middle School, then the Destin East Pass, and will conclude the Barn at Water Oaks Farms in Laurel Hill. I look forward to seeing you all and answering your questions!
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
USA Today — February 7, 2020
White House announces al-Qaida leader tied to NAS Pensacola shooting has been killed
“‘On Sunday, Qasim al-Rimi, a co-founder of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola in December,’ Gaetz said in the statement.”
Daily Caller — February 6, 2020
Rep. Matt Gaetz Filing Charges Against Pelosi For Ripping Up SOTU Address
“‘The law does not allow the Speaker of the House to destroy the records of the House, and the rules of the House do not permit some little temper tantrum just because you don’t like what the President of the United States says.’”
Breitbart News — February 4, 2020
Gaetz: If Biden Had Won Iowa, ‘We Probably Would Have Some Results’
“During the Fox News Channel’s 2020 Iowa caucus coverage, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said that if 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden had won the Iowa caucuses, ‘we probably would have some results right now.’”
Fox News — February 2, 2020
Matt Gaetz slams Don Lemon for laughing at Trump supporters: ‘He is CNN’s professional eye-roller’
“During an appearance on Fox Business’ Trish Regan: Primetime, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., unloaded on Lemon, the host of CNN Tonight.”
WHAT WE’RE READING
Miami Herald — February 5, 2020
Florida oysters are a lot smaller than they used to be. Climate change may be the reason
National Review — February 7, 2020
What Is Consistent about Mitt Romney?
Wall Street Journal — February 7, 2020
Federal Agencies Use Cellphone Location Data for Immigration Enforcement
Washington Examiner – February 7, 2020
Economy beats expectations with 225,000 jobs in January, unemployment 3.6%
FOX News — February 6, 2020
Trump condemns ‘evil’ impeachment after Senate acquittal: ‘It was a disgrace’
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