Hello, Friends —
This week, the House of Representatives passed the so-called “TikTok ban” legislation, which would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores and prohibit U.S. internet services from hosting the social-media app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests of its ownership of it. While I have real concerns with the data of U.S. users of TikTok being shared with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is often the case in Washington, D.C., this bill’s solution is worse than the problem.
In addition to forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok, the bill would give broad authority to the executive branch to force the divestiture of any social-media app it deems to be controlled by foreign adversaries. This is a dangerous grant of authority to the executive, which could be used in the future to effectively ban popular social-media apps used by conservatives to share their speech. Therefore, while I support banning TikTok from sharing U.S. data with the CCP—just like I support prohibiting the sharing of consumer data with our own government without a warrant—I was one of 15 House Republicans to vote “no” on this misguided bill.
Besides standing against the potential for Americans’ rights to be further infringed, I raised the alarm on the impending crisis on Florida’s coastline due to recent political unrest in Haiti. On Tuesday, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Rebecca Zimmerman, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, acknowledged there is an anticipated mass migration from Haiti coming into the United States through Florida in response to my questioning. General Laura Richardson, the Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, also confirmed that the U.S. Navy will now assist the U.S. Coast Guard to interdict and repatriate migrants before they reach U.S. soil and cause an undue burden on Florida. Congress must make sure that every available measure under the law is utilized to ensure the safety of all Floridians.
To hear more on my thoughts on the legislation to ban TikTok, click here. To read my press release from the hearing, click here.
JACK SMITH MUST BE INVESTIGATED FOR ELECTION INTERFERENCE!
Click Here To Watch!
On Monday, I joined “Hannity” on Fox News to discuss the election-interference complaint with Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz to investigate the election interference against President Donald J. Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has totally given the game away—between public comments and his office’s briefs before the Supreme Court, he has demonstrated that he has no reason for his actions other than to unlawfully interfere in the 2024 presidential election. Every pleading, every filing, and every strategy is directed to ensure the trial of President Trump occurs before the election.
SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT HUR ADMITS JOE BIDEN LIED ABOUT NOT SHARING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION!
On Tuesday, I spoke during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Special Counsel Robert Hur’s findings in his investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, where Special Counsel Hur admitted that Biden has lied to the public about sharing classified information.
When I asked Special Counsel Hur about Biden’s assertions that he “did not share classified information,” Hur replied: “That is inconsistent with the findings based on the evidence.” The discrepancy between Biden’s assertions and the report illuminates the “senile cooperator theory” since memory lapses could account for the inconsistencies in his statements about managing classified information.
Read my press release here.
WE MUST SEND NAVAL VESSELS TO DETER AN INVASION FROM HAITI!
Click Here To Watch!
On Wednesday, I joined “On Balance with Leland Vittert” on NewsNation to discuss the anticipated mass migration of Haitians by sea to the United States through Florida.
I don’t want southeast Florida to become Haiti, which is why I have called for Joe Biden to do the right thing and declare an anticipated state of mass migration over water. That way we could get naval vessels in the Florida straits to deter the thousands of incoming Haitians before they invade the United States.
REP. GAETZ DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM ICE FOLLOWING REFUSAL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ILLEGAL ALIEN WHO KILLED CONSTITUENT
On Thursday, I sent a letter to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to demand answers regarding Byron Pineda, an illegal alien wanted by ICE, who killed a constituent in Northwest Florida after the department ignored my initial request for answers.
Initially, I sent a request for information to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner regarding the illegal being jailed for driving on a suspended license and fatally striking one of my constituents in February. But, when ICE responded to me last week, they refused to give relevant information on his records and requested that I obtain a privacy waiver signed by the illegal.
Read my press release here.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM REP. GAETZ
I am excited to announce I will be holding a legislative update on Monday, March 25th! This event will be a special chance for me to inform residents of Northwest Florida directly about the House of Representatives’ most recent legislation and public policy that impact our community and beyond.
The legislative update will be hosted at 101 Stahlman Ave, Destin, FL, beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT.
I encourage everyone to attend this event to learn more about my ongoing fight in Congress. I look forward to seeing all of you!
RSVP today at: GaetzLegUpdate.Eventbrite.com
For any questions you may have, please contact my District Office at 850.479.1183.
REP. GAETZ HOSTS ANNUAL ACADEMY NIGHT
I am pleased to announce I will be holding the 2024 Academy Night on Thursday, April 4th! The Academy Night is an opportunity for high school students to speak directly to me and Service Academy representatives and learn more about the process for admission to the U.S. Service Academies and receiving a Congressional Nomination.
Academy Night will be hosted at Fort Walton Beach High School (400 Hollywood Blvd. NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL) from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. CT.
All high school students, JROTC groups, parents, principals, and educators are invited to attend this event to learn about entry to the U.S. Service Academies. I look forward to meeting all of you!
To RSVP: Visit GaetzAcademy2024.eventbrite.com
For any questions, contact Austin Bury at [email protected] or call my District Office at 850.479.1183.
REP. GAETZ TO HOST 2024 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION
I am pleased to announce I will be holding the 2024 Congressional Art Competition this upcoming spring! I encourage all Northwest Florida high school students to participate in this year’s competition. The deadline to submit pieces of art is Friday, April 12th, 2024.
The Congressional Art Competition commencement will be held on Saturday, April 27th, at the Artel Gallery: 223 Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL. I will be there to announce the winners!
Please contact my District Office at 850.479.1183 if you have any questions about this event. We look forward to seeing all of the artwork that students have worked so hard on!
TSA PRECHECK TO HOLD APPOINTMENTS IN SHALIMAR, FLORIDA
Are you looking to speed up your TSA screening time at the airport? Sign up to make an appointment to enroll in TSA PreCheck. This year, appointments will be held in the parking lot at the Okaloosa County Administration Building at 1250 N Eglin Parkway in Shalimar.
WHEN:
- March 4th - 21st - 9 a.m. - 12p.m. and 1-5 p.m.
- March 22nd - 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Closed Saturdays and Sundays
Make an appointment here.
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Rep. Gaetz Op-ed in The National Pulse — March 13, 2024
EXC – Rep. Gaetz: We Must Have Vaccine Damage Accountability for Our Servicemembers
“When rogue agencies conspire with private institutions to form an Orwellian Ministry of Truth—whose focus is on arbitration of thought and prescription of language to maintain power—trust and confidence dissolve. Look no further than the federal government’s behavior during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Fox News — March 12, 2024
Gaetz presses Hur over not charging Biden ghostwriter: ‘What does somebody have to do?’
“Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., grilled former Special Counsel Robert Hur during a House hearing on Tuesday over not charging President Biden’s ghostwriter for destroying evidence pertaining to Hur’s investigation of Biden’s handling of classified documents. ‘What does somebody have to do to get charged with obstruction of justice by you?’ Gaetz said to Hur, suggesting that the special counsel let Mark Zwonitzer – the ghostwriter on Biden’s memoir ‘Promise Me, Dad’ – off the hook for deleting evidence.”
Tampa Free Press — March 12, 2024
Rep. Matt Gaetz Reveals Biden Admin May Use Navy To Stop Anticipated Haitian Migration Into Florida
“During the House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday to examine the Department of Defense’s (DoD) activities in the Western Hemisphere and ongoing security challenges, Rebecca Zimmerman, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, acknowledged an anticipated mass migration from Haiti into the United States via Florida in response to questions from U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz. In addition, General Laura Richardson, Commander of United States Southern Command, confirmed that the Biden administration will now consider using the Department of Defense and the United States Navy to halt the anticipated mass migration of Haitians into Florida.”
Daily Caller — March 14, 2024
EXCLUSIVE: Gaetz Demands Answers From ICE After Refusal To Provide Info On Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Killing Constituent
“Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Thursday demanded answers from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) over an illegal immigrant accused of killing a constituent in Florida, after the agency initially ignored the congressman’s request.”
WHAT WE’RE READING
Fox News — March 13, 2024
US deploys Marine anti-terrorism unit to Haiti to protect embassy
Fox News — March 14, 2024
DHS warns Haitian illegal immigrants arriving by boat face ‘immediate repatriation’
Breitbart News — March 14, 2024
Joe Biden Worsened Haiti Chaos by Facilitating Middle Class Migration
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