Hello, Friends —

On Wednesday, Governor DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order. We all have a part to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19, and right now, that means staying home. Many of our communities in Northwest Florida have been affected by the virus, but help is on the way: the Governor’s office has been working tirelessly to mitigate the effects of Coronavirus and to keep Floridians healthy and safe.

This week, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced they will be waiving the requirement to wait a week to receive Reemployment Assistance benefits through May 8, 2020. Furthermore, the Florida Department of Transportation has started accelerating critical infrastructure projects valued at $2.1 Billion.

For more information on the Reemployment Assistance benefits, click HERE and for more regarding the new infrastructure projects click HERE.

To learn more about Governor DeSantis’ stay-at-home order, click HERE.

FLORIDA RESOURCES

Visit the COVID-19 dashboard created by the Florida Department of Health (updated twice daily).

The Agency for Health Care Administration has also published a data dashboard of current hospital bed availability. 

If you have questions about what Florida is doing to combat the Coronavirus, call the Florida COVID-19 hotline at 866-779-6121, or email [email protected]. They can answer questions about Coronavirus symptoms, news, and how to donate or volunteer in areas impacted by the virus.

 

INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES

The Florida Department of Health website provides an abundance of information on COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a page dedicated to COVID-19, available HERE.

The CDC has released new updates on the best processes during the coronavirus. For information on cleaning and disinfecting your home when someone is sick, click HERE. For tips on how to protect yourself, click HERE.

 

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS ABROAD

If you are abroad or have loved ones abroad, make plans to return home. The State Department has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory, advising all U.S. citizens to avoid international travel. To learn more about what this may mean for you and your family, visit their website HERE.

If you are abroad and unable to return home, please contact my office. My staff will work with the State Department to get you home as quickly as possible.

 

COUNTY INFORMATION

Click on your county for the most up-to-date information on closures in Escambia, Okaloosa, Holmes, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties: 

 

MILITARY UPDATES

For updates on local military installations:

Here is NAS Pensacola’s website (updated frequently). 

Here is Eglin AFB’s website (updated frequently).

Here is Hurlburt Field’s website (updated frequently).

 

GAETZ IN THE NEWS

Breitbart News — April 2, 2020

DHS Halts Bringing More H-2B Foreign Workers to U.S. amid Opposition

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) praised the decision to halt adding more H-2B foreign visa workers to the American economy during the unemployment crisis.


Washington Examiner — April 2, 2020

With virus crisis raging, Pelosi, Schiff ramp up new Trump investigation

“I’d rather have a select committee to investigate how so much liberal pork got into the Covid response bill,” texted Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.


Fox News — April 1, 2020

Feds spent $10G on dog urine research 2 days after first US coronavirus death

But the timing and source of the dog urine research grant — HHS, one of the most important U.S. government agencies responding to the coronavirus — underscore that although the U.S. government often must spend large amounts of money to address major problems, there is also a significant amount of government spending that goes to far less urgent priorities, according to Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

 

WHAT WE’RE READING

National Review — March 31, 2020

IG Horowitz Found ‘Apparent Errors or Inadequately Supported Facts’ in Every Single FBI FISA Application He Reviewed


Wall Street Journal — April 3, 2020

U.S. and Europe Turn to Phone-Tracking Strategies to Halt Spread of Coronavirus


Townhall — April 3, 2020

Sucking CNN: Anti-Trump Network Fails to Get One Show to Crack Top 20 in First Quarter Ratings


National Review — April 2, 2020

The FISA Scandal is about Corruption, not ‘Sloppiness’


Breitbart — April 3, 2020

Unemployment Rate Jumps to 4.4%, 701,000 Jobs Lost


Fox News — March 27, 2020

Help wanted amid coronavirus pandemic: These companies are hiring