THE HOUSE GETS BACK TO WORK
On Thursday, the House came back to Capitol Hill to vote on the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. This legislation, which passed with my support, replenishes the depleted funds in the Paycheck Protection Program, and provides additional funding to the health care providers who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
The Paycheck Protection Program, which allows banks and credit unions to provide government-backed loans to small business, has been a success, and a critical lifeline to the many small businesses facing insolvency nationwide because of coronavirus. Unfortunately, this program ran out of money last week — but Democrats in the House and Senate refused to replenish it until yesterday. It is disgraceful that Congressional Democrats are more concerned with scoring political “points” than helping small business nationwide stave off bankruptcy.
The same day, House Democrats also voted to establish an investigative subcommittee, called the “Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.” This proposal, which passed with absolutely no Republican support, is wholly unnecessary — the House’s existing committees are more than sufficient to assess the coronavirus response. It seems that the purpose of this new ‘select subcommittee’ is the same as the Democrats’ focus since the 2016 election: “get Trump!” It’s another waste of Congressional time and resources.
NW FLORIDA HEALTH INFORMATION
Click on your county for the most up-to-date information on closures in Escambia, Okaloosa, Holmes, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties:
Our local military installations are regularly updating their websites with information about base access (and more) due to the pandemic.
Visit the COVID-19 dashboard created by the Florida Department of Health (updated twice daily). The Agency for Health Care Administration published a data dashboard of current hospital bed availability to provide the public with greater visibility on hospital capacity.
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.
If you have come in contact with an infected person, or are showing symptoms, please click HERE for more information on how and where to get tested. (Note: residents displaying COVID-19 symptoms will be prioritized).
PRIVATE SECTOR STEPS IN (AND STEPS UP)
While Government efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 are essential, restoring America is a team effort. America needs the partnership of local stakeholders who understand the issues on the ground just as much as it needs federal assistance. On Monday, Chick-Fil-A announced that it would be donating over $10.8 million to food pantries and communities in need.
For more information, see also:
Chick-fil-A to donate over $10M to first responders impacted by COVID-19 pandemic
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Fox News — April 23, 2020
Gaetz warns would-be Iranian terrorists: ‘Get your act together or get prepared to meet General Soleimani’
House Judiciary Committee Member Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., joined “Hannity” Wednesday night to react to threatened provocation by Iran, warning the theocratic regime that President Trump is not afraid to take out officials who engage in terrorist acts.
Townhall — April 23, 2020
Bicameral Letter Sent to Congressional Leaders Over Wuhan Laboratory Funding
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Monday led a bicameral letter sent to House and Senate leadership calling for an end to taxpayer funding of the Wuhan Institute of Virology laboratory.
Fox News — April 21, 2020
Rep. Matt Gaetz: We Should Pass Legislation So Americans Can Sue China For Damages
On Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) explains why he agrees with Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) wanting to pass legislation to let Americans sue the Chinese government in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Fox News — April 20, 2020
Congressman says Florida’s handling of coronavirus a model for the country
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., touted his state’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and suggested that it can serve as a model for other parts of the country, as Florida begins to slowly reopen some public areas.
Breitbart — April 11, 2020
Matt Gaetz Proposes to Rescind Refugee Resettlement Funding to Bolster ICE
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced the NO PORK Act on Friday, which would strip the $350 million in refugee funding in the CARES Act and redistribute it to the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Breitbart News has learned exclusively.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Washington Examiner — April 16, 2020
Now is not the time for another war in the Middle East
Med Rxiv — April 17, 2020
COVID-19 Antibody Seroprevalence in Santa Clara County, California
National Review — April 24, 2020
Social Distancing Isn’t a Religion
The Atlantic— April 24, 2020
The Pandemic Shows What Cars Have Done to Cities
Washington Examiner — April 24, 2020
Smashing ‘obsolete rules’: Trump plans massive health deregulation after coronavirus
Washington Post — April 24, 2020
Church donations have plunged because of the coronavirus. Some churches won’t survive.
The New York Times — April 23, 2020
Cuomo Says 21% of Those Tested in N.Y.C. Had Virus Antibodies
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