Hello, Friends —
This week, Senator Mike Lee joined me in sending a letter to Sundar Pichai, the Chief Executive Officer of Alphabet, Inc., the parent company of Google, demanding he commit to complying with all forthcoming federal court rulings in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust case against Google. Last week, a federal district court found that Google unlawfully monopolized the market for online search, which includes the documented suppression of conservative voices and the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
Over the course of DOJ’s antitrust trial against Google, the public has seen evidence of the steps Google has taken to become the market-dominant search engine. Google pays other companies, including Apple, more than $20 billion per year to make its product the default search engine on computers and smartphones, and according to DOJ, these default contracts have made it impossible for rival search engines to compete effectively, depriving Americans of a real choice.
Now that the court has found Google liable for unlawfully monopolizing the online search market, DOJ has indicated it could seek a range of possible remedies to restore competition. Our letter states that whatever remedy the court orders, we will be watching closely to ensure that Google follows the law.
To read my press release, click here.
REP. GAETZ APPEARS ON DONALD TRUMP JR.’S ‘TRIGGERED’ PODCAST
Click Here to Watch!
Last night, I appeared on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, “Triggered,” to discuss the many failures of the Biden-Harris administration. With Kamala Harris taking over the Democratic presidential ticket, she has been completely unable to distance herself from this administration’s failed policy record of the border invasion, inflation, and constant war. She owns absolutely all of it!
On top of all these failures, every agency in Washington, from the Secret Service to our military, has moved away from meritocracy and embraced diversity, equity, and inclusion under her watch. We must convert these important American institutions back to their true purpose!
REP. GAETZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF BOTCHED AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL
This Wednesday marked the third year of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. The botched withdrawal of all U.S. troops was the worst intelligence and operational failure under the Biden-Harris administration!
Three years later, there has been no accountability. We need Donald Trump back in the White House to prevent tragedies like this from occurring again!
To read my statement, click here.
THE BIDEN-HARRIS ECONOMY IS CRUSHING AMERICANS
Vice President Kamala Harris is celebrating that inflation is up only 2.9 percent overall. But this just means the speed at which prices are increasing is slowing; it does not mean that prices are no longer going up. Worse, it does not mean that prices will return to where they were prior to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris coming into office.
The inflation rates for some of the most basic goods are still up massively. Gas prices have risen more than 50 percent, electricity more than 30 percent, and groceries more than 20 percent. This is exacerbated by average weekly earnings still being down nearly 4 percent. Simply put, the economic policies of this administration are crushing Americans.
To read my statement, click here.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
SENIOR INTERN PROGRAM
I understand that our senior citizens have valuable life experiences that can serve as a tremendous asset to any organization. As such, I am excited to announce an opening for a Fall Senior Congressional Internship!
Every 12 weeks, my office will select an approved senior intern to work in my local Crestview office. In addition to learning about the role of a congressional office, senior interns will be asked to assist permanent congressional team members with a variety of tasks, including responding to constituent requests, writing letters, and assisting with day-to-day functions in the district office. Interns also assist staff with specific district-based projects, special events, and outreach activities.
Eligible applicants must be 55 or older, live within the district, and be willing to work no more than 20 hours per week in the congressional office for the duration of September- January. Senior interns will receive a small stipend for their service.
Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].
THE CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE HAS BEGUN
The Congressional App Challenge is a public effort to encourage kids to learn how to code. Students compete to code original applications for the chance to be selected for recognition, win prizes, and have their work put on display in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Official registration for the 2024 Congressional App Challenge is now open! Students can register for the 2024 Congressional App Challenge and start coding their apps for 2024 using the link below. The competition deadline is October 24, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. CT.
- Students must be in middle or high school by the time the competition ends on October 24, 2024
- Students can participate in teams of up to four (and can submit multiple apps with a different “team lead”)
- Apps can be coded on any platform, in any language, on any theme
- Any apps created from November 1, 2023, to October 24, 2024, can be submitted
If you have any questions, please reach out to my district office at (850) 479-1183.
Click here to register for the Congressional App Challenge! Additionally, click here to see the 2023 winners.
UPCOMING SERVICE ACADEMY NOMINATIONS
One of the most important duties I have as your Congressman is to nominate students to various United States service academies. These include the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
The students nominated represent the very best of our district and the entire country. This year, I will nominate up to ten individuals for each vacant academy slot allotted to our district. To request a military academy nomination from our office, please click here and complete the form. Submissions are due by Friday, October 11th, 2024 at 3pm CT.
I wish you the best as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. service academies and serving our country. Please direct any further questions about the application process to my Director of Military Affairs, Austin Bury at [email protected].
For more information and frequently asked questions about academy nominations, click here.
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Breitbart News — August 14, 2024
Rep. Matt Gaetz, Sen. Mike Lee Vow to Hold Google Accountable if It Skirts Antitrust Fixes
“Lee and Gaetz wrote to Google CEO Sundar Pichai after a federal court ruled that Google maintains a monopoly in search and text advertising and has engaged in anticompetitive behavior to maintain its 90 percent market share in the search markets. The conservatives argued that Google’s dominant status leads to ‘suppression’ of free speech and even ‘manipulation’ of Google search results that prevented Americans from easily accessing information about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.”
Florida Politics — August 13, 2024
Delegation for 8.13.24: Florida gold — Debby — Cuba — cheap labor — Sasse
“Rep. Matt Gaetz said the administration plays games with words. He sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding any internal communications in the administration that may have used the term ‘border czar’ to refer to Harris’ work. ‘Vice President Harris has, weirdly, recently denied this fact,’ Gaetz’s letter states. He specifically asks for all communications over the year after the immigration duties were announced that may include the words ‘czar,’ ‘border,’ ‘migration,’ or ‘immigration.’ He is specifically asking for any communications referencing Harris as any type of czar.”
WHAT WE’RE READING
New York Post — August 13, 2024
Justice Department considering push for historic break up of Google after landmark antitrust ruling
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