REEF MADNESS
While the professional class of lobbyists and special interests tries to erase our constitutional freedoms in DC, I’ve found that problems are best solved locally.
Recently, I wrote a letter to the Board of County commissioners suggesting that the eight reefs along Fort Walton Beach and Destin be named after Mr. Robert Bonezzi, a man who has been instrumental in keeping the lands and waters of Northwest Florida clean and safe. The board unanimously approved my suggestion, and the collection of reefs will now be named the “Robert Bonezzi Snorkel Reef Complex."
Mr. Bonezzi was recently appointed by the Governor and Florida Legislature to serve on the Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors, helping make appropriations from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement to foster environmental regrowth.
For the full story, click HERE.
CGC RELIANCE COMES TO PENSACOLA
My office was honored to be present for the homeporting ceremony of Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Reliance on Monday, which traveled from Maine to its new home in Pensacola.
CGC Reliance joins fellow Coast Guard cutters Diligence, Dauntless, and Decisive, all of which have recently made Pensacola their new home port. Not only is Northwest Florida America’s cradle of naval aviation, but the Air Force Special Operations Command is headquartered in our district, Navy and Air Force cyber warriors are trained right in our backyard, and Pensacola is now rapidly becoming a Coast Guard hub, too.
I am proud that America’s military mission has found a warm and welcoming home in Northwest Florida.
VIRTUAL ACADEMY NIGHT
The three most important jobs I have as a Congressman are to represent my constituents, to vote on matters of war and peace, and to nominate students to the United States service academies.
These students should represent the very best of our district, and our country. If you are interested in learning more about the application process, please join us at our Virtual Academy night September 8th, at 6:30pm Central Time.
To register, click HERE.
ASSISTANCE RESOURCES
My staff and I have received several questions about unemployment during the pandemic. Below are some helpful resources:
- Please visit here to file an unemployment claim.
- Please visit here for a video tutorial on applying for reemployment assistance.
- Please visit here for a COVID-19 Reemployment Resource Guide.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity continues its tireless, diligent work to help families suffering from the economic impacts of the pandemic. A number of resources are available for Floridians during this challenging time:
- Click here for more information on PEUC applications.
- Click here for answers to frequently asked questions.
- Click here for information on available benefits.
- Click here for a guide on Reemployment Assistance.
- Click here to file a Reemployment assistance claim.
FLAG DELIVERIES
Our office will start resuming flag deliveries next week. If you are interested in purchasing a flag flown over the Capitol, please visit my website!
INNOVATION AT ESCAMBIA HIGH SCHOOL
This week, a 19-student team from Escambia High School placed first in a NASA rover competition held last school year. 111 teams from 27 states — as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 11 other countries — competed in this year’s challenge, according to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. I applaud the achievement of these students, and look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the future.
For more, see also:
Pensacola News Journal — September 1, 2020
Escambia High School team wins NASA Neil Armstrong award for rover design
ARE YOU LISTENING?
Listen to my podcast, “Hot Takes with Matt Gaetz,” where I discuss the latest news coming out of Washington. You won’t want to miss it!
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION
As Florida continues reopening its economy, click for further information on the status of Escambia, Okaloosa, Holmes, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties:
Additionally, all of our local military installations are regularly updating their websites with details about base access (and more) due to the pandemic. For more information, visit:
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
CNS News — September 1, 2020
Rep. Gaetz: ‘I Would Not Trust Adam Schiff With the Secret Ingredient to My Mother’s Lasagna Recipe’
As Democrats fume over canceled in-person intelligence briefings on election interference, Republicans say it’s the right move — and one applauded by the intelligence community. “I would not trust Adam Schiff with the secret ingredient to my mother’s lasagna recipe, much less our nation’s most sensitive intelligence,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) told Fox News’s Sean Hannity Monday night.
USA Today — September 4, 2020
House will vote on federal marijuana legalization for the first time, bill’s future in Senate uncertain
The bill has one Republican cosponsor, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, and 86 Democratic cosponsors. Speaking on his “Hot Takes with Matt Gaetz” podcast, Gaetz called the bill’s removal of marijuana from the federal controlled substance list “absolutely a step in the right direction.” Gaetz criticized a provision in the bill that creates a 5% sales tax on the sale of marijuana to fund community programs benefiting people previously convicted of marijuana-related offenses. The Florida Republican dismissed it as a form of “reparations,” but said he would still vote for the bill when it came to the House floor.
Florida Politics — September 3, 2020
Matt Gaetz calls for Edward Snowden’s pardon
Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican who is one of Trump’s staunchest defenders, explained his belief on Thursday’s episode of his podcast. The Representative’s words in the episode were more deferential to the President than his earlier tweet, but carried the same message. “As of today, the case has never been stronger that Edward Snowden deserves a pardon from President Trump. I would support a pardon for Edward Snowden. […] If it were not for Snowden, we might not know today that our own government was engaged in an activity that now a federal appellate court has deemed illegal,” he said.
Breitbart News — August 30, 2020
Joe Biden’s America is ‘an America in Surrender’
Saturday on Fox News Channel’s “Justice,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said the protests in the streets on Thursday night in Washington, D.C. following the conclusion of the Republican National Convention were an indication of what the country would look like if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins on November 3. Gaetz noted the contradiction of surrendering our lives to big government while it was so weak that it couldn’t offer essential services like ensuring the public’s safety.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Daily Caller — September 3, 2020
Court Sides With Edward Snowden, Rules Mass Surveillance Of Americans Is Illegal
Pensacola News Journal — September 2, 2020
75 years after V-J Day, Pensacola man recalls watching history unfold in Tokyo Bay
Fox News — September 2, 2020
Pelosi used shuttered San Francisco hair salon for blow-out, owner calls it ‘slap in the face’
The Federalist — September 1, 2020
Democrat Mayor’s Committee Proposes Removing Or Shaming Washington DC Memorials
Bloomberg — September 1, 2020
Lawmakers Seek to Curb U.S. Reliance on China for Rare Earths
Just The News — September 1, 2020
Enemies list? State Department monitored 13 Americans’ social media in possible legal violation
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