| Keep Up the Good Work |
Dear Neighbor,
We are getting closer and closer to beating this virus, and we can't give up now. I pray that you and your loved ones are healthy, staying safe, getting vaccinated, and continuing to wear masks as we seek to crush this virus and get back to a new, better normal.
I was pleased to recently be joined by Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden's Chief Medical Advisor, for a virtual town hall on COVID-19. Also joining us for this important discussion were FEMA Region 4 Administrator Gracia Szczech, Florida Department of Health Director for Orange County Dr. Raul Pino, Walmart Senior Director of Health and Wellness Lisa Smith, and Southeastern Grocers Director of Government Relations Joe Caldwell.
If you missed this great discussion regarding the virus and vaccine rollout, you can watch it here.
Last month, Democrats in the House and Senate, working with President Biden, passed the American Rescue Plan. This historic legislation will get shots into arms, money into pockets, people into jobs, children safely back in the classroom.
A huge bipartisan majority—75% of Americans—support this rescue plan for our families, small businesses, and communities.
Millions of Americans have already received the $1,400 survival payments from the American Rescue Plan. Small businesses across our community are receiving vital support. And hundreds of millions of dollars are being made available to Orange County Public Schools and to local governments to keep our kids safe, make up for lost learning time, and ensure that teachers, firefighters, doctors, police officers, and other public servants can stay on the job and be safe while they do. Parents will also receive up to $3,600 per child in a new expanded child tax credit.
If you have not yet received your Economic Impact Payment from the American Rescue Plan, no additional action should be needed but you can check your status here.
This legislation will lift 12 million Americans out of poverty, cut child poverty in half, and pay for itself by generating $1.25 for every dollar spent.
Vaccines are now available at local drug stores and community vaccination sites, including at Valencia College. As of April 5th, all people over the age of 18 are eligible for all of the vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for persons age 16 and up. Go get the shot! The sooner we build immunity to this virus, the sooner we can leave this painful time behind us.
It is also critical that vaccines be distributed fairly. I joined my colleagues to ask for a Department of Justice investigation of disturbing reports that Governor DeSantis distributed vaccines to affluent and politically-connected Florida communities, while other hard-hit areas of the state struggled to access the shots.
Despite the progress we have made, we cannot lose sight of the over 550,000 Americans who have needlessly died from this pandemic. It did not have to be this bad, and we have a responsibility to their families, and to the millions of Americans still experiencing long-term COVID-19 symptoms, to take their pain and needs seriously and to stay together as one nation, united.
Remember: President Biden has ordered a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to sign up for health care if you currently lack it. Go to https://www.healthcare.gov/ to sign up.
This has been a challenging time for our country and our community. But we have hope, and due to the tireless work of scientists, researchers, doctors and nurses we are rapidly distributing three effective and safe vaccines. As we work to rebuild America, each of us must continue to lift each other up and continue the struggle for liberty, justice, and opportunity for all.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve and represent you. Please continue to care for one another and stay safe.
Sincerely,
U.S. Rep. Val Demings
| Important Resources for our Community |
To end this pandemic, it is vital that all of us get vaccinated. Due to orders from President Biden, vaccines are available at local pharmacies as well as community vaccination sites.
Vaccines are free. You do not need health insurance, but bring your card if you have one. The pharmacy locations require an appointment; the community vaccination site at Valencia College is open to walk-ins. Vaccines are available to every adult in Orange County. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for persons age 16 and up.
For information about vaccination in Orange County, Florida,
You can schedule appointments at local pharmacies here: Walmart; Sam’s Club; Publix; Winn Dixie; Walgreens; CVS; Fresco y Más.
Following an order from President Biden, there is a FEMA vaccination site open in the 10th District, at Valencia College West Campus in Orlando.
Get vaccinated!
We need to hear your vaccination stories. Every person getting vaccinated is critical to ending this pandemic and keeping each other safe. Whether positive or negative, we need to hear your experience.
Please share your stories here.
Here are some stories from people in our community who urge everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible:
" The vaccine is a literal life saver and am so grateful to have received it. I have asthma and allergies and had a great experience after both doses of the vaccine...I'm one step closer to hugging my loved ones again." - unnamed
"I wrote to Mayor Demings office on the Sunday before sign ups were available and asked for information. They promptly wrote back with links. I signed up with Orange County Health Dept. right away... the experience at the Orange County Convention Center was easy and quick. Great job!!"
- S.R.
"My two shots couldn't have been more positive...I can't think of anything that could be improved upon."
- William
"I got my first Pfizer vaccine at Valencia College's West Campus just over a week ago. I am a person who has a history of anaphylaxis with injections; thus, I had to stay to be monitored for 30 minutes afterwards. The entire process, including the check in, vaccine, and monitoring, took exactly an hour! And the on site crews were so kind and efficient. I am extremely grateful and looking forward to my second shot."
- Neisa
- Alice
"I took my 85 year old mother to the FEMA site at West Valencia today. There was no wait and they took both of us as walk-ins. As soon as we got to the first nurse, they got my Mom a wheelchair. As we left there was a golf cart to take us directly back to the car. Everyone working there was great."
- T.J.
President Biden has extended the eviction moratorium for renters in federally-backed housing. Additionally, rental assistance is being distributed by the Treasury Department. More information can be found here.
If you have been a victim of identity theft related to unemployment insurance, the IRS has a new website, here, to report the crime. Remember—for your taxes, only report your authentic income. You should also report the fraud here.
If you lost a loved one to COVID, financial assistance of up to $9,000 for funerals is available starting in April.
You will need:
- A death certificate showing COVID-19
- Funeral expenses documents
- Documentation of other funds being used
More info can be found here.
| Ending Gun Violence in America |
Last month, two high-profile mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado reminded us that even during a pandemic, gun violence is still tragically impacting our communities. 2020 was the deadliest gun violence year in decades, killing over 43,000 Americans. This includes almost 20,000 who were murdered or unintentionally killed with a gun, and over 24,000 who tragically took their own life with one.
I grew up with guns, learning from my father how to hunt. As a law enforcement officer, I trained and worked with guns every day. I also saw the deadly consequences of what happens when guns are in the wrong hands—a lesson Orlando knows tragically all too well.
We know from decades of research that "more guns mean more deaths." A person with a momentary urge to commit violence or to end their own life is far more likely to be successful when they can easily get a gun. Right now, millions of guns change hands without even the slightest background check, and thousands of people have purchased guns despite being banned from doing so, due to what's called the "Charleston Loophole" after nine churchgoers were murdered at their prayer group in 2015 by someone who used the loophole to get a gun despite his criminal background.
We have now passed two bills through the U.S. House to close these loopholes and to keep guns out of the wrong hands. These simple measures are supported by 90% of Americans, including gun owners like myself.
I joined two of my congressional colleagues from Illinois, Reps. Robin Kelly and Bill Foster, for a conversation about these two bills. You can watch that discussion here:
We are going to keep up this work. I have joined and led my colleagues in calling for a ban on the import of assault weapons and the regulation of "cop-killer" concealable assault-style rifles like the ones that have killed dozens, including police officers in Boulder, Milwaukee, and Dayton. I also joined my colleagues to pass the Violence Against Women Act, which in addition to many other measures would also keep guns out of the hands of violent abusers and stalkers.
When America first began to regulate safety around cars, people complained. But simple steps like requiring seatbelts and airbags have saved literally millions of lives, with no major inconvenience to drivers. There is nothing stopping us from saving millions more with common-sense gun safety laws.
| Inspired By Our Young People |
I joined Commissioner Mayra Uribe and passionate youth who care about our community for a volunteer cleanup day on Orange Blossom Trail. Roughly 100 young people turned out to volunteer. I am inspired by their commitment to making our community better. They saw something wrong, and they worked to fix it. I can't think of anything better.
I am proud of these young people and for all they’re going to do in the future.
In addition, I am honored to congratulate an exceptional group of young people in our community who have attained the rank of Eagle Scout. As a former Girl Scout troop leader, I fully understand the magnitude of this accomplishment and I am proud to represent these young leaders in Congress.
The Eagle Scouts we have recently honored are:
- Jackson Sublette
- Luke Bosworth
- Connor Garris
- Ethan Garris
- Jullyon Guichard
- Sean Killingsworth
- Miles Tankovich
- Brogan Tagman
- Jackson Tagman
- Connor Umpierre
- Dylan Umpierre
- Spencer Wishart
- Julia Shepherd
|
Ms. Julia Shepherd had the particular distinction of becoming Apopka’s first female Eagle Scout.
Congratulations to each of these remarkable young leaders. I am excited to see all that they will continue to accomplish.
Last month we laid to rest Orlando Police Officer Kevin Valencia.
Officer Valencia, a man of Courage, Pride, and Commitment, was severely wounded in 2018 while trying to save the lives of four child hostages. We are grateful for a life well lived, and my prayers are with his family, with Orlando Police department, and with our community. "Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
I spoke on the House Floor in honor of Officer Valencia's life. You can watch here.
| Supporting Women in Word and Deed |
As we celebrated the great contributions of America's women during Women's History Month last month, we also worked to pass critical legislation that will make a difference in women's lives. I was proud to support the revitalization of the Equal Rights Amendment, the effort to add gender-nondiscrimination to the U.S. Constitution. Most countries on Earth make it illegal in their constitutions to discriminate on the basis of gender. We should do the same.
I was also proud to support and pass a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, historic and powerful legislation to support survivors of domestic abuse, protect women and people of all genders from violence, disarm abusers, and ensure that justice prevails.
| New Op-Ed: Bring Back Public Shame About Racism |
I still care about what our children and grandchildren think. I want them to treat people with dignity and respect regardless of who they are or where they live. That's why my husband and I taught our sons to have some healthy shame.
I wrote about this in an article for USA Today:
Many years ago, during my 27-year career with the Orlando Police Department, I had a conversation with the department’s then-chief about racism. He was a white man; I am a Black woman. I had a tremendous amount of respect for him. He, like me, was not perfect, but he genuinely tried hard to get things right.
He shared with me that when he was growing up, he heard the N-word every day from his father in his home. Having grown up in the South, I was not surprised. I was first called the N-word when I was 4 years old. I tried hard not to judge the man I was talking to by his father’s standards.
But then he shared that though his father said the N-word frequently in private, he did not act in the same manner in public, and that he would have never wanted anyone to know.
I realized that his dad had something too many in America seem to be abandoning these days. His father had shame...
You can read the rest here.
| Stopping Anti-Asian Racism |
In addition to the mass shooting in Georgia, Asian-Americans across the country have been victims of repeated hate crimes. This is criminal and unacceptable. We need to make sure that this violent racism stays a shameful part of our past, not something that infects our present. Every person, no matter their race, background, gender, or any other category, deserves to live in peace and safety in America.
| Applying to the U.S. Service Academies |
To attend America's national service academies, applicants need recommendations from their Member of Congress. I am honored to nominate young men and women who demonstrate the highest standards of moral character, academic performance, and physical fitness.
For my Service Academy Nomination process, I hosted a virtual Service Academy day with over 60 participants and guest speakers from each respective Service Academy.
30 students from the 10th Congressional District were interviewed by my Service Academy Board: eight for the U.S. Air Force Academy, twelve for the U.S. Military Academy, and ten for the U.S. Naval Academy.
My office is now accepting applications through October 27th, 2021. The applications can be found here.
If you or someone you know is interested in attending a Service Academy, subscribe to my newsletter here to be informed on the next virtual Service Academy day this year.
Candidates are interviewed by a selected board that come from diverse backgrounds and experiences:
Lt. Col. Sharon Branch (Ret.)
Sharon Branch served in the U.S. Air Force in personnel and administrative positions for 26 years following graduation from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at University of Central Florida. After retirement, Sharon returned to Florida and taught 9th-12th graders who were enrolled in the Air Force Junior ROTC program. Sharon focused on strong national defense, citizenship, and the value of service to the community. She is a member of the Martin H. Harris Chapter of the Air Force Association and the Air Force Association Aerospace Education Council.
Kelsey Guetschow
Kelsey Guetschow grew up in Cameron Park, CA. She graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Science and finished her MBA in 2009 from the University of La Verne. She served for 6 years as a hospital administrator at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Los Angeles Air Force Base, and deployed to Craig Joint Theatre Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan. Since transitioning to civilian life in 2013, she has worked as a Digital Strategist consulting with large health systems and higher education throughout the country as well as focusing on her most important job yet: being a mom to two busy boys and a wife to her wonderful husband.
Douglas Lowe
Douglas Lowe is a Central Florida native – he was born and raised here and attended Maynard Evan’s High School, graduating in 1999. After graduating, Douglas joined the United States Marine Corps in July of 1999 and served until July of 2004, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Currently, Douglas works for the Federal Aviation Administration with a Masters in Electrical Engineering and serves as the President of the Florida Chapter for Professional Aviation Specialist (PASS).
Lt. Col. Faye Norris (Ret.)
Lt. Col. Faye Norris retired after successfully completing over 20 years of honorable service in the U.S. Army in various positions of leadership and command, stateside and abroad. Certified Master Trainer Faye Norris, Group Dynamics & Strategy Training, extended her professional career by working as a consultant for the Department of Defense, an executive trainer/coach for various public school districts and a leader/advisor for Florida PTA and other local community organizations.
Col. Mike Ulekowski (Ret.)
Colonel (Retired) Michael Ulekowski is a 1975 graduate of West Point. He served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, retiring at the rank of Colonel after participating in both Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been a Field Force Liaison Officer and Volunteer for West Point Admissions since he was a Captain starting in 1984. He is currently the Field Force State Coordinator for Florida and has held positions of Regional Coordinator, Congressional District Coordinator, and Zip Area Coordinator in the Admissions Department.
Pamela Ulekowski
Pamela Ulekowski was raised as an Air Force Brat and currently is the Chief Financial Officer for MULE Engineering & Construction. She is wife and mother to West Point graduates (1975 and 2006) and is also mother to an Army ROTC graduate from Texas State. She has been working as an Admissions Field Force Volunteer for West Point Admissions since 1986 and has been on numerous Congressional Selection Boards.
Larry Colleton
Larry Colleton earned a Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor Degree from the University of South Carolina. After graduation, he served for 24 years in the Navy (5 years active and 19 years reserve) from 1983 to 2007. During this time, Larry also worked as a legal service attorney in GA, served as an Assistant State Attorney and Assistant United States Attorney, appointed as United States Attorney Middle District of Florida by President Bill Clinton, and later on did solo practice. Larry currently works for Colleton Consultants.
Karen Johnson
Karen Johnson is the wife of an Air Force Veteran, mother of two Army Officers and an Army Green Beret. Karen’s youngest son and daughter are both graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point. She also served as the President of the Central Florida West Point Parents Group. Professionally, she has a degree in marketing, a Real Estate license, and currently works in the hospitality industry. Karen is originally from New York and has lived in Central Florida for 18 years.
Marc Watson
Marc Watson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1977 where he served 7 years on active duty and another 13 years in the U.S Naval Reserve (total 20). While on active duty, he was awarded both the Navy Achievement Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. Marc is a Registered Professional Engineer in Florida and an published author. Marc currently serves as the Senior Vice President at Universal Parks and Resorts, which is part of NBC Universal.
Don Ammerman
Don Ammerman was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and has been a Florida resident since 1972. Don received his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University School of Real Estate and his Master’s degree from the Kennedy School at Harvard. He then became a U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold Admissions Officer for 26 years and was also honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. He has a 49-year career in Industrial and Medical Office real estate and also served as an Orlando City Commissioner for 10 years.
Heidi Bedell
Heidi Bedell is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1993 with a degree in Mathematics. She served as a Supply Corps Officer for six years, and then obtained an MBA from Harvard’s class of 2001. She worked in corporate finance and resort development until 2015, and now volunteers as the Executive Director for a non-profit cat rescue which is funded by her current work as a residential real estate agent.
Congratulations to Mrs. Mildred Brewer for reaching the remarkable age of 101 years! We were pleased to prepare for her a Congressional recognition, which was presented to her son, Retired U.S. Navy Admiral David Brewer, on her behalf. Birthdays are blessings, and Mrs. Brewer has been greatly blessed.
----------
During this tough time, I want to assure you that my staff and I are still working and ready to assist you. If you need help, please let us know. You can contact us here.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve and represent you. Please continue to care for one another and stay safe. I know that we can get through this together.
Sincerely,
U.S. Rep. Val Demings
|
| |
|
| |
|
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
217 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2176
|
ORLANDO OFFICE
2295 S Hiawassee Rd, Suite 301
Orlando, FL 32835
Phone: 321-388-9808
|
|
|
|
