REP. GAETZ FILES LEGISLATION TO ABOLISH THE POSTAL SERVICE'S INTERNET COVERT OPERATIONS PROGRAM (iCOP)
This morning, with nine Republican co-sponsors, I filed the ‘‘USPIS Surveillance Protection Act,” which if passed will defund the Internet Covert Operations Program (iCOP), an illegal domestic surveillance program.
Last week, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (KY-01) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy requesting a briefing on the program after a recent report exposed iCOP’s surveillance update on a government bulletin distributed by the Department of Homeland Security. The bulletin reported the program’s findings of social media posts by right-leaning users on platforms such as Facebook, Parler, and Telegram.
The Postal Service should deliver the mail on time and on budget. They shouldn’t have a covert surveillance program to monitor social media political behavior, protected by our cherished Constitution. As the dangers of government surveillance and targeting become ever the more clear, especially to conservatives, Congress must immediately abolish this program.
PRESIDENT BIDEN’S JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS AND THE GOP RESPONSE
Joe Biden wasted Wednesday night’s opportunity to build realistic policy consensus within Congress. Instead, his speech resembled a trade show sales pitch attempting to market an overpriced product. When he wasn’t trying to sell the ‘American Families Plan,’ Joe Biden was taking credit for actions initiated by President Trump.
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Operation Warp Speed
Early on in his speech, Joe Biden began by taking credit for the progress and success of Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed. Biden touted that “after promising 100 million Covid shots in the first 100 days, [we] will have provided 220 million shots in those 100 days.” The distribution of millions of vaccines, for those who choose to get vaccinated, is great news to report. Falsely taking credit for the achievements under President Trump is dishonest. The Great American Comeback was made possible only through the efforts of the Trump administration.
Ending Forever Wars
If there’s one thing that I’m excited to see from Joe Biden’s address last night, it’s the promise to follow in President Donald Trump’s footprints by pledging to end forever wars and bring troops home from Afghanistan.
During a hearing in the House Armed Services Committee two weeks ago, I praised the administration’s plan to withdraw from the region and urged focus of our attention on the Western Hemisphere.
Re-Opening Schools
Joe Biden spent time focusing on “free schools” but not on open and operating ones. Through Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida is the model for freedom and liberty. Keeping schools closed affects the community's economy and the mental health of the students. If President Biden spent more time focusing on normalizing American life, rather than crafting and selling spending schemes, he would have something to stand on.
The GOP Response
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina delivered a well-rounded response and truly encapsulated why all Americans should be worried about reckless spending in return for one-sided progressive priorities. Notably, Senator Scott mentioned how Biden wants Washington intertwined in all Americans’ lives "from the cradle to college". This is not only attributable to the left-wing provisions in the “American Families Plan”; it has been the Biden agenda since Day One. Whether it’s the destructive Executive Orders, the “American Rescue Plan”, or the H.R. 1 Election Power Grab bill, the Biden Administration demands big government and even bigger prices.
Immediately after assuming office, President Biden decided to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline, require mandatory masks on federal property, and include illegal immigrants in the 2020 US Census; among 13 other Executive Orders, which ignore the role of Congress to legislate. Now he depends on the Democrat Congress to support more Big Government.
BIDEN'S AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN
Once again, the Biden Administration has shortchanged taxpayers with an enormous $2.8 trillion spending bill. Tax, spend, repeat. Now, less than eight weeks after the goliath $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” was passed, Democrats have upped the ante: permanent tax increases for short-term projects. Worse yet, increasing the corporate income tax rate from 21% to 28% will stunt the expected post-recession economic rebound. The expensive America Last proposal will steadily make our country less competitive in the global marketplace. 15 years of spending under the Biden tax brigade will only pay for eight years of the program’s outlined in this bill and will barely pay for half of the central planning projects of this proposal.
The immensely successful “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017” under President Donald Trump was a huge win for America. The enormous and sustained economic growth was in part owed to reducing our corporate income tax rates. President Joe Biden wants to bring these rates back up, so they will soon be higher than those in China at 25%. If this administration continues to deviate from the prosperous foundation built by President Trump, America’s darkest days lie ahead.
DEFUND SANCTUARY CITIES
Sanctuary cities refuse to cooperate with law enforcement and allow illegal aliens to roam free without documentation and accountability. That's why I, alongside Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04), filed an appropriations request this week to defund all sanctuary cities.
Preventing federal taxpayer dollars from funding sanctuary cities is essential because hundreds of thousands of aliens are currently crossing our border, encouraged by President Biden’s campaign promise to allow immigrants to walk-in freely. A rise in undocumented migrants in our interior is not only a national security risk but also a daily safety risk as crime rates rise. Sanctuary cities exacerbate the harms of the Biden Border Crisis because these outlaw cities refuse to cooperate with immigration law enforcement and allow illegal aliens to roam free without documentation and accountability to the U.S. government.
Defunding sanctuary cities will incentivize those localities to comply with the federal immigration laws.
DEFUND CRITICAL RACE THEORY TRAINING
Rep. Paul Gosar and I have also filed an appropriations request to prevent the use of government funds towards the “training” of government workers on racial sensitivity, diversity drills, critical race theory, the 1619 project, “whiteness studies” and all other forms of anti-American propaganda.
We know that critical race theory falsely purports that America is a racist country, promotes self-hatred, and disavows how far we have come as a country. Why should taxpayers fund such a narrow belief to be systematically embedded in workforce training?
Preventing federal taxpayer dollars from funding racial bias training is essential to the health of our national discourse and federal workforce. The federal government enjoys employees of all races, ethnicities, and religions; it generously welcomes all those who seek to serve their fellow Americans as federal workers. These so-called “trainings” on critical race theory are more than just a waste of time; government-sponsored race theory trainings actively deteriorates the fabric of this country and will lead to America’s implosion if this bill goes forward.
REP. GAETZ COSPONSORS VETERANS HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT
This week Congressman Gaetz co-sponsored the “Veterans Health Care Freedom Act” introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05). Eligible veterans are being denied from obtaining essential referrals for community care, this bill works to rebound from that.
The Veterans Health Care Freedom Act will create a three-year pilot program within the VA’s Center for Innovation Care and Payment to improve the ability of veterans to access health care in the free market.
This program will remove barriers for veterans to access free-market health care. It will allow veterans to access primary, specialty, and mental care outside of their corresponding Veteran Integrated Service Networks and at non-VA facilities. It will also requires that the VA will submit reports to both the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees on the implementation and results of this program. As you’re aware, our district consists of the highest concentration of active-duty military personnel in the country. I will always fight to ensure our veterans are properly taken care of and respected!
ACU FOUNDATION RATES REP. GAETZ AS 100% CONSERVATIVE
I’m proud to be one of two members in the Florida congressional delegation to receive a 100% conservative rating from the American Conservative Union Foundation! America First values benefit Northwest Florida and our country. I will continue fighting for them in Congress!
ICYMI: TUCKER CARLSON SLAMS MEDIA FOR GAETZ SMEAR CAMPAIGN
Click Here to Watch!
"Matt Gaetz was one of the very few members in the entire Congress who bothered to stand up against permanent Washington on behalf of his constituents."
– Tucker Carlson
AROUND THE DISTRICT
REP. GAETZ ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2021 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION
Congressman Gaetz announced the winners of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition for Florida’s First District during a virtual video premiere yesterday. Students from across the district submitted artwork for the competition pertaining to the theme “Scenes of Northwest Florida.”
Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by members of the U.S. House of Representatives. High school students from across Florida’s First Congressional District submitted their artwork for the competition, and a panel of local art professionals judged the pieces. The winning artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from participating districts across the country.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition!
1st Place: Eleanor Ferrier, Pine Forest High School, “Ezekiel the Pensacola Pelican”
2nd Place: Gabriella Lanza, South Walton High School, “Day Dream”
3rd Place: Levi Isbell, West Florida High School, “Hayley”
1st Place Runner Up: Lily Gentry, Pace High School, “Henry the Octopus”
2nd Place Runner Up: Lily Gravlin, South Walton High School, “Out of the Bog”
3rd Place Runner Up: Bennett Hobbs, South Walton High School, “Beachstorm”
Click here to watch the full announcement from yesterday’s video premiere!
NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RANKED AMONG TOP 50 BEST FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOLS
Niceville High School placed among the top 50 Florida high schools in a 2021 rankings report released by U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday, according to a report by Northwest Florida Daily News.
“Niceville placed highest among schools in Okaloosa and Walton counties, coming in at No. 49 in Florida and No. 886 in the country. Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College and South Walton High School both also cracked Florida's top 100, ranking No. 91 and 99, respectively.”
Congratulations to the mentioned schools in our district for their incredible achievement. This ranking is a testament to the tireless work of teachers, students, and local officials that aim to prepare the next generation of leaders!
2021 VIRTUAL ACADEMY NIGHT
Click Here to RSVP!
Congressman Matt Gaetz will virtually host his annual military academy night on May 24th, 2021 at 6:30pm CT. Our team and academy representatives will give informational insight on the academy application and nominations process. Tune in to our YouTube channel to view the event in real-time. To receive updates via email about this online event, RSVP today at VAN2021.eventbrite.com.
STIMULUS CHECK ASSISTANCE
As we are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries on stimulus checks, here are some resources regarding those frequently asked questions:
The Get My Payment tool is the primary way to review the status of your stimulus payment if you qualify. For more information about Economic Impact Payments, please review this page by the IRS.
If you have experienced issues receiving your 1st or 2nd stimulus check, the IRS requests that you file a tax return for 2020 and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, even if you do not normally qualify to file. Veterans and social security recipients can visit this page to begin the process of receiving one or both stimulus payments.
Currently, this is the only method of communication with the IRS available to resolve any issues with the first two stimulus payments. With all other issues related to the IRS, we can submit an inquiry on your behalf to the Taxpayer Advocacy Service (TAS). However, TAS does not accept inquiries concerning EIPs at this time. Please follow the Recover Rebate Credit process to notify the IRS of your missing payment.
CONSTITUENT SPOTLIGHT:
SAVING EASTER SERVICE
Pensacola-based Pointe Baptist Church was less than two weeks away from its annual Easter service in Gulf Islands National Seashore when they discovered government communication would become a critical roadblock.
The church’s pastor had not received a response to past requests on the status of their permit, an issue he says they’ve never run into before. With Easter quickly approaching, he became concerned that the permit would not be approved in time and was unsure who to reach out to next. Thankfully, Pointe Baptist Church contacted our office to investigate the issue. We reached out to the National Parks Service on their behalf, which prompted the agency to contact Gulf Islands National Seashore to confirm the permit request was received and to begin the review process. Two days after contacting our office, the church’s permit for an Easter service was approved!
LOST IN THE FIRE
The Five Mile Swamp Fire last summer destroyed 14 homes and caused nearly $2 million in damages after a controlled fire accidentally spread across the Milton area. Robert, a constituent, was one of the 14 victims who lost their homes. Along with so many precious items, he also lost important government documents, including tax returns from years prior. Robert contacted our office hoping to connect with the IRS to obtain his documents. After he spoke with our caseworkers, we were able to facilitate communication between Robert and the IRS and personally sent his tax returns to him!
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
The American Conservative — April 28, 2021
The Gaetz Scandal Isn’t About Matt Gaetz
"So the two most dramatic claims of the Gaetz scandal seem to be false, and we are still without an on-the-record accuser."
American Greatness — April 26, 2021
Why the MAGA Movement Needs Matt Gaetz in Congress
"Gaetz has quietly become a champion for America’s heroes, reaching across the aisle to bring troops home from the forever wars preferred by Pentagon bureaucrats and defense contractors. Gaetz is also championing the free speech of conservative patriots in the military, even while most Republicans remain silent."
American Greatness — April 25, 2021
The Deep State Targets Matt Gaetz
"Unsurprisingly, given that sourcing, none of the stories have contained anything close to serious detail or evidence. Reporters keep dropping tidbits of evidence likely to be emanating from within the Justice Department, yet none of which confirms any of the headline-grabbing allegations."
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