Hello, Friends —
This week, I cosponsored several important bills, cosigned letters, and formally questioned the Director of the FBI, among other things. Below is a summary of this week’s events:
REP. GAETZ GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH FBI DIRECTOR OVER WUHAN VIRUS ORIGINS
Click Here to Watch!
Yesterday, while others continued to focus on January 6 events and gun control, I used my Q&A time in the House Judiciary Committee with FBI Director Christopher Wray to focus on bigger questions surrounding China’s nexus with the origin of Covid-19’s. Director Wray was unable to answer any of my questions about Dr. Li-Meng Yan and her courage to expatriate from China and expose the CCP. I am hopeful that we will hear more on this in the coming days.
REP. GAETZ JOINS STEVE BANNON’S WAR ROOM TO DISCUSS FBI DIRECTOR’S TESTIMONY
Click Here to Watch!
I joined War Room: Pandemic with Steve Bannon hours after the House Judiciary Committee hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray concluded. We discussed how Director Wray’s suggestive answers provide insight as to how serious the FBI investigated evidence they obtained on the origins of COVID-19.
REP. GAETZ COSPONSORS THE PISTOL ACT
The Biden Administration has mandated that the Department of Justice (DOJ) issue a proposed rule to define the use of a pistol with a stabilizing brace as a short-barreled rifle, subject to the National Firearms Act (NFA) regulation.
This ruling would include a burdensome bureaucratic process with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), as well as imposing a $200 NFA stamp tax. I won’t stand for this infringement on our Second Amendment.
For these reasons, I am proud to cosponsor Congressman Bob Good’s legislation: the Protecting Individual Sovereignty Through Our Laws (PISTOL) Act. This important bill would prevent the Biden Administration from arduously regulating pistol braces by providing a statutory definition of what constitutes a "pistol", that is not subject to bureaucratic interpretation.
REP. GAETZ COSPONSORS THE NO PENSIONS FOR CORRUPT POLITICIANS ACT
Do you think former Members of Congress convicted of crimes should be able to benefit from a loophole that allows them to continue receiving taxpayer-funded pensions? Do you think politicians should be able to profit from their political positions through pay-to-play schemes? Neither do I!
For these reasons, I cosponsored H.R. 1950, the No Pensions fo Corrupt Politicians Act, which closes loopholes that allow corrupt politicians to benefit from your tax dollars. Under H.R. 1950, any elected official convicted of bribery will no longer be eligible to collect their pensions; between the dates of their convictions and sentencing, too. This is a no-brainer!
Click Here to Read the Bill!
REP. GAETZ COSPONSORS BILL ASSERTING VOTING FOR CITIZENS ONLY
Along with Reps. Andy Biggs and Ted Budd, I cosponsored Rep. Jeff Duncan’s bill, the Eliminating Foreign Intervention in Elections Act. This bill would strip federal funds from local and state governments that allow non-citizens to vote in local and state elections. It is well known that giving non-citizens the right to vote in local elections across the United States invites foreign interference in the electoral process.
Click Here to Read the Bill!
REP. GAETZ COSPONSORS THE MILITARY SPOUSE HIRING ACT
Here in northwest Florida, we cherish those who serve and those who support them. Though we are grateful–and fight–for all the support that goes to our brave men and women in uniform, too often their family members do not get the support or recognition they so rightly deserve for their supportive roles. Currently, the unemployment rate for military spouses is near 30%, much greater than it should be.
This is why I cosponsored H.R. 2972, the Military Spouse Hiring Act, bipartisan legislation that would incentivize employers to hire spouses of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. This bill would help close that gap by expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of qualified military spouses, in turn allowing employers to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those spouses.
The WOTC currently permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group such as qualified veterans, ex-felons, or long-term unemployment recipients, among other groups, to claim the tax credit. This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to expand the targeted groups within the WOTC to include the hiring of military spouses.
REP. GAETZ COSIGNS LETTER, REMINDING VA SECRETARY OF ABORTION PROHIBITION
This week—alongside Senator Rosendale, Representatives Mike Bost and Chris Smith, among others—I cosigned a letter addressed to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. This letter formally informs McDonough that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is prohibited by law from paying for abortions.
While testifying before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on March 25, 2021, Secretary McDonough stated that whether the VA paid for abortions was only a matter of regulation and could be subject to change by the Administration. However, this law prohibiting the VA from paying for abortion cannot be changed at the discretion of the Administration. Congressional action would be required to amend it.
Click Here to Read the Letter!
REP. GAETZ COSIGNS SUPPORT LETTER FOR MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS
It is essential for the United States to remain equipped with the defense systems necessary to defend ourselves against any unexpected danger. This is why I—along with Congressman Mo Brooks and other Republicans—signed a letter in support of missile defense programs addressed to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
Click Here to Read the Letter!
AROUND THE DISTRICT
COAST GUARD URGES PREPAREDNESS FOR 2021 HURRICANE SEASON
As Floridians certainly know, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak occurring between mid-August and late October. The Coast Guard is urging preparedness for the 2021 hurricane season, and has listed the following tips:
- Prepare a kit. Ensure you and your family have a disaster kit ready to go in case of an emergency. For more information on items to include in a kit, visit Ready.gov for preparedness tips.
- Get to know your surroundings. Know the elevation of your house and property. Hurricanes often bring storm surge, which is considered the greatest threat to property and life during any tropical storm. Know your communities’ evacuation routes and how you would evacuate to higher ground. For more information on potential storm surge areas visit NOAA’s storm surge site.
- Check the weather: The Coast Guard mobile app for boating safety is a tool to check marine weather from your phone. With the mobile app, you can check the weather at nearby NOAA buoys, which provide wind speed and direction along with wave height. Checking weather any time you plan to get underway and throughout your time on the water is highly recommended.
- Secure your boats: Review your hurricane plan with your local marina, ensure you have a plan to both bring your boat in and strap it down ashore or ensure it is properly equipped to ride out the storm at the marina.
- Listen to local officials: When it comes to hurricane response and preparedness, the most important link in the chain is you: prepare your boat for the season, have a hurricane mooring plan and monitor channel 16 on your VHF radio when on the water. Prior to planning a voyage, keep an eye on the weather, port conditions, and other hurricane warnings.
GARCON POINT BRIDGE TOLL SUSPENSION FURTHER EXTENDED
Pursuant to Executive Orders 20-224, 20-248 and the extension of those orders in Executive Order 21-104, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. has directed Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise to further extend the toll suspension for the Garcon Point Bridge. Tolls are now suspended on the Garcon Point Bridge through Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
The extension allows the Garcon Point Bridge to continue serving as an alternate route while the Pensacola Bay Bridge is being repaired from damage sustained during Hurricane Sally.
Click Here for More Updates!
WHAT WE'RE READING
New York Post — June 10, 2021
Florida Department of Education bans critical race theory from classrooms
The National Pulse — June 10, 2021
WATCH: Fauci Claims To “Have No Idea” About His Own, Documented E-Mails With Mark Zuckerberg.
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Fox News — June 10, 2021
Wray avoids specifics on COVID lab leak investigation, says FBI doing 'deeper dive on that subject'
Rep. Gaetz grilled Wray on FBI's contacts with Chinese COVID whistleblower.
The National Pulse — June 10, 2021
WATCH – Rep. Gaetz Grills FBI Director On Dr. Yan Whistleblower/COVID Origins.
Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-1) has grilled FBI director Christopher Wray on the origins of the coronavirus and what Wray and his FBI knew as Chinese defector/whistleblower Dr. Yan entered the United States in April 2020.
Newsweek — June 9, 2021
Marjorie Taylor Greene's Fire Fauci Act Doubles its Co-Sponsors After Email Dump
Before the emails were released, Greene had four co-sponsors for the Fire Fauci Act. On Tuesday, that number increased to nine when Reps. Mo Brooks and Greg Steube agreed to co-sponsor the bill. Reps. Buddy Carter, Bob Good and Matt Gaetz became co-sponsors on Friday.
Newsmax — June 4, 2021
Rep. Matt Gaetz to Newsmax: 'Fauci Has Blood on His Hands'
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz publicly chastised Dr. Anthony Fauci on Newsmax as having "blood on his hands" for the doctor's alleged cover-up of what was going on at the lab in Wuhan. Gaetz suggested that Fauci was funding the Chinese lab while gain-of-function research was taking place.
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