| Infrastructure = Jobs |
Dear Neighbor,
I was a social worker and a 27-year police officer. I constantly saw the impacts of what happens when we fail to invest in our communities. Too often, Congress gets focused on the fringes and distracted by the extremists, and regular middle class families get left behind.
That's why right now I'm working on legislation in Congress to rebuild broken roads and bridges, ensure access to clean drinking water and broadband, and invest in the middle class and in people who have to go to work every day. I'm fighting for us to invest in working families in a fiscally responsible way that doesn't add to the debt or raise middle class taxes. This is about investing in families, and about simple fairness.
Floridians pay too much for prescription drugs. Our cars get damaged driving on broken-up roads. We need a tax break. Communities in South Florida are going to flood because of climate change unless we invest in new technology and clean tech manufacturing jobs. These are issues that have been around for decades, and we hear a lot of talk but nobody ever does anything. Well we're going to actually do something about it, even if it's a tough fight in Washington. I fundamentally believe that when we invest in middle class Floridians and the people who have to go to work every day, it makes our nation stronger.
The American people get it. The vast majority support what we're proposing because they know it's going to put money in their pockets and make their lives better. So my trust is in everyday Floridians and I remain encouraged that we are going to get where we need to be, which is real investments to reduce taxes, create jobs, and bring down costs for the things we need for a good life.
When I think about why this legislation is important, I think about my grandchildren. My granddaughter Autumn (pictured below with her father) turned nine last month, and I am deeply committed to leaving her with a world where she and all of our children and grandchildren can be safe, happy and prosperous if they work hard and play by the rules.
While we work on this legislation, we must all continue to do our part and get vaccinated.
The best weapon we have against this virus is to get vaccinated. Each of us needs to do our part and help defeat this deadly virus.
Vaccines are now available at local drug stores. You can text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) to immediately get information on the more convenient vaccine locations near you.
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
Our country has reached a tragic milestone of 700,000 Americans dead from COVID-19. Our country leads the world in COVID-19 cases and deaths.
I am praying for their families and for our nation. Protect yourself and others, and get vaccinated.
Currently, there is a memorial set up on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Hundreds of thousands of white flags each represent an American who has died from COVID-19. It is a powerful and heartbreaking reminder of all we have lost, and the urgency of our mission to keep our families, our children, and ourselves safe.
With the deadly Delta variant now the dominant strain affecting our communities, it is critical that each of us gets vaccinated so we can keep our schools and economy safely open, save lives, and beat this pandemic.
Our dedicated healthcare workers are heroes. Their efforts during this pandemic—risking their own lives to care for others—have been extraordinary. The best way to say “thank you” is to get vaccinated and end this pandemic.
| Ensuring Fiscal Stability for Social Security |
Social Security is a sacred promise to the American people and it’s one that we must fulfill. I’ve cosponsored legislation to end 50 years of neglect towards this essential program, ensure its stability, and prevent benefit cuts.
Our Social Security 2100 Act will ensure that no American is forced to retire into poverty. It will:
- Increase benefits across the board
- Ensure that the COLA keeps up with inflation
- Repeal the WEP and GPO which penalize public workers
- Cut taxes for the middle class
Our legislation also includes critical fixes to provide caregiver credits, increase benefit access for children living with older relatives, and end the disability benefit cliff.
Social Security must be about just that: security – for every American family.
| Ensuring Accountability and Performance from FEMA |
Floridians know that when disaster hits, we need FEMA to be fast, efficient, and effective. As the chair of the Congressional Subcommittee overseeing FEMA's operations, I've called for a new audit into FEMA's recruitment, hiring, and retention policies to ensure that we are protecting our precious tax dollars and ensuring maximum effectiveness to keep Floridians safe.
In recent months, images from the border have deeply concerned many of us. We are a nation of laws and a nation of values, and we must uphold both. The images from the border are disturbing but not new.
The unacceptable treatment of Haitian immigrants is a sad symptom of a broken system that for decades under Republican and Democratic presidents has failed to stabilize our border and has harmed innocent families seeking the American Dream after fleeing from disaster and danger.
I have called for immediate action from the administration and from Congress to build a safe, orderly, and controlled immigration system where all people are treated with dignity and respect. The American promise is a special thing. We must live up to it.
As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Haiti Caucus, I have also joined efforts to reduce attempted border crossings and ensure a stable process by establishing a clear system for the Haitian migrants who are seeking asylum or other relief.
| Equal Rights for Puerto Rico |
For too long, Puerto Rican Americans have been second-class citizens within our country. It is unAmerican and unjust. I met with Governor Pedro Rafael Pierluisi to discuss critical issues facing Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans here in Florida. Equal rights are not optional. Congress must do a better job to support statehood, reconstruction, and economic recovery.
Under current federal policies, Puerto Rican Americans are treated as second-class citizens not only in their vote but also in health care, senior assistance, and the child tax credit. We must correct this injustice.
I consider myself lucky to represent Walt Disney World and many thousands of its dedicated cast members and their families. Disney World today represents joy for so many families, but it also exemplifies what makes Central Florida such a special and welcoming place.
Predicted to produce a net tourism increase of $3.9 billion in Florida in its first decade, it ended up producing $14 billion for the state in the 1970s. Today, Disney World is the largest single-site employer in the U.S., providing an economic engine that powers not only my district but all of Florida. Walt Disney World attracts more than 58 million visitors annually, helping to make Orlando the most visited place in the United States.
None of this would be possible without the cast members, essential staff, and leadership who make dreams come true every day for children, their families, and countless other visitors. I am proud to represent thousands of them here in Congress, and will continue to work to ensure that all of their families can see the same kind of success that we have seen in the park itself.
As we celebrate Disney World’s 50th anniversary and wish it even greater success for at least another 50 years, let us remember Walt Disney’s words: “You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.”
| Investing in U.S. Clean Tech Manufacturing |
Currently, global solar manufacturing is dominated by China. Often, this includes repressive and slave labor. It's unacceptable both morally and economically. Solar components should be made here in America, by American workers.
I've introduced new legislation to make long-overdue investments in U.S.-based solar manufacturing, create good new jobs, and bring down the cost of renewable energy as we fight to slow down climate change. Manufacturing related to solar power could create up to 1.5 million new jobs across the country by 2035.
Here's how the Orlando Sentinel reported on our new legislation:
Florida is the Sunshine State and we should embrace this exciting new opportunity to transform sunshine into new American jobs and build a brighter future.
Just days after I introduced this legislation, some Chinese solar manufacturers announced that they would stop shipping to the U.S. This is why I introduced this bill. These parts should be manufactured here, by American workers.
| Protecting Israel from Terrorism |
Last month, funding for Israel's critical anti-missile program, the Iron Dome, was removed from a congressional funding bill. I strongly opposed this move, as the Iron Dome is critical to Israel's safety and security, and directly tied to our safety and security.
I am glad to say that days later we moved forward on this funding, and passed it. I will never waver in my commitment to keep all Americans, and Israel, safe from terrorism.
| No Florida Child Should Go Hungry |
Recently, it was reported that Florida was the only state in the country that had failed to file the proper paperwork to receive the federal funding we passed in our COVID relief plan to ensure that children don’t go hungry during this pandemic. This type of bad government is simply unacceptable. It's tough to learn when you're hungry, and playing politics with hungry children is simply cruel.
Fortunately, after I and others put pressure on the state government, Florida moved to send in its application. This is a big victory for Florida's children.
| Ensuring Blood Supplies in Emergencies |
As a former law enforcement officer, I am keenly aware of how precious this life-saving donation can be. Donating blood truly is the gift of life.
But after the Pulse Shooting, I heard stories from members of the LGBTQ community who were looking for what they could, like giving blood, and were turned away because of their sexual orientation.
Simply put, our policies have fallen behind the science, and we need to update these discriminatory policies to ensure that everyone has the best chance to survive during an emergency.
I'm glad to say that our work on this issue has made good progress. The FDA has now confirmed to us in writing that they remain open to updating the agency’s outdated, stigmatizing rules regarding blood donations. Expanding the number of American blood donors will help us to save lives when tragedy strikes.
| Meeting Future Leaders of America |
It was an honor to meet with the Cub Scouts of Pack 498 here in Central Florida. As I told them, their volunteering in our communities puts a smile on people’s faces, and that’s a special thing. Excited to see all that they will accomplish!
We talked about ideas of community and public service, and what it’s like being a Member of Congress. What I like best about being a Congresswoman is what I liked best about being a police officer: helping people. That’s what they do too.
| Protecting Our Right to Choose |
No Florida woman needs to justify her health care decisions to anyone. Every woman has the right, the freedom, to make her choice for herself.
When I was a police officer, I put away rapists, stalkers and domestic abusers. It is critical that we oppose extremist politicians in Texas and Florida who are instead trying to empower those same criminals to sue victims if they get an abortion.
We passed legislation to enshrine a woman’s right to choose in federal law. Abortion rights may be under assault, but we’re not giving up.
This vote was about protecting our freedom to decide against their attempts to control. Every woman has the right - the freedom - to make this choice for herself, and to do so based on her own personal individual circumstances.
You can watch my speech on this issue here:
| Fighting to Protect the Health of all Floridians |
Here in our country, millions of Americans fall into a gap in health coverage, leaving them sicker, poorer, and needlessly neglected.
Protecting the lives and health of Floridians is critical. We can do it by expanding Medicaid. A major study last year by Columbia University on expectant mothers, for example, found that expanding Medicaid was “significantly associated with lower maternal mortality.” Simply put, expanding Medicaid saves lives. And as we all know, preventative care is far cheaper than emergency triage. Equal access to health care is both a moral and fiscal good.
Florida should simply accept funding that we already passed to cover this expansion. Yet tragically our state has rejected this lifesaving expansion.
I'm currently fighting for an expansion of Medicaid to cover these Floridians and bring our health care system up to what should be the American standard.
| 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.
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.
Get vaccinated!
Information on rental assistance can be found here.
If you lost a loved one to COVID, financial assistance of up to $9,000 for funerals is available.
You will need:
- A death certificate showing COVID-19
- Funeral expenses documents
- Documentation of other funds being used
More info can be found here.
As a reminder, my office is here to help you with any issue you may be having with a federal service. If you are working with a federal agency and are not receiving an answer in a timely fashion, or you feel you've been treated unfairly, our office may be able to assist you resolve the problem or get more information.
Please reach out if you need help.
For more information on Congressional nominations for a Service Academy, please visit my website.
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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
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WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
217 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2176
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ORLANDO OFFICE
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Orlando, FL 32835
Phone: 321-388-9808
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