Chairman's Message



There is no “don’t say gay” bill





Elementary school children should not have teacher-led discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom







Per their usual arrangement, the media is parroting Democrat talking points. The latest example of this are the endless biased headlines and inaccurate stories about the so-called “don’t say gay” bill being routed in the Legislature. 



Let’s be immediately clear: There is no such bill. It is called the Parental Rights in Education bill (Senate Bill 1834 and House Bill 1557). The bill is aimed at ensuring that parents have a seat at the table in determining their children’s education, and a controlling seat when it comes to the most sensitive and personal topics that most parents want to teach themselves, including sexual orientation and gender identity. 



In a broad-ranging bill on Parental Rights in Education, there is this provision: “A school district may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”



This is the language that LGBTQ+ activists, Democrats and the media are all worked up over. But most parents would read that and find it completely reasonable. It is referring to young elementary school children from kindergarten through third grade not being subjected to inappropriate gender identity and sexual orientation discussions and teachings. These students are way too young for these discussions and it is not the role of the schools to encourage them.



“The school district isn’t in charge of introducing complicated topics to the kids. The parents are in charge,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said.  



Don’t be fooled. This is another instance of Democrats and the left smearing Republicans to undermine parental rights and side with LGBTQ+ activists. But parents in Florida and across the country are fed up with some school boards and teachers pushing their personal agendas on children. Florida Republicans recognize things have gone too far and it is time to re-enshrine parental rights in Florida law.



That’s what this is all about. Period.



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Operation Pedro Pan was nothing like the Biden border chaos







Governor DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Attorney General Ashley Moody met this week with Cuban Americans who as children were brought to Miami as part of Operation Pedro Pan. The meeting, which also included faith leaders who help human trafficking victims, shined a light on the Biden administration’s failed border policies which are endangering migrant children and our nation as a whole. By its own admission, the Biden Administration has stated that they lose contact with roughly one out of every three unaccompanied alien children crossing the Southwest border.



“Operation Pedro Pan was an organized, pre-planned program administered with visas and flight manifests to specifically rescue children from an oppressive Communist regime,” Governor DeSantis said. “While the flights of Operation Pedro Pan were designed to be hidden from the Cuban regime, the Biden administration operates its clandestine human smuggling flights in the dark of night to be hidden from the American people.” 



“Operation Pedro Pan was authorized and approved by the U.S. Government to bring refugee children from Cuba to the U.S. in a lawful, controlled, vetted and organized manner — breaking no immigration laws at the time,” said Lieutenant Governor Nuñez.



“Florida stands united against crime, lawlessness, and a federal government that is using taxpayer funds and clandestine means to flood our state with unvetted, illegal immigrants — all while keeping our leaders in the dark about who is being relocated to our state,” Attorney General Moody said.



Read more, including comments from Pedro Pan refugees here:[link removed]











FLORIDA







$64 million to protect against flooding in 8 communities



Governor DeSantis announced more than $64 million for eight communities, including the City of Fort Meade in Polk County, through the Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program. Projects include improving drainage and roadways in neighborhoods, hardening water systems and stabilizing current water reservoirs to lower future risks of flooding.



“By supporting the infrastructure of Florida’s communities, we are supporting their economic resiliency,” Governor DeSantis said. “Today, we are helping another eight communities reinforce important infrastructure that will mitigate the impacts of future disasters, while building a foundation that will support their future economic growth.”



Read more:[link removed]





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$17.5 million to rebuild infrastructure for communities hit by Hurricane Michael



Governor DeSantis announced nearly $17.5 million to strengthen and create disaster prevention for communities hit by Hurricane Michael, using funds from the Rebuild Florida Hazard Mitigation Grant Match Program.



“Repairing and strengthening infrastructure in the communities impacted by Hurricane Michael will help minimize the impacts of future disasters,” Governor DeSantis said. “I am proud to announce these awards to Florida communities who have been impacted by past storms and my administration remains dedicated to disaster prevention and recovery throughout the state to fight against future disasters.”



Read more here:[link removed]



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Governor requests disaster declaration from freezing temperatures



Governor DeSantis requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture issue a Disaster Declaration for counties impacted by freezing temperatures. Governor DeSantis also requested any assistance available under the Farm Service and other programs to assist recovery efforts for agricultural producers.



“Florida’s farmers play a key role in our state’s economy and my administration is committed to their recovery from the recent freezing temperatures,” Governor DeSantis said. “I’ve requested that the USDA approve all assistance available so that Florida’s agriculture community can protect remaining crops and prevent any further losses.”



Read more:[link removed]



The Governor’s letter is here:[link removed]



The Disaster Declaration process is here:[link removed]





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Lt. Gov. Nuñez tells Fox viewers Florida is booming because of freedom



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Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez appeared on Fox Business this week to talk about why Florida’s economy is so strong compared to most of the rest of the nation.



She told viewers that Governor DeSantis recognized early on that the draconian, Fauci-led lockdowns negatively impacted people’s overall health and well-being, along with their economic opportunities. “Now we are seeing, we have the actual data, that lockdowns don’t work, mandates don’t work. So here in Florida there is tremendous growth in our economy and people are flocking to Florida for obvious reasons.”



She also pointed out that the data continues to show that Florida’s freedom-first economic policies create jobs, keep Florida’s economy moving, and give Floridians the opportunity to thrive.



“Our economy is booming. What we’ve seen here in Florida is 20 straight months of private sector job growth, our labor force is growing at 6 times the national average, we’re the number one state in terms of net migration. We allowed businesses to thrive, we allowed people to work, and we allowed our children in the classroom.”



Watch her entire interview here:[link removed]



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“Florida will always be a beacon of freedom”



<[link removed]>



Attorney General Moody was on Fox News’ Fox & Friends Weekend talking about Florida’s response to GoFundMe’s attempt to take donations meant for Canadian truckers and send them to other charities.



She said Governor DeSantis was completely right in calling out GoFundMe's nonsense and that Florida will always fight to protect freedom.



Watch a clip of her comments here:[link removed]



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Val Demings flip-flop opportunism



In 2020, Val Demings called the Defund the Police movement “very thoughtful” and lectured cops rather than the violent rioters in the Washington Post. In 2021, Demings was silent on the mass lootings and uptick in violence, even after she voted to release violent criminals from prison and to allow a pathway to citizenship for gang members and sex offenders. 



But now in 2022, the year Demings is asking Floridians for a promotion, she has finally decided to recognize the spike in violent crime enabled by policies she supported, failing to acknowledge that Republicans like Senator Marco Rubio have been talking about it for months.



Senator Rubio responded to her rank opportunism:  



“Ever since arriving in Washington, Val Demings has made it harder for police to do their jobs while enabling violent criminals. Today’s demonstration is solely motivated by her run for Senate, and is too little, too late for the many Americans affected by the uptick in violent crime. This is political opportunism at its worst.”     



In other Val Demings’ news, one of her top fundraisers, Democratic strategist James Carville, viciously cursed out unvaccinated Americans on his podcast last week.  



“If you ask me what’s my first reaction to you if you’re not vaccinated, you don’t have any medical reason not to be, you’re a piece of s---, okay? I just want to punch you in the god----ed face. That’s the way I look at these people,” Carville said.



 "Val Demings has aligned herself with a divisive Democrat who is advocating violence against fellow Americans, and it is completely unacceptable. Demings should condemn these remarks and stop using Carville to raise money for her hyper partisan campaign," said Elizabeth Gregory, communications director for Marco Rubio for Senate. 







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