FLORIDA - DUNN DISPATCH 03/22/2020

NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT

Dear Friend,

During this period of uncertainty, we are fortunate to receive the benefits of scientists and members of the medical community who are working hard to give us as much information on this disease and ways to mitigate its spread as possible. We are seeing an unprecedented response from the White House as the Trump Administration and agency officials are responding with speed and anticipation of what will be needed in coming weeks to fight this pandemic. Congress is also working to provide more support for our healthcare system, aid for small businesses, and economic relief for individuals. I have been in our communities and know this is an incredibly hard time for everyone. I will continue to share information and resources on how we can all work together to fight COVID-19.

Please read about my week below:

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Update
Everyone is going through a tough time right now as we battle the spread of the COVID-19 virus. America is a strong, resilient country that will weather this storm as we have so many others, but, there are lessons that we are learning that will help us along the way.

Very recently we had a tourist from another state who became ill before his family vacation started in Panama City Beach. Unfortunately, he had the SARS-CoV-19 virus and exposed his entire family as well as numerous locals to the deadly virus. He is now fighting for his life on a ventilator in a local hospital. His family is quarantined along with a number of locals he had contact with upon arrival. This underscores why we advise people with even mild upper respiratory symptoms to self-isolate and remain home. You may be risking many lives by going to work or travelling. Do the right thing for your family, co-workers, and community and protect them by staying home.

We’ve also seen a rush on our stores when the first notifications to the public suggested "stocking up for 2 weeks" with supplies. This led to a surge of buying household essentials, cleaning supplies, and durable foods that we seldom see except in communities that face approaching hurricanes. This time the whole world was facing the disaster, not just a few coastal communities. America has a lot of resources, but this was a buying spree unlike any before. We actually have the supplies, but our trucking system was limited by hours of driving regulations that prevented deliveries. Until we relieved the bottleneck of limited trucking hours, the system could not keep up with the demand. President Trump issued an executive order addressing this obstacle and our grocery stores and pharmacies etc. are now catching up, but it will take a few days. Please be patient. We have a clean and reliable water supply from our city/county. We have power. The cost of gasoline is coming down dramatically. This is a time to think about keeping your families and yourself safe.

Please continue to monitor the following websites as we receive updated information:

•White House/HHS/CDC on Coronavirus/ COVID-19
•The CDC's Coronavirus Page
•The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America
•Coronavirus: what you need to know
•The Florida Department of Health Homepage
•The Johns Hopkins University Case Tracker

Joining Fox & Friends

I recently joined Fox & Friends and discussed Coronavirus (COVID-19), potential legislation, and prescription drugs that could help.

Click on the photo above to watch my full interview.

Transporting Emergency Supplies for COVID-19 ResponseLast week, I spoke with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Acting Administrator Jim Mullen to address gaps in the grocery supply chain given the increased demand for supplies in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Following my call, FMCSA issued an expanded national emergency declaration to provide additional regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency supplies in response to the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak. This is great news for all Americans who are relying on important medical supplies, food, and household goods. 

Click here for additional details regarding this announcement. 

Supporting Local Businesses 
On Wednesday, I stopped by a local restaurant in Panama City and used their "Grab-N-Go" option. Our small businesses serve as the backbone of our communities. I am working hard to make sure our small businesses get the financial support they need, but in the meantime, please consider finding ways to support them during this difficult time.

Click on the photo for a quick video of my stop for lunch.

Thank you for your continued energy and enthusiasm, as reflected in your letters and Facebook posts. If you haven’t already, LIKE my Facebook page. You can also follow me on Twitter @DrNealDunnFL2.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in Congress!

Sincerely,

Dr. Neal Dunn
Member of Congress