NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT
Dear Friend,
For the past few months, we’ve endured a great deal of change that has shaken up our daily routines. While Congress has managed to help some families and businesses, I recognize that several have yet to receive their economic impact payment (EIP) or other forms of assistance. I’m actively working to bring attention to these issues, particularly the EIP delays. This week, I joined my colleagues in urging the Internal Revenue Service to resolve a myriad of complications involving the EIP distribution. Several of you have expressed frustration, and I’m confident that this push from Congress will help get the results you need.
In the letter, we also mentioned how many throughout the nation, especially in our district, do not have reliable internet to access the resources from federal agencies. Access to the internet is a dilemma I’m actively working to address and have so for the past year. I spoke with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue about this issue and how we need to expand our efforts to bring broadband to rural communities. Rural areas cannot compete with the rest of the country if they cannot access high internet speeds. No one should get left behind in the shift towards a paperless world.
There’s still a lot of work to do to see these things through; however, I will continue to fight for the resources we need to recover from recent disasters and to compete with the rest of the country.
Please read about my week below:
My Week in the DistrictHelping Constituents Get Assistance
.png "Screenshot_(58).png") This week, I joined my colleagues in a letter to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Several of you throughout the district have contacted my office requesting assistance with your economic impact payment (EIP). While many received their check with no issue, some are still waiting for their share. Many of these cases involve constituents who are facing financial hardships due to COVID-19 and could significantly benefit from the EIP.
In the letter, we thank the IRS for their work during these unprecedented times. However, we also urge the agency to expand its capacity for casework assistance and to resolve issues in a fair and timely manner.
I know that this delay has put a tremendous amount of stress on many of you. My priority is to ensure all constituents receive the assistance needed and that these issues are resolved quickly. In the meantime, if you need assistance, my office would like to help you. Please contact us here.
Legislative UpdatesAgriculture Committee
On Friday, I spoke with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue about the opportunity to further develop the rural broadband goals of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Far too many residents in our district do not have access to standard broadband internet (25 megabits per second), let alone access to more modern speeds (up to 1 gigabit per second). In an ever-evolving environment that’s transitioning to paperless, we need to explore all possible options to deploy modern broadband quality internet as quickly and efficiently as possible. Our district, and other rural areas, should be equipped with the tools needed to keep up with the rest of the world.
Coronavirus UpdatesRecent Updates
- This week, I joined the Florida congressional delegation in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to increase allotments of Remdesivir to Florida as the state experiences a significant increase in hospitalizations of patients afflicted with COVID-19. Remdesivir has proven to be the most effective drug in treating COVID-19. We must receive an increased allotment in order to contain this virus.
- The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released a new resource, titled An Update and Behind the Scenes: FDA’s Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program, in which agency leaders discuss cross-agency efforts to find drug development programs and potential therapies. Thanks to this program, there are now more than 510 drug development programs in planning stages for potential therapies for COVID-19. As of today, the agency has reviewed more than 230 trials of potential therapies for COVID-19. This valuable resource gives you a look at what federal agencies are doing to help you and your family.
- The FDA encourages consumers to test their knowledge about the appropriate use of hand sanitizer with this hand sanitizer quiz. The quiz provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions related to hand sanitizer. This quiz can help consumers learn how to correctly use hand sanitizer.
Last week, a group of over two dozen people teamed up to build a new home for Ronald Curry, a Gulf County resident whose home was significantly damaged by Hurricane Michael. Several organizations and companies rallied together to make this happen including West Alabama First United Methodist Church, Square Foot Ministry, Inc., and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). Six more homes are slated to be built in Gulf County starting this Fall. This generous act is an outstanding display of leadership and kindness. Thank you to all who have contributed! Read the full story here.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in Congress!
Sincerely,
Dr. Neal Dunn
Member of Congress
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Constituent Casework Corner
A local Catholic high school contacted my office after filing an Application for Employment Authorization with the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS informed them that the application would not be processed before the beginning of the school year. We were able to provide USCIS with the documentation to show why this teaching position was critical and the countless students that would be affected if the application was not processed. After reviewing the information, USCIS expedited the processing of the application and approved the employment authorization.
Do you need help with a federal agency? Contact my office at 850-785-0812 or at www.dunn.house.gov
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