NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICTDear Friend,
This weekend marked the second anniversary of Hurricane Michael hitting our district. In the days leading up to the storm, none of us had any clue that we were about to face the largest hurricane the Florida Panhandle has ever seen. In the weeks following, it looked as if a bomb had gone off. There was destruction everywhere and many families were displaced.
While the images of damage and chaos are still fresh in my mind, so are the random acts of kindness and resilience displayed in the last two years. We had neighbors from our state, as well as others, race to aid us in rebuilding. We had first responders bravely go above and beyond to protect their neighborhoods. We also saw a sense of community I haven’t experienced in a long time. Everyone was able to put aside differences and work together.
Your actions in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael are what makes me so proud to represent Florida’s Second Congressional District.
We are our own force to be reckoned with. We are #850strong. 
Please read about my week below:
This Week in the District
Legislative Updates
Coronavirus Updates This Week in the District
Hurricane Michael – 2 Years Later 
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of Hurricane Michael. The only thing more surprising than the progress we’ve made since the storm is how it has already been two years. To many of us, it feels like just yesterday. And while we still have work to do, we should take time to reflect on what we have accomplished together.
To date, $3.1 billion in federal funds have been provided in grants, loans, and flood insurance payments. These awarded federal funds include: - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provided $654 million in low-interest loans to businesses, homeowners and renters to help with their recovery.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved $735 million in funding for long-term recovery efforts.
- The National Flood Insurance Program paid $246.4 million in claims to policyholders in the Panhandle.
- FEMA provided $66.5 million to purchase temporary housing units, rent housing pads and maintain units for Direct Temporary Housing program occupants a place to live until they find a more permanent housing solution.
- FEMA supported the state with $8.9 million for crisis counseling, disaster case management, disaster legal services and disaster unemployment assistance.
- FEMA’s Community Disaster Loan program approved $36.5 million for 11 communities to continue providing essential services as they focus on long-term recovery from Hurricane Michael.
- From October 2018 to April 2019, 2,058 displaced households received hotel lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, totaling $16.7 million in assistance.
- FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provided $4.9 million to fund projects aimed at reducing future losses and to increase community resilience statewide.
FEMA has also announced a federal grant totaling $11,438,154.98 for the Calhoun Liberty Hospital. This funding will be used for the replacement of the Main Hospital Building that was damaged during Hurricane Michael. This is outstanding news and another step forward in our rebuilding process.
Tyndall Air Force Base is also making a steady recovery. Here are a few images to show you just how far they have come since Hurricane Michael. 
The 325th Maintenance Squadron 
The 325th Training Support Squadron 
The 337th Air Control Squadron 
Fighter Wing Headquarters 
The Post Office We’ve made great progress, and I’m proud of this district for standing strong when faced with this destruction. Not many areas have the compassion Florida’s Second Congressional District has. I’m going to continue to fight tirelessly to get you the assistance you need to fully recover. With that said, if you still need assistance from a federal agency, please give my team a call or email us. We want to help you. Economic Impact Payment Request Extension
The Internal Revenue Service announced that the deadline to register for an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) is now November 21, 2020. This new date will provide an additional five weeks beyond the original deadline.
The IRS urges people who don’t typically file a tax return – and haven’t received an Economic Impact Payment – to register as quickly as possible using the Non-Filers: Enter Info Here tool on IRS.gov. The tool will not be available after Nov. 21.
Special note: This additional time into November is solely for those who have not received their EIP and don’t normally file a tax return. For taxpayers who requested an extension of time to file their 2019 tax return, that deadline date remains Oct. 15.
Click here for more information. Legislative Updates
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On Thursday, I joined Congressman Michael Waltz (Florida-06) and other members of the Florida congressional delegation in a letter calling for a federal investigation into the Florida Democratic Party’s (FDP) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application and for all documents, including the application itself, to be made public.
As the letter states: “The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. Congress intended the program to provide relief to America’s small businesses.” Let me be clear, this is not a move to attack the opposing party. This is about making sure EVERYONE is held accountable. This money was intended for American small businesses and should only be used to aid our small businesses. You can read the full letter here.
Another Attempt to Undermine the President
Instead of trying to get something done for Americans who are struggling or bringing the House back into session to pass commonsense bills providing relief for the airline industry or extending the Paycheck Protection Program, Nancy Pelosi is choosing to prioritize her political interests once again.
On Friday, Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) introduced a bill that would establish a 25th Amendment commission to assess the president’s mental and physical capacity to hold office.
This is not a serious legislative endeavor and is an attempt by Speaker Pelosi to use her official office to undermine President Trump, AGAIN. She has done this repeatedly before, whether it was during the Russia investigation or her partisan impeachment effort. This proves once again that she is more interested in advancing Democrats’ partisan agenda than she is on governing this nation responsibly. This attempt is shameful. The American people deserve better. Coronavirus Updates
Operation Warp Speed In recent weeks, I’ve seen and heard a lot of misinformation regarding the potential COVID-19 vaccine. Below are some common myths that my colleagues in the Doctors Caucus and I are working hard to dismiss. Please feel free to share this information.
MYTH: Vaccine research is being rushed by politics, threatening safety and effectiveness.
"Vaccines typically take 10 to 15 years to develop, so some people say it’s not possible to have a safe, effective vaccine in less than a year."
FACT: Any vaccine that receives approval will have met the same rigorous safety and effectiveness protocol as any other drug that the FDA considers.
"COVID-19 vaccine candidates are going through every normal phase of research and safety review. Because of the catastrophic impact COVID has had on American life, vaccines candidates are allowed to move through the approval process once they have met the target metrics for safety and effectiveness, and the government is paying to begin producing doses of the vaccine before being approved. If the vaccine fails to meet safety standards or to demonstrate that it will prevent COVID, it won’t receive approval. This way as soon as a vaccine is FDA approved, we have 100,000 doses available within 24 hours."
MYTH: The government will force you to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
"I know many people are concerned that once we have a vaccine, it will be mandatory to receive it."
FACT: We do not have federally mandatory vaccinations, and this one will be no different.
"But this is simply not true. Like other vaccines we have available for preventable diseases, the federal government will not force you to take it.
MYTH: The vaccine may be distributed without FDA approval.
"The most recent myth circulating is that the vaccine may be rushed and distributed before achieving FDA approval."
FACT: The vaccine will only be distributed after achieving every stage of research and trials that every other vaccine has gone through.
"But the truth is that COVID-19 candidates in their final stage of trials are going through randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter studies. Before final approval, a vaccine would be approved by an independent group of experts, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board. Dr. Fauci and NIH Director Francis Collins assured us that a vaccine will only be released once it is FDA approved and only if it is proven to be safe and effective."
Recent Updates
- The National Institutes of Health, working in collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), announced a third round of contract awards for scale-up and manufacturing of new COVID-19 testing technologies. The six new Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative contracts total $98.35 million for point-of-care and other novel test approaches that provide new modes of sample collection, processing, and return of results. Innovations in these new technologies include integration with smart devices, mobile-lab processing that can be deployed to COVID-19 hot spots, and test results available within minutes. Read more here.
- As of Thursday (October 8th, 2020) data reported to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration showed that the number of COVID-19 positive Florida residents that are currently hospitalized is down more than 70 percent since July. The Florida statewide positivity rate for new cases is 4.57 percent. Read more here.
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
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The surviving spouse of a veteran called my office requesting assistance in contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs after their monthly benefits, which they had been receiving for 18 years, suddenly stopped. We were able to work with the VA to determine that their system did not correctly update the widow’s banking information, which caused the benefits to stop. The VA quickly resolved the issue and ensured the spouse received the retroactive benefits.
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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