NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICTDear Friend, I hope that you remembered to turn back your clocks last night. If you have yet to, here is your reminder. November is here and we are just two days away from Election Day. The voting locations have done a great job ensuring your safety and an efficient process. I know many have opted to early vote this year. If you’re waiting until Tuesday to vote, make sure to look up your voting location and review your sample ballot.
This past week, I introduced a bill with my colleague Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) that will require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for interest incurred on loans used to restore essential functions after natural disasters. In Florida's Second Congressional District, our local governments and electric cooperatives have waited years for full reimbursement of Hurricane Michael related costs from FEMA. H.R. 8701 will fix this. You can read more about the bill below.
The Senate also confirmed President Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, last Monday. Amy Coney Barrett has a strong record in protecting the right to life and our Constitution. She will serve as a positive role model for this country, not only as an experienced and exceptional jurist but also as a dedicated parent. I’m pleased that my colleagues in the Senate agreed, and I am confident we will see great things come from Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
Please read about my week below:
This Week in the District
Legislative Updates
Coronavirus Updates
This Week in the District
Economic Impact Payment Request Extension
Mark your calendars! November 10th is National EIP Registration Day. 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. On November 10th, help the IRS reach people who receive little or no income so they can sign up and get their Economic Impact Payments.
The IRS has already sent nearly 9 million letters to people who may be eligible for the $1,200 Economic Impact Payments but don’t normally file a tax return. The letters, along with the special Nov. 10 event, both urge people to use the Non-Filers: Enter Info Here tool, available exclusively on IRS.gov.
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 was on Oct. 15.
Click here for more information.
NEW VA Beneficiary Travel Program Portal Beginning Monday, November 2, 2020 Veterans, caregivers, and beneficiaries who are eligible for reimbursement of mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments can now enter claims in the new Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS). BTSSS simplifies the current claim submission process for beneficiaries and ensures timely processing and payment of travel reimbursements. - Submit claims online 24/7, 365 days a year
- Track the status of submitted claims
- Reduce processing time for submitted claims
- Use self-help tools to make claim submissions fast and easy
- Visit AccessVA, select submit a travel claim, and logon using a DS Log on account.
DS Logon is an ID issued by DoD that will allow Veterans and caregivers to access many VA and DoD sites with one user username and password. Need a DS Log On?
Legislative Updates
The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act On Friday, Congressman Darren Soto (Florida-09) and I introduced the FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act (H.R. 8701). This bill will require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for interest incurred on loans used to restore essential functions after natural disasters.
Local governments and electric co-ops take out loans to restore services; however, while they are waiting for the funding, they incur interest. The interest paid on emergency loans is often a cost passed on to taxpayers and ratepayers alike so this could save you money.
When Hurricane Michael hit our district, two electric co-ops sustained nearly 100% destruction. This emergency funding was essential in helping these co-ops get back to serving their members. You can read more about H.R. 8701 here.
Coronavirus Updates
Operation Warp Speed In the middle of a global pandemic, a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is what we need to help bring life back to normal. But people must have confidence in the vaccine. Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has released a great opinion piece about the FDA’s commitment to producing a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Read the article here.
Recent Updates - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a $375 million agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to purchase the first doses of the company's COVID-19 investigational antibody therapeutic bamlanivimab, also known as LY-CoV555. Bamlanivimab currently is being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical trials funded by Eli Lilly, in addition to clinical trials as part of the ACTIV public-private partnership. The FDA is reviewing bamlanivimab as a possible treatment for COVID-19 in outpatients. Monoclonal antibodies, which mimic the human immune system, bind to certain proteins of a virus, reducing the ability of the virus to infect human cells.
- As of Friday (October 30th, 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 5.89 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
| IN THE NEWS Congressman Dunn Commends Senate’s Approval of U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett Constituent Casework Corner
A constituent contacted the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) because their name was spelled incorrectly on their renewed passport. After sending it back and waiting longer than expected to receive the corrected passport, they contacted my office for assistance. We were able to get the corrected passport to the constituent in time for their upcoming international trip.
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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