NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICTDear Friend, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats made it clear that their top priority is not you; it’s pushing their radical agenda. One of the bills Congress voted on this week inserts radical policies based on gender that will hinder the fight against domestic violence and sexual abuse. I support reauthorizing programs and life-saving resources to help our wives, sisters, and daughters fight back. However, I cannot support measures that put their well-being at risk.
Another bill we voted on this past week prioritized mass amnesty for illegal immigrants over the needs of our farmers. Farmers need long-term wage rate relief and accessibility to workers in the H-2A program to compete internationally. This bill fails to meet those needs. If we want the agriculture industry to thrive, Congress must put our farmers ahead of the radical left. You can read about both bills below.
I represent you first and foremost. If a bill does not address the needs of our district, I cannot support it. Florida’s Second Congressional District will always be put first.
Please read about my week below:
Update from Capitol Hill
This Week in the District
Coronavirus Updates
Update from Capitol Hill
What Congress Voted on this Week
Congress voted on several bills this week, including the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021. Both bills included some troubling provisions that I could not support.
The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) reallocates resources away from combatting violent crimes, disregards the wellbeing of women by promoting unproven methods that could force a victim to confront her abuser, and prohibits religious organizations from running shelters and legal aid centers based on their conscience and sincerely held beliefs thus forcing centers to close. The bill passed the House 244 to 172.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 allows illegal farm workers who worked in agriculture for a period of time, as well as their spouses and children, to apply for “Certified Agricultural Worker” (CAW) status. After an additional period of agricultural work, CAW workers may apply for a green card. Additionally, illegal immigrants would be eligible for CAW status even if they illegally re-entered the U.S., committed immigration fraud, voted illegally in a federal or state election, or committed certain other crimes. Once eligible for CAW status, the illegal immigrant is protected from being detained or removed. The bill passed the House 247 to 174.
The Democrats continue to put us in difficult positions with these politicized bills. At the end of the day, these bills did not meet the needs of my constituents, so I voted against them. With that said, I did co-sponsor the Violence Against Women Extension Act of 2021, led by Representative Elise Stefanik, which would provide a clean extension of funding for Violence Against Women Act programs for the upcoming fiscal year. This bill more appropriately meets the needs of women throughout this country.
House Energy & Commerce Committee
This past week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations heard from Dr. Anthony Fauci and other officials. During the hearing, I expressed my concerns about the vaccination of dialysis patients, air travel guidelines, and bridging the gap between diagnosing and treating COVID-19.
We’ve come a long way in the past year with treatments and vaccines, but there’s still a lot of red tape in our way and some research left to do. If we’re going to eradicate and eliminate this virus once and for all, we must get the politics out of science so we can reunite with our loved ones and get back to living life the way we were before this pandemic.
This Week in the District
Meeting with the Bay County Chamber
On Monday, I had the privilege of sitting down with the Bay County Chamber of Commerce to discuss some pressing issues for the county. After several weeks in Washington, D.C., I’m looking forward to getting back to the district to meet with more constituents and community leaders. Many thanks to the Bay County Chamber for hosting me!
Updates from the Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun issuing the third round of Economic Impact Payments. Please keep in mind that this process may take longer if your previous payments were not delivered via direct deposit. My team stands ready to help you should you have an issue; however, we ask that you allow ample time for payments to be sent out.
You can read more about this round of economic impact payments here.
Additionally, the IRS has announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. Even with the new deadline, the IRS urges taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds. Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds. Individual taxpayers do not need to file any forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief.
Coronavirus Updates
Recent Updates - Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that the eligibility age for the COVID-19 vaccine will be lowered to 50 starting Monday, March 22nd, 2021. He also mentioned that his goal is to open vaccinations to all residents before the first of May. Read more here.
- You can now pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine. The State of Florida has partnered with Sharecare to provide an easy-to-use platform that will save your spot for your shot. Pre-register here.
- Florida has many sites providing the COVID-19 vaccine. Use the vaccine finder to find a site near you. Supplies are limited and appointments may be required. At this time, the vaccine is available for:
- Persons 60 years of age and older;
- Persons determined to be extremely vulnerable by a physician (form required);
- Health care workers with direct patient contact;
- K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older;
- Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older; and
- Firefighters 50 years of age and older
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 Rep. Neal Dunn: ‘Congress must put our farmers ahead of the radical left’
Congressman Dunn: 'Prioritize women’s safety, not a radical agenda' Constituent Casework Corner
The owner of a small business contacted my office after noting that the status of their Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Disaster Injury Loan (EDIL) indicated the funds had been deposited. The issue was that the funds were never received. We were able to work with the SBA to have their account updated and the EDIL funds deposited into the correct account.
Do you need help with a federal agency? Contact my office at 850-785-0812 or at www.dunn.house.gov
|
No comments:
Post a Comment