NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICTDear Friend, This past week, House Democrats rammed through a 2900-page bill with a $325 billion price tag. Despite what Speaker Pelosi says about this bill, the Democrat’s America CONCEDES Act does not take any substantive actions to combat the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This bill focuses less on the real threats posed by the CCP and more on fulfilling the Left’s radical agenda.
To add to this, the White House released a statement about this bill earlier this past week and it doesn’t even include the word China in it. You cannot successfully combat an adversary if you're too afraid to even say their name. The Biden Administration and Democrats are continuing to dance around this issue while the CCP grows more powerful by the day.
As a member of the China Task Force, it’s my duty to counter CCP aggression to ensure the safety and security of the United States. As your congressman, it’s my duty to do everything I can to protect you and your family from bad actors. It’s time the Democrats get serious, too, and take substantial steps to improve our competitive edge over China and put America FIRST.
Please read about my week below:
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill
This Week in the District
Updates for Veterans
Coronavirus Updates
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill
Democrats Fail to Take Fentanyl Epidemic Seriously
On Wednesday, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats blocked a bill that would permanently place fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal to sell the molecularly altered fentanyl substance manufactured by criminals. The emergency class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances is set to expire on February 18, 2022.
Fentanyl is fifty times stronger than heroin, a hundred times stronger than morphine, and sadly, fentanyl is now the leading cause of death in Americans aged 18 to 45 years old. Trafficking illegal drugs carries mandatory-minimum sentences to keep these deadly substances out of our communities. As of now, this includes fentanyl, but the Biden Administration has conditioned the commonsense extension of fentanyl’s scheduling on the inclusion of a soft-on-crime policy.
I’m deeply disappointed this bill was blocked. With this deadly epidemic worsening each day, it’s imperative we help our local law enforcement officers and border patrol agents keep Fentanyl off the streets and away from our country.
Ensuring the Stability of Medicare Advantage
This past week, the House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met to discuss legislation to stop price gouging. Right now, inflation is at a 40-year high, and Democrats are attempting to blame it on price gouging. Price gouging is a serious issue, but we should focus on what causes it - an increase in demand. The increase in demand is coming from excessive government spending, as well as supply chain issues and workforce shortages. All these things are effects of the Biden Administration’s frivolous spending and job-killing policies.
Bottom line, Democrats can try to deflect from the real cause of crippling inflation, but it’s obvious that their failed leadership is to blame.
Watch the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce hearing here.
This Week in the District
Child Tax Credit Update
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for the tax year 2021 only. These Child Tax Credit FAQs focus on information helpful to taxpayers preparing their tax year 2021 tax returns.
Recipients of advance Child Tax Credit payments will need to compare the amount of payments received during 2021 with the amount of the Child Tax Credit that can be claimed on their 2021 tax return.
Those that received less than the amount they are eligible for can claim a credit for the remaining amount. Those that received more than they are eligible for may need to repay some or all of the excess amount.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has sent Letter 6419 in January of 2022 to provide the total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments that were received in 2021. The IRS urges taxpayers receiving these letters to make sure they hold onto them to assist them in preparing their 2021 federal tax returns in 2022.
Click here for more information.
Updates for Veterans
Are you a Veteran struggling with sleep apnea?
Did you know that the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) is one of six VAs across the country to offer a new procedure to help Veterans with central sleep apnea (CSA)?
According to the CDC, central sleep apnea is a serious breathing disorder that disrupts normal breathing patterns during sleep and has been shown to negatively impact quality of life and heart health. NF/SGVHS’s diaphragm stimulator is an implantable device that simulates the phrenic nerve (nerve in the chest) to send signals to the diaphragm (the large muscle that controls breathing). The signals stimulate breathing in the same way that the brain stimulates breathing.
To date, NF/SGVHS has experienced tremendous success in helping Veterans overcome health-related challenges due to CSA. Interested Veterans should consult their primary care or lung/sleep physician to inquire about the procedure.
Read more about this procedure here.
Help is available. You are not alone.
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, there are caring, qualified VA responders standing by to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, anonymous, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care.
Call 800-273-8255
Coronavirus Updates
Free COVID-19 Tests Are Now Available Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Order your tests now so you have them when you need them. You can also call 1-800-232-0233. The call line, which serves those speaking English, Spanish, and more than 150 additional languages, is open 8 a.m. until midnight EST, seven days a week.
If you need a COVID-19 test now, please see other testing resources for more information and find a testing site in your area here.
Get Vaccinated
If you still have not been vaccinated, I encourage you to consult your doctor about scheduling an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. 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.
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for persons aged 12 and up. The Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines are authorized for persons aged 18 and up.
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
| Constituent Casework Corner
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) started off this tax season with a backlog of approximately 10 million unprocessed returns from 2020. My office has started receiving calls from constituents with concerns about their 2021 tax returns not being processed promptly. The good news is relief is on the way. Around 1,200 additional IRS employees have been detailed to address the 2020 tax return backlog and hopefully prevent the same type of delays from happening with the 2021 tax returns.
If your 2020 return still hasn’t been processed, please contact my office for assistance at (850) 785-0812 or by submitting a request for assistance through my website at Dunn.house.gov.
Please remember that while the goal is to process the 2021 e-filed returns and release direct deposited refunds in 21 days, this is not a guarantee.
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