FLORIDA - DUNN DISPATCH

 

NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT Dear Friend, This past week, the House passed the Resilient AMERICA Act (H.R. 5689), which includes language from my bill, the FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act. Following Hurricane Michael in 2018, our local governments and electric cooperatives took out loans to restore services. They are now burdened with tens of millions of dollars in interest payments as they wait for full reimbursement from FEMA. This is a cost that is passed on to taxpayers and ratepayers alike.  My bill requires FEMA to include the interest incurred on the loans in their reimbursement, which will incentivize the federal government to obligate these funds in a timelier manner in the future. This is a win for our district! We’ve waited years for these reimbursements. While this bill still must go through the Senate and get signed into law, this is a big first step in getting our district the relief we need. Please read about my week below: What’s Happening on Capitol Hill This Week in the District Updates from Federal Agencies What’s Happening on Capitol Hill House Energy & Commerce Committee  This past week, the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations met to discuss skyrocketing gas prices and how to resolve this issue. Democrats are blaming oil executives for price gouging when in reality Biden’s failed policies are to blame for high gas prices. You can watch my remarks here. Bills I’m Cosponsoring H. Res. 1038 – This resolution 1) cites Russia’s history of war crimes, including human rights violations against the people of Chechnya, Syria, Russian dissidents like Alexei Navalny, and thousands of Ukrainians today; 2) condemns Vladimir Putin and the Russian military’s war crimes against the people of Ukraine; 3) encourages the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Russian war crimes and hold violators accountable; 4) reaffirms American solidarity with the Ukrainian people. No Timber for Tyrants Act (H.R. 7437) - This bill would prohibit imports of forest products from Russia and Belarus while ramping up responsible harvesting of American timber to create new jobs, produce more sustainable wood products, and make U.S. federal lands more resilient to catastrophic wildfires. In 2021 alone, the U.S. imported half a billion dollars worth of wood products from Russia and Belarus. Our district knows firsthand how capable the U.S. is of producing its own wood products. It’s high time we stop economically propping up Putin’s war. This Week in the District Visiting Tyndall AFB I recently met with the Tyndall Project Management Office (PMO) for an update on the Tyndall Rebuild. Tyndall AFB has made great progress since Hurricane Michael. As of right now, there are 44 projects planned or currently underway, which will result in 120 new facilities. However, Rome and Tyndall weren’t built in a day. We still have a way to go. The primary focus will remain on preparing buildings to support the new F-35A mission. I’m confident the team will successfully see this through. The Brian Rust Show This past week, I joined Brian Rust to talk about Biden’s new proposed budget, the Title 42 expiration and our southern border, and gas prices. You can listen to his full show here. My interview begins at the 85:20 mark. Updates From Federal Agencies Disaster Assistance for Marion Co. Tornado Damage Florida businesses and residents affected by the tornado on March 12 may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The declaration includes Marion County and the adjacent counties of Alachua, Citrus, Lake, Levy, Putnam, Sumter, and Volusia in Florida.  The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is May 27, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 28, 2022. Click here for more information. Social Security Admin Resuming In-Office Services The Social Security Administration (SSA) resumed in-office services by both walk-in and appointment for the first time since March 2020 at approximately 98 percent of its more than 1,200 field offices. The SSA strongly encourages the public to schedule an appointment before heading to an office. The SSA expects large crowds and has warned walk-in visitors to expect delays and long waits. You can schedule or modify an appointment by calling the SSA’s National 800 number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or by contacting your local field office using the SSA’s online field office locator application. 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 A constituent contacted my office for help with their disability insurance after spending nearly three years fighting with the Social Security Administration. When they were finally approved for the insurance, an error in the system prevented them from accessing their Medicare benefits. We were able to work with both the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to have the issue promptly resolved. Do you need help with a federal agency? Contact my office at 850-785-0812 or at www.dunn.house.gov

Washington D.C. Office 316 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Tel: (202) 225-5235 Fax: (202) 225-5615 Panama City Office 840 W. 11th St. Suite 2250 Panama City, FL 32401 Tel: (850) 785-0812 Fax: (850) 763-3764   Tallahassee Office 300 South Adams Street Tallahassee, FL 32301 Tel: (850) 891-8610 Fax: (850) 891-8620