NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICTDear Friend, This past week was a wake-up call for Washington Democrats. Virginians rejected the Democrats’ Socialist agenda and costly programs and elected Glenn Youngkin as Governor.
It’s clear that Americans are focused on the success and stability of their family’s future. But Democrats aren’t listening. Now, they’re doubling down on their radical agenda to remake America into an imaginary socialist utopia. They’re attempting to ram through the most radical Far-Left piece of legislation ever, without a detailed score from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), making it impossible to know how much it will cost. President Biden insists that this plan is fully paid for, but it’s very hard to believe that when we don’t even know how much it costs.
On Friday evening, when many of you were likely asleep, the House voted on the Senate infrastructure bill and on a procedural process for the tax and spending package. I voted against both. These bills are not the will of the American people. The Democrats’ radical agenda will raise costs and make it even harder for people to build a better life. The American people deserve solutions to our current crises, and they deserve to know what’s in these bills and the cost.
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
Mandates are NOT the Solution
On Thursday, the Biden Administration announced a new COVID-19 vaccination rule that would require private businesses with 100 or more employees, health care workers, and federal contractors to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022.
The Biden Administration’s new vaccination policies include the following: - An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirement for employers with 100 or more employees to ensure each of their workers are fully vaccinated or tests for COVID-19 on at least a weekly basis. The OSHA rule will also require that these employers provide paid time for employees to get vaccinated, and ensure all unvaccinated workers wear a face mask in the workplace.
- A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement that health care workers at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid are fully vaccinated. The rule applies to more than 17 million workers at approximately 76,000 health care facilities, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The Biden Administration’s aggressive push to vaccinate all Americans by force is making an already devastating workforce shortage even worse. While I recommend getting the COVID-19 vaccine, I also believe that this is a decision to be made by you and your doctor – not the federal government. Thousands of hardworking Americans are at risk of losing their jobs thanks to this unnecessary mandate. The unnecessary strain on our health care industry is horribly shortsighted and will result in reduced access to care, which is the last thing we need right now. Currently, 70% of adult Americans are now fully vaccinated and COVID-19 cases are decreasing. If President Biden wants this trend to continue, he must focus on an expanded strategy incorporating natural immunity research and effective treatments.
House Energy & Commerce Committee
This past week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health advanced nine bipartisan bills. The bills were public health-focused and addressed provider mental health, workforce issues, and children’s health.
This markup is a good example that when Congress wants to, it can advance sensible policy in a bipartisan way. This is a sharp contrast to Pelosi’s tax and spending spree, that includes one provision to cut funding to our nations’ most vulnerable hospitals, which should have gone through our committee (and been defeated) but was added to the package last minute.
This Week in the District
Important Disaster Loan Information
For residents of Taylor, Dixie, Jefferson, Lafayette, and Madison Counties - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters in Florida of the Nov. 23 deadline to apply for physical damage disaster loans. Anyone in the declared counties with damages affected by the severe storms and flooding on Aug. 3 – 7, 2021, should apply for the low-interest disaster loan program. You can read more about this here.
Update from the Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently sent approximately 430,000 refunds totaling more than $510 million to taxpayers who paid taxes on unemployment compensation excluded from income for the tax year 2020.
The IRS efforts to correct unemployment compensation overpayments will help most of the affected taxpayers avoid filing an amended tax return. So far, the IRS has identified over 16 million taxpayers who may be eligible for the adjustment. Some will receive refunds, while others will have the overpayment applied to taxes due or other debts.
The review of returns and processing corrections is nearly complete as the IRS already reviewed the simplest returns and is now concentrating on more complex returns. The IRS plans to issue another batch of corrections before the end of the year.
You can read more about this here.
Updates for Veterans
GCVHCS Organizing Veterans Day Events Nov. 8-10
The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) is scheduled to participate in and host events during the week of Veterans Day, nationally recognized Nov. 11.
Events scheduled include COVID-19 and influenza vaccination clinics at the organization’s five sites in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. COVID-19 booster vaccinations will also be available at each site. - Monday, Nov. 8 - GCVHCS Veterans Week Kick-Off Festival event at the Biloxi VA Medical Center (11 a.m. through 2 p.m.; Biloxi, Mobile, Pensacola, Eglin, Panama City Beach) The first 150 Veterans receiving a COVID-19 or influenza vaccination at the Biloxi VA Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, will receive unique beverage tumblers emblazoned with the saying “The Price of Freedom is Not Free.” The same beverage tumblers will also be distributed to the first 100 Veterans and other beneficiaries receiving a COVID-19 or influenza vaccination at the Joint Ambulatory Care Center (JACC) in Pensacola, Florida, and to the first 75 Veterans or other beneficiaries receiving a COVID-19 or influenza vaccination at each of the community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) in Mobile, Alabama; near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and Panama City Beach, Florida. Vaccination Events at the GCVHCS’ Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Eglin, and Panama City Beach CBOC’s
- Tuesday, Nov. 9 - Virtual Veterans Day Event (11:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m., virtual) Featuring remarks from Matthews honoring service members and numerous Veteran employees. The event will be live-streamed through the GCVHCS official Facebook page.
- Wednesday, Nov. 10 - Hats and Vax Day
(11 a.m. through 2 p.m.; Biloxi, Mobile, Pensacola, Eglin, Panama City Beach) The first 150 Veterans receiving a COVID-19 or influenza vaccination at the Biloxi VA Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, will receive unique hats emblazoned with the saying “The Price of Freedom is Not Free.” The same hats will also be distributed to the first 100 Veterans and other beneficiaries receiving a COVID-19 or influenza vaccination at the Joint Ambulatory Care Center (JACC) in Pensacola, Florida, and to the first 75 Veterans or other beneficiaries receiving a COVID-19 or influenza vaccination at each of the community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) in Mobile, Alabama; near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and Panama City Beach, Florida.
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
Get Vaccinated Floridians 12 and up are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for persons aged 12 and up. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for persons aged 18 and up.
I encourage you to schedule an appointment 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. Schedule your appointment 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.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recently announced the authorization of single booster doses for the Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines. You can find more information about the boosters here. Please consult your doctor before getting a booster vaccine.
Monoclonal antibody treatments Early monoclonal antibody treatment saves lives. Antibodies help the immune system recognize and respond effectively to the virus. According to the treatment guidelines, monoclonal antibody therapy should be administered as soon as possible after diagnosis. Referrals are not required at any of the State of Florida monoclonal antibody treatment sites and treatment is available at no cost to patients.
If you or someone you know has tested positive for COVID-19, visit this link to find locations to receive monoclonal antibody treatment. For more information about the treatments, click 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
| Constituent Casework Corner
A veteran who was an in-patient at a Department of Veteran’s Affairs hospital was extremely dissatisfied with the care they were receiving. They requested to be moved to a different floor and assigned a different doctor. After days of inaction, the family contacted my office. We were able to work with the VA to have the veteran’s request granted so they could focus on their recovery. 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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