“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center has been a leader in public safety and their team has worked around the clock to keep us all safe and informed. As we prepare for the rest of this hurricane season, it is reassuring to know that Charlotte County is in capable hands.”

“During an unprecedented crisis like COVID-19, we stepped in to ensure the millions of Americans filing for unemployment benefits were covered as the government urged businesses to shut down. However, this was intended to be short-term solution, and as our economy slowly opens and jobs return, we should now incentivize Americans to help jumpstart our economy by going back to work.”

“Florida is reopening, and people are going back to work, but people still have questions and concerns about the next steps on our road to recovery. Floridians have been truly resilient throughout this process, and our state is ahead of the game in opening back up our economy.”

“Part of USDA’s larger response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Farmers to Families Food Box Program will help farmers move product while benefitting our local food banks, community and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits. Florida is an important part of the nation’s food supply chain, and our jobs will quickly come back from this crisis thanks to Secretary Perdue and President Trump’s hard work.”

“The Farmers to Families Food Box Program not only helps our famers in need, but it also benefits the families struggling to put food on the table in a time of crisis. Agriculture is the lifeblood of our economy and I look forward to joining Secretary Perdue in Florida to support this program.”

“My district is home to some of the largest cattle ranches in the nation, and they have been suffering from price declines since mid-March. With prices still not recovering, the USDA should expand the cut-off for CFAP coverage to promote the agricultural industry and protect our farmers.”

“The purpose of unemployment benefits is to temporarily support Americans during difficult times, not to provide a more lucrative alternative to going back to work. With unemployment numbers skyrocketing, we should be creating incentives for businesses to open and bring employees back on payroll so people can support themselves instead of relying on the government.”

“While our small businesses work to get back on their feet and employees back on payroll, the last thing they should be worried about is paying taxes on the assistance they receive. Taxing the aid is counterproductive to the intent of this program and an unnecessary hurdle to bring our Main Street businesses back.”

“The World Health Organization was aware of this pandemic early on and chose to parrot Communist China’s propaganda rather than notifying the world of this imminent public health threat. There needs to be a full and thorough investigation into their management of this pandemic and a complete audit of their leadership.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure that local chambers of commerce and nonprofits are empowered to fill their important role in our small business communities as they have before the COVID-19 pandemic. This bipartisan legislation will help small business owners address their unique problems with local resources and provide a support system that will continue to serve our communities long after this crisis subsides.”

“The Paycheck Protection Program is vital to the continuation of many small businesses across the country. Corporations with alternative financing mechanisms took the loans first, and as a result, honest businesses are having to shut their doors. They should return this money and the federal government should create guidance to prevent this from happening again.”

“Dr. Li Wenliang bravely risked his safety to warn the public about COVID-19 despite the punishment he faced from the Communist Chinese government for speaking up. We should honor Dr. Wenliang with the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his bravery and global service.”