As we approach the first anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded of how this public health crisis has impacted our community.
In the course of a year, we have lost over 28,000 Floridians, millions of Americans are still out of work, and the need for economic relief has never been higher. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration to provide critical resources to South Florida.
While many of us are eager that COVID-19 vaccinations are now being distributed, I know many are frustrated with how distribution has gone so far. As we await more shipments to vaccinate our most vulnerable community members, residents are asked to remain patient.
For more information regarding vaccination sites throughout South Florida, please visit my Facebook page (Facebook.com/CongressmanTedDeutch) and my website (Deutch.house.gov).
One in twenty seniors in the U.S. is a target of fraud schemes, costing them at least $36.5 billion per year. Yet, the National Adult Protective Services Association has found that only 1 in 44 seniors actually report that they are victims of a fraud scheme.
Last Congress, I joined Rep. Buchanan and Rep. Welch to introduce the Seniors Fraud Prevention Act that was incorporated as Title II of the Stop Senior Scams Act (H.R.2610). The Stop Senior Scams Act passed the House and the Senate but it was not signed into law.
This bill would create an office within the Federal Trade Commission charged with tracking scams, educating and alerting seniors to new scams, and establishing a more effective complaint system to ensure reports of fraud are quickly addressed by the appropriate law enforcement agency.
As we begin this year with a historic opportunity to continue our actions to help prevent gun violence, I am proud to rejoin the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force leadership for the 117th Congress. Task Force leadership is drawn from members with diverse backgrounds, including former prosecutors and members of law enforcement, gun violence survivors, veterans, hunters, and teachers. These leaders hail from rural and urban districts in states across the nation as well as districts that have experienced devastating gun- related tragedies.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if we can be of any assistance. I urge everyone to continue to follow CDC guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Stay safe!