America Rescue Plan at work in Central Florida

Dear friends and neighbors,

The American Rescue Plan is changing the course of the pandemic and delivering real relief to Central Florida’s families. This week, I made countless visits throughout our community to see how our federal investments are making a difference in our district.

While the American Rescue Plan brings hope back into our community, this is no time to build back to the way things were. This week, President Biden announced a new plan to reimagine and rebuild a new economy. The American Jobs Plan makes critical investments that will create good-paying jobs, rebuild Florida’s infrastructure and boosting the United States’ global competitiveness. Specifically, President Biden’s plan will:

Fix highways, rebuild bridges, upgrade ports, airports and transit systems;
Deliver clean drinking water, a renewed electric grid and high-speed broadband to all Floridians;
Solidify the infrastructure of our care economy by creating jobs and raising wages and benefits for essential home care workers;
Revitalize manufacturing, secure U.S. supply chains, invest in R&D and train Floridians for the jobs of the future; and
Create good-quality jobs that pay prevailing wages in safe and healthy workplaces while ensuring workers have a free and fair choice to organize, join a union, and bargain collectively with their employers.

Congress is already at work transformational infrastructure package. Together, we will Build Back Better in Central Florida and across the country.

In the District

Supporting Community Health Centers

Our Community Health Centers have been critical players in our response to COVID-19. This week, I visited Central Florida Health Care to see how the American Rescue Plan is already helping our community defeat the coronavirus. I was happy to announce that $10.6 million in federal funds are on the way so doctors and nurses can redouble their efforts to get more shots in arms and save more lives!

Restarting Tourism in Central Florida

I visited Orlando International Airport to see how our friends at Advent Health are providing COVID-19 testing to travelers and essential airport workers to ensure safe travel. Investments in the American Rescue Plan are already helping to restart tourism in Central Florida!

Feeding Families in Our Community

Too many Central Florida families face food insecurity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, we helped feed dozens of families in the City of St. Cloud. Our American Rescue Plan is helping our community come together to support our neighbors during this crisis!

Supporting our K-12 Teachers

The American Rescue Plan delivered $1 billion to Osceola, Orange and Polk County schools. This week, I hosted a virtual roundtable to see how Central Florida schools are using federal funding to keep students safe and make up for valuable learning time in the classroom.

Talking to Casa Venezuela Orlando about Venezuela TPS

I was pleased to host a town hall with Casa de Venezuela Orlando to speak about TPS for Venezuelans and answer specific questions regarding the process. For more information or to apply, click here.

Supporting Professional Airline Pilots

We visited Kissimmee Aiport to see how Aerostar is providing the highest quality training to Central Floridians.

Standing with Central Florida's African American and Black Community

This week, I had a roundtable with African American and Black community leaders to discuss how American Rescue Plan will change the course of the pandemic, deliver immediate relief for hard-hit Black families and small businesses, build a bridge towards economic recovery and reduce poverty in Black communities by 34 percent.

Supporting Airport Workers

I met with AFGE TSA workers at the Orlando International Airport to discuss how the American Rescue Plan is helping get workers vaccinated, saving jobs and making travel safer. Glad to see the benefits of the American Rescue Plan being felt right here in Central Florida!

Congressional Art Competition

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in the District

Floridians who are eligible can pre-register for a vaccine appointment NOW. After registration, individuals will be notified when appointments become available in their area.

The state is frequently updating vaccine eligibility qualifications, so it is best to visit this website to monitor changes in criteria. Currently, eligible residents include persons 40 years of age and older, long-term care facility residents and staff, persons deemed medically vulnerable by a physician, and health care personnel with direct patient contact.

Beginning Monday, April 5, 2021, all individuals age 18 and older will be eligible to receive any COVID-19 vaccine, and those 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Pre-register here

If you live in Polk and Orange Counties, please continue to use their websites. To register in Polk County, click here. To register in Orange County, click here.

COVID-19 Vaccines by County

As COVID-19 infections rise in Central Florida, we are working with local officials to provide up-to-date information on vaccinations. For more information on your county's distribution plans, please visit the websites linked below.

Orange County

Osceola County

Polk County

COVID-19 Vaccine Hotlines

Orange County

Scheduling: 866-201-3604

TTY: 833-476-1024

Osceola County

Scheduling: 866-201-6507

TTY: 833-476-1516

Polk County

Scheduling: 866-201-7132

TTY: 833-476-1033

Florida has many sites that are providing COVID-19 vaccines to eligible persons. Please be aware that some locations are only serving very specific populations. Appointments may be required and vaccine availability will vary from day to day and week to week, as we work to provide vaccines to the most vulnerable first.

Click here for a full list of vaccine sites in Florida

Click here for a vaccine finder

Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccinations and Community Vaccination Sites

Many local pharmacies and community sites are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents. As we receive more information, we will update our list to ensure that everyone has access to these vaccination opportunities. At the moment, vaccinations are available at:

Publix

ALL Publix locations will be offering the COVID-19 vaccine
Scheduling opens on Monday at 7 a.m. ET.
To register, please click here

CVS

To register, please click here

Walmart

Supercenter 1086, located at 4400 13th Street, Saint Cloud, FL 34769
Supercenter 817, located at 4444 W Vine St, Kissimmee, FL 34746
Neighborhood Market 4159, located at 2850 E Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34743
To register, please click here

Sam’s Club

To determine eligibility and register, please click here

Winn-Dixie

To register, please click here

FEMA Site - Valencia Community College in Orlando

Open 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
No appointment necessary

FEMA Site - Orange County Library South Trail Branch

Located at 4600 Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32839
Walk-up only
Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (or until supply allotments are reached), seven days a week

Orange County Convention Center

Open to anyone 16 years of age and older
To register, please click here

FDOH Orange County - Night Lite Pediatrics Urgent Care

Located at 1267 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Vaccinations be offered by appointment only Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Individuals can schedule an appointment here or by calling 407-569-0220

Centro Cristiano Dios De Pactos Church

Located at 1130 Simmons Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744
Vaccinations provided by appointment only
Individuals can pre-register here

Chambers Park Community Center in Osceola County

Located at 2380 Smith Street, Kissimmee, FL 34744
Vaccines offered on a first-come, first-served basis
Opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m. or when vaccines run out

65^th Infantry Veterans Park

Site will run seven days a week from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. – or until the day’s doses are depleted
The site is expected to remain open through the end of May

Orlando VA Healthcare System at Lake Nona*

Located at 13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, FL 32827
Appointments and walk-ins available
Monday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Tuesday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Orlando VA Healthcare System at Lake Baldwin*

Located at 5201 Raymond Street, Orlando, FL 32803
Appointments offered from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. and walk-ins until 1 p.m.

At this time, the VA is offering COVID-19 vaccines first to these 2 groups when the Veteran is eligible based on VA and CDC risk criteria:

Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care or currently receive care at VA
Designated primary and secondary family caregivers who are enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and come with the Veteran to get a vaccine

These groups are now also eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine as supply allows:

All Veterans including never activated National Guard, Reserve and Coast Guard who are retired
Spouses and surviving spouses of Veterans
Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, the VA defines a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation
Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits

*To schedule an appointment, call (407)631-0499, Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Rental Assistance for Central Floridians

The programs below have been established to help residents in Polk, Orange and Osceola Counties with rental and housing costs.

Orange County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

For additional information and to apply, please click here.

Osceola County Emergency Rental Assistance/Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention

To access the screening form, please click here.

Polk County Eviction Prevention Program

To apply, please click here.

Free COVID-19 Vaccination Event

“We’ve Opened Safely” Program

Osceola County is working to promote safety and consumer confidence as businesses start to re-open in our district. The county is also allocating funding towards an emergency grant program for locally owned and independently operated small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic. Click here for more information.

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Cost Reimbursement

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. For further information, please click here.

Fraud Alert: FEMA has received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and will not contact people prior to them registering for assistance.

Special Open Enrollment

On January 28, in light of the twin health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden issued an executive order creating a Special Enrollment Period from February 15 until August 15. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs and their job-based health coverage due to the pandemic. During these challenging times, having health coverage is more important than ever. Thanks to President Biden, there is now a Special Enrollment Period to give you the opportunity to enroll in coverage for the remainder of 2021.

Learn more at HealthCare.gov.

Economic Impact Payment Updates

The IRS has stated that Social Security retirement, survivor or disability (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) beneficiaries who didn’t file a 2020 or 2019 tax return and didn’t use the Non-Filers tool last year will begin to see their Economic Impact Payments issued this weekend. Most of these payments are projected to be sent electronically and received on April 7, 2021. The Get My Payment tool will not be updated until this weekend with information for Social Security and other federal beneficiaries expecting payments next week.

The IRS continues to review data received for Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit recipients and expects to determine a payment date and provide more details soon. Currently, the IRS estimates that Economic Impact Payments for VA beneficiaries who do not regularly file tax returns could be disbursed by mid-April. VA beneficiary payment information will be available in the Get My Payment tool at a future date.

Tax Day Extension

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that Tax Day will be moved to May 17, 2021. For more information, please click here.

I am proud to be your representative and look forward to our continued efforts to improve our district! Please do not hesitate to call my office with any questions or concerns.

In Community,