Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  On Sunday, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood discussed coronavirus response efforts in Florida’s Sixth District with Fox News’ Leland Vittert on America’s News HQ.

Waltz and Chitwood discussed the impact of coronavirus on Florida’s Sixth District, from a health perspective and from an economic standpoint. As of Sunday, Florida had nearly 20,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 472,000 Floridians filing for unemployment over the last three weeks.

“We are walking a very fine line between the public health piece, which absolutely should be the priority – but there is massive collateral damage that is happening to our economy," Waltz said. "I’m looking forward to this task force the President is going to announce in reopening the economy."

Sheriff Chitwood also discussed the impact of coronavirus on the local economy and the importance of supporting local businesses and helping them recover.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing businesses close and we don’t think they’re going to reopen,” Chitwood said. “I believe that public safety and the economy are both interdependent on one another. If you have a good economy, then you have good law enforcement with well-paid folks and great technology. If you have a poor economy, you’re not going to have great law enforcement. We are interconnected...These [businesses] are the backbone of our county. We cannot have them collapse.”

Waltz emphasized the need for small businesses to be the focus of future legislation in Congress, urging Congress to pass a clean funding bill of $250 billion extra for the Payment Protection Plan, which helps small businesses keep employees on payroll and keep their doors open. On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked the expansion of the PPP.

“I want to see and we’re hoping to see…$250 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program to help these small businesses where the bottom has just fallen out of these businesses and their lives,” he said.

The Senate is officially scheduled to reconvene April 20 but another pro forma session may be called before then to pass additional funding.

Watch the full interview here.