by Kathy Foster
U.S. Congressman Neal Dunn was guest speaker at Thursday’s Chamber Luncheon and told those attending he was pleased that Federal funding for Hurricane Michael recovery had finally made it to Florida.
“Although it wasn’t everything I wanted it to be,” Dunn said he was pleased that Tyndall Air Force Base will be rebuilt with an initial $1.7 billion being designated to start the rebuilding work and another $3 billion being promised to complete the work.
Dunn also commented on the “serious loss” taken by the agriculture industry in the Panhandle and the “major loss” suffered by the timber industry. He said while the agriculture industry will be quicker to recover, the timber industry probably won’t be the same in lifetime of older Floridians.
Pointing out that the majority of disaster aid is ending up in Florida, Dunn said he is working closedly with the State and local governments to disperse the federal dollars that are coming down.
Dunn also said he is working with FEMA to reduce the interest rates on loans that cities and counties are having to take out to help fund hurricane damage relief work.
According to Dunn, both Republicans and Democrats are working together to help the hurricane damaged areas.
Questioned about U.S. – China relationships, Dunn said, “We don’t want a war with China, but there are problems.”
Asked about health care costs, Dunn said he thinks that competition is the only thing that will lower the costs of medications.