• The Pentagon has agreed that Floridian U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe deserves the Medal of Honor 
• I discussed my military service and post-traumatic growth with Mission Roll Call
• The Federal Drug Administration announced a breakthrough in the treatment of COVID-19
• I joined my colleagues to commend President Trump for his decision to be tough on Iran

HONORING SFC ALWYN CASHE: Last year, I joined Rep. Stephanie Murphy and Rep. Dan Crenshaw to call on Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and the U.S. Department of Defense to award U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe the Medal of Honor. SFC Cashe is a Florida and American hero who lost his life courageously saving his fellow soldiers after their fighting vehicle hit an improvised explosive device and caught fire in Iraq. Despite being drenched in fuel and under enemy fire, Cashe returned over and over again to retrieve each soldier from the burning vehicle. Sadly, SFC Cashe later died as a result of his injuries.

I’m proud to announce the Pentagon agrees Cashe deserves the Medal of Honor. In a letter from Defense Secretary Mark Esper this week, the Pentagon has indicated it supports a Medal of Honor upgrade. SFC Cashe would be the first African American recipient of the award for combat valor in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is more than worthy of our nation’s highest valor award – and I’m glad Secretary Esper and the Pentagon agree.

 

U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe

 

DISCUSSING POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH: Our service members often struggle with post-traumatic stress upon returning home from deployments. Trauma is something that affects nearly all of our veterans, myself included. Over the years, I’ve learned to use the pain of losing fellow Green Berets as motivation to do better and be better. Each and every day, I strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.

 

I recently sat down with Mission Roll Call founder Garrett Cathcart to discuss post-traumatic growth and the importance of teaching veterans to use their trauma and hardship to heal. It’s critical we as a community change the way we think about trauma, so veterans know they can not only move through their trauma but also grow from it. Stay tuned for more clips from this interview coming soon.

 

Click here or click on the image below to hear more about post-traumatic growth: 

FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS: Operation Warp Speed continues to make great strides in creating a vaccine for COVID-19 and we are also beginning to learn more about effectively treating this virus. On Sunday, the Federal Drug Administration announced a new plasma treatment to lessen the severity of the virus in infected patients. Research has found plasma from those with COVID-19 antibodies can help COVID-positive patients fight off the virus. This plasma treatment is a great step forward in our fight against COVID-19 and I hope we continue to see more progress soon.

  

TAKING A STAND AGAINST IRAN: The Iranian Regime has long taken advantage of the United States and our peaceful diplomacy. Earlier this year, we saw the full picture of what the Iranian Regime really is: a murderous, totalitarian government set on building up nuclear weapons to potentially sell to Russia or China, holding innocent Americans hostage, killing American troops and safe-harboring terrorists. Now, more than ever, it’s critical we stand up against the Iranian Regime. 

  

I support the maximum pressure campaign on Iran – and this is why I joined my colleagues in Congress to commend President Trump and his administration for reimposing sanctions on Iran. The only way to stop the production of nuclear weapons, return American hostages home and eliminate terrorism in Iran is to hit their pocketbook – and imposing these sanctions is a strong move to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

  

PPP SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT: Last week, I announced a new initiative to highlight the successes of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in our community. As you know, millions of small businesses nationwide have felt the impact of coronavirus, struggling immensely with COVID restrictions, cut revenues and fewer employees. This is why Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program, so we can support our small businesses during this difficult time.

  

This week, my office heard from Norwood’s Eatery and Treehouse Bar in New Smyrna Beach, which has stayed open thanks to the PPP. Norwood’s is a treasure here in our community, serving as a Pan Am gas station, general store, piggy bank factory and mosquito control center until 1949 when it was transformed into the Norwood’s Eatery and Treehouse Bar we know today. Norwood’s owners Pam and Don Simmons reached out to me to express their gratitude for the PPP loan they received. Pam told me Norwood’s was able to hire over 75 people who had been furloughed and the loan allowed them to keep their doors open.

  

Our small businesses are what make our community so special and unique. I’m glad to see Norwood’s weather this storm thanks to the PPP.