Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review
Dear Fellow Floridian,
This week, I worked with my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). My focus is always on getting Florida’s incredible military community the resources they need and ensuring we are prepared to stand up to Communist China’s increasing aggression, and this NDAA does just that with big wins for Floridians and support for our men and women in uniform.
Supporting our military shouldn’t be partisan, and I hope to see folks come together to get this passed. Read more about the NDAA HERE.
This week, I also worked to pass important legislation with unanimous support on the Senate floor. Ahead of the second anniversary of the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida, Senator Rubio and I introduced a resolution honoring the Surfside community and remembering those we lost. Read the resolution HERE.
I was also proud to see the Senate pass my END FENTANYL Act to ensure the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has the resources it needs to stop fentanyl and dangerous drugs from crossing our southern border. This is a huge step to ending the fentanyl crisis and the heartbreak it causes, and I’ll be fighting to get this important bill to the president’s desk and signed into law. Read more HERE.
To read more about my work to Make Washington Work for you, click HERE.
Sincerely,
Rick Scott
United States Senator
To be the first to find out about Senator Scott’s actions and statements, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.
Senator Rick Scott announced the reintroduction of three bills to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which would help lower the cost of flood insurance and ensure the property insurance market better serves Florida families. According to FEMA data, since the inception of the NFIP, Florida policyholders have paid more than $24 billion in premiums, but only collected approximately $12 billion in claims reimbursements, which equates to a 2 to 1 ratio of premiums paid to claims reimbursements. The situation Florida families face is clearly unfair and exactly why Congress must make reforms to encourage participation in the private flood insurance market as an alternative for hardworking Americans across our country. Senator Scott’s NFIP package has been endorsed by the Federal Association for Insurance Reform (FAIR).
Senator Rick Scott said, “With hurricane season here, flood insurance is top of mind to Floridians. Unfortunately, the National Flood Insurance Program right now is a perfect example of what happens when government tries to take over an industry – it fails. The NFIP is not only buried in debt, it’s now pushing huge rate increases through FEMA’s new ‘Risk Rating 2.0’ that is unsustainable and unaffordable for Florida families. We cannot allow that to continue.
“While I was Governor, we reformed Florida’s property insurance market to better serve families and we can do it at the federal level too. It’s time to make commonsense reforms that better serve Florida families. We should be offering more choice at a better rate. I am committed to fighting for change that encourages the development of a robust and affordable private flood insurance market and gives homeowners more choice and flexibility when purchasing their flood insurance plans. I know many of my colleagues in the Senate agree with me on this, and I urge them to join me in passing these good bills.”
Read more HERE.
—
Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland slamming the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) double standard of justice when dealing with President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, compared with both normal Americans and those perceived as his opponents. Senator Scott draws comparisons to the treatment the DOJ gave Deja Taylor, the mother who is facing a two-year prison sentence for her purchase and possession of a firearm while using controlled substances, and Wesley Snipes, the actor who served three years in prison for committing a very similar tax crime to the president’s son. Hunter Biden’s sweetheart plea deal reportedly ensures he will serve no jail time whatsoever and ultimately will not be charged with a firearms offense.
Senator Scott is demanding the DOJ explain the inconsistencies in the charges and is calling on AG Garland to explain to the American people why this decision was made in order to restore integrity to the department and the American justice system.
Read more in Fox News HERE and the full letter HERE
During a hearing in the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, titled Before Disaster Strikes: Planning for Older Americans and People with Disabilities in All Phases of Emergencies, Senator Rick Scott discussed the importance of disaster preparedness for American seniors. During the hearing, Senator Scott also posed questions to experts on best practices for aging Floridians to follow this hurricane season. Senator Scott has been visiting communities across Florida and hosting events with local elected leaders, emergency management officials and business owners to emphasize the importance of being prepared for the 2023 hurricane season. See more from his latest stop HERE.
Read more HERE.
Senators Rick Scott and Jacky Rosen led more than 60 of their colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Biden administration to include Israel in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The senators are also encouraging both the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize finalizing Israel’s accession into this program this year. The VWP enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.
Read more HERE.
Senator Rick Scott released the following statement after being notified by family members of José Daniel Ferrer, a Cuban democracy and human rights activist, that they have not seen or heard from him since March 2023. Since his arrest during the July 11, 2021 freedom demonstrations, José Daniel Ferrer has been psychologically and physically tortured by the illegitimate communist Cuban regime in a ruthless attempt to end his life. Senator Scott has been a vocal advocate for the release of José Daniel Ferrer and all democracy activists, especially the children, being unjustly imprisoned by the Castro/Diaz-Canel regime. His calls for action have resulted in both the Organization of American States (OAS) and President Joe Biden to call for the release of all Cuban political prisoners.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s absolutely despicable and unacceptable that the illegitimate Cuban regime has prevented José Daniel Ferrer’s family from seeing him for months on end. José Daniel is being unjustly detained in isolation, where he is subjected to physical and psychological torture by the brutal communist Cuban regime in an attempt to end his life. It’s time for the mainstream media to wake up to President Biden’s complete abandonment of Latin America that is allowing this torture and attempted murder to happen. Biden’s lack of leadership in the region undermines both our national security and human rights across Latin America. That must end today.
“I am demanding that President Biden join me and the countless Cuban democracy activists in demanding immediate proof of life of José Daniel Ferrer. President Biden must use this moment to end his appeasement of the brutal and illegitimate Castro/Diaz-Canel regime and make clear to the world that the United States will never ignore these horrific human rights abuses.”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
—
Ahead of the two-year anniversary of the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced a resolution in commemoration and honor of the Surfside community and the lives of 98 people lost in the tragedy. This resolution was unanimously passed by the Senate this week.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s been nearly two years since the Surfside community experienced an unimaginable and sudden tragedy with the collapse of Champlain Towers South. We lost 98 innocent lives that day, and countless others woke up to the heartbreaking news that they will never again see their children, friends, parents, grandparents or loved ones. I remember so clearly the days after the tragedy how the entire community and organizations from around the world came together in mourning and to support those affected, especially in our Jewish community, working tirelessly to aid in search and recovery with the utmost respect. We will be forever grateful for those who answered the call to help the Surfside community. Today, Senator Rubio and I join together with our colleagues to honor the community and the 98 lives lost that solemn day.”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
—
Sen. Rick Scott Issues Weekly Update on Biden’s Inflation Crisis
Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation. This week, as Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell testified in Congress, Senator Scott posted the below tweets slamming the complete mismanagement of Chair Powell who lost over $1 TRILLION in taxpayer dollars in the last year while families suffered with rising inflation.
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
Sen. Rick Scott in El Nuevo Herald: Biden’s failed leadership in Latin America is a gift to China
Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for El Nuevo Herald calling out President Biden’s policies toward Latin America that are benefiting the Communist Chinese regime. Due to recent events, such as Communist China establishing a spy base in Cuba, and Biden’s continued appeasement of Xi and murderous dictators around the world, no time is more consequential in Latin America’s fight for freedom, democracy and stability in the region.
In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “It’s time for the mainstream media to wake up to President Biden’s complete abandonment of Latin America. The Biden administration’s policies are not just a different path to a similar result; Biden’s lack of leadership in the region undermines both our national security and stability of our partners and allies across Latin America…
These developments have emboldened our enemies and will have long-lasting consequences that require us all, especially those in the press, to pay closer attention. Communist China has been strengthening its foothold, increasing its fiscal stake in Latin America and carrying out their espionage operations in the Western hemisphere with the sole purpose of taking over the region and destroying the United States…
Communist China has also been investing heavily in infrastructure projects, such as roads, ports, and railways, in Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela…
In exchange, Communist China has been securing access to the region’s natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals…
It’s clear that Communist China is engaging in ‘debt trap diplomacy,’ where it provides loans to countries that are unable to pay them back, and then uses the debt as leverage to gain political influence…
Every time Joe Biden has the opportunity to join the cause of freedom, to stand up and fight against oppression, he decides to look in the opposite direction. What is so concerning is that President Biden seems to prefer enabling the dictators over helping the freedom-loving people of these countries…
The President of the United States is known both here and around the globe as the leader of the free world. Our president, regardless of who it is, has immense power to rally our democratic allies and the freedom-loving people of the world to put pressure on oppressive regimes and throw the full support of the global community behind the cause of freedom.
It’s the wrong message to send to Latin America and our partners and allies around the globe that the President of the United States is willing to look the other way when it comes to human rights, freedom and democracy. We cannot allow our leaders to pretend that what happens in Latin America has no impact on democracy around the world.
There has never been a more consequential moment than this one in our fight for freedom, democracy and stability in Latin America. This isn’t just about ensuring freedom for the people of these countries, it is about protecting America’s national security. Our enemies are working every day to strengthen their foothold in the region and Communist China’s spy base in Cuba is clear proof of this. In the Senate, I will continue working to force action by the Biden administration that makes clear to tyrants in Latin America, Communist China and around the world the strength of America’s resolve to stomp out the spread of socialism and communism.”
Read the full HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
—
Fox News: Biden’s ‘farcical’ plea deal demands an explanation, Sen. Scott tells AG Garland
CNBC: Sen. Rick Scott on U.S.-China relations: You don’t do business with your enemy
Florida Daily: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Want Biden to Release Information Collected on Chinese Spy Balloon
Florida Daily: Rick Scott Wants to Define Efforts to Delegitimize Israel as Antisemitism
The Floridian: Scott, Rubio Look to Address Passport Backlog
Senator Scott’s Team in Fort Walton Beach
This week, Senator Scott’s team attended the Boeing Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their newly expanded facility in Fort Walton Beach.
—
Senator Scott’s Team in Orange City
This week, Senator Scott’s team also attended the grand opening ribbon cutting for Complete Health in Orange City.
—
Senator Scott’s Team in Ponte Vedra
Additionally, Senator Scott’s team attended a K9s for Warriors Graduation in Ponte Vedra.
Senator Scott’s Team in Lake Nona
Another event Senator Scott’s team attended “Café Talk” with faith leaders and elected officials to discuss Youth at Risk issues in Lake Nona.
|
| TALLAHASSEE 111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: (850) 942-8415 |
WEST PALM BEACH 415 Clematis Street, Suite 201 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: (561) 514-0189 |
TAMPA 801 North Florida Avenue, Suite 421 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 225-7040 |
| KISSIMMEE 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 300 Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 586-7879 |
PENSACOLA 221 Palafox Place, Suite 420 Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: (850) 760-5151 |
MIAMI 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 505 Miami, FL 33134 Phone: (786) 501-7141 |
| NAPLES 3299 Tamiami Trail East, #106 Naples, FL 34112 Phone: (239) 231-7890 |
JACKSONVILLE 400 West Bay Street, Suite 289 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 479-7227 |
ORLANDO 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410 Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 872-7161 |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5274 |
||
| Fax: (202) 228-4535 |
