Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review
Dear Fellow Floridian,
This week, we saw a direct impact of Joe Biden’s reckless spending and harmful economic policies when the U.S. credit was downgraded. Unfortunately for Americans who are already struggling to make ends meet with rising inflation, when our credit rating is lowered, interest rates go up and costs go through the roof. It’s devastating to families and completely unacceptable.
Biden’s policies are driving Florida families into poverty and crushing the American Dream. Our economy is in shambles under this administration. Families know it, businesses know it, but Joe Biden keeps spending. I’ve been sounding the alarm on this to my colleagues for MONTHS and urging action to STOP this reckless spending.
You have my word that I will continue to do everything I can to get our fiscal house in order. That starts with ALL Republicans in Congress standing together and saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and stop the Democrats from ruining what is left of this country, so we can protect the American dream for you and future generations.
To read more about my fight to Make Washington Work for you, click HERE.
Sincerely,
Rick Scott
United States Senator
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See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.
Sen. Rick Scott Secures Big Wins for Florida in National Defense Authorization Act
Senator Rick Scott, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and ranking member of the SASC Personnel Subcommittee, released the following statement following the Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 24 NDAA) last week. Each year, Senator Scott has fought as a member of the SASC to secure provisions in the NDAA that bolster Florida’s military installations, support U.S. service members, veterans and their families and protect America’s national security. This year’s wins include a 5.2% pay raise for service members. The U.S. military is incredibly important to Florida, which is home to 21 military bases and three unified combatant commands, nearly 64,000 active duty members, 38,000 reservists and more than 1.5 million veterans.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Florida is home to thousands of brave men and women who wake up every day and put on the uniform, and it is my goal to ensure Washington works for them. I am very proud of the progress we made in this year’s NDAA and the big wins we got for Florida, which means big wins for our national security. I am pleased to share that my initiative to block Chinese drones, used as spyware by the Chinese Communist Party, from being purchased by federal agencies was included in this year’s package. Importantly, the legislation we passed in the Senate provides for a 5.2% raise for our service members. I look forward to this legislation heading over for consideration in the House and becoming law.”
Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to the Palm Beach County School District Superintendent Mike Burke following the recent reports that five administrators and educators in the school district have been charged with felonies for failing to report an alleged sexual assault in 2021 of a 15-year-old student under their care, yet, still remain employed by the district. In his letter, Senator Scott demands that those responsible be fired immediately. Under no circumstances should they continue to be paid with taxpayer money after failing to fulfill their basic duties as caretakers for students.
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott was joined by Senator Marco Rubio in sending a letter to Deanne Criswell, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), voicing concerns about the potential exhaustion of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), especially amid the 2023 Hurricane Season, when communities may need resources from FEMA and its programs. The senators are calling on the administration to provide answers on its current funding levels and plans to prepare and stand ready in the case of a natural disaster.
Earlier this year, absent action from the Biden administration, Senators Scott and Rubio introduced the Disaster Relief Fund Replenishment Act to provide $11.5 billion in needed funding to ensure the federal government can uphold its obligation to quickly deploy emergency funding and resources to communities and Americans impacted by natural disasters.
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.
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Senators Rick Scott and Bob Casey, member and chair of the Special Committee on Aging respectively, introduced the Veterans Accessibility Act to ensure that VA complies with federal disability laws and makes its programs accessible for people with disabilities, including facilities and technology. The bill would establish a 15-person Advisory Committee on Equal Access, which would consist of veterans with disabilities, disability experts, and representatives of advocacy organizations. The Committee would be responsible for evaluating and reporting on VA’s compliance with federal disability laws and would issue recommendations for how VA can improve its accessibility for people with disabilities.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s absolutely unacceptable that any federal programs designed to support and assist our nation’s veterans would be inaccessible to so many who are living with disabilities and in need of critical resources. Our veterans deserve better and our government must do better. I’m proud to join my colleague on the Senate Aging Committee, Chairman Bob Casey, to introduce this important legislation and make sure the VA stands ready to provide every single one of our nation’s veterans with the care they need. Our men and women who served have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms and way of life—we should do everything we can to give back.”
Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott was joined by Senator Marco Rubio and Representatives Byron Donalds, Scott Franklin, Bill Posey, Anna Paulina-Luna and Jenniffer González-Colón in a letter again urging President Biden to support their Hurricane Tax Relief Act and encourage its passage, which would provide disaster-loss tax relief to families impacted by Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona in 51 Florida counties and Puerto Rico. Senator Scott previously led his colleagues in a letter to President Biden in April that has yet to receive a response or action from the administration.
The Hurricane Tax Relief Act would make Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona qualified disasters for purposes of enhanced disaster casualty loss tax relief. This bill modifies the deduction for personal casualty losses in the hurricane disaster areas, waiving the requirements for impacted taxpayers to itemize deductions and to have losses that exceed 10% of adjusted gross income. Congress previously extended this tax relief for Hurricanes Irma, Wilma, Dorian, and Michael, among others.
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Issues Weekly Update on Biden’s Inflation
Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation by sharing a series of tweets slamming the actions and reckless spending of the Biden administration that led to Fitch Ratings’ decision to downgrade the U.S. credit rating. This is one of the many harmful consequences of the Biden administration’s reckless tax-and-spend agenda that’s only making life harder for American families. See more from Senator Scott’s monthly Economic Snapshot HERE.
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
Manila Bulletin: US senator calls on partners to act vs China’s ‘bullying’
Manila Standard: U.S. Senator interacts with PH lawmakers
WPBF: Sen. Scott demands PBC Schools superintendent fire staff accused of failing to report child abuse
WPTV: ‘Grave alarm:’ U.S. Sen. Rick Scott wants arrested Palm Beach Central High School staffers fired
Florida Daily: Rick Scott: NDAA Includes ‘Big Wins’ for Florida
News Radio WIOD: Sen. Rick Scott Wants Palm Beach Central Principal & 4 Others Fired
The Daily Signal: Smithsonian Nominees Face Hot Seat on Drag Shows, Trans Events, ‘Religious Bigotry,’ and CRT
Spectrum News: Senate bill would re-authorize funding to thwart mosquito-borne illnesses
Daily Signal: EXCLUSIVE: Smithsonian Nominees Face Hot Seat on Drag Shows, Trans Events, ‘Religious Bigotry,’ and CRT
WANE: ‘That’s unacceptable’: Lawmakers call out State Department for persistent passport problems
Florida’s Voice: Rick Scott and local leaders celebrate Leonardo Helicopters groundbreaking: ‘Historic moment’
Florida Daily: Rick Scott: Hurlburt Remains the Best Place for Air Force Special Operations Command
Senator Scott’s Team in Kissimmee
Senator Scott’s team attended the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce local government developments update.
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Senator Scott’s Team in Fort Myers
Senator Scott’s team also attended the swearing in of new Fort Meyers Police Chief Jason Fields.
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Senator Scott’s Team in Ocala
Senator Scott’s team held Mobile Office Hours at the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership.
| TALLAHASSEE 111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: (850) 942-8415 |
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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 |
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