Dear Fellow Floridian,
We cannot afford to sugarcoat the truth: the threat of foreign terror attacks on U.S. soil is skyrocketing under the failed leadership of President Joe Biden. This week, during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Threats to the Homeland, I fought to get answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray on the imminent threat of terror attacks on U.S. soil. We know that President Biden’s wide open southern border has put families in every community at greater risk of danger, and after Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed thousands in Israel, including at least 33 Americans, and still hold hundreds hostage, terror threats are escalating even higher.
I’m gravely concerned that the Biden administration is missing the clear signs of danger and that the risk of a FOREIGN terror attack on American soil coordinated or orchestrated by a foreign terror organization is higher than it has been in decades. Even more concerning was Director Wray’s silence and non-answers when I asked if America is safer under President Biden. Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray both admitted that the threats facing our country right now are especially concerning. My question is this: how are the American people supposed to have confidence in this president to keep us safe and lead if his own officials do not? This is something that every family in Florida ought to be demanding answers and action to fix.
I have been sounding the alarm on Joe Biden’s weak appeasement policies since he took office and calling him out for refusing to stand up to dangerous regimes in Iran, Communist China, Venezuela and around the world. This week, Wray and Mayorkas finally admitted what every family in America is feeling. Terror threats have elevated under Joe Biden and it’s time to be concerned.
NOW is the time to secure our border, stop appeasing ruthless dictators around the world and stand strong against the threats facing our country. Our kids and grandkids’ safety and the future of our great country is too important to wait a second longer, and I won’t stop holding this administration accountable to do so. Watch the full exchange HERE.
Sincerely,
Rick Scott
United States Senator
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Senator Rick Scott released the following statement urging his Senate colleagues to immediately act on aid for Israel and vote on it separately from any other issues. Last week, President Biden proposed a massive $106 billion spending package that linked aid for Israel and Ukraine together, along with a deeply flawed and reckless spending proposal that would only exacerbate the raging border crisis that the president’s failed policies have created.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It has been 17 days since Iran-backed Hamas terrorists launched their savagely brutal attack on Israel, killing more than 1,400 innocent people, including at least 33 Americans, and took Americans and hundreds of others hostage in Gaza. The Senate needs to vote on aid for Israel now – by itself. Everyone in Washington knows that what the president has proposed will never pass in the House. It is unserious and needs to be discarded and moved on from. Americans should be disgusted that President Biden and Washington’s ruling class continue to use crisis after crisis to push massive spending packages for issues that have no business being voted on together. There is overwhelming bipartisan support for Israel and we can get an aid package passed in the Senate quickly. The same cannot be said about Biden’s asks on Ukraine aid, which is far broader than just lethal aid to defeat Putin, or his horrific idea to give billions to bail out sanctuary cities and push policies that actually make the raging national security crisis on the border even worse. Needlessly delaying this action in search of some doomed grand bargain only hurts the United States, our ally Israel and the urgent mission to rescue the Americans being held hostage in Gaza by Iran-backed Hamas.”
Read more HERE.
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Following reports of the suspension of “all effects” of the Venezuelan primaries by Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate Supreme Court after opposition candidate María Corina Machado’s successful primary, Senator Rick Scott wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to immediately revise the conditions of sanctions relief that the administration has recently offered to the Maduro regime and recognize the María Corina Machado as the legitimate opposition leader. Senator Scott is supporting Venezuelan opposition conditions to be met by the Maduro regime—and since they were not fulfilled, Senator Scott is urging President Biden to consider reimplementing severe sanctions.
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and their colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden expressing deep concern about the rise in terrorists crossing the southern border and asking for plans to bolster border and internal security measures. In addition to Senators Scott and Young, Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined the letter.
In the letter, the senators wrote, “Our Southern border is a matter of deep national concern and insecurity. With rising violence and economic crises around the world pushing many people towards our borders, the record levels of illegal crossings and the spike in Border Patrol apprehensions of individuals matching the U.S. terror watchlist are alarming. In fiscal year 2023 alone, 169 migrants with positive terrorism watchlist matches were apprehended along our Southern border. This represents a tenfold increase from the figures reported in fiscal year 2021. Although the exact affiliations and identities of these individuals remain classified, the marked increase is alarming. Even if these apprehensions represent a minority, the potential devastation from a single individual with malign intentions cannot be overstated.”
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.
Statement from Sen. Rick Scott on the Passing of Ambassador Mel Sembler
Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following the passing of Ambassador Mel Sembler.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Ann and I are devastated to learn of the passing of our dear friend, Mel Sembler, who is now reunited with the love of his life, Betty, who we lost last year. I was just with Mel on his birthday earlier this year. As always, he was a beam of positivity and I am so grateful for the time we spent together that day and on countless occasions over the many years of our friendship. Mel was a once in a generation leader, and we need more Americans like him. He lived the American Dream, building a business from the ground up and showing what is truly possible in our great nation when you work hard and pour your heart into everything you do. But Mel wasn’t just a businessman, he believed in building a better America. If something mattered to Mel, he made sure you knew about it and he showed you its importance by dedicating all of his time and energy into the causes he believed in. He spent decades of his life fighting to support Israel and America’s Jewish communities. He was the voice for Israel that we need now more than ever. He also fought tirelessly to keep drugs off our streets and keep our families safe. While advancing these causes and countless others, he served our nation as U.S. Ambassador to Italy and U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Nauru working with three presidential administrations to advance the interests of the United States around the world. It is impossible to capture all the good that Mel did for Florida and the United States, but I know this: Florida and America are better today because of Mel Sembler. His hard work has had a positive impact on countless Americans and his legacy will be felt in Florida and across our country for generations to come. We join all who knew and loved Mel in praying for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they mourn the loss and celebrate the incredible life of this great Floridian and American.”
Read more HERE.
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marsha Blackburn in leading their Senate Republican colleagues in a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urging him to reject President Biden’s request for up to $9 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Urging Accountability From Powell Missing Goal of Reducing the Fed’s Balance Sheet
Ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Chair of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell urging accountability regarding his failure to meet his target of reducing the Fed’s balance sheet. Earlier this year, Senator Scott sent a similar letter to Chair Powell, but has not yet received a response. Senator Scott has been adamant about holding the Fed accountable to their goals of reducing the balance sheet since his election to the Senate. Unfortunately, inflation continues to skyrocket and meanwhile, the Fed has made nearly zero progress.
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott: I Won’t Stop Fighting for Florida Farmers & Pass the Block Grant Assistance Act
Senator Rick Scott spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote on his bipartisan, bicameral Block Grant Assistance Act, urging his colleagues to support this needed legislation. This bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year, provides the authority needed for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue block grants to Florida’s growers and all U.S. agriculture producers devastated by recent natural disasters.
Senator Scott’s Block Grant Assistance Act has been endorsed by AmericanHort, North American Blueberry Council, International Fresh Produce Association, Florida Farm Bureau, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Florida Citrus Mutual, Feeding Florida, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscapers Association and the Florida Tomato Exchange.
Senator Rick Scott said, “As we work to get the agriculture community back on their feet from the natural disasters, I won’t stop fighting to make sure that the federal government keeps showing up. Following natural disasters in prior years, USDA has administered block grants to give states more flexibility to meet the needs of their growers and producers, but additional congressional action is needed to do that for farmers fighting now to recover from recent storms. After refusing to take action to help this community for 14 MONTHS, Biden’s Agriculture Department waited until this bill was coming up for a vote to open a ‘portal’ for growers and ranchers to apply for assistance.
“Here’s the thing: my constituents don’t trust this process or this administration, and I sure don’t either. And, the assistance being offered is anything close to what’s needed for our farmers to actually recover. The House previously passed the Block Grant Assistance Act, but today the Senate Democrats again failed to advance this urgently needed bill and I can’t understand why anyone voted against it. This bill helps farmers all across the country, but let me speak for Florida: we’ve been waiting for more than a year for our farmers to get desperately needed disaster aid. Folks around the country that put food on our tables and create jobs in our states are hurting, and I won’t stop fighting to get this bill passed for them.”
See more from Senator Scott’s speech HERE.
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues to introduce the Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act. Following the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel, pro-Hamas demonstrations swept across the U.S., including by foreign nationals. Under federal law, individuals who endorse or espouse terrorist activity are inadmissible. Current law explicitly states that members of certain groups, including the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), are not permitted in the U.S. However, the PLO is not the only group that should be banned in our nation.
This bill would expand current U.S. law to prohibit members, officers, officials, representatives, and spokesmen of Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Palestine Islamic Jihad from entering, or remaining in, the U.S. and would also apply to aliens who endorse or espouse terrorist activities conducted by any of these U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Senators Scott and Rubio are joined by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) in introducing the legislation.
Senator Rick Scott said, “We’ve seen the complete evil and destruction displayed by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists in Israel over the past few weeks – killing thousands of people, beheading babies, raping young women. Our Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act makes it clear that terrorists, or those who have supported or encouraged terrorist activities, aren’t welcome on U.S. soil. The United States is facing more and more threats from around the world from evil regimes and those who want to destroy our way of life, and protecting our nation’s homeland and Americans’ safety should be a top priority.”
Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Jon Ossoff, Marco Rubio and Raphael Warnock in passing their bipartisan U.S. Senate Resolution congratulating Coco Gauff on her historic U.S. Open Tennis title. The U.S. Senate passed the resolution unanimously. Coco Gauff grew up in Delray Beach and won her first Grand Slam title this September, becoming the youngest American to win a Grand Slam title since Serena Williams won the U.S. Open in 1999.
The senators wrote, “Coco Gauff is an inspiration to millions of young girls and boys across the country with her passion for the sport, faith and victories. Resolved, that the Senate congratulates Coco Gauff for her inspiring victory at this year’s US Open Tennis Championships.”
Read more HER E.
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Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Name Puerto Rico CBP Office After Fallen Agent
Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Jon Ossoff, Marco Rubio and Raphael Warnock in passing their bipartisan U.S. Senate Resolution congratulating Coco Gauff on her historic U.S. Open Tennis title. The U.S. Senate passed the resolution unanimously. Coco Gauff grew up in Delray Beach and won her first Grand Slam title this September, becoming the youngest American to win a Grand Slam title since Serena Williams won the U.S. Open in 1999.
The senators wrote, “Coco Gauff is an inspiration to millions of young girls and boys across the country with her passion for the sport, faith and victories. Resolved, that the Senate congratulates Coco Gauff for her inspiring victory at this year’s US Open Tennis Championships.”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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Save the Sunshine: Sen. Rick Scott Renews Call to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Senator Rick and Marco Rubio reintroduced the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, to end the twice-yearly time change and make Daylight Saving Time the national year-round standard. In 2018, as Governor of Florida, Senator Scott signed legislation which, pending federal approval, would exempt Florida from the time change practice and allow the state to remain on Daylight Saving Time year round. In March 2022, the Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act. The legislation went to the House where it awaited action and failed to pass by the end of the 117th Congress—Senator Scott and Rubio are urging their colleagues to get it over the finish line this year.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Permanent daylight saving time means more time in the sunshine and that’s something everybody should support. I constantly hear from Floridians on this – changing the clock twice a year is outdated, confusing and completely unnecessary. When I was governor of Florida, I was proud to sign a bill into law that will stop the clocks on the state level, but we need federal action. I’m proud to fight alongside Senator Rubio to pass our bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act and make a permanent change that benefits families in Florida and across the nation. It’s time to get this bill across the finish line and on the president’s desk.”
Read more HERE.
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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. Earlier this week, ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Senator Scott sent a letter to Chair of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell urging accountability regarding his failure to meet his target of reducing the Fed’s balance sheet. Earlier this year, Senator Scott sent a similar letter to Chair Powell, but has not yet received a response. Senator Scott has been adamant about holding the Fed accountable to their goals of reducing the balance sheet since his election to the Senate. Unfortunately, inflation continues to skyrocket and meanwhile, the Fed has made nearly zero progress. Read more in Reuters HERE and the full letter HERE.
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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During a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Threats to the Homeland, Senator Rick Scott grilled Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray on the imminent threat of terror attacks on U.S. soil after Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed thousands in Israel, including at least 33 Americans, and still hold hundreds hostage. Senator Scott remains gravely concerned that the Biden administration is missing the clear signs of danger and that the risk of a terror attack on American soil coordinated or orchestrated by a foreign terror organization is higher than it has been in decades.
In his response to Senator Scott, Director Wray said, “We went through a period where the traditional-structured Foreign Terrorist Organization threat in the U.S. subsided some in favor of this inspired, ISIS-inspired let’s say, attack … to be clear that threat has not gone away. What has now increased is the greater possibility of one of these Foreign Terrorist Organizations directing an attack in the United States…”
“…It is a time to be concerned. We are in a dangerous period.”
“…The terror threats have elevated” since Joe Biden took office.
See more from Senator Scott’s questioning with Director Wray HERE.
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Fox News: WATCH: FBI director goes silent when asked if country ‘safer’ under Biden
Newsweek: Is America Safer Under Joe Biden? FBI Director Can’t Say It Is
Townhall: ‘Wake Up, It Is a Time to Be Concerned’: FBI Director Wray Issues Stark Warning at Committee Hearing
Florida’s Voice: Rick Scott says Israel ceasefire calls ‘insane and dangerous’
WJNO: Senator Scott Asks To Reject Biden’s Request For Aid to Gaza
Florida Daily: Rick Scott, Jared Moskowitz Want U.S. Department of Education to Crack Down on Antisemitism
Florida Daily: Rick Scott Joins GOP Call Urging Biden to Address Rise in Terrorists Crossing Southern Border
Florida Daily: Rick Scott Takes Aim at Fed Reserve Chair Jay Powell
The Floridian: Scott Highlights Terrorists at Border, Demands Security
Fox 13 Tampa Bay: Senator Rick Scott says Israel and Ukraine funding should be separate
Senator Scott’s Team in Orlando
This week, Senator Scott’s team attended the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando’s 2023 Hispanic Economic Impact Summit.
Senator Scott’s Team in Groveland
Senator Scott’s team also attended the 21st Year Anniversary service and celebration of Hope International Church.
Senator Scott’s Team in Jacksonville
Another event Senator Scott’s team attended was the stand for Israel press conference alongside local, state and federal elected officials.
Senator Scott’s Team in Panama City
Senator Scott’s team also attended the Eastern Ship Building Christening and Launch of ARGUS
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