Sen. Rick Scott to Pentagon Leaders: Why on Earth Would You Leave Afghanistan While Stranding Americans?
Senator Rick Scott questioned Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley and Commander of U.S. Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on President Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Under the ‘leadership’ of President Biden, it has become the policy of the U.S. military to abandon Americans behind enemy lines. Secretary Austin admitted as much today saying that this was Biden’s plan all along. That’s unacceptable to me, to American families, and to our allies across the world. But, of course, Biden won’t accept responsibility. President Biden has blamed everyone but himself for his botched withdrawal of Afghanistan. He’s blamed previous administrations. He’s blamed the people of Afghanistan. People in his White House are even blaming our own military. We need to be clear – President Biden is solely responsible for his tragic failure in Afghanistan. The president’s misguided decisions and flawed leadership caused the loss of 13 U.S. service members, and left American citizens, our allies and billions of dollars of equipment behind enemy lines in the hands of a terrorist organization. Today’s hearing delivered few answers and raised new questions about Biden’s lack of strategy in Afghanistan. I’ll never stop fighting to hold Biden and his administration accountable to the American people.” See Senator Scott’s first and second line of questioning HERE and HERE, or in the videos below:
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Sen. Rick Scott Calls on Colleagues to Pass No Budget, No Pay Proposal
Senator Rick Scott released the below statement ahead of the Senate’s consideration of his and Senator Mike Braun’s No Budget, No Pay proposal. This common-sense No Budget, No Pay proposal requires members of Congress to do their job and work together to pass a budget and meet appropriations bill deadlines, or forgo their own salaries until the job is done.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Americans are sick and tired of Washington’s dysfunction hurting our families, causing economic chaos and inflation with wasteful spending, and government shutdowns that leave members of our Armed Services without paychecks. Families in Florida and across America deserve better. When hardworking Floridians fail at their job, they don’t get a paycheck. Why should Congress live in an alternate reality? If Congress fails at one of its most basic duties – passing a budget – our members shouldn’t get a taxpayer-funded paycheck. Period. Our No Budget, No Pay proposal simply holds Congress accountable and to the exact same standard as the families we proudly represent. I urge all of my colleagues to support this common-sense measure.” Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott: We Will Not Allow Vaccine Mandates to Hurt American Businesses
Senator Rick Scott was joined by Senators Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall and Mike Lee to introduce the Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act. As the Biden administration is reportedly considering enforcing vaccine mandates for businesses merely seeking to engage in interstate commerce, the Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act would protect the privacy of Americans’ personal health information and prohibit the Department of Transportation and other federal agencies from requiring proof of vaccination or the use of a vaccine passport for such activities. Representative Dan Crenshaw is introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Senator Rick Scott said, “While American businesses are working hard to recover from the devastating impacts of COVID-19, President Biden is set on implementing more mandates, lockdowns and restrictions that are holding them back. I got the COVID-19 vaccine, and encourage everyone who feels comfortable to get it too, but government has no business pushing mandates on the American people and our hardworking businesses. It’s the government’s job to inform Americans and then let every family make the right choices that will keep themselves, their businesses and their employees safe. My Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act ensures that the Biden administration cannot require anyone to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to do business across state borders, and protects Americans’ rights and privacy.” Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott to Microsoft: Why Are You Censoring American Journalists on Behalf of Communist China?
Senator Rick Scott wrote a letter to Microsoft Corporation CEO Satya Nadella and LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky demanding answers after LinkedIn censored the accounts of three American journalists, Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian with Axios, Melissa Chan with VICE NEWS and freelance reporter Greg Bruno in compliance with the wishes of the Chinese Communist Party. Communist China continues to perpetrate a genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and censor those who speak out against its human rights abuses. Microsoft and LinkedIn’s decision to sensor these journalists follows a similarly disturbing move by Kodak to remove images from its Instagram page highlighting Communist China’s atrocities and issue an apology to the Chinese Communist Party. Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Demands Answers from Sec. Mayorkas on Efforts to Protect Homeland Amid Biden’s National Security Crises
Senator Rick Scott wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers on the Department’s ability to protect and defend the United States following the Biden’s administration failed policies that led to a disastrous and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan and have created a growing humanitarian and national security crisis at the southern border. Senator Scott is focused on ensuring DHS is taking all necessary steps to protect Americans and the homeland from the national security crises created by the Biden administration’s failed leadership and dangerous policies. Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Risch, Colleagues to Introduce Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Jim Risch and 21 other colleagues to introduce the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act. The bill would sanction the Taliban and other leaders in Afghanistan for terrorism, request a review of foreign assistance to entities that support the Taliban, and establish a State Department task force to help rescue American citizens, legal permanent residents, and those with Special Immigrant Visas who were left in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan by President Biden. Read more from Senator Risch’s office HERE.
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Sens. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio Demand Information from HHS on Failure to Provide Life-Saving COVID-19 Treatments
Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio wrote a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding answers after HHS restricted the availability of monoclonal antibody treatments for hospitals in Florida and other states. Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Rubio, Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Reverse Biden Decision to Ration Antibody Treatments
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Rubio and colleagues in introducing the Treatment Restoration for Emergency Antibody Therapeutics (TREAT) Act which would stop the Department of Health and Human Services from restricting hospitals and healthcare facilities’ access to life-saving COVID-19 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments. This follows a recent decision by the Biden Administration to implement a policy that capped the amount of mAb treatments a state could receive.
Senator Rick Scott said, “As our nation works to fully recover from and end the coronavirus pandemic, we must ensure that Americans have access to all options for treatment and prevention, including the COVID-19 vaccine and proven monoclonal antibody treatments. The Biden administration’s recent decision to implement restrictions on monoclonal antibody doses — making it harder for Floridians to receive this life-saving treatment – is unacceptable and unethical. When lives are at stake, no resources should be intentionally held back by the Biden administration through dangerous political games. I’m proud to join Senator Rubio in introducing the TREAT Act to make sure Florida receives effective COVID-19 treatments. I won’t accept anything less.” Read more from Senator Rubio’s office HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Peters and Langevin Applauding Full Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Help Protect K-12 School Systems from Cyber-Attacks, Heads to President to be Signed into Law
Senator Rick Scott applauded the bipartisan final passage in the House of Representatives of his K-12 Cybersecurity Act. The bill, which puts protections in place to keep school-aged children and their institutions safe online, has already passed the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed.
Senator Rick Scott said, “We must do everything possible to protect the safety of every American student — and as we move to an increasingly digital world, this includes the safety of their personal information online. The K-12 Cybersecurity Act will ensure our schools have the resources they need to bolster cybersecurity and protect our K-12 students, educators, employees, and their families. I am proud of my colleagues in the Senate and House for coming together to pass this valuable legislation and look forward to it becoming law.” Read more from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 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 following the announcement that the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index increased 4.3 percent from one year ago—a clear indication that Democrats’ reckless, wasteful spending agenda is only further fueling President Biden’s raging inflation crisis.
Senator Rick Scott said, “When will this administration wake up and realize how hard they are making it for everyday Americans to make ends meet? Families are struggling to put food on the table, put gas in their cars and buy everyday goods each week. Each month we have seen prices go up hurting more and more families in Florida and across the nation. How do Democrats respond? By arguing to push the debt ceiling to unimaginable levels so they can ram through more reckless spending that will only further fuel Biden’s raging inflation crisis. I have heard from struggling families all across Florida about how they can’t afford to live the same way they did a year ago because of higher prices. As inflation continues to increase and incomes stay the same, it is our poorest families, like mine growing up, that are hurt the most and unable to keep up. It’s time for Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington to wake up, stop this dangerous spending spree and work with Republicans to get our house back in order.” Read more HERE. |