Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review
Dear Fellow Floridian,
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member on the Subcommittee for Personnel, I have fought tooth and nail to make sure our brave men and women in uniform and all Florida families are taken care of in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.
I’m especially proud of the big wins for Floridians and our military bases this year, like a 5.2% pay raise for our brave service members, an assessment of the Biden administration’s NOAA Rice’s Whale Rule to ensure bureaucracy and red tape doesn’t impact Florida boaters and business, protection for Homestead Air Reserve Base and improvements to Florida’s other military bases. For more about how this year’s NDAA helps Floridians,
click HERE.
We secured some important wins for our national security, as well, including the inclusion of my American Security Drone Act. This commonsense bill STOPS the U.S. from buying drones manufactured in nations identified as national security threats.
Bottom line: our military should be focused on one thing, which is protecting America’s security by being the most lethal fighting force on the planet. When we do that and take care of the families who support our heroes in uniform, America is safer. That’s why I’m still fighting for more amendments in the FY 24 NDAA that combat the growing threats we face from Communist China, Russia and Iran and stop politicians in Washington from using America’s armed forces as some wild social experiment.
I will not cave to wokeness in our military, and I’ll never stop fighting for the safety and security of our nation and Florida’s families.
For a full list of FY 2024 NDAA measures I fought for and secured, click HERE.
A note to Florida’s citrus growers: With reports of the lowest citrus production in nearly a century, I know the need for relief has never been more urgent. Earlier this year, I joined Rep. Scott Franklin in introducing the Block Grant Assistance Act. This good bill is the best way to help our citrus growers for years to come, and it’s why I’m working every day to get it passed in the Senate and signed by the president.
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.
Senator Rick Scott hosted a press conference at Chabad of University of Central Florida with Jewish leaders to condemn the rise of antisemitism and reinforce his support for Israel and Florida’s Jewish community.
Senator Rick Scott said, “In Florida, we are blessed to be home to many vibrant Jewish communities and I was honored to stand alongside Jewish leaders in Orlando today to discuss our strong support for Israel and the fight against antisemitism. I routinely meet with Florida’s Jewish leaders, and have been blessed to visit Israel five times during my time as Governor and now U.S. Senator for Florida. I just returned from my last visit to Israel earlier this month, and it again reinforced how important our partnership is for America’s national security and prosperity. I hope every Floridian will join me in standing resolutely with Israel and our Jewish Communities every day while shining a light on and condemning antisemitism in all forms. I will never stop working with leaders at the local, state and federal level to support them and their right to live in peace and pursue their American Dream.”
Read more HERE.
Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Mike Braun to Reverse Unfair Biden Mortgage Rule
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Mike Braun and Senator Roger Marshall to introduce the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act. This bill would reverse a harmful Biden administration provision that increases mortgage rates for many middle class Americans. In May, the Biden administration implemented changes to the Loan-Level Price Adjustment (LLPA) that punishes responsible home buyers with good credit to subsidize those with bad credit. This bill would restore the LLPA to its former state and ensure that the irresponsible decision-making that led to this change will not be repeated.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Folks that have worked hard to save up and build good credit shouldn’t be punished for doing so. This is ‘Bidenomics’ in action. People who are responsible, like those who have paid off their student loans or Americans who’ve worked hard to build good credit, should be seen as role models, not piggy banks for the left. It’s not fairness, it’s socialism, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to reverse it.”
Read more HERE.
Sens. Rick Scott and Kyrsten Sinema Lead Introduction of CHECKPOINT Act
Senator Rick Scott and Senator Kyrsten Sinema introduced the Continuing High-Quality Evaluations of Concerning and Known Persons of Interest through National Training Updates (CHECKPOINT) Act.This bipartisan bill will require regular updates to the Checkpoint Program Management Office’s drug seizure data collection categories; require updates to training to best handle what the officers and agents see in the field, and require that the Checkpoint Program Management Office is consistently staffed. This legislation makes recommended changes to the procedures following reports from the Government Accountability Office.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s heart-wrenching and terrifying that fentanyl continues to flow across our southern border and into U.S. communities where it takes more lives every single day. We cannot allow this drug to continue endangering American families. This commonsense legislation will make several updates to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection training and procedures of the Checkpoint Program Management Office to ensure we are doing everything possible to seize these drugs from dangerous criminals before they harm our communities. I’m glad to have bipartisan support for the Continuing High-quality Evaluations of Concerning and Known Persons of Interest through National Training Updates (CHECKPOINT) Act, and I’m hopeful for its quick passage.”
Read more HERE.
Sen. Rick Scott’s Bipartisan American Security Drone Act Added to NDAA
Senator Rick Scott applauded the passage of his amendment to add his bipartisan American Security Drone Act to the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation bans federal agencies from buying and operating Chinese-made drones.
Senator Rick Scott said, “I thank my colleagues in the Senate for supporting my and Senator Warner’s bipartisan American Security Drone Act, and Congressman Gallagher for leading the charge in the House. For years, I’ve been sounding the alarm on the risks that Chinese-made drones pose to United States’ national security, and for years I’ve fought to pass my American Security Drone Act to STOP the U.S. from buying drones manufactured in nations identified as national security threats. The U.S. cannot and will not sit idly by while Xi and the Chinese Communist Party operate within the confines of our government to spy and gather intel on our nation through drones from Chinese-based companies like DJI. And we will never cater to the whims of high-powered lobbyists backed by these companies attempting to convince Washington politicians and bureaucrats this is acceptable. I look forward to this important legislation becoming law.”
Read more HERE.
Sens. Rick Scott & Jacky Rosen Applaud Steps Taken to Admit Israel into Visa Waiver Program
Senators Rick Scott and Jacky Rosen applauded the Biden administration for taking concrete steps to admit Israel into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This follows the urging of the senators, who led more than 60 of their colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 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.
Senators Rick Scott and Jacky Rosen said, “We are pleased to learn that following our bipartisan push, the Biden administration has committed to work with the Government of Israel for it to be admitted to the United States’ Visa Waiver Program. We look forward to that day and the increased travel and tourism it will bring between the United States and Israel which will serve to strengthen the bond between our great nations and people.”
Read more HERE.
Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray urging him to take immediate action to investigate recent reports of a large data breach at Tampa General Hospital. According to reports, this cyberattack targeted sensitive personal records and potentially impacted more than one million Floridians. In his letter, Senator Scott requests that the FBI prioritize its investigation of this malicious cyberattack and quickly identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.
Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislative Package to Hold Federal Reserve Accountable
Senator Rick Scott introduced a legislative package aimed at forcing accountability on the Federal Reserve, ending its bad practices that have cost Americans more than $1 trillion, and reining in the agency’s out-of-control, $8.3 TRILLION balance sheet. This package includes: the Regular Order for Investments (ROI) of the Federal Reserve Act to end the Fed’s bad practices and force the Fed to consider the impact of its decisions on hard-working American families so this never happens again; the Right-Size the Federal Reserve Act to ensure an unwinding of the Fed’s massive balance sheet by mandating that it remain at or below 10% of U.S. GDP; and the Rein in the Federal Reserve Act to interject much-needed scrutiny and accountability of the Fed’s actions by establishing a statutory process for more strict oversight by Congress. Read more about the proposals in the Senator’s Washington Examiner op-ed HERE.
This legislation builds on Senator Scott’s bipartisan bill to require a presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed inspector general to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Senator Rick Scott said, “The lack of accountability and guardrails at the Federal Reserve have allowed the agency to make bad decisions with no consequences, growing its balance sheet to an unsustainable $8.3 trillion, making the Fed the largest agency, financially. Under Chair Powell’s leadership, the Fed has lost $1.3 trillion of your money just last year. It’s time for this insanity to stop. Hardworking American families shouldn’t be worried about the Federal Reserve making risky decisions that waste their hard-earned tax dollars. We cannot allow Americans to be forced to endure continued failures at the Federal Reserve any longer. This legislative package puts forward comprehensive reforms to rein in the Federal Reserve, better protect taxpayer money and make sure the Fed is truly accountable to Congress and the American people.”
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, Senator Scott introduced a legislative package aimed at forcing accountability on the Federal Reserve, ending its bad practices that have cost Americans more than $1 trillion, and reining in the agency’s out-of-control, $8.3 TRILLION balance sheet. This package includes: the Regular Order for Investments (ROI) of the Federal Reserve Act to end the Fed’s bad practices and force the Fed to consider the impact of its decisions on hard-working American families so this never happens again; the Right-Size the Federal Reserve Act to ensure an unwinding of the Fed’s massive balance sheet by mandating that it remain at or below 10% of U.S. GDP; and the Rein in the Federal Reserve Act to interject much-needed scrutiny and accountability of the Fed’s actions by establishing a statutory process for more strict oversight by Congress. Read more about the proposals in the Senator’s Washington Examiner op-ed HERE.
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for the Washington Examiner announcing the details of three new bills to reform the Federal Reserve and increase accountability to Congress and the American people. Senator Scott’s bills build on legislation filed earlier this year by Senator Scott and Senator Elizabeth Warren which would make the Fed’s Inspector General a truly independent auditor.
In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “The Federal Reserve is burning your money, and for far too long, Washington has let it happen with no consequences. Right now, the Fed has very little real oversight. Not even the inspector general at the Fed is truly independent. Worse still, the Fed isn’t required to comply with standard banking practices like nearly every other financial institution in America.
The Federal Reserve is burning your money, and for far too long, Washington has let it happen with no consequences…
I recently introduced a bill to require a presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed inspector general to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. When I announced this bill, the Fed inspector general wrote me an unsolicited letter complaining that his current salary (a cushy $377,800) would be cut to $200,000 if my bill became law. Clearly, changes are needed.
Now, I’m introducing three other bills to rein in this out-of-control agency before even more of your hard-earned dollars are wasted.
Jerome Powell, the current chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, might be the only man in American history who has managed to lose more than $1 trillion of taxpayer money…
My Regular Order for Investments, ROI, of the Federal Reserve Act would end these bad practices and force the Fed to consider the impact of its decisions on hard-working families so this never happens again…
Working in conjunction with the ROI of the Federal Reserve Act, my Rightsize the Federal Reserve Act would ensure an unwinding of this massive balance sheet by mandating that the Fed’s balance sheet remain at or below 10% of U.S. gross domestic product, which lowers risk and better protects your taxpayer money. Right now, the Fed’s balance sheet is equivalent to 30% of GDP. The Fed shouldn’t be this big, and it shouldn’t be in the business of making risky investment decisions when the economy and taxpayer dollars are at risk…
My Rein in the Federal Reserve Act would interject much-needed scrutiny and accountability of the Fed’s actions by establishing a statutory process for actual oversight by Congress…
And to make sure that the Fed doesn’t drag out these emergencies indefinitely, my bill would require that Congress votes to reauthorize any emergency spending programs after one calendar year. The Rein in the Federal Reserve Act also gives Congress the power to vote on ending any of the Fed’s emergency programs. The Federal Reserve has gotten far too big, unaccountable, and reckless. There is no internal scrutiny…
We can’t wait any longer for big change at the Fed. Powell and his board have overseen the loss of more than $1 trillion of your money while growing their balance sheet to $8.3 trillion and risking even more losses. Families must not be forced to endure continued failures at the Federal Reserve. It’s time for Congress to stand up and demand accountability.”
Read more HERE.
Breitbart: Rick Scott: Federal Reserve Supposed to Benefit Americans, Not Big Banks
Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott to Newsmax: Radical Left Is Antisemitic
WFTV: Sen. Rick Scott vows to ‘stand up against’ rise of anti-Semitism in Florida
Click Orlando: Sen. Rick Scott to condemn rise of antisemitism in Florida
The Floridian: Scott Talks About his Trip to Israel, Excoriates Antisemitic House Democrats
The Floridian: Scott Co-Sponsors Bill to Address ‘Socialist’ Housing Provision
Florida Daily: Florida’s Senators Champion the PRESERVE Online Speech Act
Florida Daily: Senate Passes Rick Scott’s, Jacky Rosen’s Bill to Stop Congressional Pensions for Members Convicted of Felonies
Florida Daily: Florida’s Senators Back Mike Braun’s Middle Class Borrower Protection Act
Senator Scott’s Team in Kissimmee
Senator Scott’s team attended the Homes For Our Troops Key Presentation Ceremony in Kissimmee.
Senator Scott’s Team in Orlando
Another event Senator Scott’s team attended was a Colombian Independence Day celebration to present a letter from Senator Scott.
Senator Scott’s Team in Pensacola
Senator Scott’s team also attended the Feeding the Gulf Coast Summer Meals Celebration event celebrating their program.
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