March 31 Legislative Update – Senate President Kathleen Passidomo

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This week, I had the honor and privilege of joining Governor Ron DeSantis as he signed the Live Local Act into law.  This legislation implements a comprehensive strategy to increase housing options and make housing more attainable for Florida workers, families and retirees.

It is clear that the broad appeal of the free state of Florida has impacted our population and our housing needs.  Countless families and business owners have fled high-tax, lockdown states in search of a better life in Florida.

As our state continues to grow, our Live Local Act will make sure Floridians can live close to good jobs, schools, hospitals, and other critical centers of our communities, while fitting comfortably in their household budgets, no matter the stage of life or income.

Also this week, the Governor signed House Bill 1, Education, which expands school choice to every student in Florida.

It was an incredible week for Florida.  Because of these and many other priorities we’re working to pass this session, the Sunshine State will remain the best state in the greatest nation in the world.

Live Local Act Signed into Florida Statute by Governor Ron DeSantis this Week

Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 102, the Live Local Act, representing the largest investment for housing efforts in state history.

“This legislation provides record support for Florida’s workforce and their families to help them live where they work, while also providing historic support for our military communities and the families living near military bases,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I applaud Senator Passidomo for leading on this legislation and look forward to the support it will provide to Florida families.”

The Live Local Act invests a record $711 million for housing projects and assistance through the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation (FHFC) to create or build upon housing programs. This includes:

  • $259 million for the SAIL program to provide low interest loans to developers building workforce housing. $150 million of these funds are recurring for certain specified uses such as redevelopment of underused property and projects near military installations.
  • $252 million for the SHIP program to provide local governments with incentives to build partnerships with developers who are preserving available housing or producing more housing.
  • $100 million for the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Programto provide down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time home buyers with a focus on law enforcement, first responders, teachers, active duty military, and military veterans.
  • $100 million for FHFC to implement a loan program to alleviate inflation-related cost increases for FHFC-approved housing projects.

Additionally, this bill builds upon efforts to help Floridians afford to purchase their first home by codifying the Hometown Heroes program and increasing the borrowing limit per loan to $35,000 or 5% of the purchase price of a home. This bill will also broaden FHFC’s ability to invest in affordable housing for those that are currently in the foster care system or who are aging out of the system and expands eligibility for the Job Growth Grant Fund to authorize public infrastructure projects that support expanding housing opportunities.

This legislation also creates a new tax donation program to allow corporate taxpayers to direct certain tax payments to the FHFC, up to $100 million annually, to help fund the SAIL program and increases the amount of tax credits available through the Community Contribution Tax Credit Program from $14.5 million to $25 million annually. Additionally, the bill provides a sales tax refund of up to $5,000 on building materials for housing units funded through FHFC.

 

 

Historic Legislation Signed into Law to Expand School Choice Options to All Florida Students

House Bill 1, Education, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Corey Simon, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education Pre-K-12, was signed into law earlier this week by Governor Ron DeSantis.

HB 1 contains a comprehensive package of innovations that promote parental involvement and customized K-12 education in Florida. The legislation empowers parents to guide their children’s education by providing for an Education Savings Account for every student in the K-12 system. Incorporating recommendations from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, the bill also takes the first step towards reducing onerous and excessive regulations on public schools.

The goal of making school choice a reality for every child across our great state has been a long time coming, and with the steadfast resolve and leadership of Governor DeSantis, Speaker Renner, Senator Simon, Rep. Tuck, and many others, today is the day school choice is here for every Florida family.

Additionally, this bill reduces some of the outdated, unnecessary, and quite frankly, burdensome regulations public schools have to abide by. By reducing red tape that burdens our traditional public schools, these institutions, which have served our communities for generations, will have a meaningful chance to compete right alongside other school choice options.

 

 

Yesterday, I stepped down from the President’s rostrum for the chance to debate in support of HB 543, specifically the Safe School Canine Program.  I worked with Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods on this innovative program.  This is just one component of the bill that will improve school and community safety. I also worked on this bill with Pinellas County Sherriff Bob Gualtieri, Chair of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission, and we included many recommendations of the commission to improve school safety.

HB 543 will help keep our schools safe by making sure we swiftly identify threats and get more kids the services they need to live a safe and successful life. Sheriff Gualtieri has shared with me that threat management is hands down the greatest opportunity we have in the State of Florida at prevention and keeping violent incidents from happening. Threat prevention is all about identifying behaviors, getting people help and keeping them off the pathway to violence. Silos create a void that adversely impacts public safety. With this bill, we are breaking down the silos and improving the flow on information. You can’t help what you don’t know about. When a behavior is identified, we want to make sure if the child relocates, the new school district knows about it so the student can stay on the right track.

We are also adding to the threat management team someone with personal familiarity with the child.  Someone who actually knows the child can provide valuable information that helps differentiate behaviors, which is critical to separating minor challenges that require correction from serious issues that require intervention.  Most importantly, we are creating a consistent, statewide operational process for threat assessments so they are done in the same way in every county.

 

 

Measure Protecting Innocent Life Presented on the Senate Floor

Thursday, Senator Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce) presented Senate Bill 300 on the Senate Floor where she answered questions from fellow senators on her legislation. SB 300 builds upon previous pro-life legislation passed into law and provides further protections for unborn children.

With an unprecedented opportunity as lawmakers to protect innocent life, and to stand with the brave moms who choose life for their babies, this legislation provides for robust protections of innocent life by prohibiting abortions after six-weeks gestation.

As amended on the Senate floor, SB 300 maintains current law exceptions to the six-week abortion prohibition, which protects the life and health of the mother and for the devastating diagnosis of a fatal fetal abnormality. This legislation also expands exceptions and includes a 15-week exception for women who are victims of rape, incest, or human trafficking. In instances of any known or suspected human trafficking, the physician must report this to local law enforcement if the woman is 18 years old or older or to the Florida Department of Children and Families if she is a minor.

This legislation also promotes healthy families and supports parents who chose life for their babies by providing additional counseling or mentoring services as well as providing millions of dollars for nonmedical material assistance to families such as car seats, cribs, clothing, formula, and diapers.

This legislation will make Florida a beacon of hope for those who understand that life is sacred and must be protected.

 

Florida Senate Works to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs

Senator Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) presented Senate Bill 1550 in the Senate Committee on Health Policy where it passed with unanimous committee support. Cited as the “Prescription Drug Reform Act”, SB 1550 institutes comprehensive reforms of Florida’s prescription drug policy to increase transparency, eliminate predatory practices, and protect consumers.

This legislation requires that prescription drug manufacturers publish information on price increases in a public manner in order to address the transparency issue regarding prescription drug pricing. Provisions in this policy put a stop to predatory practices such as spread pricing and pharmacy clawbacks that increase costs for patients.

Further, this legislation holds pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) accountable under the Florida Insurance Code and requires disclosures regarding certain business activities. SB 1550 also prevents Pharmacy Benefit Managers from steering patients to certain pharmacies in order to increase profit.

These measures will lead to greatly improved transparency in the prescription drug marketplace and increased accountability for manufacturers and distributors. Florida’s health care consumers deserve the ability to obtain their critical medications without the shell game that the pharmacy benefit managers and drug manufacturers have created to profit off of Florida’s patients

Legislative Update – March 17, 2023

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Greetings from Tallahassee!
On Friday. the Florida Legislature wrapped the second week of meetings of the 2023 Legislative Session.
The Florida Senate debated and discussed proposed policy both in committee meetings and on the Senate floor this week. Legislation focused on rebuilding local communities that suffer damage from hurricanes, upholding the parent’s right to choose the best school for their children, addressing labor shortages in workforce revitalization and protecting Florida from foreign threats.

 

Rebuilding After Natural Disasters
Wednesday, Senator Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) presented Senate Bill 250 in the Senate Committee on Community Affairs where it passed with unanimous committee support. Senate Bill 250 assists local communities impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole with the recovery process while ensuring that Florida is better prepared to respond to future natural disasters. Senator Yarbrough presents Senate Bill 254 to the Senate Committee on Health Policy
This legislation among other things allows residents of devastated areas to stay on their land while rebuilding their homes, encourages local governments to develop an emergency financial plan, and requires the Division of Emergency Management to assist local governments and residents with the debris removal process.
Senate Bill 250 lays the groundwork for Floridians to recover stronger and faster in the case of future natural disasters.

Funding Students, Not Systems
Thursday, Senator Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) presented Senate Bill 202 in the Senate Appropriations Committee where it passed with strong committee support. Senate Bill 202 establishes universal school choice across the State of Florida, ensuring that Florida students receives an education that meets their unique needs.
This legislation expands Florida’s educational voucher program and allows every student in Florida to receive an education in a setting fit to their own individual needs. Through this legislation, families of students who fall below 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL) will be prioritized, with a second priority for households with income below 400% of FPL, to receive an empowerment account to take education dollars earmarked for their child and choose among a variety of options to customize their child’s k-12 education.
Senate Bill 202 puts parents in the driver’s seat regarding their child’s education, provides parents and students with the full array of educational opportunities, and ensures that a child’s future is not determined by their zip-code. Through this legislation, Florida will continue to lead the way in education, delivering positive educational outcomes that result in lifelong success.

Reimagining Workforce Development
Tuesday, Senator Travis Hutson (R-Palm Coast) presented Senate Bill 240 in the Senate Committee on Pre-K – 12 Education where it passed with unanimous committee support. Senate Bill 240 reimagines and revitalizes workforce development programs hosted within Florida’s schools.
Through a comprehensive approach, incorporating local businesses, community boards, and public schools, this legislation expands opportunities for middle and high school students to receive valuable career training while still enrolled in a Florida public school.
Senate Bill 240 revises current high school graduation requirements to place a specific emphasis on educational curriculum that is focused on technical education and career training. Additionally, this legislation establishes a program that allows local businesses to assess the job market for their specified region and collaborate with local schools to ensure that roles found to be of a greater need are greater emphasized in our educational system.
As the entire nation attempts to address labor shortages in key fields such as nursing and logistics, Florida will lead through innovative educational policies that benefit individual students and the economy as a whole.

Defending Florida from Foreign Threats
Tuesday, Senator Jay Collins (R-Tampa) presented Senate Bill 264 in the Senate Judiciary Committee where it passed with strong committee support. Senate Bill 264 prohibits foreign adversaries and companies funded by adversaries from purchasing agricultural land in the State of Florida.
Due to the growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to weaken America’s national security through strategic land purchases, it is critical that we protect the health of our agriculture industry. Senate Bill 264 ensures that America’s enemies will be strictly prohibited from purchasing agricultural land in the State of Florida. This is a crucial step to protect Florida’s food supply and broader security interests.

The Florida Senate and House will reconvene next Monday as legislative session continues.
Respectfully,
Kathleen

Kathleen C. Passidomo
Senate President
State Senator, District 28
Naples Office:
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RPOF Newsletter: Gov. DeSantis Leads Nationwide Fight Against ESG

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Governor Ron DeSantis Leads Nationwide Fight Against ESG

 

Governor DeSantis Highlights Three Years of Florida’s Success

 

Governor Ron DeSantis Holds Higher Education Roundtable

Governor DeSantis Announces Unemployment Rate

LG Jeanette Nuñez Announces Space Art Contest

Attorney General Ashley Moody Warns about Tax Season Identity Theft

Wilton Simpson Proposes Tax Relief for Florida Farmers

 

CFO Jimmy Patronis: Don’t Bet on Black…Rock

Senator Rick Scott Sounds Alarm About Doing Business with China

Senators Scott and Rubio Re-File Daylight Saving Time Exemption Bill

Republican Party of Florida News

2023 Legislative Session News

Other News

REMEMBER: Like @FloridaGOP and retweet and share. The Republican message must be spread around the state, and you are integral to making that happen.

 
PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE. WWW.FLORIDA.GOP

 

RPOF Newsletter

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Governor Ron DeSantis Delivers State of the State Address


Governor DeSantis Exposes Book Ban Hoax


Attorney General Ashley Moody Secures Victory Over Planned Parenthood

 

AG Moody Wins Major Immigration Case; Federal Judge Sides with Florida, Agrees that Biden Broke the Border

CFO Jimmy Patronis Unveils 2023 Legislative Priorities

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Legislative Priorities

Republican Party of Florida News

 

2023 Legislative Session News

Other News

REMEMBER: Like @FloridaGOP and retweet and share. The Republican message must be spread around the state, and you are integral to making that happen.

 
PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE. WWW.FLORIDA.GOP

 

March Clerk of Courts Update

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Download a PDF Copy of the Clerk’s Newsletter

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February was a great month with our Valentine’s Day group wedding! Look inside our March 2023 newsletter for some great photos of our attendees. A BIG THANK YOU to our sponsors that helped to make this event possible, please thank them if you can use their services, they are truly community partners.  

I just returned from the statewide Clerk’s Executive meeting where we discussed Clerks’ budgets and pending legislation that might provide some relief.

House Bill 977 and Senate Bill 1130 have been put forward to provide funds to help cover Clerk’s services.

“Affordable” “Workforce” Solutions?

I’ve been having discussions with our staff regarding “affordable” or “workforce” housing in Collier County.  Many of our staff have been here for years, and we have been fortunate to hire a few to replace retirees. My question is how are those who are here doing it?

Golden Gate Golf Course Development Projects

In July 2019, Collier County purchased the Golden Gate Golf Course, located at the intersection of Collier Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway, from its owners for $29.1 million with the goal of preventing it from being over-developed and with requests to maintain a public golf course.

Collier County Taxpayers Should Benefit from $30 Million Escrow Account

After the acquisition of the Golden Gate Golf Course property in 2019, Collier County Commissioners met with the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) to discuss their progress in raising the 35% mandated state construction match. In October 2021, FDVA visited the property to assess whether it would be an ideal location.

Collier County Clerk to host the 6th ‘Operation Green Light’ on March 25 at Heritage Bay

Each year Clerks hold an annual driver’s license reinstatement event, known as Operation Green Light. Through this event, drivers have an opportunity to fully pay overdue court fines or apply for a financial plan without paying additional collection fees. Thousands of people are eligible for the program each year, but in a typical year only between 20-35 people take advantage of the program locally.

Learn more

Accessing Collier County Courts’ Self-Help Center

Clerk’ Offices across the state of Florida, including Collier County, offer self-help programs for individuals that choose to represent themselves in court, regardless of their financial situation. In Collier County’s self-help center, computers are available for individuals to fill out the necessary forms for civil and family court matters.

Find your Pot of Gold this St. Patrick’s Day
Check to see if you have Unclaimed Funds 

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and in addition to the Irish and green-themed festivities, one of the most iconic characters during this special day is the leprechaun and his pot of gold coins. While hunting for an actual pot of gold coins sounds like a fun activity, you don’t really have to look far to find money that is rightfully yours.

I was proud to open the 53rd Annual Everglades Seafood Festival with Everglades City Mayor Howe Grimm 

Welcome, Michael Netti!

Michael Netti is the newest addition to our growing team. He will be serving as Director of Recording and Clerk’s Accounting for the Collier County Clerk of Courts. As Director of Recording and Clerk’s Accounting, he is tasked with streamlining access, storage, retention, and disposal of all records within the Clerk’s office and the implementation of new strategies for a more efficient recording system. He originally came from Columbus, Ohio and had received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the Ohio State University.

He moved to Southwest Florida in 2016 to continue his career and be closer to his immediate family. His professional leadership experience includes 13 years of leadership serving in roles such as project manager, general manager, and director for multiple private-sector companies. His passion is leading and developing teams to better serve the public. He enjoys exploring the many parks, beaches, and dining that Collier County has to offer with his wife. They also adopted a retired racing greyhound six years ago and love spending time with her.

Christopher Day welcomed to 2023 FGFOA Leadership Class VI

Collier County Clerk Crystal K. Kinzel is pleased to share that Christopher Day, Financial Analyst of the Clerk’s Office, has been invited to join the 2023 Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA) Leadership Class. Out of many aspiring applicants from all over the state, he was one of the 20 chosen individuals to join the FGFOA Leadership Class VI.

As the Chair of the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Bylaws Committee, I was pleased to share an update with our members around the state of Florida

The Luck of the Draw has Changed

Jury selection is vital to our country’s justice system. It allows the court to randomly select citizens to participate in a court proceeding without gender, age, nationality, or racial bias. Administering jury selection is one of the statutory duties of the County Clerk of the Court in Florida. Since the establishment of the Collier County Courthouse 100 years ago, the role of the jury and the methods for selecting its members have greatly evolved.​

Learn more

Would you like Clerk Kinzel to speak at one of your upcoming events?

Email cyndee.woolley@collierclerk.com to confirm a date!

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Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review

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Dear Fellow Floridian,

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been traveling the state and meeting with the hardworking folks that make Florida the best state in the nation to live, work and raise a family. It’s clear that we all agree it’s time to end the dysfunctional status quo in Washington and make sure every family has the opportunity to live in a safe community, get a great education and live the American dream. But we can’t do that unless we stop Democrats’ reckless spending and economy-killing policies and END WASHINGTON’S WAR ON FLORIDA’S SENIORS.

President Biden and the Democrats have done more to hurt seniors than I ever thought possible. One example? They cut $280 billion from Medicare last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if you hadn’t heard about this. Biden and the Democrats lie about it every chance they get, and the liberal media covers for them.

But this shouldn’t surprise anyone. When he was a senator, Biden fought for DECADES to cut entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security. He even wanted to cut veterans’ benefits. HE ACTUALLY BRAGGED ABOUT THIS ON THE SENATE FLOOR!

Let me be very clear: I’ll NEVER allow cuts to Social Security or Medicare, and outside of Joe Biden, I don’t know too many other folks in Washington that want to see these programs be cut or go away either. That’s why I’m fighting to pass a new bill to protect these programs. My Protect Our Seniors Act proposes a rule to prevent cuts to Medicare and Social Security, stops Washington politicians from using Medicare savings to bankroll their woke wish list and rescinds funding for 87,000 new IRS agents and redirects those funds to Medicare and Social Security to keep those programs funded longer.

I’m in Washington to make it work for YOU, and I won’t stop fighting to stop Washington’s failures from hurting your wallet and our seniors.

Read more 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.

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See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

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Sen. Rick Scott Announces Protect Our Seniors Act to Preserve & Protect Social Security & Medicare

At a roundtable discussion with Florida community leaders and seniors in Sun City Center, Senator Rick Scott announced his Protect Our Seniors Act to preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare. During the roundtable, Senator Scott discussed his work to protect seniors from Washington’s dysfunction and the pain caused by President Joe Biden’s raging inflation crisis, and two years of failed leadership that have endangered critical entitlement programs and pushed Social Security and Medicare closer to insolvency.

Senator Scott has never supported cuts to Social Security or Medicare and NEVER will. Joe Biden on the other hand has, and he can’t hide from his nearly 50-year record of supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Download high resolution photos from Senator Scott’s roundtable in Sun City Center HERE.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I have been fighting since day one to protect and preserve programs like Social Security and Medicare for Florida’s seniors, and today I am proud to announce new legislation, my Protect Our Seniors Act, to safeguard the benefits of these critical entitlements.

“My bill will do three important things: first, the Protect Our Seniors Act will rescind funding for Joe Biden’s new 87,000 IRS agent army and redirect those funds to Medicare and Social Security to shore up these programs and address threats of insolvency.

“Second, my bill establishes a ‘Keep Medicare Savings in Medicare’ requirement. That means that if any bill makes changes to Medicare that result in a ‘savings’ every dollar of those savings must remain in Medicare and are prohibited from being used to fund woke projects as Democrats have recently done in their so-called Inflation Reduction Act.

“Finally, it establishes a rule to prevent cuts to Medicare and Social Security. If it is determined that any legislation will cause a cut or reduction in Medicare or Social Security, this rule will force two thirds of Congress to vote to approve it, making it much more difficult for Congress to make cuts or reduce benefits.

“While Democrats howl and lie about made-up threats to Social Security and Medicare, the reality is they haven’t done one thing to protect them. In fact, Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress have done more to hurt Social Security and Medicare than anyone I can think of. While Joe Biden had legislation to actually cut entitlements, my record shows that I’ve been 100% committed to protecting them from the start. I welcome Biden and anyone else who truly cares about protecting seniors to support this good bill.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Announces Miami Shores Police Chief David Golt as State of the Union Guest

Senator Rick Scott announced that he will bring Miami Shores Police Department Police Chief David Golt as his guest to President Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 7 at the U.S. Capitol.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I am honored to have Miami Shores Police Chief David Golt as my guest to the State of the Union address. I’ve had the chance to work closely with Chief Golt, who has tragically been forced to deal with this deadly crisis as both a leader in law enforcement and a parent. In December 2021, Chief Golt lost his son, Zachary, to fentanyl, and joined the hundreds of thousands of American families who have had their hearts broken and loved ones taken away by this deadly drug. While we cannot reverse the damage fentanyl has done, we can and must keep working to tell these stories, make sure families like Chief Golt’s know they are not alone and finally end this devastating epidemic. Fentanyl is a killer that does not discriminate by race, political party, age or background and the wide open southern border we have today is allowing it to pour into our communities like never before. The Golt family and every American who whose been hurt by this terrible drug deserve better and I won’t stop fighting until we end the lawlessness, death and suffering that fentanyl has caused across our nation.”

Miami Shores Police Department Police Chief David Golt said, “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of legislation to help stop the horrific plague that fentanyl has caused on our society and the many families that it affects. This includes my family as we lost our son Zachary on December 26, 2021 to the scourge of fentanyl; it can happen to any family. My family and I express heartfelt gratitude to Senator Scott for his efforts and concerns.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott, Tim Scott Reintroduce Bill to Protect Parental Rights, Combat Indoctrination in Schools

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to introduce the Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their (PROTECT) Kids Act to protect parental rights and prevent school administrators from concealing information about students’ gender from their parents. Senators Mike Crapo, Lindsey Graham, Cindy Hyde-Smith and Marco Rubio joined as cosponsors.

The PROTECT Kids Act would restrict federal funding for any elementary or middle school that allows students to change their pronouns, gender markers, or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms and bathrooms, without the consent of their parents. Representative Tim Walberg (MI-05) will be introducing the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I have long believed that parents, not the government, know what is best for their children. It is time for schools to stop pushing these woke ideologies on our kids and let them focus on reading, writing and arithmetic. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in supporting the PROTECT Kids Act to stop the indoctrination and ensure parents have a say in what happens at their kids’ school.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing

Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Gary Peters and Marsha Blackburn to reintroduce bipartisan legislation that would strengthen federal efforts to expand domestic manufacturing of semiconductor chips. The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act would direct the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program – in collaboration with federal agencies and state economic development organizations – to develop strategies to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains.

Senator Rick Scott said, “As Communist China’s influence in the semiconductor market continues to grow and some corporations in the industry, like Intel, put profits over American national security interests, it is beyond time to boost domestic production. The Chips and Science Act did nothing to strengthen American manufacturers while propping up business in Communist China—that is unacceptable. Now more than ever, we must be laser focused on producing American-made semiconductors and the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act is a good place to start.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott, Roger Marshall and Colleagues Reintroduce SHORT Act to Roll Back ATF’s New Pistol Brace Rule

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Roger Marshall and their colleagues in introducing the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act, legislation that fights back against the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) recently announced federal registry for firearms with stabilizing braces.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m a proud supporter of our Constitution and the 2nd Amendment. Biden and the far-left’s blatant attempt to push overreaching policies that infringe on the rights of law-abiding Americans is completely unacceptable. Our bill, the SHORT Act, stops the ATF’s ridiculous attempt to make criminals of law-abiding gun owners and protects the constitutional rights our nation was founded on.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Leads Colleagues in Reintroducing the Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Senator Rick Scott led Senators Ron Johnson, Tommy Tuberville, James Lankford, Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in reintroducing the Upholding the Law at Our Border Act. Under President Biden’s failed agenda of amnesty and open borders, more than 5 million known migrants have illegally crossed the southern border and tons of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, have flooded into U.S. communities and taken more than 100,000 American lives. This legislation would require the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate the vetting and processing of migrants apprehended along the southwest border and to ensure that all laws are being upheld.

Last year, Senator Rick Scott and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik led more than 100 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the DHS Inspector General to conduct a comprehensive review of the decisions by the Biden administration that have led to the worst border crisis in United States history.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Thanks to the Biden administration’s open border and amnesty policies, more than 5 million known migrants have illegally crossed the southern border. President Biden is laying out a welcome mat for human traffickers and savage cartels bringing drugs, like fentanyl, and crime to our communities. The administration is either intentionally keeping local law enforcement and communities in the dark, or willfully breaking U.S. laws by letting unvetted immigrants roam freely across America. We can’t allow them to continue recklessly ignoring U.S. law and putting families at risk. Our bill, the Upholding the Law at Our Border Act, requires an immediate investigation to ensure the proper vetting and processing of anyone that comes into our country, and holds the administration accountable for its basic duty of upholding U.S. laws. I urge the rest of my colleagues in the Senate to support and help quickly pass this good bill.””

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

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Sen. Rick Scott: Lyin’ Biden Can’t Hide From His Own Attacks on Social Security and Medicare

Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech last night.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Last night, Joe Biden rambled for a while, but it seems he forgot to share the facts: In my plan, I suggested the following: All federal legislation sunsets in five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again. This is clearly and obviously an idea aimed at dealing with ALL the crazy new laws our Congress has been passing of late. Joe Biden is confused… to suggest that this means I want to cut Social Security or Medicare is a lie, and is a dishonest move… from a very confused President. Does he think I also intend to get rid of the U.S. Navy? Or the border patrol? Or air traffic control, maybe? This is the kind of fake, gotcha BS that people hate about Washington. I’ve never advocated cutting Social Security or Medicare and never would. I will not be intimidated by Joe Biden twisting my words, or Chuck Schumer twisting my words – or by anyone else for that matter. HOWEVER, Biden and Democrats did, in fact, cut Medicare just last year. They lie about it and the liberal media covers for them. If they think they can shut me up or intimidate me by lying… I’m here for it… I’m ready to go. I will not be silenced by the Washington establishment.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott and Gary Peters Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Mitigate Waste, Fraud and Abuse Following Natural Disasters

Senators Rick Scott and Gary Peters reintroduced the bipartisan Disaster Contract Improvement Act to improve the disaster contracting process on the federal, local and state levels of government following natural disasters and mitigate waste, fraud and abuse. The bill aims to protect victims of natural disasters by ensuring post-disaster services are delivered quickly and taxpayer dollars are spent solely on helping impacted communities. The Disaster Contract Improvement Act was approved by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) last Congress. Senator Jacky Rosen joined as a cosponsor of the bill.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Florida is no stranger to natural disasters. Almost every year, hurricanes bring devastation to families and businesses across the state, but thankfully, Florida is resilient because of the intense preparation that goes into our disaster readiness planning. Sadly, even when we prepare, all too often we have seen waste, fraud and abuse following storms. It hurts our families, local governments, and the American taxpayer. My bill, the Disaster Contracting Improvement Act, will help stop this waste and make sure that every dollar is spent with care, preserving resources for future disaster response efforts. I want to thank Chairman Peters and Senator Rosen for joining me in introducing this good, bipartisan bill. The Disaster Contracting Improvement Act is a win for American taxpayers.”

Read more HERE.

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Senator Rick Scott Named Ranking Member of Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Senator Rick Scott was named Ranking Member of Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel. Moreover, Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) announced SASC subcommittee assignments for the 118th Congress. In addition to his responsibilities as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Personnel, Senator Rick Scott will serve on the Subcommittee on Airland and the Subcommittee on Seapower.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Florida is proud to be the place where 21 military installations, three unified commands, nearly 67,000 active duty members, 36,000 reservists and over 1.5 million veterans call home. As Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee for Personnel, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to come to solutions that have a direct positive impact on the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our great country and their families that support that mission each and every day. There are critical issues, from housing to childcare to military health care that are in desperate need of improvement and deserve the full attention of this committee and the Congress. As Ranking Member, I’ll be fighting harder than ever to make sure the Sunshine State, America’s national security initiatives, our military, veterans and their families are supported, and I want to thank Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Wicker for this great honor.”

Read more HERE.

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Amid Democrats’ Debt Ceiling Crisis, Sen. Rick Scott & Colleagues Urge Biden to Ensure Payments for Social Security, Medicare

As the debt ceiling crisis continues and Democrats refuse to discuss structural spending reforms to address America’s $31 trillion debt in good faith, Senator Rick Scott led Senators Mike Lee, Cynthia Lummis, Jim Risch, Mike Braun, Ted Budd, Katie Britt and John Barrasso in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging his support of the Full Faith and Credit Act. This bill would prevent a default and ensure the benefits of government-funded programs that primarily impact seniors, service members, and veterans, such as Social Security and Medicare, are prioritized and protected.

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Requests Full Funding for Everglades Restoration in Biden Budget Recommendations

Senator Rick Scott wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to continue critical funding for projects to restore the Everglades, including for the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration, in the president’s upcoming budget requests to Congress. Senator Scott has always been a champion for the Florida Everglades. By the end of Senator Scott’s eight years as Florida’s governor, the Sunshine State had invested more than $2 billion to restore the Everglades, resulting in the acceleration of 16 Everglades projects, sending more water south and providing billions of gallons of water storage around Lake Okeechobee. Now as U.S. Senator, Senator Scott continues his fight to preserve and protect the Everglades at the federal level.

Read his full letter to President Biden HERE. Read more HERE.

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Senator Rick Scott Joined Senator Marco Rubio to Demand Felony Murder Charges for Distribution of Deadly Fentanyl

In the response to the surge of illicit fentanyl being trafficked across the southern border and into our communities, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues to reintroduce their Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act. The bill makes the distribution of fentanyl, resulting in death, punishable by federal felony murder charges.

Senator Rick Scott said, “People who knowingly distribute lethal fentanyl deserve the strictest sentence possible. For too long, people have suffered addiction and death because of this evil drug that is pouring across Joe Biden’s open southern border. Fentanyl has skyrocketed to the number one killer of young people, and to put an end to this crisis, strong actions must be taken. I am proud to join Senator Rubio in standing up for victims of this crisis, and urge the immediate passage of this critically important bill.”

Read more HERE.

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Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio Urge Army Corps to Fund Critical Florida Projects

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio sent a letter to Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army – Civil Works, detailing critical projects in Florida that merit new and continued funding. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must submit a Work Plan for the Fiscal Year 2023 funds appropriated by Congress no later than February 27, 2023. Those decisions will have long-term implications for communities around the country, especially in Florida.

In the letter, the Senators said, “[I]t is our expectation that, of the funds allocated for the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER) program, significant funding for the construction of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir will be allocated in the Work Plan. Continuing contract clause authority for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) and the EAA Reservoir should be approved in addition to major investment through the Work Plan to expedite reservoir construction and reduce the long-term cost of the project. Additionally, the CEPP North Validation Report must be delivered as soon as possible so a project partnership agreement with the South Florida Water Management District.”

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Fox News Gives History Lesson: Calls Out Lyin’ Biden for Supporting Cuts to Social Security and Medicare

Fox News called out President Joe Biden for his continued lies and long track record of trying to cut Social Security and Medicare. Last night, during the State of the Union, Joe Biden lied to the American people and suggested that Republicans wish to eliminate or cut entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Senator Scott has never supported cuts to these programs and NEVER will. Joe Biden on the other hand has, and he can’t hide from his nearly 50-year record of supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Read more HERE. Read the Fox News story HERE. Watch the full clip HERE.

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Fox News: Rick Scott responds to Biden doubling down on Medicare claim: ‘What a hypocrite’

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott Pressures McConnell on Debt Limit Deal

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott to Newsmax: DirecTV Must Treat Everyone Fairly

The Hill: GOP critic dials up pressure on McConnell: ‘Tired of caving’

The Floridian: Scott, Manchin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop Sale of Crude Oil to China

The Floridian: Scott Urges Passage of his American Security Drone Act

Tampa Free Press: Sen. Scott, Republicans Seek To Rein In ATF’s New Rule On Pistol-Bracing Devices

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Brings Back END FENTANYL Act

Florida Daily: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Call on Army Corps to Fund Florida Project

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Continues Push for Committee to Investigate Withdrawal of U.S. Forces From Afghanistan

Senator Scott in Sun City Center

Today, Senator Scott hosted a roundtable discussion with Florida community leaders and seniors in Sun City Center. Senator Rick Scott announced his Protect Our Seniors Act to preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare. During the roundtable, Senator Scott discussed his work to protect seniors from Washington’s dysfunction and the pain caused by President Joe Biden’s raging inflation crisis, and two years of failed leadership that have endangered critical entitlement programs and pushed Social Security and Medicare closer to insolvency.

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Senator Scott’s Team in Pensacola

This week, Senator Scott’s team attended the groundbreaking for Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition’s new project, IHMC Healthspan, Resilience and Performance complex.

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Senator Scott’s Team in Orlando

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Senator Scott’s team also attended the Experience Kissimmee and Visit Orlando welcome meeting and reception.
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Another Orlando event Senator Scott’s team attended was the 2023 PR Parade Press Conference with other members of congressional offices and Sheriff Marcos Lopez.

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