Díaz-Balart’s FY24 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill Approved by House Appropriations Committee
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, issued the following statement after the release of the fiscal year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs funding Bill.
A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill Report is available here.
Bill Text is available here.
Chairman Díaz-Balart’s opening remarks from today can be read here.
Click here to watch the Full Committee Markup.
“As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, I am proud of this legislation which funds our national security by drastically reducing wasteful spending overall. There were two critical components I considered within every decision made-our national debt and our national security. This bill includes real cuts with a 24% reduction from the Administration’s request and a 12% reduction from last year’s funding level. I am proud of the hard work that went into this important legislation. We scrubbed every program to ensure efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness.
Directly tied to our national security, is confronting our adversaries. To address the growing national security threat posed by China, this measure prioritizes countering the malign influence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and for the first time, provides Foreign Military Financing grants to help democratic Taiwan deter PRC coercion and aggression. Additionally, this legislation provides unwavering support for our democratic ally, Israel, and two other vital security partners in the region-Egypt and Jordan.
Just as we must work to counter malign influences, we must also stand with our friends. In our own hemisphere, this bill includes key advancements to promote democracy and human rights. This measure supports democracy programs and informative broadcasts into repressive countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Communist China, Belarus, and Iran. Furthermore, it directs the State Department to strengthen and reward key partners in our hemisphere, such as Panama, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. This bill also provides funding to counter fentanyl and other illicit drug trafficking across the southern border, while also providing medical and other humanitarian assistance to Haiti.
This bill represents a significantly different approach, but it is also straightforward. If you are a friend or an ally of the United States, this bill supports you. If you are an enemy or are cozying up to our enemies, then you will not like this bill. Organizations that advance freedom and deliver results favorable to American interests are supported. Organizations that elevate human rights abusers, conspire with autocrats, reject transparency, and tolerate anti-Semitic sentiment do not merit support. This bill represents a significant departure from the status quo as we demonstrate a fresh approach to foreign affairs, one that recognizes the importance of safeguarding American interests, supporting our allies, and ensuring fiscal well-being.”
FISCAL YEAR 2024 STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS BILL
The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that strengthen our national security, counter the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Communist Party of China (CCP), provide support to our allies, and promote American values at home and abroad, while cutting the spending for low-priority activities and programs.
Supports our National Security
- Promoting freedom in the Western Hemisphere, including $30 million for democracy programs for Cuba, as we mark the two-year anniversary of the historic uprising by the people of Cuba to demand freedom;
- Prioritizing funding and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States;
- Prohibiting funds for the PRC and the CCP, prohibiting funds for international financial institutions from loans to PRC;
- Provide unwavering support for Israel by including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing Program; and
- Fully supporting other key allies in the Middle East, such as Egypt and Jordan.
Promotes Freedom
- Encourages our European partners who want our help with Ukraine to support us in defending freedom and democracy in our hemisphere as well, particularly in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua;
- Exposes the trafficking of doctors from Cuba and conditions aid to countries participating in this form of modern slavery;
- Strengthens language that directs USAID and the Department of State to regain programmatic management focus on core democracy issues vs. non-core issues;
- Defer funding on Colombia as the current trajectory of Colombia under President Gustavo Petro is increasingly at odds with the United States’ security and economic interests. The Committee will continue to assess as the actions of the Petro Government and its relations with Venezuela, Cuba, and Russia, as the process moves forward. With previous assistance amounting to $500 million annually, the Committee wants to watch how events unfold in Colombia;
- The bill strongly supports democracy programs in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and outreach efforts that provide information to people living under authoritarian dictatorships; and
- The bill also forces the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to deal with Cuba as it does other rogue states by directing funding of $35 million for the operations of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti)
Protects life, supports American values, and enhances economic competitiveness by:
- Prioritizing diplomatic engagement to favorably resolve commercial disputes abroad and to promote American business interests overseas;
- Refocusing attention on critical diplomatic functions, such as addressing the backlog of Passport applications and ensuring the safety and security of our embassies;
- Maintaining all long-standing, pro-life protections;
- Supporting religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations delivering foreign aid; and
- Banning “disinformation” and “misinformation” programs that violate the free speech rights of American citizens.
Support Israel and Addresses Hostile Nations in the Region
- Fully funds the United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at $3.3 billion;
- Prohibits funding to implement or enforce any agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program or a renewal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and
Expands and strengthens vetting related to the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement and engagement in political advocacy.
Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review
Dear Fellow Floridian,
This week, I worked with my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). My focus is always on getting Florida’s incredible military community the resources they need and ensuring we are prepared to stand up to Communist China’s increasing aggression, and this NDAA does just that with big wins for Floridians and support for our men and women in uniform.
Supporting our military shouldn’t be partisan, and I hope to see folks come together to get this passed. Read more about the NDAA HERE.
This week, I also worked to pass important legislation with unanimous support on the Senate floor. Ahead of the second anniversary of the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida, Senator Rubio and I introduced a resolution honoring the Surfside community and remembering those we lost. Read the resolution HERE.
I was also proud to see the Senate pass my END FENTANYL Act to ensure the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has the resources it needs to stop fentanyl and dangerous drugs from crossing our southern border. This is a huge step to ending the fentanyl crisis and the heartbreak it causes, and I’ll be fighting to get this important bill to the president’s desk and signed into law. Read more HERE.
To read more about my work to Make Washington Work for you, click 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.
See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.
Senator Rick Scott announced the reintroduction of three bills to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which would help lower the cost of flood insurance and ensure the property insurance market better serves Florida families. According to FEMA data, since the inception of the NFIP, Florida policyholders have paid more than $24 billion in premiums, but only collected approximately $12 billion in claims reimbursements, which equates to a 2 to 1 ratio of premiums paid to claims reimbursements. The situation Florida families face is clearly unfair and exactly why Congress must make reforms to encourage participation in the private flood insurance market as an alternative for hardworking Americans across our country. Senator Scott’s NFIP package has been endorsed by the Federal Association for Insurance Reform (FAIR).
Senator Rick Scott said, “With hurricane season here, flood insurance is top of mind to Floridians. Unfortunately, the National Flood Insurance Program right now is a perfect example of what happens when government tries to take over an industry – it fails. The NFIP is not only buried in debt, it’s now pushing huge rate increases through FEMA’s new ‘Risk Rating 2.0’ that is unsustainable and unaffordable for Florida families. We cannot allow that to continue.
“While I was Governor, we reformed Florida’s property insurance market to better serve families and we can do it at the federal level too. It’s time to make commonsense reforms that better serve Florida families. We should be offering more choice at a better rate. I am committed to fighting for change that encourages the development of a robust and affordable private flood insurance market and gives homeowners more choice and flexibility when purchasing their flood insurance plans. I know many of my colleagues in the Senate agree with me on this, and I urge them to join me in passing these good bills.”
Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland slamming the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) double standard of justice when dealing with President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, compared with both normal Americans and those perceived as his opponents. Senator Scott draws comparisons to the treatment the DOJ gave Deja Taylor, the mother who is facing a two-year prison sentence for her purchase and possession of a firearm while using controlled substances, and Wesley Snipes, the actor who served three years in prison for committing a very similar tax crime to the president’s son. Hunter Biden’s sweetheart plea deal reportedly ensures he will serve no jail time whatsoever and ultimately will not be charged with a firearms offense.
Senator Scott is demanding the DOJ explain the inconsistencies in the charges and is calling on AG Garland to explain to the American people why this decision was made in order to restore integrity to the department and the American justice system.
Read more in Fox News HERE and the full letter HERE
During a hearing in the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, titled Before Disaster Strikes: Planning for Older Americans and People with Disabilities in All Phases of Emergencies, Senator Rick Scott discussed the importance of disaster preparedness for American seniors. During the hearing, Senator Scott also posed questions to experts on best practices for aging Floridians to follow this hurricane season. Senator Scott has been visiting communities across Florida and hosting events with local elected leaders, emergency management officials and business owners to emphasize the importance of being prepared for the 2023 hurricane season. See more from his latest stop HERE.
Read more HERE.
Senators Rick Scott and Jacky Rosen led more than 60 of their colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Biden administration to include Israel in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The senators are also encouraging both the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize finalizing Israel’s accession into this program this year. 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.
Read more HERE.
Senator Rick Scott released the following statement after being notified by family members of José Daniel Ferrer, a Cuban democracy and human rights activist, that they have not seen or heard from him since March 2023. Since his arrest during the July 11, 2021 freedom demonstrations, José Daniel Ferrer has been psychologically and physically tortured by the illegitimate communist Cuban regime in a ruthless attempt to end his life. Senator Scott has been a vocal advocate for the release of José Daniel Ferrer and all democracy activists, especially the children, being unjustly imprisoned by the Castro/Diaz-Canel regime. His calls for action have resulted in both the Organization of American States (OAS) and President Joe Biden to call for the release of all Cuban political prisoners.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s absolutely despicable and unacceptable that the illegitimate Cuban regime has prevented José Daniel Ferrer’s family from seeing him for months on end. José Daniel is being unjustly detained in isolation, where he is subjected to physical and psychological torture by the brutal communist Cuban regime in an attempt to end his life. It’s time for the mainstream media to wake up to President Biden’s complete abandonment of Latin America that is allowing this torture and attempted murder to happen. Biden’s lack of leadership in the region undermines both our national security and human rights across Latin America. That must end today.
“I am demanding that President Biden join me and the countless Cuban democracy activists in demanding immediate proof of life of José Daniel Ferrer. President Biden must use this moment to end his appeasement of the brutal and illegitimate Castro/Diaz-Canel regime and make clear to the world that the United States will never ignore these horrific human rights abuses.”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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Ahead of the two-year anniversary of the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced a resolution in commemoration and honor of the Surfside community and the lives of 98 people lost in the tragedy. This resolution was unanimously passed by the Senate this week.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s been nearly two years since the Surfside community experienced an unimaginable and sudden tragedy with the collapse of Champlain Towers South. We lost 98 innocent lives that day, and countless others woke up to the heartbreaking news that they will never again see their children, friends, parents, grandparents or loved ones. I remember so clearly the days after the tragedy how the entire community and organizations from around the world came together in mourning and to support those affected, especially in our Jewish community, working tirelessly to aid in search and recovery with the utmost respect. We will be forever grateful for those who answered the call to help the Surfside community. Today, Senator Rubio and I join together with our colleagues to honor the community and the 98 lives lost that solemn day.”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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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. This week, as Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell testified in Congress, Senator Scott posted the below tweets slamming the complete mismanagement of Chair Powell who lost over $1 TRILLION in taxpayer dollars in the last year while families suffered with rising inflation.
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
Sen. Rick Scott in El Nuevo Herald: Biden’s failed leadership in Latin America is a gift to China
Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for El Nuevo Herald calling out President Biden’s policies toward Latin America that are benefiting the Communist Chinese regime. Due to recent events, such as Communist China establishing a spy base in Cuba, and Biden’s continued appeasement of Xi and murderous dictators around the world, no time is more consequential in Latin America’s fight for freedom, democracy and stability in the region.
In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “It’s time for the mainstream media to wake up to President Biden’s complete abandonment of Latin America. The Biden administration’s policies are not just a different path to a similar result; Biden’s lack of leadership in the region undermines both our national security and stability of our partners and allies across Latin America…
These developments have emboldened our enemies and will have long-lasting consequences that require us all, especially those in the press, to pay closer attention. Communist China has been strengthening its foothold, increasing its fiscal stake in Latin America and carrying out their espionage operations in the Western hemisphere with the sole purpose of taking over the region and destroying the United States…
Communist China has also been investing heavily in infrastructure projects, such as roads, ports, and railways, in Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela…
In exchange, Communist China has been securing access to the region’s natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals…
It’s clear that Communist China is engaging in ‘debt trap diplomacy,’ where it provides loans to countries that are unable to pay them back, and then uses the debt as leverage to gain political influence…
Every time Joe Biden has the opportunity to join the cause of freedom, to stand up and fight against oppression, he decides to look in the opposite direction. What is so concerning is that President Biden seems to prefer enabling the dictators over helping the freedom-loving people of these countries…
The President of the United States is known both here and around the globe as the leader of the free world. Our president, regardless of who it is, has immense power to rally our democratic allies and the freedom-loving people of the world to put pressure on oppressive regimes and throw the full support of the global community behind the cause of freedom.
It’s the wrong message to send to Latin America and our partners and allies around the globe that the President of the United States is willing to look the other way when it comes to human rights, freedom and democracy. We cannot allow our leaders to pretend that what happens in Latin America has no impact on democracy around the world.
There has never been a more consequential moment than this one in our fight for freedom, democracy and stability in Latin America. This isn’t just about ensuring freedom for the people of these countries, it is about protecting America’s national security. Our enemies are working every day to strengthen their foothold in the region and Communist China’s spy base in Cuba is clear proof of this. In the Senate, I will continue working to force action by the Biden administration that makes clear to tyrants in Latin America, Communist China and around the world the strength of America’s resolve to stomp out the spread of socialism and communism.”
Read the full HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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Fox News: Biden’s ‘farcical’ plea deal demands an explanation, Sen. Scott tells AG Garland
CNBC: Sen. Rick Scott on U.S.-China relations: You don’t do business with your enemy
Florida Daily: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Want Biden to Release Information Collected on Chinese Spy Balloon
Florida Daily: Rick Scott Wants to Define Efforts to Delegitimize Israel as Antisemitism
The Floridian: Scott, Rubio Look to Address Passport Backlog
Senator Scott’s Team in Fort Walton Beach
This week, Senator Scott’s team attended the Boeing Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their newly expanded facility in Fort Walton Beach.
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Senator Scott’s Team in Orange City
This week, Senator Scott’s team also attended the grand opening ribbon cutting for Complete Health in Orange City.
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Senator Scott’s Team in Ponte Vedra
Additionally, Senator Scott’s team attended a K9s for Warriors Graduation in Ponte Vedra.
Senator Scott’s Team in Lake Nona
Another event Senator Scott’s team attended “Café Talk” with faith leaders and elected officials to discuss Youth at Risk issues in Lake Nona.
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The Melo Minute
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District 82 Updates
State Budget Signed
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Next to me were Representative Massulo, Representative Tuck, Representative Trabulsy, and Dr. Devin Stephenson, NWF State College President/CEO.
Earlier this week, I attended the Southern Regional Education Board conference in Atlanta.
The Florida House education chairs showcased what Florida is doing to stay number 1 in education.
The conference was a consortium of all legislative members from many different states, sharing their policies and successes in their individual state.
Women In Real Estate Conference
What an honor to be a speaker at the WIRE “Women In Real Estate” conference.
I have attended many of these and always admired the strong, uplifting female speakers.
Thank you, Florida Realtors, for including me.
I want to give special thanks to PJ Smith, Paula Angelopoulos Urbinati, and Marcie Roggow who carpooled with me to Orlando to support me!
WANTED
Burmese Pythons
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VETERANS CORNER
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8th Annual Veterans Recognition Day Event
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Shy Wolf Sanctuary and Home Base Florida
Shy Wolf Sanctuary rescues wild animals that have been abandoned or neglected and gives them a home.
They partner with Home Base to help veterans connect with their resident animals.
For more information on Sabine and the other dogs up for adoption, click here!
For more information on Shy Wolf Sanctuary, click here!
For more information on Home Base Florida, click here!
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It is an honor to serve as your State Representative. My team and I will continue to listen, work, and legislate on your behalf as we look to the future. God bless you all, and God bless the great state of Florida!
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| Florida House District 82 | 3299 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112 |
Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review
Dear Fellow Floridian,
Almost two years since the historic freedom demonstrations in Cuba, Joe Biden is not standing up for democracy but instead ensuring his legacy will be his horrific failures to stop the spread of evil across the world. This was sadly confirmed by the Wall Street Journal’s reporting of a secret agreement between Communist China and the illegitimate, communist Cuban regime to establish a spy facility on the island targeting American business and military operations.
America’s enemies know Biden is too weak to stand up against them, so they are taking advantage of the hospitality offered by the illegitimate communist regime in Cuba. I pray that President Biden will defy our expectations and finally take a stand against this TODAY.
This move by Communist China presents grave threats to America’s national security that cannot be ignored. Every American should be up in arms about this. It’s not just spying on the government, which is bad enough. It’s spying on you, seeing your emails and your data.
If Biden gives a damn about the security of our country and the safety of our people, he will speak on this today, demand that Chuck Schumer set dates for security briefings and public hearings in the Senate and announce action to push back on Communist China’s unacceptable aggression. The appeasement and weakness must end now.
We cannot allow these two corrupt, murderous regimes to move forward with their evil plans to harm Americans and weaken the United States.
For more, click HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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.
Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference in Palm Beach County
Senator Rick Scott continued his hurricane preparedness tour in Palm Beach County. This marks Senator Scott’s sixth stop across Florida with local elected leaders, emergency management officials and business owners to emphasize the importance of being prepared for the 2023 hurricane season that began June 1st.
Senator Rick Scott said, “With the 2023 Hurricane Season starting last week, I am here to send one very clear message: Now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. Last year, we saw terrible devastation with Hurricane Ian’s landfall, and it reminded us that severe weather can approach and change course so quickly. Now is a great opportunity for you and your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries, and other necessities—and you can buy hurricane supplies sales-tax-free up until June 9th, so take advantage of that. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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Senators Rick Scott and Ed Markey were joined by Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Thom Tillis and leaders of the House of Representatives’ Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force to announce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing June 6th as Naloxone Awareness Day. The resolution promotes awareness of the life-saving drug, Naloxone, which reverses opioid overdoses and prevents unnecessary deaths. It also aims to educate members of the public about the importance of recognizing the signs of overdose, and equipping themselves with the life-saving antidote.
This resolution has been endorsed by Victoria’s Voice, a Florida-based foundation that aims to bring Naloxone awareness to the national stage. Representatives of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force who led this effort in the House include Representatives David Trone, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lisa McClain and Annie Kuster.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Too many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends have been lost to opioid poisoning in America. Naloxone saves lives and it is a critical tool in our fight to stop the loss caused by opioids in communities across our nation. I am proud to be joined by Senator Markey and a bipartisan group of our colleagues in the House to introduce a resolution designating June 6th as Naloxone Awareness Day to bring awareness to the issue and educate Americans about this life-saving drug.
“I also want to highlight the Victoria’s Voice Foundation and the Siegel Family for the lifesaving work they do on advocacy and education about the dangers of opioids. This organization was started following a parent’s worst nightmare – the loss of a child – and they have made it their mission to ensure folks are educated and prepared to save lives.”
Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference in St. Augustine
Senator Rick Scott continued his hurricane preparedness tour in St. Augustine. This marks Senator Scott’s seventh stop across Florida with local elected leaders, emergency management officials and business owners to emphasize the importance of being prepared for the 2023 hurricane season that began June 1st.
Senator Rick Scott said, “With the 2023 Hurricane Season starting last week, I have been traveling the state and I am here in St. Augustine to send one very clear message: Now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. Last year, we saw terrible devastation with Hurricane Ian’s landfall, which brought flooding to communities across Florida, including here in St. Augustine. Ian also reminded us that severe weather can approach and change course so quickly. Now is a great opportunity for you and your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries, and other necessities—and you can buy hurricane supplies sales-tax-free up until June 9th, so take advantage of that. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
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Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation by sharing his statement slamming the Federal Reserve for losing over $1 TRILLION taxpayer dollars in the last year under the management of Chair Jay Powell.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Jay Powell is a TRILLION DOLLAR LOSER. He might be the first trillion dollar loser in American history. Under his watch, the Fed has managed to lose more than $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayers’ hard-earned money in the last year. It’s gross incompetence and when its paired with the wildly reckless spending of the Biden administration, it’s no wonder why we have massive inflation and debt. I am hearing from families all over Florida that are struggling to make ends meet, unsure how they are going to cover bills and save for retirement due to the burden of Biden’s inflation crisis. So when I hear of leaders in this country like Jay Powell, who are supposed to be good stewards of the American public be completely reckless, it makes me furious. The Fed does not have an independent Inspector General, it employs about 23,000 people and is losing nearly $3.4 BILLION EVERY DAY. Enough is enough. We must have real accountability NOW. Would you bank with the Fed?”
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.
| “Biden’s Debt-Deal Strategy: Win in the Fine Print”
Read the full article by Jim Tankersley with the New York Times HERE. Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s clear that Democrats won the debt ceiling fight, which got more votes from Democrats than Republicans in both the House and Senate. Thankfully, no problem created by Congress today is unable to be fixed by a future Congress. That means this bad deal will only be in place for as long as we allow it. In the days, weeks and months ahead, I will be working with my conservative colleagues in the House and Senate to finally end the reckless spending, wildly climbing debt and failed bureaucracy through the appropriations process. This is the most important fight before us and Republicans must stop caving.” Prior to his vote against the bad debt ceiling deal, Senator Scott authored an op-ed for Fox News detailing his opposition to this deal which allows the federal debt to climb to $35,000,000,000,000 over the next 18 months. Sen. Rick Scott in the Washington Times: Public Service Reform Act is needed to make Washington work Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed in the Washington Times to highlight his Public Service Reform Act which will boost the accountability of federal employees and efficiency of the federal government. The Public Service Reform Act ensures that poor-performing employees can’t hide behind bureaucracy and continue to slow down the work of the federal government to serve American taxpayers. It is a disservice to hardworking public servants when their efforts are undermined by a few bad actors entrenched in the federal workforce. Senator Eric Schmitt joined Senator Scott in introducing the legislation in the Senate and Congressman Chip Roy introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives. In his op-ed, Senator Scott wrote, “I’ve spent my life leading organizations of every shape and size — from a small doughnut shop to America’s largest health care company and then the great state of Florida. Here’s what will make or break your success every single time: You have to have good people behind you who are mission-focused. If your team isn’t with you, it doesn’t matter how great your ideas are, you’ll fail. That’s bad for a business, and it’s even worse when it happens in government. While the vast majority of federal employees are good, hardworking people, it takes only a few with bad intentions to gum up policy and bring projects, and even whole agencies, to a grinding halt.… But right now, there’s little that elected leaders can do to stop those who wish to block them from carrying out the vision that the voters elected them to achieve. I’m fighting to change that with the Public Service Reform Act, which would make all executive branch employees at will… I also think we need to put term limits on unelected bureaucrats. The permanent ruling class in Washington is bankrupting us with inflation and debt, so they must be removed… Public service is a noble and worthy cause, but outside of critical national security positions, we don’t need people making a career out of government work. That only blocks fresh ideas and sticks us with old thinking, tired and failed policies, and even more red tape… Americans are tired of the old, dumb and slow way Washington works. It actually doesn’t work at all, and that’s the problem we need to fix. If we want to change Washington so that it actually works for American families, we need to get rid of the failed top-down approach and stop looking the other way while unelected bureaucrats undermine the policies of elected leaders. It’s time to pass the Public Service Reform Act, take power away from Washington’s unelected bureaucracy and give it back to the people — where it belongs.” Read Senator Scott’s full op-ed in the Washington Times HERE. — In case you missed it, as artificial intelligence developments continue to advance and concerns with the technology grow, Ft. Myers’ WINK News highlighted Senator Rick Scott’s newly introduced Artificial Intelligence Shield for Kids (ASK) Act. Senator Scott’s legislation would prevent children from accessing artificial intelligence features on social media sites without the consent of a parent or guardian. Additionally, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, to issue rules prohibiting social media companies from charging a fee or mandating a paid subscription, as Snapchat has recently done, before allowing parents or kids to remove artificial intelligence features from products used by minors. See the interview HERE or below.
— The Palm Beach Post: Hurricane Season 2023: Scott joins local officials in urging preparedness during stop in Jupiter WPBF: Sen. Rick Scott makes stop in Palm Beach County on hurricane preparedness tour La FM: Petro debe ser transparente en los dineros que financiaron su campaña: senador Rick Scott The Floridian: Scott, Rubio Introduce Resolution to Celebrate Tampa-Based Rough Riders |
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| Senator Scott’s Team in Tampa
This week, Senator Scott’s team attended the 125th Anniversary of the Rough Riders, 1st U.S. Volunteer Calvary Regiment.
— Senator Scott’s Team in Osceola County Senator Scott’s team also attended the Osceola County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony honoring fallen officers.
— Senator Scott’s Team in Orlando Another event Senator Scott’s team attended the PACE Center for Girls- Orange: Believing in Girls Breakfast in Orlando.
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| TALLAHASSEE 111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: (850) 942-8415 |
WEST PALM BEACH 415 Clematis Street, Suite 201 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: (561) 514-0189 |
TAMPA 801 North Florida Avenue, Suite 421 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 225-7040 |
| KISSIMMEE 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 300 Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 586-7879 |
PENSACOLA 221 Palafox Place, Suite 420 Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: (850) 760-5151 |
MIAMI 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 505 Miami, FL 33134 Phone: (786) 501-7141 |
| NAPLES 3299 Tamiami Trail East, #106 Naples, FL 34112 Phone: (239) 231-7890 |
JACKSONVILLE 400 West Bay Street, Suite 289 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 479-7227 |
ORLANDO 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410 Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 872-7161 |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5274 |
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| Fax: (202) 228-4535 |
Hurricane Season is Here, Get Prepared Today!
Sen. Rick Scott: Hurricane Season is Here, Get Prepared Today!
Dear Fellow Floridian,
This hurricane season, I urge all Floridians to take the time to make a plan in case of emergency, stock up on supplies and stay alert to weather threats to make sure that our families and businesses are prepared for a storm.
Over the past years, I have seen firsthand the destruction left behind by multiple devastating hurricanes – Michael, Irma, Hermine, Matthew and most recently, Ian and Fiona. If there is one thing I learned, it’s that Florida is resilient. Our state and local communities come together in times of need and work incredibly hard to recover from these storms.
Last week, I traveled across the state and met with local emergency managers, elected leaders and business owners to discuss the importance of planning ahead for the 2023 hurricane season. Every community in Florida has felt the devastating effects of a hurricane or tropical storm, and it is vital for families to plan ahead of time.
Florida is resilient because we prepare for storms. I cannot stress this enough: preparedness saves lives. We can always rebuild a home, but we can’t rebuild a life.
| Click HERE for more information on keeping you and your loved ones safe when storms hit.
Sincerely,
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| Rick Scott
United States Senator
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| ee the Senator’s message on Hurricane preparedness HERE or below. | |
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| See more of Sen. Rick Scott’s 2023 Hurricane Preparedness Tour Below:
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| Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference in Mexico Beach | |
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| Senator Rick Scott said, “With the start of the 2023 Hurricane Season around the corner, I am here to send one very clear message: Now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. I’ll never forget a family I met here in Mexico Beach after Hurricane Michael devastated that community and much of the panhandle. They ignored the evacuation order and stayed home. They almost lost everything in the storm—including their lives. They pledged to never take that chance again. We have to take all storms seriously.
“I know Michael is still fresh in the minds of families and businesses here in Mexico Beach. It is hard to imagine going through that again, so now is a great opportunity for you and your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries, and other necessities. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.” Read more HERE. — |
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| Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference in Tampa | |
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| Senator Rick Scott said, “With the start of the 2023 Hurricane Season around the corner, I am here to send one very clear message: Now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. Ian reminded us that severe weather can approach and change course so quickly—just days before landfall, the eye of the storm shifted and was heading right here for Tampa Bay before shifting back south. Tampa got lucky with that storm, but we cannot count on that again. We have to take all storms seriously. Now is a great opportunity for you and your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries, and other necessities. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”
Read more HERE. — |
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| Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference in Ft. Myers | |
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| Senator Rick Scott said, “With the start of the 2023 Hurricane Season around the corner, I am here to send one very clear message: Now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. Last year, we saw terrible devastation with Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida. I know so many families are still working to recover and get back to their homes and businesses. In Washington, I am working hard to get you all the relief you deserve by passing my Hurricane Tax Relief Act to provide disaster-loss tax relief to families impacted by Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona. I am hopeful we can get it done and get Floridians the help they need.
“In these seven months since Ian, I’ve talked to countless families, businesses, and officials on every level – we’ve worked hand in hand to make sure you have the resources you need to get back on your feet and on the way to a full recovery. But we always need to be ready for the next storm. Now is a great opportunity for your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries and other necessities. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.” Read more HERE. — |
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| Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference in Kissimmee | |
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| Senator Rick Scott said, “With the start of the 2023 Hurricane Season around the corner, I am here to send one very clear message: Now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. Last year, we saw terrible devastation with Hurricane Ian’s landfall, and it reminded us that severe weather can approach and change course so quickly – even without a direct hit, we still saw massive flooding, road closures and outings here in Central Florida. Many folks here remember Hurricane Maria just a few years ago, and had families come here to Florida after their homes were devastated in Puerto Rico. Now is a great opportunity for your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries and other necessities. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”
Read more HERE. — |
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| Sen. Rick Scott Kicks Off Statewide Hurricane Preparedness Tour in Doral | |
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| Senator Rick Scott said, “With the start of the 2023 Hurricane Season around the corner, I am here to send one very clear message: Now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. Throughout my eight years as governor and now as senator, I’ve seen the destruction left behind by multiple devastating hurricanes. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned – it’s that preparedness saves lives. Last year, we saw terrible devastation and loss of life with Hurricane Ian’s landfall in Florida. I know so many families are still working to recover and get back to their homes and businesses. Now is also a great opportunity for your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries and other necessities. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”
Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott and Mrs. Ann Scott announced that the senator will be donating his quarterly Senate salary to the American Red Cross Florida Regions and Meals on Wheels, which operates 126 programs throughout the state. Both of these organizations play a critical role in serving our communities, especially during hurricane season, to help families and our senior citizens receive much-needed resources and support. Senator Scott has donated his Senate salary every quarter since taking office. Senator Rick Scott said, “The 2023 hurricane season is around the corner, and there’s no better time to get prepared than TODAY for any potential weather. As I travel the state this week to encourage Floridians to get prepared, Ann and I are proud to announce that we will be donating my Senate quarterly salary to Florida sectors of American Red Cross and Meals on Wheels to support the great work they’re doing throughout our state during this Hurricane season. Right now, so many families are continuing to struggle to make ends meet with inflation, and often turning to organizations like these for help with extra supplies for their emergency supply kits and stocking up for potential weather. One of the best things about the state of Florida is that when Floridians are in need, there’s always a helping hand available – these organizations and their many committed volunteers are a prime example of that.” Read more HERE.
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Orlando Sentinel: Sen. Rick Scott: Don’t wait, Florida, get prepared for hurricanes now Stepping through the wreckage that was scattered across Highway 98 in Mexico Beach, I saw a man and his wife standing in the garage of their condo looking over what was once a beautiful home before the storm surge came. That was nearly five years ago, in 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida panhandle as a category 5 storm. I’ll never forget what those kind people said to me when I walked over to greet them: We thought the warnings were overblown and that we could ride it out. We will never ignore those evacuation orders again. Those folks were lucky to be alive, but others have not been so fortunate. Last year, Hurricane Ian hit Fort Myers Beach like a sledgehammer. Between its category 5 winds and nearly 14 feet of storm surge, Ian took the lives of more than 150 Floridians. We continue to keep the families of those we lost in our prayers. Last week, I was back in Mexico Beach and Fort Myers to warn Floridians to take hurricane preparedness seriously. Those were two visits on my statewide Hurricane Preparedness tour that also stopped in Miami, Kissimmee and Tampa. Each of these communities understands just how destructive and serious hurricanes can be. Throughout my now 13 years as governor and U.S. senator, I’ve seen firsthand the destruction left behind by devastating storms. If there is one thing I learned, it’s that Florida is resilient. Our state and local communities come together in times of need and work incredibly hard to recover from these storms. Each hurricane season presents its own challenges, and as the 2023 hurricane season approaches, Americans continue to face the challenge of inflation and increased prices on everyday goods. That means every Florida family needs to be even more vigilant about making a plan and getting prepared ahead of time. We know how suddenly severe weather can develop and threaten our communities — it can happen at any moment. So, I am urging every family and business in Florida to get a plan and make a disaster preparedness kit today. Starting preparations early allows Floridians to make purchases of vital supplies, like food, water, flashlights, batteries and other necessities on their own terms. Early preparation also give you the time to revisit your plan. When you don’t feel rushed, you’ll create the best plan possible for your family. You can find resources and information on creating a personalized emergency plan at ready.gov. As Floridians, we know better than anyone that preparedness saves lives. Even for those who have lived in Florida for decades, we can never become complacent or let our guard down. We should never underestimate the threat of severe weather. In case of a storm, stay tuned to your local news reports and follow the direction of local law enforcement and emergency management officials. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you cannot rebuild your life. Floridians also understand the power of nonprofits following natural disasters. When I became a U.S. senator, I committed to donate my salary to vital charities. My wife, Ann, and I were proud to announce last week that we are sending a donation to two great partners, the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels. We’ll continue to work hand-in-hand with them should disaster once again strike the Sunshine State. While families across our state prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, I’ll continue to work with our federal partners at FEMA, the National Hurricane Center and other federal agencies to make sure that we are ready to get needed resources and assistance to Floridians impacted by severe weather. As your Senator, my goal every day is to make Washington work better for you. Ensuring a robust and speedy federal response to hurricanes is no exception. There are only a few days left before the start of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Now is the time to focus on taking care of each other and protecting our families. Don’t wait to take action. Start getting prepared today. Read more HERE.
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As Floridians, we know that preparedness saves lives. As the 2023 hurricane season begins, the time for Florida families and businesses to make a plan is TODAY. Now is a great opportunity for your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries and other necessities. Your kit should also include 7 days worth of food and water, prescription medications and any important documents. This week, Floridians can restock their hurricane preparedness kits tax-free. The sales tax holiday ends on Friday, June 9 so make sure to take advantage of the savings while you can. Watch Sen. Scott and Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore’s Hurricane Season PSA HERE or below.
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You can find resources and information on creating a personalized emergency plan HERE. Here are a few tips to help you prepare your family and business for this upcoming season: |
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During a Storm
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After a Storm
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Hurricane Preparedness Resources Websites
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Helpful Accounts on Twitter
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| TALLAHASSEE 111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: (850) 942-8415 |
WEST PALM BEACH 415 Clematis Street, Suite 201 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: (561) 514-0189 |
TAMPA 801 North Florida Avenue, Suite 421 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 225-7040 |
| KISSIMMEE 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 300 Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 586-7879 |
PENSACOLA 221 Palafox Place, Suite 420 Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: (850) 760-5151 |
MIAMI 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 505 Miami, FL 33134 Phone: (786) 501-7141 |
| NAPLES 3299 Tamiami Trail East, #106 Naples, FL 34112 Phone: (239) 231-7890 |
JACKSONVILLE 400 West Bay Street, Suite 289 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 479-7227 |
ORLANDO 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410 Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 872-7161 |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5274 |
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| Fax: (202) 228-4535 |
Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review
Dear Fellow Floridian,
Since I arrived in the United States Senate, I’ve worked every day fighting to pass commonsense reforms that shake some sanity into Washington. It seems like all folks know to do up here is spend, spend, spend. But when I talk to Floridians, I hear your firsthand experiences dealing with the soaring prices and inflation caused by Democrats massive spending spree.
That’s why I voted no on the bad debt ceiling deal this week. This bad deal promises more debt and inflation for Floridians who need relief the most.
There will never come a day when the permanent political class in either party in Washington will stand up in favor of curtailing runaway spending and debt. The politicians in Washington will never accept that they are wrong, so we have to force change.
I won’t compromise on debt. I won’t say ok to ‘good enough.’ I am committed to stopping this madness and will keep working with my conservative colleagues in the Senate and House to actually get something done for the American people. We need to pass No Budget, No Pay to make sure Congress doesn’t get paid unless a real budget is passed. We need to end reckless spending and we won’t stop focusing on making sure Congress actually starts passing budgets.
| Dear Fellow Floridian,
Since I arrived in the United States Senate, I’ve worked every day fighting to pass commonsense reforms that shake some sanity into Washington. It seems like all folks know to do up here is spend, spend, spend. But when I talk to Floridians, I hear your firsthand experiences dealing with the soaring prices and inflation caused by Democrats massive spending spree. That’s why I voted no on the bad debt ceiling deal this week. This bad deal promises more debt and inflation for Floridians who need relief the most. There will never come a day when the permanent political class in either party in Washington will stand up in favor of curtailing runaway spending and debt. The politicians in Washington will never accept that they are wrong, so we have to force change. I won’t compromise on debt. I won’t say ok to ‘good enough.’ I am committed to stopping this madness and will keep working with my conservative colleagues in the Senate and House to actually get something done for the American people. We need to pass No Budget, No Pay to make sure Congress doesn’t get paid unless a real budget is passed. We need to end reckless spending and we won’t stop focusing on making sure Congress actually starts passing budgets. For more, click 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. — See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below. |
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| Sens. Rick Scott & Marco Rubio Criticize Biden Policy Empowering Child Trafficking
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas demanding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue to conduct familial DNA testing at the U.S. southern border. This letter follows recent reports indicating that CBP will stop using “all familial DNA testing” at the U.S. southern border this month which will significantly increase the risk for children to be exploited and trafficked through fraud schemes along the U.S. southern border. Earlier this month, Senator Scott led Senators Rubio and Tom Cotton in introducing the Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act. This bill ensures extensive vetting by the DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) before a vulnerable unaccompanied child is placed with a sponsor. Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Applauds Florida Space Coast’s Selection for STARCOM Headquarters Following major effort to secure Florida as the home of Space Training and Readiness Command, also known as STARCOM, Senator Rick Scott applauded Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s decision to select Patrick Space Force Base for its permanent headquarters. Earlier last year, Senators Scott and Marco Rubio joined Representatives Bill Posey, Stephanie Murphy and their colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Kendall regarding his forthcoming selection of a permanent location for the U.S. Space Force’s STARCOM. Today, it was announced their efforts to bring the command to Florida were successful. Senator Rick Scott said, “I have been very supportive of bringing STARCOM to the Sunshine State, and today, I am proud to stand with my colleagues and Secretary Kendall to announce it will finally become a reality. This is a massive win for Florida’s role in our country’s space efforts that will bring more jobs and enhance our national security. Florida’s aerospace and aviation workforce is more than 100,000 strong with the skills and experience necessary to support STARCOM and Space Delta 10—that is complimented by the more than 40 colleges and universities boasting an extraordinary talent pipeline that continues to grow. Like I’ve always said, Florida has a long history of advancing America’s national security and leadership in space, and I’m confident this strategic decision to headquarter STARCOM and Space Delta 10 in Florida’s Space Coast will continue that tradition for years to come.” Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Partners with Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore for Hurricane Preparedness PSA Senator Rick Scott joined The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore for a public service announcement urging Floridians to get prepared for the upcoming hurricane season beginning tomorrow, June 1st. Senator Scott has been traveling across the Sunshine State as part of his hurricane preparedness tour where he continues to emphasize the importance of planning ahead for the possibility of a major storm. Last week, Senator Scott and Mrs. Ann Scott announced that they will be donating his first quarter Senate salary to the American Red Cross Florida Regions and Meals on Wheels, which operates 126 programs throughout the state. Both of these organizations play a critical role in serving Florida’s communities, especially during hurricane season, to help families and senior citizens receive much-needed resources and support. Senator Scott has donated his Senate salary every quarter since taking office. Read more HERE. Watch the full video HERE. Sens. Rick Scott & Marco Rubio Introduce Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues to introduce the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act. This legislation prohibits Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) accredited agencies from considering a school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and affirmative action policies, or lack thereof, as criteria for the school’s accreditation. Senator Rick Scott said, “We need to make sure that no school is judged based on whether a DEI agenda is used. What we care about in Florida is academic success so students can get great jobs after graduation. That’s why our state has been ranked #1 for higher education by U.S. News & World Report for six years running. I am proud to sponsor the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act to bring needed accountability to our colleges and universities.” Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott & Colleagues Recognize Rough Riders During 125th Anniversary of Spanish-American War As the United States marks the 125th anniversary of the Spanish-American War in 2023, Senator Rick Scott, joined by Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, announced a resolution designating June 2nd as National Rough Riders Day. The 1st United States Volunteer Calvary, nicknamed the Rough Riders, was a Tampa-based regiment that fought valiantly to defend and protect the United States’ interests during the Spanish-American War. Senator Rick Scott said, “Florida has a proud history of military service and achievement, and I am honored to be joined by Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz with this resolution honoring the service and sacrifice of the Rough Riders. While President Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership of this cavalry regiment has secured its place in history, it is my hope that this resolution designating June 2 as National Rough Riders Day will ensure that future generations learn the stories of the brave men who served under his command and honor those who gave their lives in service to our nation.” Read more HERE. — 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 and shared his statement slamming the passage of the debt ceiling legislation that will allow the federal government to hit $35 TRILLION in debt and does nothing to stop Joe Biden’s raging inflation crisis. Reckless government spending causes inflation, and Senator Scott has been clear that a balanced budget is necessary to get the country back on the path to fiscal sanity, and give the families that continue to struggle some relief. Yesterday, Senator Scott wrote an op-ed for Fox News regarding his opposition to the legislation and released the following statement. Senator Rick Scott said, “I voted no today because this legislation will only bury us deeper in debt and does nothing to stop the rampant inflation Biden and the Democrats have caused with their addiction to reckless government spending. There will never come a day when the permanent political class in either party in Washington will stand up in favor of curtailing runaway spending and debt. The politicians in Washington will never accept that they are wrong, so we have to force change. I have spent every day of my time in the Senate fighting to pass commonsense reforms that shake some sanity into this place and today made it even clearer that our work must continue. We won’t compromise on debt. We won’t say ok to ‘good enough.’ I am committed to stopping this madness and will keep working with my conservative colleagues in the Senate and House to actually get something done for the American people. We need to pass No Budget, No Pay to make sure Congress doesn’t get paid unless a real budget is passed. We need to end reckless spending and we won’t stop focusing on making sure Congress actually starts passing budgets.” Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ. — |
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| Sen. Rick Scott in Fox News: Debt ceiling deal won’t deliver on inflation or America. Senate must scrap it
Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for Fox News sharing his thoughts on the debt ceiling legislation that will allow the federal government to hit $35 TRILLION in debt and inflation to keep skyrocketing. Reckless government spending causes inflation, and Senator Scott has been clear that a balanced budget is necessary to get the country back on the path to fiscal sanity, and give the families that continue to struggle some relief. In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott writes, “While I made it clear this week that I do not support the debt ceiling deal, I believe Speaker Kevin McCarthy and our House Republican negotiators gave it their best against a president who does not care about how the inflation he created, retirement concerns and medical bills are causing havoc on families all across this country. “It’s OK to acknowledge that the deal being voted on this week may be the best that could be done with this president who refused to negotiate or even discuss this issue for months. But that acknowledgment must come with a second part: This legislation will only bury us deeper in debt and won’t actually deal with the raging inflation that is hurting every American family. Now conservatives in Congress have a choice. We can either do business with the devil knowing this debt ceiling bill will not slay inflation, reduce retirement concerns or medical bills. Or, we can say now is the time to live within our means and stop inflation in its tracks. “If the time to say no is not today, when is it? … “When a family has a spendthrift child, all they want is for that child to learn to be independent and live within their means. We all love our kids and we don’t want them to fail, but seeing your child be independent and responsible is one of the greatest joys of parenthood. Standing up on your own feels good whether you’re a parent, running a company or leading a state. Only in Washington do people have a hard time accepting this basic and universal truth. “Frankly, I’m sick and tired of watching people live in D.C.’s fantasy land where debt doesn’t matter, while America burns in the background. “I am a businessman who has negotiated a lot of deals. In every deal, you have to say no at some point. Maybe this is the time all Republicans need to say no. Not to be an obstructionist, but to tell every American family we hear them and we care about them… “President Biden’s proposed budget for this year was $6.8 TRILLION – a 55% increase since 2019. Meanwhile, the U.S. population has grown less than 2% in that same time. This is the kind of reckless spending that gets embraced in Washington and it’s ruining our country. The only way out of this mess is to balance the budget, pay down federal debt, reduce the size of government, reduce regulations, make permitting easier and have government only do the must haves… “I supported what House Republicans originally passed in the Limit, Save, Grow Act. It wasn’t perfect, but at least it started the process to a balanced budget, get able-bodied Americans back to work, reduced the regulatory footprint which is killing American jobs and worked to grow the American economy not the Washington, D.C. economy… “So if our only two options are to make the tough choices to balance our budget or pass this bad bill, the decision is easy. Let’s do the hard work and make the tough choices so American families can realize the dream that has made our great nation the greatest place for opportunity on Earth…” Read the full op-ed in Fox News HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott in South Florida Sun Sentinel: Don’t wait, Florida, get prepared for hurricanes now Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for the South Florida Sun Sentinel urging Floridians to get prepared for the upcoming hurricane season beginning on June 1st. Senator Scott has been touring the Sunshine State as part of his hurricane preparedness tour where he continues to emphasize the importance of planning ahead for the possibility of a major storm. See more from his most recent stop in Mexico Beach HERE. Last week, Senator Scott and Mrs. Ann Scott announced that they will be donating his first quarter Senate salary to the American Red Cross Florida Regions and Meals on Wheels, which operates 126 programs throughout the state. Both of these organizations play a critical role in serving Florida’s communities, especially during hurricane season, to help families and senior citizens receive much-needed resources and support. Senator Scott has donated his Senate salary every quarter since taking office. In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Stepping through the wreckage that was scattered across Highway 98 in Mexico Beach, I saw a man and his wife standing in the garage of their condo looking over what was once a beautiful home before the storm surge came. That was nearly five years ago, in 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida panhandle as a category 5 storm. I’ll never forget what those kind people said to me when I walked over to greet them: We thought the warnings were overblown and that we could ride it out. We will never ignore those evacuation orders again. Those folks were lucky to be alive, but others have not been so fortunate… If there is one thing I learned, it’s that Florida is resilient. Our state and local communities come together in times of need and work incredibly hard to recover from these storms. …as the 2023 hurricane season approaches, Americans continue to face the challenge of inflation and increased prices on everyday goods. That means every Florida family needs to be even more vigilant about making a plan and getting prepared ahead of time. We know how suddenly severe weather can develop and threaten our communities — it can happen at any moment. So, I am urging every family and business in Florida to get a plan and make a disaster preparedness kit today. …As Floridians, we know better than anyone that preparedness saves lives. Even for those who have lived in Florida for decades, we can never become complacent or let our guard down… As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you cannot rebuild your life… While families across our state prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, I’ll continue to work with our federal partners at FEMA, the National Hurricane Center and other federal agencies to make sure that we are ready to get needed resources and assistance to Floridians impacted by severe weather… Don’t wait to take action. Start getting prepared today.” Read the full op-ed in the South Florida Sun Sentinel HERE. — The Hill: Rick Scott ahead of debt ceiling vote: ‘If the time to say no is not today, when is it?’ The Hill: Rick Scott says he will oppose bill to raise debt limit The Free Press: Sen. Rick Scott Touts Increase Of Law Enforcement Orgs Supporting School-Guardian Bill Gulf County News: U.S. senator visits Mexico Beach to discuss hurricane preparedness Florida’s Voice: Florida Sens. Scott and Rubio vote against debt ceiling deal |
Senator Scott’s Team in Live Oak
This week, Senator Scott’s team joined members of the Suwanee County School District in the touring Riveroak Technical College in Live Oak, FL.
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Senator Scott’s Team in Merritt Island
Senator Scott’s team also attended the Rolling Thunder, Inc. Ride for Freedom XXXV in Merritt Island.
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Senator Scott’s Team in Naples
Another event Senator Scott’s team attended was the Memorial Day Remembrance Flag Folding Ceremony at the Pelican Bay Rotary Club in Naples, FL.
| TALLAHASSEE 111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: (850) 942-8415 |
WEST PALM BEACH 415 Clematis Street, Suite 201 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: (561) 514-0189 |
TAMPA 801 North Florida Avenue, Suite 421 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 225-7040 |
| KISSIMMEE 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 300 Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 586-7879 |
PENSACOLA 221 Palafox Place, Suite 420 Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: (850) 760-5151 |
MIAMI 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 505 Miami, FL 33134 Phone: (786) 501-7141 |
| NAPLES 3299 Tamiami Trail East, #106 Naples, FL 34112 Phone: (239) 231-7890 |
JACKSONVILLE 400 West Bay Street, Suite 289 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 479-7227 |
ORLANDO 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410 Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 872-7161 |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5274 |
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| Fax: (202) 228-4535 |
Crystal Kinzel June Update – Clerk of Courts and Comptroller for Collier County
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Memo from last year’s Flight Academy scholarship awardee
Ayden Abreu
The National Flight Academy was an experience of lifetime. It truly solidified my career choice. The NFA gave me insight into everyday life of a military aviator, and I am certain this is what I wish to pursue.
I am currently enrolled in the Embry Riddle Private Pilot Program. This program, instructed by Alan Davis, has prepared me for the Private Pilot Written Exam, and built my path of success. While I prepared for the written exam, I maintained a steady GPA of 4.5. I continue to volunteer at Marco Airport every Saturday to gain mechanical experience with aircraft.
I have successfully passed the Private Pilot Written Exam, I applied for and received the James C. Ray Scholarship, which has given me the opportunity to flight train.
I was recently appointed an officer position at Lely High School JROTC unit. I also manage, and edit the school JROTC website, as well as instruct and supervise all Drill and Ceremony in JROTC. I also train Drill Commanders in order to prepare for the end of the year drill competitions. I have recently applied to become the National Honor Society Historian. This position will help me gain experience and build my resume for the application process in order to meet the military academy requirements.
I plan to continue flight training, commit to volunteering full-time over the summer and fulfill my tasks as a National Honor Society member, and JROTC Staff officer.
I thank Mr. Keeys and the Republican Men’s Club for giving me the opportunity to have an experience at the NFA, and helping me finalize my future goals.
-Ayden Abreu.
Scholarship Winners Present
During the June 2nd Republican Men’s Club breakfast meeting with Senator and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, the scholarship winners were announced, and each gave a brief talk to the audience.
The scholarships are for $1,500 and will continue for 4 years as long as certain criteria for grades and activity continue. Photos courtesy of fellow member Ed Brandt
The winners were as follows:
Mike Lyster and Mary Claire McCabe
Mary Clair McCabe
Mary Claire is an Advanced Placement Diploma awardee at Gulf Coast High School. She was Executive President of DECA, which focuses on emerging leaders in marketing, finance, and management.
She has been involved with the Model UN, along with many other community-focused activities, all while holding a part-time job. Her essay was on COVID quarantine mandates as they impact yuth developmental health.
She plans on studying marketing and management at the University of Alabama in the fall. Congratulations, Mary Claire!
Russell Tuff and Bridi Paparusi
Bridi Paparusi
Bridi has achieved outstanding academic success at Mason Classical Academy, having been recognized as both Magna and Summa Cum Laude during his high school years. He was selected to present his senior thesis to the entire school. He was a member of the school Honor Commission.
He captained the basketball team, and worked several jobs including with his father’s business. His essay addressed transgenderism in sports competition. He plans to study biology at the university of Tampa in anticipation of becoming a medical doctor. Congratulations, Bridi!
Mike Nadolski and Shahz Ramonov
Shahz Rahmonov
Shahz says that, being a first-generation student going to college is a “dream come true”. He received an AICE Cambridge Diploma, demonstrating his superior academic achievement.
This is also evidenced by his high GPA at Marco Island Academy. His supervisor at the Marriott Marco Island, where he works part-time, gave him a glowing recommendation. His essay was on Second Amendment gun rights in relation to recent school shootings.
Enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University, he hopes one day to be an orthodontist. Congratulations, Shahz!
Glenn Brown and Jade Izurieta
Jade Isurieta
Although quiet, Jade showed us her character as evidenced by her strong academic and sports performance. As a student at Mason Classical Academy, she had the highest GPA of all the students we interviewed (they were all high!).
She was Summa Cum Laude her junior year, and has been on the honor roll all years in High School.
As Captain of the soccer team, she led them to the district title. Her essay was on vaccine requirements as they relate to the 14th and 10th Amendments. She will study kinesiology at the University of Michigan, ultimately hoping to become a medical doctor.
From left: Russell Tuff, Vincent Keeys, Ayden Abreu and his mother Vanessa Abreu.
National Flight Academy Program
Vincent Keeys, a Fellow Republican, representing the Collier County Community Foundation, and Greater Naples Leadership Program, is actively involved with STEAM (that’s STEM with A for Art), in partnership with the National Flight Academy Program.
The leadership of Mr. Keys is evidenced by the recent announcement that he will be receiving the Robert C. Cosgrove Award from the Collier Community Foundation. This award acknowledges individuals who represent devotion to human values, families, and our community’s well-being.
Aaron Paquette and Erick Carter
ITECH Award
The Immokalee Technical College provides education and training in IT, telecommunications, mechanics, machining, and metal work, with significant business support and partnerships. For a nmber of years, Technical Director Dorin Oxender has been on the job of “growing adults”, as he describes it. He is here to tell us more about their programs, and how our contribution will be used.
Jim Giles and Mike Lyster
Boy Scouts
Jim Giles is the field director of the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. With a primary emphasis on camping, youth engage in outdoor skills, climbing, trekking, aquatics, and shooting sports. Jim is here to tell us how our award will support the mission of the Boy Scouts, and the Southwest Florida Council specifically.