Dear Fellow Floridian,

Since Ian made its devastating landfall in Southwest Florida, I have been traveling to impacted communities—what I have seen is heartbreaking. Floridians are resilient and the catastrophic damage caused by this storm can be overcome, but it will take the full support of government and community partners at every level to get families and businesses back to normal. The federal government has a big role to play in Florida’s recovery, and the minute that FEMA and our state and local officials determine the true funding needs, we must act. 

I will do everything in my power as a United States Senator to get a robust Hurricane Ian supplemental aid package passed, and I have been clear that I expect Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to commit to immediately putting a clean bill on the floor. Once we have the information we need from FEMA and our state and local officials, we cannot delay action on a clean aid package. If that means reconvening the Senate, then that is what we must do. While we wait for this critical information, I will keep fighting to make sure that FEMA and the entire federal government are working in total collaboration with state and local officials so we continue to get resources and aid deployed quickly. FEMA has always been a great partner to Florida, and I will make sure that continues in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

Sincerely,

Rick Scott

United States Senator

Click HERE for updated resources and disaster assistance available to you.

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

Following Calls with FEMA & SBA, Sen. Rick Scott Shares Updated Federal Resources Guide for Florida Families Recovering from Major Hurricane Ian

Following calls with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman on the federal response to Hurricane Ian, Senator Rick Scott shared actions he has taken over the last week in response to the storm and issued an updated guide to federal resources available for Florida families and businesses now working to recover from the devastation. Senator Scott continues speaking with mayors, law enforcement, business and community leaders, utilities and federal officials to ensure Florida’s families and communities are getting every resource needed to respond to and recover from Ian.

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

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Sen. Rick Scott: Once FEMA Determines Need, the Senate Must Immediately Reconvene to Vote on Ian Aid Package

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement outlining his expectations and the importance of the Senate to immediately reconvene and vote on a Hurricane Ian supplemental aid package once the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local and state officials determine the funding need. Since before Ian’s landfall, Senator Scott has been in constant contact with mayors, law enforcement, business and community leaders, utilities and federal officials to ensure Florida’s families and communities are getting every resource needed from the federal government to respond to and recover from Ian’s devastation. Additionally, Senator Scott continues his fight to secure desperately needed resources to rebuild communities in Puerto Rico, which was impacted by Hurricane Fiona. Yesterday, he spoke with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about the impacts of Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, and last week he wrote to Senate Appropriators requesting their support in developing a disaster supplemental. Read more HERE.

Sens. Rick Scott & Marco Rubio Urge Senate Appropriators to Provide Assistance for Florida’s Recovery from Major Hurricane Ian

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio sent a letter to Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Shelby, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, requesting their support in developing a disaster supplemental to provide much needed assistance to Florida as Floridians recover from Major Hurricane Ian.

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Senator Rick Scott continues to work tirelessly; fighting for Floridians to get the necessary resources as the state recovers. Earlier this week, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with all members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, sent a letter to President Biden in support of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration due to Hurricane Ian that continues to cause catastrophic conditions across the state. President Biden approved the request. 

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

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Sen. Rick Scott Sets Record Straight on Misleading Liberal Attacks

In response to irresponsible and misleading reporting from the Washington Post about his vote yesterday on the Continuing Resolution, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement:

Senator Rick Scott said, “The Washington Post’s misleading reporting on my vote is false. The CR approved by the Senate yesterday contains no funding for Florida’s response to Hurricane Ian. I have joined Senator Marco Rubio and our colleagues from Florida to support our state’s requests for critical resources for Florida. I am in Florida today surveying damage and meeting with first responders and families who have been impacted by the storm, and the attempt by the Washington Post to mislead people during a crisis is wrong.

“Prior to Ian’s development, l made clear that I fully supported the proposed disaster funding for other states and urged Senator Schumer to put that up for a stand-alone vote. He refused, and delayed this relief so he could use it as a political weapon to stick in a CR that will end up fueling billions for Democrats’ radical agenda right before they lose power. This CR failed to fund the federal government until the new Congress begins in 2023, and that is why I could not support it.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott & Marco Rubio’s Request Expediting Major Disaster Declaration for the Seminole Tribe of Florida Approved by President Biden

At the request of Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, President Biden approved the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration as they recover from Major Hurricane Ian. The declaration will make federal dollars available to members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida who are impacted by the catastrophic storm.

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Senator Rick Scott continues to work tirelessly; fighting for Floridians to get the necessary resources as the state recovers. Earlier this week, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with all members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, sent a letter to President Biden in support of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration due to Hurricane Ian that continues to cause catastrophic conditions across the state. President Biden approved the request. 

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Shares Actions to Support Florida Families Following Major Hurricane Ian, Updates on Federal Resources

Senator Rick Scott shared actions he has taken over the last week in preparation for and response to Hurricane Ian as well as the following guide to federal resources available for Florida families and businesses now working to recover from the devastation. Senator Scott continues speaking with mayors, law enforcement, business and community leaders, utilities and federal officials to ensure Florida’s families and communities are getting every resource needed to respond to and recover from Ian.

Read more HERE.

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Local 10 News: Senator Scott meets with Coast Guard in Opa-locka, Receives Hurricane Briefing

WFTV: Sen. Rick Scott Tours Damage to Kissimmee Neighborhoods

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Thanks Coast Guard, Line Workers for Helping After Florida Hit by Hurricane Ian

Florida Daily: Florida’s Senators Survey Damage as Southwest Florida Recovers From Hurricane Ian

Florida Daily: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Get Biden to Offer Major Disaster Declaration for Seminole Tribe of Florida

Sen. Rick Scott Visits Lee County Emergency Operations Center Following Landfall of Major Hurricane Ian

Senator Rick Scott visited the Lee County Emergency Operations Center and assessed damage in local communities following the landfall of major Hurricane Ian.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center Following Landfall of Major Hurricane Ian

Senator Rick Scott visited the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center where he joined local officials to assess damage caused by major Hurricane Ian. Prior to visiting Charlotte County, this morning Senator Scott was in Fort Myers visiting the Lee County Emergency Operations Center where he also met with local and state officials to survey the catastrophic damage impacting the area.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits Impacted Communities and Osceola County Emergency Operations Center Following Landfall of Major Hurricane Ian

Senator Rick Scott visited the Osceola County Emergency Operations Center where he joined local officials to assess the damage in and around Kissimmee communities caused by major Hurricane Ian.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center Following Landfall of Major Hurricane Ian

Senator Rick Scott visited Sarasota County and assessed damage in local communities, met with the Sarasota mayor and visited with local businesses following the landfall of major Hurricane Ian. Senator Rick Scott continues to travel to impacted areas of Florida, surveying damage and meeting with state and local leaders as the state begins recovery efforts.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Receives Briefing, Thanks Officials, Volunteers Responding to Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida

 Senator Rick Scott visited the Lee County Emergency Operations Center to receive an update on the response to Hurricane Ian and to thank first responders, law enforcement officers, and emergency management officials for their work to help Floridians recover. Afterwards, Senator Scott visited First Assembly of God in Fort Myers to thank volunteers with Convoy of Hope, a faith-based organization that has been feeding Floridians displaced by Ian.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Thanks Line Workers Restoring Power in Southwest Florida

Senator Rick Scott visited Punta Gorda and North Fort Myers to inspect damage and thank line workers and technicians with Lee County Electrical Cooperative and Florida Power & Light.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Thanks USCG at Air Station Miami, Receives Briefing on Hurricane Ian Response & Recovery Missions

Senator Rick Scott toured the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami to thank service members for their life-saving work and received a briefing on the ongoing response and recovery efforts following the catastrophic landfall of Major Hurricane Ian.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Thanks Volunteers with Red Cross, Salvation Army and Cajun Navy

Senator Rick Scott visited volunteers with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Cajun Navy stationed in Fort Myers to thank them for their efforts to support Floridians affected by Hurricane Ian. Senator Scott also joined Salvation Army volunteers to package and distribute food for Florida families.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits with Fire Rescue Task Force 1 in Lee County

Senator Rick Scott visited with members of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Urban Search & Rescue team, Florida Task Force 1, to thank them for their life-saving work to rescue Floridians trapped by floodwaters in Southwest Florida.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Thanks Volunteers with St. Matthew’s House in Naples

Senator Rick Scott visited St. Matthew’s House in Naples to thank volunteers for supporting Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian and to help package and distribute food to families in need. St. Matthew’s House is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Read more HERE.

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