Dear Fellow Floridian,

The fentanyl crisis has taken so much from families and communities in Florida and all across America. Every family that has fallen victim to this horrific epidemic deserves a platform to share their stories to help find solutions . That’s why I held a roundtable this week focused on bringing people together, highlighting the devastating impact fentanyl is having and putting a spotlight on this raging crisis.

We have to keep telling these stories, saying the names of those we’ve lost and talking about why this is happening and how we end it. This crisis is not going to go away until we all start working together. We have to secure the border, stop Communist China from supplying and pushing these deadly substances to the terrorist cartels in Mexico, and pass legislation that will hold the thugs who distribute it accountable as the murderers they are. In the Senate, I am working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass eight targeted bills to combat the fentanyl crisis and get out communities, law enforcement and border patrol the tool they need to save lives. Additionally, ahead of my roundtable this week, I spoke at the Partnership for Safe Medicines Counterfeit Drug Briefing and announced a bill to designate this week as National Fentanyl Awareness Week.

Watch the full roundtable HERE. Read more HERE. 

Sincerely,

Rick Scott

United States Senator

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

Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Resolution Designating Week of Feb. 26th as National Fentanyl Awareness Week

Senator Rick Scott introduced a resolution to name this week, February 26th – March 4th, as National Fentanyl Awareness Week.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Every day that passes with a wide-open southern border, deadly drugs like fentanyl are pouring into our country and killing our fellow Americans. It is plaguing communities in Florida and all across our nation and it must be stopped. We have lost too many—mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends—and I will not allow the horrific consequences of failed policies in Washington, or the heartbreak of families hurt by this terrible drug, to be ignored. I will never stop fighting against fentanyl and am proud to introduce this resolution to bring much-needed awareness to this deadly epidemic and the border crisis that’s fueling it. I urge all my colleagues to stand with victims of fentanyl, their families and everyone fighting this battle to join me and support this important resolution.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio to Biden: End Vaccine Mandate, Allow Djokovic to Compete in Miami Open

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio wrote to President Joe Biden requesting his approval for a waiver of the administration’s current international travel vaccine mandate for top-ranked men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic. Approval of this waiver is required to allow Mr. Djokovic to compete in the Miami Open professional tennis tournament being held in Florida later this month.      

This letter follows Senator Scott’s recent cosponsorship of Senator Mike Lee’s Fair Removal of Existing and Enforced Bans on Immunization Relating to Destination (FREEBIRD) Act to end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate placed on international air visitors to the United States. The United States is one of the only countries that still imposes this mandate.

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE. 

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Sen. Rick Scott to SA Monique Worrell: Families in the 9th Circuit Deserve Answers, Accountability Following Heinous Pine Hills Murders

Following the heinous murders of three innocent Floridians and shooting of two others in Pine Hills, Senator Rick Scott sent the following letter to Ninth Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell demanding answers and accountability. In his letter to State Attorney Worrell today, Senator Scott makes clear that justice must be done and that if convicted, nothing short of the death penalty should be sought for this vile murderer. Last week, Senator Scott issued a statement highlighting the failures of a soft-on-crime agenda which allowed this criminal to be on the streets and take innocent lives and called for the immediate firing of all prosecutors who failed to hold him accountable.

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Speaks at The Partnership for Safe Medicine’s 118th Congress Counterfeit Drug Briefing

Senator Rick Scott spoke at the Partnership for Safe Medicine’s 118th Congress Counterfeit Drug Briefing on the impact the deadly fentanyl crisis is having on our communities across the country. During his keynote address, Senator Scott emphasized the importance of those impacted by this deadly epidemic sharing their stories, highlighted his legislation to help stop the flow of fentanyl into American communities and discussed the impact that an open southern border is having on the safety and wellbeing of American families.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Speaks at the AJC Antisemitism Roundtable

Senator Rick Scott spoke at the AJC Antisemitism Roundtable in support of America’s Jewish Community.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I am disgusted by the acts of hate and discrimination towards America’s Jewish community that we’ve seen all across the country. We cannot shy away from condemning these acts, antisemitism will never be tolerated. I will always support our Jewish community against discrimination and intolerance. In Florida and across America, we must continue to make clear that we stand with the Jewish community and fight against antisemitism anywhere it is found. This is a common cause that I urge every American, regardless of political party, to unite around.”

Read more HERE. 

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Sen. Rick Scott Reintroduces Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

Senator Rick and Marco Rubio reintroduced the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, to end the twice-yearly time change and make Daylight Saving Time the national year-round standard. In 2018, as Governor of Florida, Senator Scott signed legislation which, pending federal approval, would exempt Florida from the time change practice and allow the state to remain on Daylight Saving Time year round. The senators were joined by Senators James Lankford, Alex Padilla, Tommy Tuberville, Ed Markey, Bill Hagerty, Tina Smith, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Rand Paul, Ron Wyden and Martin Heinrich. Representative Vern Buchanan introduced companion legislation in the House.

In March 2022, the Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, sending it to the House for action. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi never brought the legislation up for a vote, despite broad support among lawmakers and the American people.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Permanent daylight saving means more time in the sunshine and that’s something everybody should support. Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary. I’m proud to be leading this bipartisan legislation with Senator Rubio that makes a much-needed change and benefits so many in Florida and across the nation. When I was governor of Florida, I was proud to sign this bill into law on the state level, and I will continue this effort in Congress. We need to get it all the way over the finish line this time. It’s time for Congress to act and pass this good bill today.”

Read more HERE.

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Statement from Sen. Rick Scott on the Passing of Lewis Bear Jr.

Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following the passing of Lewis Bear Jr.

Senator Rick Scott said, “It is difficult to think of a piece of the Pensacola community that has not benefited from the hard work and incredible generosity of Lewis and his family. Lewis understood the power of hard work. Along with his work to secure big economic development wins in and around Pensacola, Lewis grew The Lewis Bear Company, the oldest privately-held business in our state, to also be one of the largest. His legacy as a businessman and job creator is rivaled only by his commitment to philanthropy. Through his own kindness, and the great work of the Bear Family Foundation, Lewis, his wife, Belle, and their family have left a lasting positive impact on Northwest Florida and ensured that this wonderful corner of our state is a place of opportunity and growing stronger with each new day. Ann and I join the Pensacola community in praying for Belle, their children, Lewis, Cindi and David, and all who knew and loved him. We are heartbroken to learn of his passing, but know that his incredible legacy of service to Pensacola and hard work will continue to shape communities in Northwest Florida for years to come.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott, John Kennedy Introduce Bill to Teach Students Dangers of Communism

Senators Rick Scott and John Kennedy introduced the Crucial Communism Teaching Act to help educate students about the history and dangers of communism.   

Senator Rick Scott said, “America is the beacon of freedom and democracy around the world—principles our nation was founded on. As the far left abandons those principles and pushes the failed policies of socialist and communist nations, our Crucial Communism Teaching Act will make educational materials available to schools that shine a light on the dangers of communism in our society. For many families, especially in my state of Florida, the United States has been a stark contrast to the communist rule that once stripped them of their freedom, liberty and basic human rights and dignity. We can’t let that happen in America.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Issues Weekly Update on Biden’s Inflation Crisis

As the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ January Personal Consumer Expenditures Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation. Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, Senator Scott has urged government accountability to the American taxpayer. In case you missed it, as Congress considers the debt ceiling, Senator Rick Scott and Congressman Andy Biggs wrote an op-ed in Townhall to highlight the federal government’s obsession with recklessly spending taxpayer money and the need to implement significant spending reforms and make Washington accountable to American families.

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ. 

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Sen. Rick Scott & Rep. Andy Biggs in Townhall: To Save America From Washington, Congress Needs Spending Reforms

As Congress considers the debt ceiling, Senator Rick Scott and Congressman Andy Biggs wrote an op-ed in Townhall to highlight the federal government’s obsession with recklessly spending taxpayer money and the need to implement significant spending reforms and make Washington accountable to American families.

In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott and Congressman Andy Biggs wrote, “The federal government’s destructive addiction to recklessly spending your money has gone untreated for far too long. We think it’s time for behavior change in the Capitol. Washington’s spending problem and the inflation and skyrocketing interest rates that come with it are killing opportunity for American families. If we are going to save America from Washington, it’s time for real spending reforms. And yes, the debt ceiling is the right time to get that done…

For years, politicians in Washington have been too cowardly to do the right but hard task of properly managing America’s finances, choosing instead to look the other way while our country got $31 trillion in debt. The cost to you of their failure to do the most basic part of the job they were elected to? Massive inflation and wages not keeping up with it, growing interest rates, and an economy that works less for real, hardworking Americans than it does for the Washington establishment and Wall Street…

If something is worth doing, Congress should do it the right way, adhere to the law, and do so without sacrificing the benefits of Social Security and Medicare. We don’t think that’s too much to ask and we know the American people agree with us…

It’s also time to start actually scrutinizing how the federal government spends your money…

No person outside of D.C. thinks this is an acceptable way to do business, and we’d hope that most of our colleagues in both parties agree. Ignoring the way that Congress spends money has led to hundreds of billions of your taxpayer dollars being spent every year on unauthorized ‘zombie programs…

Here’s what that means: in 2021, the federal government recklessly wasted $432 billion of your tax money on more than 400 expired federal programs…

There are hundreds of billions of dollars being wastefully spent. We should claw those dollars back, preserve programs like Social Security and Medicare, maintain our commitment to a strong and lethal military, and then keep Congress in check so we don’t find ourselves in this position again.

If President Biden wants to talk about America’s finances, we’d love to have that discussion. If he thinks he can keep the status quo or agree to spending reforms, which can be easily waived by Congress so it can bury our country deeper in debt, he’s got another thing coming.”

Read the full op-ed in Townhall HERE.

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60 Plus Association in the Washington Times: Sen. Rick Scott’s Protect Our Seniors Act will keep politicians from stealing from Medicare

60 Plus Association President Saul Anuzis wrote in the Washington Times to offer his organization’s full endorsement of Senator Rick Scott’s Protect Our Seniors Act and applaud his efforts to preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare. Senator Scott continues working 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.

In his op-ed, 60 Plus Association President Saul Anuzis, said “There has been a lot of talk in Washington recently about Social Security and Medicare. We think that’s great and certainly better than the status quo of pretending nothing is wrong while these essential programs go bankrupt.

It’s time for Congress to do something positive and protect Social Security and Medicare, rather than gut them…

Thankfully, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida just introduced a bill that will impose accountability on Congress, and we think it should pass right away…

The reality is that Social Security is projected to run out of funds in just 10 years. Medicare is right behind it on the road to insolvency. What most Americans are paying into right now won’t be there for them later, and most of the time, politicians in Washington don’t care.

We agree with Mr. Scott that it’s time for Congress to stop working for itself and start working for the people they say they represent, especially older Americans who have paid into these programs their whole lives. That’s why we fully endorse his new bill, the Protect Our Seniors Act…

The legislation’s] three provisions would address the immediate need for more cash in the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, and make it much harder for Congress to attack these programs in the future. It’s a commonsense and necessary approach to the insolvency issue before us.

Congress needs to know that the American people, especially older people, are watching closely and won’t be fooled by budget gimmicks or accept attempts to steal from our government’s most critical programs. Medicare and Social Security are a promise that Americans pay into their entire lives, and it’s up to Congress to be responsible managers if we want to keep that promise alive.

We urge immediate consideration of Mr. Scott’s Protect Our Seniors Act. These essential programs are in trouble. We must act now.”

Read 60 Plus Association’s full op-ed in the Washington Times HERE.

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Politico: Rick Scott and Marco Rubio are asking the Biden administration to grant a waiver so unvaccinated tennis player Novak Djokovic can compete in a Florida tourney

Breitbart: Rick Scott Slams Joe Biden’s ‘Pacifist’ Approach to China

The New York Post: GOP Sen. Rick Scott suggests Biden is ‘compromised’ by China

Bloomberg TV: Sen. Scott on ‘Wasteful’ Government Spending

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott: ‘All That Biden Does Is Pacify China’

Washington Examiner: Rick Scott says that McConnell removing him from commerce panel ‘won’t stop’ him

Townhall: Rick Scott Attacks Biden for Refusing to Stand Up to China

     Click Orlando: Time after time: Rubio, Scott introduce Sunshine Protection Act for 4th time

The Floridian: Scott’s New Resolution: ‘National Fentanyl Awareness Week’

Senator Scott’s Team in Pensacola

Senator Scott’s team attended the USCGC Decisive Decommissioning Ceremony in Pensacola honoring the legacy of Decisive and the Coast Guard members who served as part of its crew during the 55 years of service.

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Senator Scott’s Team in Arcadia

This week, Senator Scott’s team also hosted mobile office hours in Arcadia at the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.

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Senator Scott’s Team in Orlando

Another event Senator Scott’s team attended was the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s Regional Family Member Update in Orlando where Senator Scott delivered a video message to the families.
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Senator Scott’s Team in Riverview

Senator Scott’s team also attended the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce Synergy Luncheon.

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Senator Scott’s Team in Hialeah

Additionally, Senator Scott’s team hosted a senior focused mobile office hours in Hialeah.

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