US Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review 11/12/23
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Dear Fellow Floridian, This week marked one month since the October 7th attacks by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists on Israel. These terrorists killed thousands, including Americans, beheaded babies, raped and murdered young women, and to this day, are holding hundreds of innocent people hostage in Gaza. I met with some of the families of these hostages this week, and their stories were heartbreaking. They’ve spent a month in complete agony knowing and seeing the evil these terrorists are capable of and praying their loved ones will be spared. These are families just like yours and mine – parents whose toddler was taken from their arms that tell me their hearts are left in Gaza with them, siblings torn apart, children left without their mothers. Every one of their stories is a remind that the U.S. must stand strong with our ally, Israel, and against the evil that Iran-backed terrorists are inflicting. That’s why I took to the Senate floor this week to call for the immediate passage of a standalone aid package to support Israel. The House was able to take decisive action and pass a package to provide this aid, and the Senate should do the same. Unfortunately, the aid was blocked, and frankly, it is disgusting that my colleague would put politics above national security and what is clearly in the best interest of the United States and our great ally Israel. Lives are at risk – American lives are at risk. Americans are still being held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists in Gaza. I won’t stop fighting to get this passed and support Israel. 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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Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Aging Committee Field Hearing in Tampa with Veterans Service Organizations
Senator Rick Scott hosted a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging field hearing in Tampa to discuss Veterans’ access to care, services, and economic opportunity. The hearing addressed critical issues facing veterans such as scheduling delays, transition from active duty to civilian life and access to facilities and resources for disabled veterans, among other issues. Joining Senator Scott at the hearing were Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Laurel Lee, and Anna Paulina Luna. Witnesses included State Senator Jay Collins; David Harris, Department of Florida Commander Emeritus at Veterans of Foreign Wars; Sharon Silas, Director of Healthcare, Government Accountability Office; Teresa Galgano, Director of Member Relations at the Blinded Veterans Association; and Gregg Laskoski, Communications Director of K9 Partners for Patriots, Inc. Senator Rick Scott said, “First off, I want to wish folks here a happy Veterans’ Day and thank you for your service to our great country. As a Navy veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifices made by our military members and their families. As your U.S. Senator, I am working hard for all of you to make Washington work for our veterans and service members. At today’s hearing, we had the opportunity to address and discuss critical issues and I have some ideas on how to fix Washington to work better for our veterans who have sacrificed so much. If you put your life on the line, your government should have your back. I hope my message was clear today: We will always stand with our veterans and fight hard to get them the treatment and benefits they bravely earned.” 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. Recently, ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Senator Scott sent a letter to Chair of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell urging accountability regarding his failure to meet his target of reducing the Fed’s balance sheet. Earlier this year, Senator Scott sent a similar letter to Chair Powell, but has not yet received a response. Senator Scott has been adamant about holding the Fed accountable to their goals of reducing the balance sheet since his election to the Senate. Unfortunately, inflation continues to skyrocket and meanwhile, the Fed has made nearly zero progress. Read the full letter HERE and watch more from Squawk Box HERE or below.
Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ. — Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler raising concerns about the recent default of Communist Chinese property developer Country Garden Holdings and the threats this poses to American investors. Senator Scott is urging Chair Gensler to investigate and better understand the risks presented by the volatile and opaque financial environment fostered by Communist China and is requesting they be held accountable to mitigate the threats they pose to American investors, families, the economy and national security. Earlier this Congress, Senator Scott announced a package of five finance-focused bills to hold Communist China accountable and better protect American investors and families. As tensions between the U.S. and Communist China continue to rise, these important bills will put safeguards in place to protect Americans’ hard-earned investments and stop exploitation by the Communist Chinese government. Since being elected to the Senate in 2018, Senator Scott has been urging both federal agencies and private businesses to decouple operations and investments from the genocidal Chinese regime. This letter builds on his proposed legislation to hold Communist China accountable by protecting investors from dubious Chinese companies, demanding additional transparency and accountability, identifying vulnerabilities and requiring disclosures so that transactions are transparent and safe for Americans. Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE. — Senators Rick Scott and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Disclosing Investment in Foreign Adversaries Act to provide transparency into investments made by American private equity firms in countries of concern like China and Russia. Currently, private equity and venture capital firms can invest Americans’ savings and pensions in China without the American people’s knowledge. The legislation would require private equity, mutual funds and ETFs to annually disclose the percentage of any assets invested in countries like China to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); require the SEC to publicly release a report of firms investing assets in countries of concern and the percentage of those invested assets; entities selling stock in the private markets would also be required to disclose the recipient of the investment, the intended location of the investment, and the investment’s intended purpose. Without the ability for the U.S. public to monitor investments made by large private equity and venture capital funds in foreign economies, American states, municipalities, universities, unions, and pension funds could unknowingly be investing in the United States’ economic competitors like China and Russia. Senator Rick Scott said, “Our adversaries, like Communist China, benefit from a complete lack of transparency allowing them to hide and fund bad behavior—especially when it comes to financial markets. These foreign adversaries lie, cheat and steal, and it’s almost impossible to call them out for it. It is time to stop sending American dollars to these countries of concern. I am proud to lead this bipartisan charge with my colleague Senator Casey as we work across the aisle to hold bad actors accountable.” Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bill to Combat CCP Influence in Digital Banking Senator Rick Scott announced the introduction of the Chinese CBDC Prohibition Act to prohibit money services businesses (MSBs) from engaging in any transaction that involves a central bank digital currency issued by the People’s Republic of China—for example the newly-announced Digital Yuan. Currently, federally licensed MSBs, which include companies like currency dealers, exchangers, and the U.S. Postal Service, are not engaging in transactions involving the digital Yuan, but this bill would preempt potential attempts by MSBs to offer services that would increase usage of Communist China’s digital currency. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ted Cruz joined Senator Scott in introducing the legislation and Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Rick Scott said, “The digital Yuan is just another tool used by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on its people and all those who use it. It is an obvious power grab and an attempt to increase communist-state-control over people’s personal finances. Secretary Xi and his thugs have no business playing big brother to American citizens and how they spend their money. That is why I am fighting to prevent this problem from ever becoming someone’s reality. We must stand up against the CCP’s obvious spy tactics and pass the Chinese CBDC Prohibition Act today.” Read more HERE. — Senator Rick Scott and Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra urging him and the Biden administration to stop using federal funds to purchase at-home tests for COVID-19 that are manufactured by companies or are subsidiaries of companies headquartered in Communist China. Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would purchase $600 million in COVID-19 tests and named 12 companies that gained the contract and implied that each was an American company. Upon further investigation, it was found that some of these companies have foreign ownership, and at least one is a Chinese company—and likely at the mercy of the Chinese Communist Party. Last year, after the Biden administration initially announced they would purchase at-home COVID-19 tests to distribute to American households, Senator Scott sent a similar letter to Secretary Becerra urging the administration to prioritize purchasing COVID-19 tests from American manufacturers and to not import tests from Communist China. Additionally, last Congress, Senator Rick Scott asked for unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass his No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist Chinese COVID Tests Act, a bill that would prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase at-home tests for COVID-19 that are imported from, or manufactured in, Communist China. Senate Democrats blocked its passage. Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE. — Senate Democrats Block Sen. Rick Scott’s Bill to Provide Standalone Aid to Israel Following the House passage of its lethal aid package for Israel, Senator Rick Scott spoke on the Senate floor to request the immediate passage of this bill in the Senate. Senator Scott is co-leading the Senate companion legislation. Senator Scott has been clear that the United States must take swift action to get aid to Israel as it fights a war against Iran-backed Hamas terrorists that have killed thousands in Israel, including at least 33 Americans, and are holding hundreds hostage. Senator Scott has been adamant about keeping aid for Israel separate from any additional legislation so Israelis can continue to defend their homeland. Senators Roger Marshall and J.D. Vance joined Senator Scott in the request for unanimous consent, but unfortunately, Senator Patty Murray blocked it. Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m sick and tired of Democrats, Biden and Washington’s ruling class continuing to use crisis after crisis to push massive spending packages for issues that have no business being voted on together. The United States must ALWAYS stand with Israel, and I was glad to see the House do that under Speaker Johnson’s leadership with the passage of their standalone Israel aid package. Following the House’s passage, the Senate should support our colleagues and pass this bill TODAY to get to the president’s desk. Unfortunately, the aid was blocked, and frankly, it is disgusting that my colleague would put politics above national security and what is clearly in the best interest of the United States and our great ally Israel. American lives are at risk. Americans are still being held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists in Gaza. There’s absolutely no reason to delay aid to Israel as a bargaining chip. It is shameful that this is what the Democrat Party has turned into.” Watch Senator Scott’s speech HERE or below.
Read more HERE. — Sens. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio & Colleagues Applaud House Passage of SHIP Act As Iranian oil sales to China’s genocidal regime continue to fund the Ayatollah’s ability to repress Iranian protestors and finance its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio joined their colleagues in applauding the House of Representatives passing the companion to their Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act which would sanction illicit purchases of Iranian oil and hold the regime’s enablers accountable. Senator Rick Scott said, “We must hold genocidal regimes, like Iran and Communist China, accountable and put a stop to their funding of terror across the globe. The SHIP Act is a no-brainer. The U.S. can’t depend on the Biden-era strategy that takes these murderous regimes’ word at face value any longer. I applaud the House for the passage of this important legislation and urge my colleagues to pass it immediately upon arrival.” Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Celebrates the Official Arrival of the F-35 Jet at Tyndall AFB After years of effort to make Florida’s panhandle the home of the F-35 fighter jet, Senator Rick Scott, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was proud to celebrate the official arrival of the fifth-generation fighter at Tyndall Air Force Base. Five years ago, Hurricane Michael decimated Florida’s panhandle, and since the storm, Senator Scott has worked tirelessly to help the Tyndall community recover. As governor, he secured a commitment from President Trump to rebuild Tyndall, with the F-35 program, stronger than before. The arrival of the F-35 sends the message that the federal government will never walk away from Tyndall and the F-35 mission, which is essential to America’s national security and so many families in North West Florida. Senator Rick Scott said, “Today is a very exciting day for Tyndall Air Force Base and the North West Florida community as we finally celebrate the arrival of the F-35 fighter jet. Five years ago, following Hurricane Michael decimating the Emerald Coast, I worked with President Trump to make sure we would rebuild Florida’s panhandle and military bases, and he doubled down by committing to bring the fifth-generation fighter to Tyndall. Today is the culmination of all the non-stop hard work we all have put in—and that is cause for celebration. Today is just the beginning, and I promise you that as long as I am representing Florida in the U.S. Senate, I will continue to work hard to support this community and make sure you have all the resources needed to be successful. As a Navy veteran myself, I know firsthand that our men and women in uniform make sacrifices every day to defend our freedom. You all truly represent the best of what it means to be an American, and none of the opportunities and freedoms we have today would be possible without the dedicated service of our brave heroes like you.” Read more HERE. — |
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CNBC: Sen. Rick Scott: I wouldn’t want to have a report card if I was Jay Powell right now Reuters: US lawmakers unveil bill requiring private equity firms to reveal China investment Florida Daily: Rick Scott Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Chinese Influence in Digital Banking The Floridian: Scott Moves to Prohibit Digital Transactions From The Chinese Central Bank Florida Daily: Rick Scott and Diana Harshbarger Call on HHS to Stop Buying COVID Tests from Communist Chinese Companies WMBB: Tyndall holds arrival ceremony for 5 more F-35’s Florida Daily: Rick Scott Celebrates F-35s Arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base The Hill: Don’t roll Tuberville, GOP senator warns party leaders Forbes: ‘The United States Has To Support Israel Right Now’: Rick Scott Urges Passing Of Israeli Aid Package The Floridian: Scott Blasts Senate for Blocking Stand-Alone Israel Aid Bill Forbes: ‘Pretty Scary’: Rick Scott Shreds Chris Wray Over His Response To Question About Safety Under Biden News 13: A discussion of veterans issues, health care and assistance |
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Senator Scott at Tyndall Air Force Base
Senator Rick Scott visited Tyndall Air Force Base to celebrate the arrival of the F-35 fighter jet. — On November 8th, Senator Rick Scott announced this year his award-winning constituent services team has hosted mobile office hours, an initiative where staff travel the Sunshine State to help Floridians in need, in all 67 counties in Florida. Last year, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) recognized the office of Senator Scott with a Democracy Award for the best Constituent Services in Congress. The CMF Democracy Awards recognize non-legislative achievement and performance in Congressional offices, including the constituent service category to honor offices for their outstanding practices or achievements acting as ombudsmen with the federal government or responding to constituent requests and inquiries. Senator Rick Scott said, “Every day my team and I wake up with one mission in mind: to make Washington work for Florida families. That’s the promise I ran on, and this year we challenged ourselves to reach every country in Florida so that all of our constituents could be heard. Our team couldn’t be more proud to hit this milestone of hosting Mobile Office Hours in all 67 Florida counties. It’s proof that the hardworking folks in our 9 offices across the state are getting good work done for the people of the Sunshine State. We have hosted events in English, Spanish and Creole, as well as office hours following times of crises, like Hurricanes Idalia and Ian. We also host events focused on helping our veterans and seniors. If you are a Floridian in need, we are here to help. Representing hardworking Florida families is the greatest job in the world. We love what we do, and we are going to keep fighting every day to make a difference.” This year, Senator Scott’s team has hosted 109 Total Mobile Office hours, including:
Read more HERE. — Senator Scott’s Team in Brevard County
Mobile Office Hours Hosted at a Multicultural Festival in Brevard County. — Senator Scott’s Team in Hillsborough County
Mobile Office Hours Hosted in Tampa. — Senator Scott’s Team in Dixie County
Office Hours Hosted in Horseshoe Beach to Assist Floridians with Hurricane Idalia Recovery. — Senator Scott’s Team in Collier County
Mobile Office Hours Hosted with Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs in Southwest Florida. — Senator Scott’s Team in Wakulla County
Mobile Office Hours Hosted in Wakulla County with Sheriff Jared Miller. — Senator Scott’s Team in Miami-Dade County
Mobile Office Hours Hosted in Miami with Creole-speaking Caseworkers to help the Haitian Community. — Senator Scott’s Team in Broward County
Mobile Office Hours Hosted at the Coconut Creek Police Department in Broward County. — Senator Scott’s Team in Monroe County
Mobile Office Hours Hosted in Key West. — |
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