US Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review 03/09/24

Mar 9 2024

US Senator Rick Scott’s Week in Review 03/09/24

Dear Fellow Floridian,

This week, I was proud to fight for Floridians by introducing important legislation and continuing my work to support our great friend Israel and ensure we NEVER forget those still being held hostage by Hamas.

I began the week by introducing a bicameral resolution in the U.S. Senate expressing support for Americans who are starting and growing families through in vitro fertilization (IVF). While IVF remains available in all 50 states, it’s important for the Senate to make clear our unwavering support for current and aspiring parents using IVF to start and grow their families. I am proud to lead this resolution in the Senate and glad to have Representative Kat Cammack’s support in the House of Representatives. Read more HERE.

Later this week, I was also proud to lead my colleagues in introducing a resolution to call out Washington’s crazy obsession with earmarks. Later this week, I was also proud to lead my colleagues in introducing a resolution to call out Washington’s crazy obsession with earmarks. Friday night, I also led the fight to strip the 6,600+ earmarks in this bill that will cost taxpayers more than $12 BILLION, and Democrats voted against it.

Washington politicians love to act like they are smarter than the American people – especially when it comes to deciding how to spend your tax dollars. Hardworking families in Florida and across the country know how the real world works because unlike Washington politicians, you actually live in it. That’s why I get so frustrated when the press and Biden administration say, “Good news! Inflation is cooling.” I don’t buy that, and neither do you or anyone else in the real world because we see every day that it’s a lie. The truth: since Joe Biden took office, inflation has exploded 17.9%. It’s unsustainable, and why I continued my fight to stop Washington politicians from spending your hard-earned money on their political wish list in this week’s “minibus” spending bill, which was packed with 6,600+ earmarks and more reckless spending.

Finally, I want to share an update on our fight to make sure Americans and this administration are reminded EVERY SINGLE DAY about the hostages, including Americans, who still remain in Hamas’ captivity. I was honored to bring Nathaly Haratz Kaswan, a Floridian and mother who is working to bring awareness and advocating for Israelis taken hostage by Hamas following the October 7^th attack through the Milk Carton Project, a collaboration between nonprofits Kidnapped From Israel and Loving Moms United, as my guest to President Biden’s State of the Union address. The Milk Carton Project, which is inspired by the milk cartons made popular in the 1980s to highlight missing children, was started by a group of South Florida mothers, and these milk cartons, one of which is on display in my Washington, D.C. office, feature the faces of kidnapped civilians from Israel on October 7^th.

I want you to know I am fighting EVERY DAY to make Washington work for YOU and represent YOUR values. Getting our fiscal house in order, standing with Florida families and fighting back against hate against our great friend Israel will ALWAYS be top of mind for me. Washington may try to get away with putting its interest above you, but I’m fighting every day to make sure that they don’t get away with it.

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott & Tim Scott Call for Censure of Iran for Nuclear Buildup

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tim Scott and their colleagues in announcing that they are calling on the Biden administration to censure Iran at the next International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting, which begins today, March 4, 2024. In December, the IAEA issued a report showing that Iran’s nuclear enrichment activity tripled by the end of last year. A U.S.-led censure of Iran at the IAEA would apply needed pressure on the regime after months of heightened tension in the Middle East and would send a strong message that rogue nuclear programs by any country, especially the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, will not be tolerated. Joining Senators Rick Scott and Tim Scott are Senators Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Cynthia Lummis, Bill Hagerty, Pete Ricketts, Thom Tillis, Mike Braun and James Lankford. Their letter was delivered to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, March 1.

The senators wrote, “In recent months, the Iranian regime has utilized its proxy network to disrupt global commerce and threaten our armed forces, while simultaneously increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium. The United States must demonstrate leadership at the IAEA and encourage the international community to uphold its non-proliferation standards. The stakes could not be higher.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott & Jim Risch Lead Colleagues in Letter Requesting Reconsideration of Disgraced Former UNRWA Head to Lead the International Committee of the Red Cross

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Jim Risch and their colleagues in sending a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross requesting they reconsider the appointment of Mr. Pierre Krahenbuhl to serve as director general. Joining Senators Scott and Risch are Senators Chuck Grassley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Eric Schmitt, Pete Ricketts, John Kennedy, Mike Braun, John Boozman, Mike Crapo, Marsha Blackburn, Steve Daines, Thom Tillis, Todd Young, John Cornyn, Bill Cassidy and Joni Ernst.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Kat Cammack Introduce Resolution Supporting IVF

Senator Rick Scott introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate expressing support for Americans who are starting and growing families through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Representative Kat Cammack (FL-3) is leading the resolution in the House of Representatives.

Senator Rick Scott said, “IVF is a wonderful thing that enables so many Americans struggling with infertility to have children and start a family. I have friends and family members who have used IVF and so do countless Floridians and Americans. While IVF remains available in all 50 states, I believe it is important for the Senate to make clear our unwavering support for current and aspiring parents using IVF to start and grow their families. I am proud to lead this resolution in the Senate and glad to have Representative Kat Cammack’s support in the House of Representatives.”

Representative Kat Cammack said, “There is nothing more pro-life than helping women start and raise families. IVF has done just that for decades, allowing thousands of American couples to become parents and experience the joys of raising children. I’m proud to lead this resolution in the House that supports women, families, children, and states’ rights. Thank you to my friend and colleague Senator Scott for his leadership and support for IVF and American families.”

Read more HERE.

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In Bipartisan Letter, Sens. Rick Scott & Elizabeth Warren Call Out Culture of Corruption in the Federal Reserve

In a bipartisan letter to the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) Office of Inspector General (IG), Senators Rick Scott and Elizabeth Warren called out the Fed IG’s failure to hold officials accountable for violating Fed rules and fostering a culture in which severe conflicts of interests go consistently unchecked.

The lawmakers point to the recent closing of the investigation into suspicious trades made in 2020 by Robert Kaplan, former President of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, and Eric Rosengren, former President of the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, as the latest example of a culture that insulates Fed officials from accountability. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these officials engaged in investment trades while in possession of insider information about the Fed, raising public skepticism about the integrity of the Fed decision-making process and its high-ranking officials. The report, which took over two years to complete and found numerous unreported trades and discrepancies on the part of the officials, makes no suggestion to hold either official accountable–and is consistent with its 2022 report which let Reserve Board Chair Powell and Vice-Chair Clarida off the hook for similar violations.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Invites South Florida Mom Advocating for Israeli Hostages to State of the Union

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tom Cotton and their colleagues, Senators Roger Wicker, Ted BSenator Rick Scott announced that he will bring Nathaly Haratz Kaswan, a Floridian and mother who is working to bring awareness and advocating for Israelis taken hostage by Hamas following the October 7^th attack through the Milk Carton Project, a collaboration between nonprofits Kidnapped From Israel and Loving Moms United, as his guest to President Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7 at the U.S. Capitol. The Milk Carton Project, which is inspired by the milk cartons made popular in the 1980s to highlight missing children, was started by a group of South Florida mothers, and these milk cartons, which Senator Scott has on display in his Washington, D.C. office, feature the faces of kidnapped civilians from Israel on October 7^th.

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Leads Anti-Earmarks Resolution

Senator Rick Scott led the introduction of a resolution in the U.S. Senate slamming Congress’ obsession with reckless earmarks. Joining Senator Scott in fighting against this reckless government spending are Senators Ron Johnson, Mike Braun, Marsha Blackburn, John Barrasso, Mike Lee, Josh Hawley, Rand Paul and Steve Daines. Additionally, this resolution has been endorsed by Heritage Action.

The minibus spending bill being considered by the Senate contains more than 6,600 earmarks detailed over 605 pages which include:

$1 million for an environmental justice center in New York City;
$3.5 million for a Thanksgiving parade in Michigan; and
$1 million for a social justice center in San Francisco to make building improvements.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Earmarks are Washington’s corrupt way to recklessly spend taxpayer money with zero scrutiny and must be stopped. While the federal government’s debt nears $35 trillion and inflation has skyrocketed 18% under Joe Biden, the minibus spending bill has more than 6,600 projects that will cost taxpayers $12 BILLION. This clearly isn’t about funding the government, it’s about funding pet projects for politicians like Chuck Schumer. Floridians have no interest in funding Schumer’s wish list. We must end this wasteful political corruption that Washington calls earmarks.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Applauds Full Passage of His Bipartisan END FENTANYL Act to Help Border Patrol Stop Drug Smuggling

Senator Rick Scott’s bipartisan legislation, the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act, passed the House of Representatives marking a unanimous full Congressional passage, and now heads to the president’s desk. The END FENTANYL Act will require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to update its policies at least once every three years to ensure operational field manuals, including their drug interdiction guidance, are up to date. This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Mike Braun, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen and Mark Kelly. Representatives Michael Guest and David Trone led the charge in the House of Representatives.

Senator Rick Scott said, “For too long, the fentanyl crisis has plagued our communities and caused crushing heartbreak to those who lose loved ones to these dangerous drugs. As fentanyl continues to flow illegally into the U.S. over the southern border and kills tens of thousands of our citizens, we must do more to support our brave CBP agents, and all who are on the front lines of this battle to ensure they have every tool needed to keep these dangerous drugs out of our communities. Passage of the END FENTANYL Act is a big win in our fight against the lethal opioid epidemic, but it is not the end. I am thankful for my colleagues in the House and Senate voting for its passage, and I urge the president to quickly sign it into law.”

Read more HERE.

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LOCK THE CLOCK… Sen. Rick Scott Continues Push to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

As Americans prepare for the burdensome chore of switching the clocks forward this weekend, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio are continuing their push for their 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, “It’s time to lock the clock. Floridians are sick of changing their clocks because we all want more sunshine. It’s time for Congress to act and I’m proud to be leading the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act with Senator Rubio to get this done. When I was Governor of Florida, I signed this bill into law on the state level. Now it’s Washington’s turn and we should finish the job by passing this good bill today.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Shares Weekly Update on Biden’s Inflation Crisis & Calls Out Washington’s Reckless Earmarks

Following the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ February jobs report that showed full time employment down 187,000 jobs in February of 2024, Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation. Since President Biden took office, his so-called “Bidenomics” agenda has bankrupted American families, and as the Senate continues consideration of the appropriations package to fund half of the federal government, Senator Scott wrote an op-ed for the Orlando Sentinel slamming the reckless inclusion of more than 6,600 earmarks in the bill that will cost taxpayers more than $12 billion and further fuel inflation.

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

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Sen. Rick Scott in the Orlando Sentinel: Reckless earmarks betray taxpayers and must be stopped

As the Senate continued consideration of the appropriations package to fund half of the federal government, Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for the Orlando Sentinel slamming the reckless inclusion of more than 6,600 earmarks in the bill that will cost taxpayers more than $12 billion.