Dear Fellow Floridian,

I’ve been on the ground in Florida surveying the damage and talking to Floridians as our state prepared for, and now responds to and recovers from, Hurricanes Helene and Milton. What’s clear is that Florida families, farmers, growers, producers and small businesses need their federal government to show up where they are and help them get back on their feet. 

Our farmers, ranchers, and growers are the backbone of Florida. They work around the clock every single day to ensure families in the Sunshine State and around the country have what they need. So far, the federal government’s response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Since Hurricane Ian hit our state in 2022, Florida’s farmers, ranchers and growers have been doing the miraculous work of getting by with less because the federal government has failed to show up in their time of need. Unfortunately, I am also hearing from local officials and families in Florida who share these frustrations, as these disasters have stretched FEMA’s current resources too thin. That is unacceptable, and why I announced legislation to provide $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. 

I’ve also spoken to President Biden and USDA Secretary Vilsack multiple times to urge the administration to take action now and approve USDA block grants for our farmers and tell Senate Democrats to stop blocking this aid. No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding. 

Along with my bill with Senator Rubio, I continue to urge Majority Leader Schumer to bring back the Senate to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants, and I’m glad that, in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done. While Floridians are incredibly resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever, it’s going to be an all-hands-on-deck effort at the local, state and federal level to come together and support these communities. I’m going to keep fighting like hell to deliver the federal resources Floridians need to recover.

For my full Hurricane Milton resource guide, click HERE. For my full Hurricane Helene resource guide, 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 X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

—

Sen. Rick Scott Joins President Biden in St. Pete Beach for Hurricane Milton Recovery & Response Briefing, Surveys Damage

Senator Rick Scott joined President Joe Biden, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in St. Pete Beach to receive a briefing on the response to Hurricane Milton and ongoing rescue and recovery missions. Senator Scott has been in constant contact with federal officials, local leaders, law enforcement and emergency management officials in communities throughout the state that are impacted by Hurricane Milton to ensure they have the needed resources as they respond to the storm and help Floridians recover. As families in the state struggle to find gas, the Senator stands ready to assist the state with getting gas into affected communities.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Today, I joined President Joe Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on the ground in St. Pete Beach, which was completely destroyed by Hurricane Milton. Like I said following Hurricane Helene, while I appreciate the president and FEMA Administrator coming to Florida to see the devastation firsthand, Floridians are still hurting from storms years ago and the federal government needs to show up not just today, but every day. Not only did storm surge cause significant issues on the coast, but first responders are still conducting non-stop rescue missions as rising rivers cause inland flooding and tornadoes ripped apart entire communities. This storm, along with Hurricane Helene, have knocked so many communities down, but Floridians are resilient. Following Hurricane Helene, I told President Biden exactly what is needed to ensure Florida has every federal resource to fully recover from that storm and now Hurricane Milton, I reiterated that in our call last week and again today. Here’s what I stressed to the president: I’m calling on Schumer to bring the Senate back ASAP when our communities have assessed their needs, which I told the president must be expedited, to pass needed disaster funding for FEMA, SBA and the USDA and approve common sense relief like my Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act. The president told me he agreed with me on this last week. We must also ensure FEMA opens Disaster Recovery Centers close to the areas hit hardest, so those impacted have easy access to federal resources to recover. Finally, I again stressed to President Biden the importance of USDA immediately approving block grants for our farmers that have been struggling since Ian in 2022. I discussed the same things during my calls on Thursday with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. I’m going to continue fighting like hell to make sure this happens and aid is delivered to families in need.

“I’ve been visiting communities across the state as they continue lifesaving work, including Manatee County this morning and Pinellas County yesterday, and I want to remind Floridians that everyone must stay vigilant and stay safe. The storm has passed but the dangers are not over, and you can’t recover if you lose your life by taking risks after this storm. Floridians are strong, we are resilient. We will recover and we will rebuild even stronger, and I will be working alongside you every step of the way. I have nine offices around the state, so please, if you need any help with a federal agency, go to www.rickscott.senate.gov.”

Read more HERE.  Lea más en español AQUÍ. 

—

Sens. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio & Colleagues Announce Bill to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund

Following Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton causing catastrophic damage across multiple states, Senator Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues announced legislation to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). The FEMA DRF assists individuals, households, states, and non-federal government entities with recovery following natural disasters, yet is quickly dwindling. Specifically, this bill would appropriate $20 billion to the DRF to help states recover. Senator Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn are cosponsors of the legislation.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I’ve been on the ground in Florida surveying damage and talking to Floridians for weeks as our state prepared for and now responds to and recovers from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. What’s clear is that Florida families and businesses need their federal government to show up where they are and help them get back on their feet. This bill, providing $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, will ensure that the agency has what it needs to provide immediate aid to folks in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and other states impacted by disasters while our local communities determine their needs from FEMA, SBA, USDA and other federal agencies. The federal government’s response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Unfortunately, I am already hearing from local officials and families in Florida that are frustrated by the fact that these disasters have stretched FEMA’s current resources too thin. That is unacceptable. No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding. Even with this bill, I continue to urge Majority Leader Schumer to bring back the Senate to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants, and I’m glad that, in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done. While Floridians are incredibly resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever, it’s going to be an all hands on deck effort at the local, state and federal level to come together and support these communities. I’m going to keep fighting like hell to deliver the federal resources Floridians need to recover.”

Read more HERE. 

—

Sen. Rick Scott Shares Hurricane Milton Resource Guide for Floridians

Senator Rick Scott shared the resources available to Floridians as they work to recover from Hurricane Milton. Senator Scott has been in constant contact with state leaders, mayors, sheriffs and police chiefs, emergency management officials and energy companies in communities throughout the state, and has visited St. Lucie, Volusia, Lake, Pinellas, Sarasota, Hillsborough, Lee, Charlotte and Manatee Counties to survey damage and receive briefings from local officials. On Sunday, Senator Scott met with President Joe Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in St. Pete Beach to receive a briefing on the response to Hurricane Milton and ongoing rescue and recovery missions and discuss communities’ needs as they begin their recovery. Today, Senator Scott announced a bill with Senator Rubio to provide $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to ensure the agency has what it needs to provide immediate aid to communities.

Find resources HERE. 

—

Sen. Rick Scott Meets with Florida Growers & Ranchers on Major Hurricanes Helene & Milton Response & Recovery in Polk & Hillsborough Counties

Senator Rick Scott was in Polk and Hillsborough County to hear from Florida’s growers, ranchers and agricultural leaders regarding recovery and response efforts following major Hurricanes Helene and Milton and reinforce his commitment to having the federal government show up for the community. Senator Scott was joined by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Florida State Senator Jay Collins, Florida State Senator Danny Burgess, Florida State Representative Lawrence McClure, Plant City Mayor Nathan Kilton, Plant City Vice-Mayor Jason Jones, Hillsborough County Commissioner Christine Miller, Hillsborough County Commissioner Josh Wostal, Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) Executive Director Kenneth Parker, President of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Mike Joyner, and Strawberry Ranch owner Adam Young.

Senator Scott is leading the call for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to fund disaster relief. Additionally, following Hurricane Helene, Senator Scott led a bipartisan group of his Florida delegation colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack supporting the State of Florida’s request to issue a Disaster Declaration for Florida’s counties that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Senator Scott and his colleagues are also urging the secretary to make assistance available immediately in the form of state block grants to expedite support for Florida’s farmers and agricultural producers as they recover from the destructive impacts of the storms, and recently spoke with President Biden and USDA Secretary Vilsack on this immediate need. Read more HERE.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Our farmers, ranchers and growers are the backbone of Florida—they work around the clock every single day to ensure families in the Sunshine State and around the country have what they need. It’s clear that the federal government’s response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Since Hurricane Ian hit our state in 2022, Florida’s farmers, ranchers and growers have been doing the miraculous work of getting by with less because the federal government has failed to show up in their time of need. I’ve spoken to President Biden and USDA Secretary Vilsack multiple times about this and why the administration needs to take action now to approve USDA block grants for our farmers and tell Senate Democrats to stop blocking this aid. This week, I announced legislation to provide $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and I am demanding that Majority Leader Schumer bring back the Senate as soon as possible to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants. I’m glad that in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done, but now we must see action. Floridians are strong. We will recover and I will be there every step of the way to make sure Washington works for you.”

Read more HERE.  Lea más en español AQUÍ. 

—

Sen. Rick Scott Issues Statement on Death of Hamas Terrorist Leader Yahya Sinwar

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement on the death of Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I hope Sinwar’s final moments were spent in terror and pain even greater than what he has long inflicted on the innocent Israeli people. Thank God for the brave Israel Defense Forces soldiers who took this evil terrorist out. The United States and the world are safer with this monster dead.”

Read more HERE.  

—

Sen. Rick Scott Issues Weekly Update on Biden-Harris Price Hikes

Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation. As Floridians are struggling to make ends meet while recovering from the back-to-back Hurricanes, reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the federal government’s key inflation indicators, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI), rose causing even more in September putting strain on the budgets of American families and small businesses. Since President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office, CPI inflation is up 20.5%, while PPI inflation has risen 20.0%.

Ahead of the catastrophic landfalls of Hurricane Helene and Milton, Senator Scott introduced legislation to provide tax relief for Americans who purchase flood insurance either through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurance carrier. Senator Scott’s legislation incentivizes flood insurance coverage by creating a non-refundable tax deduction for flood insurance premiums. Read more HERE. Senator Scott has also introduced the Homeowners Premium Tax Reduction Act to provide homeowners a tax deduction of up to $10,000 of premiums paid for homeowners’ insurance annually at their primary residence. Read more HERE.

Senator Rick Scott said, “As I travel around Florida to meet with local, state and federal officials, hear from families and help coordinate resources to ensure our state fully recovers from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, one thing that remains a top concern for folks in our state is the horrific inflation caused by the reckless spending policies of the Biden-Harris administration. While I fight to bring fiscal sanity back to Washington and end the reckless government spending that caused the Harris Price Hikes we see today, I’m committed to doing everything I can to bring costs down for families. That’s why I introduced legislation that provides a non-refundable tax break to families who purchase flood insurance coverage, either through the private market or the NFIP, and another bill that provides a $10,000 tax break for property insurance premiums. These commonsense bills will help lower costs for Floridians while we battle to rein in the Biden-Harris administration’s historic inflation. Floridians are strong. We will recover and I will be there every step of the way to make sure Washington works for you.”

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ. 

—

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… WFSU: Senator Rick Scott Announces Bill to Replenish FEMA Disaster Relief Funds

Following Senator Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues announcing legislation to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), WFSU wrote a story highlighting the bill that will appropriate $20 billion to the DRF to help states recover from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The FEMA DRF assists individuals, households, states, and non-federal government entities with recovery following natural disasters, yet is quickly dwindling. Read more from Senator Scott on his legislation to replenish the DRF HERE.

In the article, WFSU journalist Adrian Andrews wrote, “Federal lawmakers have allocated $20 billion to go toward hurricane relief efforts—including those in Florida. U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio announced legislation Wednesday that aims to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF).

The bill comes just days after the Biden Administration said certain disaster loan programs were ‘running out of money.’ ‘Unfortunately, I am already hearing from local officials and families in Florida that are frustrated by the fact that these disasters have stretched FEMA’s current resources too thin. That is unacceptable,’ said Scott.

The former Florida governor emphasized the importance of getting those accounts back into the green during a recent visit to St. Lucie County. ‘No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding,’ said Scott.

Officials said on Wednesday that FEMA has the money to help with current recovery needs, but says the $20 billion allotment will quickly dwindle. ‘While assessments of the full extent of these storms are underway, the DRF cannot be allowed to be depleted,’ Sen. Rubio said. ‘I am proud to announce my colleagues and I will be introducing a bill to provide additional funding to support communities affected by the recent hurricanes.’”

Read the full article WFSU HERE.

—

The Hill: GOP senators push for more FEMA funding 

Spectrum News: Florida Sens. Scott, Rubio propose bill to replenish FEMA disaster relief fund after hurricanes

Florida’s Voice: Rick Scott meets with Agriculture Commissioner Simpson, local leaders following hurricane 

WFSU: Sen. Rick Scott announces bill to replenish FEMA disaster relief funds 

NewsRadio WFLA: Sen. Rick Scott Tours Flooding From St. Johns River After Hurricane Milton

Florida Politics: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott push FEMA funding bill as members of Congress focus on re-election 

WFLX: Sen. Scott in St. Lucie County, FEMA assistance applications open for Milton 

TC Palm: Rick Scott, Brian Mast, others update residents on Hurricane Milton

Daytona Beach News Journal: Sen. Rick Scott tours flooded homes along St. Johns River; says FEMA funding on the way

Click Orlando: Sen. Rick Scott, local officials tour flooded areas still reeling after Hurricane Milton

Sen. Rick Scott Joins President Biden in St. Pete Beach for Hurricane Milton Recovery & Response Briefing, Surveys Damage

Senator Rick Scott joined President Joe Biden, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in St. Pete Beach to receive a briefing on the response to Hurricane Milton and ongoing rescue and recovery missions. 

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

—

Sen. Rick Scott Meets with Florida Growers & Ranchers on Major Hurricanes Helene & Milton Response & Recovery in Polk & Hillsborough Counties

 Senator Rick Scott was in Polk and Hillsborough County to hear from Florida’s growers, ranchers and agricultural leaders regarding recovery and response efforts following major Hurricanes Helene and Milton and reinforce his commitment to having the federal government show up for the community. 

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

—