Saturday, September 21, 2019

FLORIDA - SENATOR RICK SCOTT'S WEEK IN REVIEW 09/20/2019

Image
Sunday marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Florida is a melting pot with incredible and vibrant Hispanic communities. Senator Scott is proud to join all Floridians to recognize the many Hispanic business owners, community members and Floridians that make a difference in our great state. See more in the video below. 

Image

This week, Senator Rick Scott led a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the American Security Drone Act of 2019, which prohibits the U.S. Government from purchasing drones manufactured in countries identified as national security threats, like Iran and China. 
Senator Scott also joined Senator Rubio to sponsor the Canadian Snowbirds Act to allow some Canadian citizens to spend up to eight months a year vacationing in the United States, and Senator Martha McSally to introduce the Child Tax Credit Extension Act to permanently expand the child tax credit.  
Also this week, Senator Scott joined bipartisan efforts to repeal the medical device tax and suspend the Health Insurance Tax on insurance providers to help reduce the cost of healthcare for American consumers.
See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.
Image
Senator Rick Scott issued the below statement urging U.S. action following the Saudi Arabian oil attack.
 
Senator Rick Scott said, “Iran needs to know that acts of aggression against the United States or our allies will not be tolerated. Until the United States increases pressure on Iran, they will continue these attacks. We have to protect the safety and security of our military assets and our men and women in uniform that are in the region, as well as the security of our allies in the region, especially Israel. Military conflict is not our first choice, but we must take this seriously. President Trump must not make any concessions to Iran ahead of the UN General Assembly.” Read more HERE.
Following his trip to Israel last month, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reiterate the United States’ steadfast support for Israel, its security, and the safety of U.S. military assets in the Middle East. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Martha McSally, Senator Mike Braun, and Senator Joni Ernst to introduce the Child Tax Credit Extension Act. This bill would make the expansion of the child tax credit, which was included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, permanent for families across the nation.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Over my eight years as Governor of Florida, we cut taxes nearly 100 times and returned more than $10 billion back to hardworking taxpayers. We completely turned our economy around and added nearly 1.7 million jobs for families across the state. I’m proud to build on our efforts by joining Senator McSally to sponsor the Child Tax Credit Extension Act, which will give families across the nation even more of their hard-earned money back and continue our economic growth.” Read more from Senator McSally's office HERE.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims, Senator Rick Scott spoke on the importance of honoring the memory of the millions of victims of the Holocaust, as well as supporting the survivors and their families. Watch video from the hearing HERE or below.
Image
Following repeated requests from Republicans for the Congressional Budget Office to score either the House or the Senate versions of the Socialist Democrats’ Medicare for All bill, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement.

Senator Rick Scott said, “On multiple occasions, Republicans have requested a score from the Congressional Budget Office of the Socialist Democrats’ Medicare for All proposal, especially Budget Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders’ bill filed in the Senate this year. So far, the CBO has refused. It is irresponsible and unconscionable that the CBO refuses to tell us the price tag for a healthcare proposal that has become the centerpiece of the Democrats’ agenda, both in Congress and in their presidential campaigns.

“I sent yet another letter to the CBO asking for a score. The American people deserve to know how much this proposal would cost, how much taxes would be raised, and how many Americans would lose their employer-sponsored healthcare. This is why the CBO exists. They need to do their job.” Read more, including the full letter, HERE.
On Wednesday, Senator Rick Scott released an episode of his series in partnership with the Heritage Foundation: How Washington Wastes Your Money. See previous Washington Waste Wednesday features HEREHERE and HERE.

This week's episode focuses on how the federal government can stop wasting taxpayer dollars by giving more power back to the states. One example is healthcare. Obamacare proved that a one size fits all approach doesn’t work. States should be able to figure out what works for them so they can provide better quality care while also reducing the cost to the taxpayers. Senator Scott did this in Florida, and is committed to making Washington work for families across the nation so taxpayers get the best return on the investment of their hard earned tax dollars. 
See more in the video HERE or below.
Image
 
Senators Rick Scott, Chris Murphy, Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley, Richard Blumenthal and Marco Rubio introduced the American Security Drone Act of 2019, which prohibits the U.S. Government from purchasing drones manufactured in countries identified as national security threats like Iran and China. 

Senator Rick Scott said, “There are nations around the world, like China, that are actively building up their militaries to compete with America. China is STEALING our technology and intellectual property, yet the U.S. Government continues to buy critical technology, like drones, with American tax dollars from Chinese companies backed by their government. For far too long, we have turned a blind eye to China and allowed their technology into some of the most critical operations of the U.S. Government. This has to stop. The American Security Drone Act protects our information and national security by prohibiting the federal government and our military from buying drones manufactured in countries that are our adversaries.” Read more HERE.
Senator Rick Scott announced his co-sponsorship of the Protect Medical Innovation Act, which permanently eliminates the medical device tax – a 2.3 percent tax on the nation’s most innovative industries enacted under President Obama as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Senator Rick Scott said, “During my time as Governor of Florida, we returned $10 billion back to Florida’s hardworking taxpayers. My focus on cutting taxes and reducing burdensome regulations helped Florida businesses thrive and create nearly $1.7 million jobs in just eight years. I’m proud to work with my colleagues to build on Florida’s success and create an environment where businesses, small and large, can succeed. Florida is home to a variety of medical device companies, employing nearly 21,000 Floridians with high-paying jobs. Eliminating the burdensome medical device tax fosters innovation and helps Florida’s manufacturers succeed and create more jobs for families.” Read more HERE.
Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced the Canadian Snowbirds Act, legislation that would allow some Canadian citizens to spend up to eight months a year vacationing in the United States, two months longer than they are allowed to stay now.

Senator Rick Scott said, “We worked incredibly hard to turn Florida’s economy around, and our tourism industry played a big role. Last year, Florida welcomed a record 126 million visitors, including 3.5 million visitors from Canada. When we welcome visitors to our state, our communities thrive, businesses grow, and job opportunities are created for Florida families. I’m proud to join Senator Rubio in sponsoring the Canadian Snowbirds Act to allow our Northern neighbors to enjoy two more months of Florida’s incredible weather and allow our tourism industry to continue to thrive.” Read more from Senator Rubio's office HERE.
Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to put American security first, and not renew the license for the Pacific Light Cable Network, which would ultimately threaten the freedom of Hong Kong and U.S. national security. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.
On the two year anniversary of Hurricane Maria, Senator Rick Scott released the below statement.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Hurricane Maria was an absolutely devastating storm, and your heart breaks for all the families impacted. I’m proud of everything we’ve done to help Puerto Rico rebuild over the last two years, but there is still work to be done. I vowed to be Puerto Rico’s voice in the Senate and that will never change. I am working closely with Congresswoman Jenniffer González-ColĂłn and Puerto Rico’s leadership to make sure the Island is supported and has the resources it needs to continue rebuilding.” Read more HERE.
En el segundo aniversario del huracán María, el senador Rick Scott hizo la siguiente declaración.

El senador Rick Scott dijo: “El huracán MarĂ­a fue una tormenta absolutamente devastadora, y mi corazĂłn está con todas las familias afectadas. Estoy orgulloso de todo lo que hemos hecho para ayudar a Puerto Rico a reconstruir en los Ăşltimos dos años, pero aĂşn queda trabajo por hacer. PrometĂ­ ser la voz de Puerto Rico en el Senado y eso nunca cambiará. Estoy trabajando estrechamente con la congresista Jenniffer González-ColĂłn y el liderazgo de Puerto Rico para asegurar que la isla sea apoyada y tenga los recursos que necesita para continuar la reconstrucciĂłn". Lea más AQUĂŤ.    
Image
Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel on his five proposals to make education more affordable for every student in America.

In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “I’m spending my time focused on what we can do to make college affordable for students and incentivize the higher-education system to prepare students for a job upon graduation.
I know we can successfully do this because we did it in Florida.…
 
These are simple concepts — but politicians in Washington and around the country too often fail to understand that. They just want to give out government money tied to no results. But, that’s not fair to taxpayers, who get no return on their investment for funding colleges and universities that can’t prepare students for jobs.

The Democrats are proposing policy plans that would bankrupt and destroy our country, just to win a presidential primary. But we deserve better. Hopeful parents and grandparents deserve better. Hard-working students deserve better. We all deserve better, and now is the time for serious discussion about a path forward.”

Read the full op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel HERE
Image
Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for Fox News on the need to hold Iran accountable for its aggression against the U.S. and our ally, Israel.
 
In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “While I visited Israel many times when I served as governor of Florida, my most recent trip gave me a clearer perspective on Israel’s proximity to its enemies: Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS and Iran.

I visited nearly all of Israel’s borders and one thing is clear: Israel is a country nearly surrounded by nations and terrorist groups that want it wiped off the face of the Earth. And Iran is leading that charge.

Iran needs to know that acts of aggression against the United States or Israel will not be tolerated. Until the United States increases pressure on the Iranians, they will continue these attacks.

We have to protect the safety and security of our military assets and our men and women in uniform in the region, as well as the security of our allies, especially Israel.”

Read the full op-ed in Fox News HERE.
Image
ImageImage
Senator Rick Scott recognized veterans of the "Borinqueneers," the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army from Puerto Rico, to thank them for their outstanding service to our nation. 
Come Visit Us at Mobile Office Hours!
Next week, the staff of Senator Rick Scott will be holding Mobile Office Hours to assist Floridians with federal services, including help with federal agencies and veterans' resources. See a full list of federal services HERE. Next week's Mobile Office Hours will be: 
Wednesday, September 25th, 2019
11:00AM - 2:00PM
Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce
25 Homestead Road N
Suite 41
Lehigh Acres, FL 33936

AND
Thursday, September 26th, 2019
11:00AM - 1:00PM CT
Santa Rosa County Public Library
8484 James M Harvell Road
Navarre, FL 32566
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

WASHINGTON, D.C.716 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5274

TALLAHASSEE111 N. Adams Street
Suite 208
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 942-8415
Fax: (202) 228-4535
TAMPA
801 North Florida Avenue
Suite 421
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 225-7040
WEST PALM BEACH
415 Clematis Street
Suite 201
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 514-0189

No comments:

Post a Comment