This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio
On Saturday, I traveled to Naval Air Station Pensacola to meet with Captain Timothy F. Kinsella Jr., the Commanding Officer, and members of the community affected by the December 6 th attack. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I addressed students at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. on “American Industrial Policy and the Rise of China.” The address built off of my speech on common-good capitalism last month at Catholic University, and defined the United States’ objective towards China, described the urgent need for American policymakers to set and pursue economic priorities, and outlined the need for a 21st century pro-American industrial policy. Read my full remarks here and watch the video here.
Last week, I urged Attorney General William Barr to conduct a thorough review of all Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) inmate and staff protocols, processes, reporting systems, and employee reviews after the Miami Herald published extremely troubling allegations regarding systemic and pervasive sexual abuse of inmates by BOP corrections officers at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Central Florida. Read more here.
On Monday, Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), David Perdue (R-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and I announced the formation of a bipartisan working group on the issue of student athlete compensation. Read more here.
Last week, I joined Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) in sending a letter to Neil Chatterjee, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, asking for his assurance that FERC understands the threat posed to U.S. national security by the China’s state-directed telecommunications company, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., and urging FERC to work with the Administration to combat the threat. Read more here.
On Monday, I joined Senators John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and 45 of our Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prioritize sustainable rural broadband networks as the FCC considers new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund proceeding. Read more here.
On Tuesday, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I named Granny Cantrell’s of Panama City, Florida as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I met with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Nominee Dr. Steve Hahn to emphasize the importance of the premium cigar industry in Florida and the need for the FDA to provide regulatory relief to this iconic industry. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I applauded the release of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act conference report, which includes the Fiscal Year 2020 Intelligence Authorization Act, and critical provisions for Florida. Read more here.
On Wednesday, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I convened a hearing to consider the nomination of Jovita Carranza to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Read my opening remarks here and watch the full hearing here.
On Wednesday, I met with Todd Chapman, nominee to be our next U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, and highlighted the importance of strong U.S.-Brazilian bilateral relations in order to defend democracy in the region and the need to counter China's presence in the nation. Read more here.
On Wednesday, I was presented with the Bernard L. Orell Award from the National Association of State Foresters for my efforts and work with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to secure $380 million in disaster block grant funds to cover timber losses on private forests and help Northwest Florida’s regional economy recover from Hurricane Michael. Read more here.
On Thursday, I applauded the U.S. Army’s plans to fund the construction of rare earths processing facilities. This follows my introduction of the RE-Coop 21st Century Manufacturing Act to combat China’s rare earth monopoly and boost U.S. advanced manufacturing earlier this year. Read more here.
In Case You Missed It...
“Sen. Rubio visits NAS Pensacola following deadly mass shooting” (WEARTV, 12/08/2019)
“Repulsed by report of staff raping women at Florida federal prison, Rubio demands inquiry” (Miami Herald, 12/09/2019)
“Marco Rubio: NDAA Will Help Secure the Nation, Help Florida” (Florida Daily, 12/11/2019)
“Rubio to challenge GOP orthodoxy with call for ‘pro-American industrial policy’ to counter China” (Washington Examiner, 12/09/2019)
“Marco Rubio’s “Common Good Capitalism” Is Just What We Need” (Forbes, 12/12/ 2019)
“Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Other To Look At Student-Athlete Compensation” (CBS Miami, 12/09/2019)
“Senator Marco Rubio announced on Monday a local Panama City restaurant is the U.S. Senate Small Business of the week.” (Local business named Senate Small Business of the week, My Panhandle, 12/09/2019)
“Tomato Express was recently recognized by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio as the Senate Small Business of the Week.” (Family-Run Grocery Store in Kissimmee Gets National Recognition, Spectrum News 13, 12/06/2019)
“Marco Rubio warns America must direct its economy to counter China’s threat” (Florida Politics, 12/10/2019)
“Rubio Deconstructs the Maduro Regime” (Floridian Press, 12/08/2019)
Legislation Introduced…
- I joined Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Todd Young (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) in introducing the IMPACT Act, which would reinstate and expand reporting requirements to determine the impact of the more than 8,700 Opportunity Zones across the country. Read more here.
- I joined Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) in introducing S. 3108 to instruct the U.S. representatives at the World Bank to vote against and use their best efforts to deny any loan or extension to countries like China and Russia that exceed the graduation thresholds or that are designated as a country of concern for religious freedom. Read more here.
Coming up...
- My staff will host Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their communities. More information and locations near you here.
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