This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio
On Wednesday, I released a report called “ Fighting for Florida: Mid-Term Update” detailing my legislative accomplishments in 2019. A non-partisan analysis produced by GovTrack ranked me as the 2nd top leader compared to all Senators. The same analysis found that I was the 4th top leader in 2018 and 5th top leader in 2017. Read the report here and watch my video summary here.
On Wednesday, I spoke on the Senate floor regarding a resolution concerning Presidential War Powers. Earlier this year, I praised President Trump’s decisive action to protect American lives by ordering the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian terrorist Qassem Soleimani. Read the transcript of my speech here and watch the video here.
On Tuesday, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and I applauded the President signing into law our bipartisan Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act, which will assist veterans re-entering the workforce by directing the National Science Foundation to encourage veterans to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Read more here.
On Monday, I welcomed the launch of SchoolSafety.gov for the Kindergarten through Grade 12 community, a reliable central authority or clearinghouse where information on evidence-based and successful models for school safety measures are easily accessible. In crafting this initiative, I worked closely with Max Schachter — father of Parkland shooting victim, Alex Schachter — and CEO and founder of Safe Schools for Alex. Read more here.
On Thursday, to honor the two-year anniversary of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and me. The resolution honors the victims and survivors, expresses gratitude to the emergency medical and health care professionals who responded and cared for the victims, as well as recognizes the strength and resilience of the Parkland community. Read more here.
On Monday, I praised the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2020 Work Plan, which includes critically important projects for the State of Florida. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I published an op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times emphasizing the importance of Everglades Restoration and applauding the inclusion of $250 million in annual funding for Everglades infrastructure in the President’s 2021 budget. Read the full article here.
On Tuesday, I applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for awarding a $43.9 million Port Infrastructure Development Grant to PortMiami and a $14.1 million Port Infrastructure Development Grant to Port Canaveral. Read more here.
On Sunday, I released a statement regarding the deaths of two soldiers from the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group based out of Crestview, Florida. Read more here.
On Monday, I published an op-ed in The Hill discussing Russia’s increased malign influence in Venezuela, which undermines U.S. interests and poses a threat to democracy in the Western Hemisphere as well as our national security interests. Read the full article here.
On Tuesday, I praised Jacksonville, FL Mayor Lenny Curry, the city council, and the Millennia Companies for the rehabilitation and renovation of a HUD housing complex in Jacksonville. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I joined Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) in urging International Trade Commission Chairman David Johanson to take action against illegal Chinese trade practices that have unfairly harmed the American kitchen cabinet industry. It has been estimated that the American cabinet industry has suffered as much as $4 billion in harm as a result of China’s unfair trading practices. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I met with St. Petersburg College’s President, Dr. Tonjua Williams, and administrators to discuss the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the importance of workforce training for Florida’s veterans, and federal grants to support students pursuing higher education. Read more here.
On Wednesday, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and I urged U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza to evaluate the Office of Entrepreneurial Development’s detrimental practice of requiring Small Business Development Centers to submit a budget proposal based on the president’s requested budget. Read more here.
On Wednesday, I met with Bob Cabana, Director of the Kennedy Space Center, to discuss the excitement and growth around Florida’s space coast, which is the gateway to the stars. Read more here.
On Wednesday, as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), in a meeting with Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno. I noted the importance of U.S.-Ecuador security ties & Ecuador’s significant effort in helping to restore democracy in Venezuela. Read more here.
On Tuesday, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I named Oakes Custom Meats & Seafood of Chumuckla, FL as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week. Read more here.
In Case You Missed It...
“Marco Rubio: Trump’s proposed budget keeps Everglades restoration moving” (Tampa Bay Times, 02/11/2020)
“Putin's Russia is propping up the Maduro dictatorship in Venezuela” (The Hill, 02/10/2020)
“Donald Trump Signs Into Law Marco Rubio’s, Neal Dunn’s Proposal to Move Veterans Into STEM Jobs” (Florida Daily, 02/12/2020)
“Republicans were quick to condemn the incident over the weekend, with Republican Sen. Marco Rubio calling it a “politically motivated attack.” (Florida man who drove van into GOP tent didn’t like Trump, says ‘someone had to take a stand’: arrest report, Fox News, 02/13/2020)
“Rubio has paired with Max Schachter, the father of a victim in the Parkland school shooting and the founder and CEO of Safe Schools for Alex, on helping create a federal clearinghouse.” (Members of the Florida Delegation Help Launch Online Tool for School Safety, Florida Daily, 02/12/2020)
“Rubio, Cotton Launch Plan to Pursue Big Banks Refusing Services to ICE” (Breitbart, 02/13/2020)
“Marco Rubio Joins Senate Climate Solutions Caucus” (Florida Daily, 02/10/2020)
“Sens. Murphy, Rubio encourage FDA to secure imports from China due to novel coronavirus outbreak” ( Homeland Preparedness News, 02/12/2020)
Legislation Introduced
- I joined Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) in introducing the Financial Defense of Industrial Contractors (FDIC) Act, which would combat today’s political discrimination by some of the largest banks operating in the United States against federal contractors, including those which operate facilities on behalf of the Immigration Customs and Enforcement Agency (ICE). Read more here.
- I joined Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rob Portman (R-OH) in reintroducing the Foreign Influence Transparency Act, which would require organizations, such as the Chinese government-run programs known as Confucius Institutes, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The legislation also amends the Higher Education Act to require universities to disclose donations, contracts, or the fair market value of in-kind gifts, from any foreign source if the amount is $50,000 or greater. Read more here.
- I joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senate colleagues in introducing the Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty (Taiwan SOS) Act, which would allow visiting dignitaries and Taiwanese service members to display their flag and wear their uniforms while in the United States on official business. 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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