This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio
On Tuesday, I spoke on the Senate floor regarding racial discrimination, civil society, and those exploiting the ongoing protests to cause chaos following the death of Mr. Floyd. Read the full transcript here and watch the video here.
On Thursday, I applauded the Senate passage of my bipartisan legislation to establish the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. The Commission would be housed within the United States Commission on Civil Rights’ Office and would recommend policies to improve current government programs. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more here.
On Thursday, I was joined by Senator Thom Tillis in introducing the American Citizen Coronavirus Relief Act , which would amend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which prohibits U.S. citizens who jointly file taxes with a spouse that does not have a Social Security Number (SSN) from receiving a stimulus check. This bill would ensure a U.S. citizen will not be denied federal coronavirus assistance because he or she is married to a foreign national who is not currently a citizen of the United States. Read more here.
On Friday, I secured critical provisions for Florida in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These provisions build on my efforts in the FY20 NDAA. The FY21 NDAA includes multiple provisions I requested, including an additional $15 million for the Gulf Range Modernization and the next phase in the Gulf Test Range telemetric modernization process at Eglin Air Force Base. Read more here.
On Wednesday, I joined Fox News’s “The Story” with Martha MacCallum to discuss Senate Democrats’ continued obstruction of police reform legislation after they blocked a vote to start debate on the JUSTICE Act, as well as the violent protests occurring across the nation and efforts to address racial inequalities. Watch the full interview here.
On Thursday, I joined Fox News's "America's Newsroom" to discuss Speaker Pelosi’s shameful comment that Senate Republicans are “getting away with murder” on police reform legislation, Senate Democrats blocking the GOP’s policing reform bill, the damage to the credibility of the FBI in the investigation of General Michael Flynn, and former Vice President Joe Biden’s potential knowledge of an investigation into General Flynn. Watch the full interview here.
Last Friday, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I released a statement after the U.S. Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced they reached a bipartisan agreement with the leaders of the Committee on how the Administration will publicly disclose Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) data. Read more here.
On Friday, I applauded President Trump’s Executive Order, which closely resembles a proposal I developed, to modernize the federal government’s hiring practices to promote a skills-based protocol. The Executive Order signed today will allow candidates with proven skill sets, but who lack a traditional four-year degree, to be able to compete on a level playing field with those who did obtain a degree. Read more here.
On Thursday, I released a statement regarding the release of the U.S. State Department’s 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report. Read more here.
On Thursday, I was joined by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), David Perdue (R-GA), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, requesting information be made available with regard to the Blue Dot Network’s current initiatives and participating partners. The Blue Dot Network brings together members of the public and private sector to promote international infrastructure development. Read more here.
On Friday, I joined Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as well as Ben Cardin (D-MD) in a statement encouraging Guyanese authorities to begin a democratic transition of power that reflects the results of the March 2nd general and regional elections. Read more here.
On Wednesday, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I named Mercedes Scientific of Lakewood Ranch, FL as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week. Read more here.
Legislation Introduced
- On Tuesday, I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rick Scott (R-FL) in introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution celebrating the thirty-fifth anniversary of Radio and Television Martí, which is administered through the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). The resolution recognizes “the vital role that independent broadcasting to Cuba has served in providing uncensored, reliable, and accurate information to the Cuban people” and honors the work of the many “journalists, programming editors, technical support, and other employees at Radio and Television Martí” who work tirelessly to provide free and uncensored news in Cuba. Read more here.
- On Wednesday, I joined Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ed Markey (D-MA), and a bipartisan coalition in introducing a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Read more here.
- On Wednesday, I joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) in introducing the Strengthening America’s Health Care Readiness Act, bipartisan legislation to provide a historic investment in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Nurse Corps, and National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) programs to bolster health emergency surge capacity and restore the pipeline of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals that will address existing health workforce shortages throughout our country. Read more here.
- On Friday, I joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) as well as U.S. Representative Ted S. Yoho (FL-R) and Ami Bera (CA-D) in introducing the Taiwan Fellowship Act. Modeled on the successful Mansfield Fellowship Program between the United States and Japan, this bill establishes a two-year fellowship exchange program for federal government employees in all three branches of government to learn, live, and work in Taiwan. Upon successful conclusion of the program, fellows will return to federal government service better positioned to advance U.S. values and interests in the Indo-Pacific region, with special emphasis in strengthening our strategic partnership with Taiwan. Read more here.
- Last Friday, I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) in introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ecuador. The bipartisan resolution recognizes the restoration and advancement of economic relations, security, and development opportunities in both nations. Read more here.
In Case You Missed It...
“Marco Rubio bolsters 2024 profile with sympathetic approach to racial 'inequities'” (Washington Examiner, 06/25/20)
“Exclusive: Marco Rubio Introduces Bill to Give Citizens in Mixed-Status Families Stimulus Checks” (Newsweek, 06/25/20)
“Marco Rubio bill would give stimulus checks to American families with non-citizens” (CNBC, 06/25/2020)
“Sen. Rubio remarks on civil society and race” (The American Mind, 06/23/20)
“Marco Rubio blasts Dems for blocking police reform bill: 'politics' and 'electoral strategy'” (Fox News, 06/25/20)
“Marco Rubio wants to open up the government's UFO data” (Washington Examiner, 06/23/20)
“Marco Rubio: Make Juneteenth a Federal Holiday” (Florida Daily, 06/25/20)
“Senator Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican who leads the committee, made Mr. Thomson promise he would inform the Senate of any ‘significant complaints’ his office received.” (Senate Questions C.I.A. Watchdog Nominee Over Independence, New York Times, 06/24/20)
“Rubio: 'Everyone should just wear a damn mask'” (The Hill, 06/24/20)
“Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican senator who has been a leading voice for taking a tougher stance on China, said the list was a start but was ‘woefully inadequate.’” (Pentagon lists 20 companies aiding Chinese military, Financial Times, 06/24/20)
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