FLORIDA - SENATOR RICK SCOTT'S WEEK IN REVIEW 07/31/2020

As Florida braces for the potential impacts of Hurricane Isaias this weekend, Senator Rick Scott is urging Florida families to stay alert and prepare NOW. Although preparing for a storm might look a little different amid the coronavirus, we cannot let our guards down, and must do everything we can to ensure our families stay safe. Senator Scott remains in constant contact with local, state and federal officials on Hurricane Isaias and its potential impacts on Florida. Floridians should stay vigilant and listen to the directions of local officials as the storm approaches. Families must continue to take every precaution to stay healthy from the coronavirus, including wearing a mask and social distancing. Read more on how to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus while preparing for a storm from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) HERE and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) HERE. See the latest on Hurricane Isaias from the National Hurricane Center at www.nhc.noaa.gov or @NHC_Atlantic on Twitter, and from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at www.floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT on Twitter. — See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Tom Cotton and Colleagues in Urging TikTok Scrutiny Over Election Security Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tom Cotton and colleagues in a letter to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray, and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf expressing concern over Chinese social media app, TikTok, and the potential risk it poses to U.S. election security. Read more, including the full letter, from Senator Cotton’s office HERE. —  Senate Dems Block Sen. Rick Scott Effort to Protect Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Senator Rick Scott proposed an amendment on the Senate floor to ensure that every American with a pre-existing condition would be protected, no matter how the Supreme Court rules on Obamacare, and allow young adults stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until they are 26. This proposed amendment would have built on his and Senator Thom Tillis’s Protect Act, which would make sure Americans with pre-existing conditions can get the health care coverage they need. Unfortunately, his efforts were blocked by Senate Democrats. See more in Senator Scott’s speech on the Senate floor HERE. Senator Rick Scott said, “The rising cost of health care in our nation is a crisis affecting so many American families. Obamacare was sold on a lie and failed Americans. Under Obamacare, costs have skyrocketed and families lost the doctors they liked. We have to take action to lower costs and increase access. This is personal for me. My brother grew up with a pre-existing condition, and my mother had to drive 200 miles to a charity hospital just to get treatment for him. I proposed a solution to ensure all Americans with pre-existing conditions are protected, regardless of what the Supreme Court rules on Obamacare. This is a common sense step to lower the cost of health care for Americans, but Senate Democrats blocked it. Like with everything in Washington, Democrats are all talk, no action. I’m disappointed my colleagues don’t want to fight to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions, but I won’t give up.” Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott: NBA Needs to Answer for Reports of Abuse in Communist China Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following an ESPN investigation that found human rights concerns inside an NBA youth-development program in Communist China, including physical abuse of young players and a failure to provide schooling. Senator Rick Scott said, “The link between the NBA’s operations in China and the human rights abuses of the Chinese Communist Party are even stronger than we previously knew. Reports of abuse at NBA academies in Communist China are absolutely disgusting, and the fact that the NBA turned a blind eye for so long is horrific. "The NBA continues to appease Communist China and refuses to stand up for the people of Hong Kong because they care more about profits than human rights. When do we, as freedom-loving Americans, say enough is enough? The NBA must answer for this and immediately tell us when they first knew about the abuse and how they responded. And they need to stop playing games in Communist China. Anything less is unacceptable.” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott, AFP President Phillips in the Tampa Bay Times: Don’t Let Regulation Get in the Way of Combatting the Coronavirus Senator Rick Scott and Americans for Prosperity (AFP) President Tim Phillips wrote an op-ed for the Tampa Bay Times on how Senator Scott’s Unnecessary Agency Regulations Reduction Act can help support the nation’s response to the coronavirus. In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott and AFP President Tim Phillips wrote, “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented Americans with a vivid lesson in the costs of regulation. … The primary takeaway should be that we need an economy that is flexible, resilient, and able to shift gears at a moment’s notice to respond to a crisis. … We need to begin to clear away the mountain of red tape so we’re better prepared the next time.  The Unnecessary Agency Regulations Reduction Act would ensure that America does not double down on policies that have made us less resilient, less flexible, and less innovative. … This would help address the hundreds of restrictions in various sectors that are preventing our economy from recovering following the economic devastation caused by the pandemic. By focusing on clearing the way for individuals and businesses to safely and efficiently deliver goods and services, our economy grows and the entire country benefits…" Read the full op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times HERE. — Fox Business: Sen. Rick Scott warns Florida to take Hurricane Isaias ‘seriously’ and ‘stay safe’ NPR: GOP Sen. Rick Scott Says Failing To Compromise On Relief Bill ‘Would Be A Mistake’ Fox Business: Unemployed Americans need to be taken care of first: Sen. Rick Scott Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott: Focus Must Be on Returning People to Work Fox News Radio: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): “Might Make Sense To Have A New FBI Headquarters, But Not Part Of A Coronavirus Bill" CNBC: Sen. Rick Scott on Florida’s Covid-19 outbreak and how the state handled its response The Hill: Ballooning Fed balance sheet sparks GOP concerns The Daily Caller: Senate Republicans List Benefits For Lobbyist As Reason They Might Vote Against Phase 4 Stimulus Bill Breitbart: Rick Scott ‘Very Optimistic’ About Next Coronavirus Relief Bill — ‘Let’s Get This Economy Going’ Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott to Newsmax TV: US-China Relations ‘Untenable’ Florida Daily: Florida Delegation’s Push to Make National Borinqueneers Day on April 13 Included in NDAA Florida Daily: Ashley Moody Champions Rick Scott’s, Marco Rubio’s Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act

Senator Rick Scott is committed to keeping Florida families safe and healthy. Following the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Senator Rick Scott released a CARES Act Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document with information on how Floridians can get help amid the coronavirus crisis and details about the support available to small businesses, individuals and non-profits. See the FAQ document HERE or more resources and information available to Floridians by visiting www.RickScott.senate.gov/CoronavirusResources.

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