FLORIDA - SENATOR RICK SCOTT'S WEEK IN REVIEW 11/13/2020

 

This week, in honor of Veterans Day, Senator Rick Scott released a video thanking the brave men and women who served to defend and protect our nation and its great freedoms. Senator Scott also wrote an op-ed this week for The Ripon Forum about one of his most important roles as U.S. Senator: to protect and serve the families of our nation. Watch Senator Scott’s Veterans Day message HERE or below. — See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

Sen. Rick Scott Elected Chairman of National Republican Senatorial Committee Senator Rick Scott released the below statement after being elected by his colleagues to chair the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m honored my colleagues entrusted me with this responsibility and I look forward to the challenge. Keeping a Senate majority is vitally important to the future of this country and to preserving the American dream. Republicans across the nation are fighting for lower taxes, better jobs and opportunity, a secure border and safe communities. We know Democrats want the opposite – socialism, Medicare-for-all, defunding the police and the Green New Deal – and we won’t accept that. I’m confident that our message will continue to resonate with the American people and we won’t stop fighting to make Washington work for all families.” Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott: Floridians Need to Take Hurricane Eta Seriously – Be Prepared Ahead of Hurricane Eta’s landfall in Florida, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement urging Floridians to remain alert and be prepared for any impacts. Senator Rick Scott said, “As we know, severe weather can change very quickly and should not be underestimated, so every Florida family must take Hurricane Eta seriously, be prepared for any impacts and listen closely to your local officials for updates. Floridians should have their emergency kit ready, with food, water, medications and emergency supplies, as well as everything you need to stay safe from the coronavirus, like masks and cleaning supplies. Right now, this is a large, fast-moving storm heading toward Florida’s West coast, bringing life-threatening storm surge along our Gulf Coast and heavy rainfall throughout most of the state. I’ve been speaking to National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham for updates throughout the week, and remain in constant contact as we continue to monitor this storm. We must take this storm seriously – Floridians need to stay vigilant and stay tuned to your local news, don’t put yourself or your family at risk." Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Requests Information from HHS and State Governors on Status of Rapid Coronavirus Tests Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, as well as all 50 Governors, requesting information on the status of the cost efficient and widely-available rapid coronavirus tests that the federal government has distributed to all states. Testing is key to reopening the United States and ending the coronavirus pandemic, and Senator Scott wants to ensure every effort is being made to provide accessible tests for Americans. Read more, including the letters, HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Calls for Accountability and Transparency of Chinese-Based Companies on U.S. Stock Exchanges Senator Rick Scott sent a letter urging every Chinese-based company currently listed on major U.S. stock exchanges to comply by the same Public Company Accountability Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards required by U.S. companies. The lack of transparency and accountability by Chinese companies on U.S. exchanges poses a huge risk to American investors. This letter follows action by President Trump yesterday to prohibit Americans from investing in 31 Chinese companies that support China’s military, including two that trade on U.S. exchanges. Read more, including the letters, HERE. — Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio Applaud Passage of Resolution Congratulating 2020 Stanley Cup Champions Tampa Bay Lightning Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of their resolution congratulating the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the team’s loyal fans, on winning the 2020 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Finals. Senator Rick Scott said, “After years of hard work, a difficult season away from family and playing without fans in the seats, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup win gave Floridians a much-needed reason to celebrate. I was proud to join my colleague, Senator Rubio, to introduce this resolution congratulating the Lightning for bringing the Stanley Cup back to Tampa Bay, and I applaud its unanimous passage in the Senate. Go Bolts!” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott in The Ripon Forum: I Will Always Work to Support Those Who Protect and Serve Our Nation In honor of Veterans Day, Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for The Ripon Forum about one of his most important roles as U.S. Senator: to protect and serve the families of our nation. Senator Rick Scott is a Navy veteran, and currently serves on the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “I am who I am today because of my tough-love mom and my adopted dad. They lived a hard life – we grew up poor and my parents struggled to find work – but they loved this country and worked tirelessly to give their children a better life. They are my heroes.  My adopted dad joined the Army as a teenager and was one of the few who did all four combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne during World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. What he and our brave men and women in uniform did to protect the freedoms we enjoy is awe-inspiring. And we can never forget their accomplishments. ...As a U.S. Senator and member of the Armed Services Committee, I’m continuing the fight to ensure that Florida remains a national leader for military and defense and that our veterans, military members and their families are provided the support they need to keep the nation safe and to succeed even after their service. …I won’t let those on the radical Left distract us from the values that make America great. The values that my mom taught me. And it is my hope that we never forget that the primary goal of government is to provide for the common defense, so our children and grandchildren can live in freedom and peace – and have their shot at the American dream. To our veterans – thank you for your service to our great nation. I applaud your bravery and courage. I will never lose sight of one the most important roles I have: to protect and serve the families of our nation."  Read the full op-ed in The Ripon Forum HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott in Fox News: COVID Changed Everything This Year – Including Voting. Here’s How We Restore Trust Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for Fox News on how the coronavirus pandemic changed the way Americans vote, and why Congress must pass his Verifiable, Orderly, & Timely Election Results (VOTER) Act to establish uniform standards for vote-by-mail across the country and help restore Americans’ trust in the voting system.  In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. The stability of our nation and trust in our system of government relies on the stability and confidence in our election systems. I always say we need 100% participation and 0% fraud in our elections. Right now, we are seeing what happens when that trust disappears and the legality and integrity of our elections remains uncertain. The American people do not have confidence in our electoral process, resulting in an increasingly fractured America. … This is not what America is about, and now more than ever, we have to work to protect the integrity of our elections and then make changes necessary to preserve our democracy. … The coronavirus pandemic changed everything this year, including how we vote. We saw an unprecedented amount of mail-in voting across the nation. Currently, the process for mail-in voting varies by state, with different deadlines for requesting, returning and receiving mailed ballots.  … We need standards nationwide to ensure voters decide the outcomes of elections. My VOTER Act would ensure the security, reliability and orderly conduct of elections by creating nationwide standards for vote-by-mail systems. Voter ID is an important part of that, and states should not allow same-day voter registration, which is a recipe for fraud. The VOTER Act also protects the integrity of federal elections with fraud prevention measures and requires all eligible ballots to be counted and reported within 24 hours after polls close on Election Day to promote certainty in the outcome of a federal election. Ballots should be submitted before the polls close on Election Day. …We live in the greatest country in the world where absolutely anything is possible. We must never give up on protecting the sacred right to vote. Passing my VOTER Act is a common-sense step we can take right now to ensure any future election is decided in a timely manner by the American people. This is not a partisan bill in the least, it’s merely a common sense and fair approach." Read the full op-ed in Fox News HERE. — Fox News: Rick Scott to chair top Senate GOP campaign committee The Economist: Don’t let the games begin: Calls to boycott the Beijing winter Olympics are growing stronger Roll Call: Senate GOP picks Florida’s Rick Scott as NRSC chairman Newsmax: Rick Scott: Americans Don’t Trust Electoral Process WESH: Florida Sens. Rubio, Scott stick with Trump on election results News Service of Florida: Sen. Rick Scott Seeks Information On Rapid Tests Florida Daily: Florida’s Senators Ask Donald Trump to Declare an Emergency as Eta Impacts Sunshine State Florida Daily: Rick Scott Showcases His VOTER Act to Reform Voting by Mail Florida Daily: Rick Scott Wants Info from HHS, State Governors on Coronavirus Test Kits Extra Venezuela: ¡ENTÉRESE! El Senador Rick Scott sería el nuevo líder de los Republicanos en el Senado (se ha vinculado mucho el tema Venezuela)

As Floridians recover from impacts of Tropical Storm Eta, every family should take action now to make sure they are prepared for any future storms. Hurricane Season is not over, and severe weather can approach quickly and should never be underestimated. 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. See more in Senator Scott’s Hurricane Season PSA, in partnership with The Weather Channel, HERE.  Read more on how to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus while preparing for hurricane season from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) HERE, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) HERE, or by visiting www.RickScott.senate.gov/Hurricanes. Floridians in need of assistance with federal resources following the impacts of Tropical Storm Eta can contact Senator Scott’s office HERE.

TALLAHASSEE 111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: (850) 942-8415 WEST PALM BEACH  415 Clematis Street, Suite 201 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: (561) 514-0189 TAMPA 801 North Florida Avenue, Suite 421 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 225-7040 KISSIMMEE  1 Courthouse Square, Suite 300 Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 586-7879 PENSACOLA  221 Palafox Place, Suite 420 Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: (850) 760-5151 MIAMI  901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 505 Miami, FL 33134 Phone: (786) 501-7141 NAPLES 3299 Tamiami Trail East, #106  Naples, FL 34112 Phone: (239) 231-7890 JACKSONVILLE 400 West Bay Street, Suite 289 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 479-7227 ORLANDO 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410 Orlando, FL 32801  Phone: (407) 872-7161   WASHINGTON, D.C. 716 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5274     Fax: (202) 228-4535