FLORIDA - SENATOR RICK SCOTT IS A FIGHTER!

 

In Case You Missed It! U.S. Sen. Rick Scott Fights to Protect Religious Freedom

Americans have the right to freely exercise religion – it’s a sacred right that Senator Scott will always fight for. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, many liberal governors and mayors have used their emergency powers to target churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship, while letting other businesses operate. Last week, Senator Scott led his colleagues in introducing a resolution to reaffirm the Senate’s commitment to protecting Americans’ freedom of religion. Senate Democrats blocked its passage. As your United States Senator, Senator Rick Scott will never stop fighting to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and to protect the rights of the American people, including the right to freely exercise religion. Read more on Senator Scott’s efforts below.

Sen. Rick Scott Leads Colleagues in Resolution Defending Right to Freely Exercise Religion On December 18, Senator Rick Scott led his colleagues in a resolution defending the First Amendment to the United States Constitution – the right to freely exercise one’s religion. This resolution was also supported by the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom. Senator Rick Scott said, “Religious liberty is our first freedom, and there is no pandemic exception to the First Amendment. Unfortunately, liberal governors and mayors across the country have used their emergency powers as a sword to go after churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship, instead of a shield to protect the public health. For months, they have argued that these houses of worship should not meet and congregants could not sing, while they applaud massive political protests. That’s wrong. Today, my colleagues and I stand together against these misguided and hypocritical attempts to target religious institutions. We will always fight for the religious liberty of all Americans." Read the full resolution HERE.

Sen. Menendez, Senate Dems Block Sen. Rick Scott’s Resolution Reaffirming Commitment to the First Amendment and Religious Freedom On December 18, Senator Rick Scott spoke on the Senate floor to ask unanimous consent for his resolution defending the First Amendment to the United States Constitution – the right to freely exercise one’s religion. This resolution, also sponsored by Senators Tillis, Wicker, Boozman, Cramer, Perdue, Rounds, Rubio, Blackburn, Cotton, Hoeven, Braun, Loeffler, Cruz, Hyde-Smith, Lankford, Barrasso, Paul, and Daines, was blocked by Senator Menendez. Senator Rick Scott said, “Religious liberty is our first freedom under the Constitution of the United States. Every elected official takes an oath to support and defend our Constitution and the rights enshrined within it. We’ve seen liberal governors and mayors across the nation go after religious institutions throughout the pandemic, so my resolution simply reaffirms the right to freely practice religion. It is absolutely shameful that Senator Menendez would not only lie about what is happening in his state, but also refuse to stand with houses of worship, who are entitled to the Constitutional right to freely exercise their religion, by blocking my resolution today. I take my oath of office seriously, and I urge each of my colleagues to do the same. We know many Democrats don’t respect the religious freedoms of Americans, but this is a new low. We won’t let them chip away at our rights, and we will never stop fighting for the liberties of all Americans." Watch the exchange HERE or below.

Sen. Rick Scott Joins Colleagues in Amicus Brief Supporting Religious Freedom in Nation’s Capital On October 7, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Roger Wicker and colleagues in filing an amicus brief supporting Capitol Hill Baptist Church’s lawsuit against the Mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser. Mayor Bowser has permitted and participated in several mass protests in recent months, several of which involved thousands of individuals and a lack of social distancing in violation of the Mayor’s own COVID-19 orders. However, the District has categorically refused to grant a waiver of the Mayor’s COVID-19 restrictions for a religious gathering of more than 100 individuals, despite the church’s proposal to conduct its services outdoors with strict adherence to social distancing and face mask protocols. The Senators argue that the selective enforcement of the District’s rules violates the church’s First Amendment rights and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). See more from Senator Wicker’s office HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott on CNN: Americans have the Bill of Rights, Follow It On May 24, Senator Rick Scott joined CNN’s Dana Bash to discuss opening places of worship in Florida.  Watch the full interview here or below.