This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio On Monday, I released a short video recapping my legislative efforts in 2020 on behalf of Florida and the nation. In addition to creating the Paycheck Protection Program, which former CBO Director Doug Holtz-Eakin called “the single most effective fiscal policy ever undertaken by the United States Government,” I passed new laws aimed at helping Florida families and small businesses, strengthening our national security, assisting veterans, and making America’s economy stronger and more resilient. Additionally, a non-partisan analysis produced by GovTrack ranked me as the second top leader compared to all Senators in 2020. Read more here and watch the video here.  On Tuesday, I released a statement after two FBI agents were fatally shot and three more were wounded in Sunrise, Florida while attempting to execute a federal search warrant in a child exploitation case. Read more here . On Tuesday, I published an op-ed in Fox News discussing the need to put students first and reopen schools. Read the full article here . On Thursday, I joined Trey Gowdy on Fox News Primetime to further discuss the urgent need to reopen schools. Watch the full interview here.  On Thursday, I joined America’s Newsroom to discuss the Biden Administration’s commitment to Taiwan, Russia and China challenging international norms, and the distraction caused by the upcoming impeachment trial. Watch the full interview here.  On Thursday, Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK), and I filed an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution that would protect small businesses from tax increases. Specifically, the amendment would seek to prohibit Democrats from increasing taxes on small businesses during the pandemic through budget reconciliation, the tool they used to bypass bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation. The amendment was unanimously passed by the Senate later that day. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I filed more than 20 amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution. Read more here.  On Thursday, I released a statement after Senate Democrats voted against a common sense amendment to the budget resolution to prohibit federal COVID relief funds from going to schools that do not reopen after teachers are vaccinated. Read more here.  On Thursday, I spoke on the Senate floor regarding the danger of Democrats’ catch and release policies. Later, I released a statement after Senate Democrats voted against an amendment to the budget resolution that would have prevented catch and release policies. Watch my floor speech here and read more here.  On Wednesday, I applauded the United States Senate passage of S. Res. 25, National School Choice Week resolution, which I introduced along with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). Read more here.  On Thursday, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and I released a joint statement on new proposals to further expand the Child Tax Credit, which we successfully expanded in 2017 and tax return data confirmed has had a positive effect on millions of American families. Read more here.  On Tuesday, I released a statement regarding ongoing efforts in the United States Senate to cobble together an immigration bill. Read more here.  On Tuesday, I released a statement regarding my opposition to Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Read more here.  On Sunday, Representative James McGovern (D-MA) and I, Chair and Cochair of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), sent a letter to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee nominating the pro-democracy movement of Hong Kong for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I released a statement after the White House Press Secretary could not confirm whether the Biden Administration supports the continuation of the Artemis program. On Thursday, I released a statement after the Biden Administration made clear it “certainly” supports the program. Read more here.  On Friday, I issued a statement after Hong Kong announced educational ‘guidelines’ under the Chinese Government’s draconian National Security Law. Read more here.  On Friday, I joined Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and 46 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pledging that we will vote to block any bill that would undermine the Hyde Amendment or any other pro-life protections. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I joined Jimmy Cefalo on 610 WIOD radio in Miami, Florida to discuss vaccination efforts, impeachment and the misplaced priorities of Senate Democrats, and more. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I joined Clay Travis on Outkick the Coverage to discuss Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation, and more. Read more here.  On Monday, I joined Hannity to discuss President Joe Biden’s agenda and misplaced priorities. Read more here. 
Legislation Introduced- On Wednesday, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and I introduced the Put Students First Act of 2021 , legislation which would prohibit federal funding to schools that do not provide an in-person learning option by April 30, 2021. Read more here.
- On Monday, I reintroduced the Luke and Alex School Safety Act of 2021 to codify into law the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety. The clearinghouse, available at SchoolSafety.gov, informs parents and educators on expert recommendations and best practices that schools can implement to improve school security. The clearinghouse also provides information on available federal resources and grant programs that can be used toward these safety measures. Read more here.
- On Tuesday, Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Susan Collins (R-ME), and I reintroduced the Small Business Access to Recovery Capital Act, which would provide expanded relief measures to the 7(a) loan program for one year to help businesses cope with challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.
- On Tuesday, I reintroduced the Terror Intelligence Improvement Act to make it harder for suspected terrorists to purchase firearms. The bill would also provide more authority for law enforcement agencies to go after suspected terrorists, while safeguarding law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment and due process rights. Read more here.
- On Wednesday, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and I reintroduced the bipartisan Ensuring Understanding of COVID-19 to Protect Public Health Act, legislation that would direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a longitudinal study on mild, moderate, and severe cases of COVID-19 to ensure we gain a full understanding of both the short and long-term health impacts of the novel coronavirus. Read more here.
- On Wednesday, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and I were joined by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Chris Van-Hollen (D-MD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in reintroducing the Holding Russia Accountable for Malign Activities Act of 2021 . This bill would impose targeted sanctions against Russian officials complicit in brazen violations of international law, including the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny. Read more here.
- On Wednesday, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and I reintroduced the Protecting Job Opportunities for Borrowers (Protecting JOBs) Act , legislation that would help ensure borrowers’ are not inhibited from working in their trained field solely because they fell behind on their federal student loan payments. Read more here.
- On Thursday, I joined Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Todd Young (R-IN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rand Paul (R-KY), in introducing the American Values Act , legislation to permanently enact and expand existing prohibitions on the use of U.S. foreign assistance to pay for the performance or promotion of abortion services overseas. Read more here.
- On Thursday, Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and I reintroduced 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.
In Case You Missed It...“Sen. Marco Rubio: Put students first and open schools – here's what we should do if teacher unions refuse” (Fox News, 02/02/21) “Rubio Wants To Defund Schools That Don’t Offer In-Person Teaching Option” (The Floridian, 02/04/21) “Sen. Marco Rubio called the shooting a "cowardly act" and said he and his wife were praying for the agents' families.” (NBC 6 South Florida, 02/03/21) “Rubio Blasts Biden: ‘We Are Headed For Border Chaos’” (The Daily Wire, 02/05/21) “Rubio Slams WH Press Secretary For Lack Of Response Whether Biden Supports Trump’s NASA Artemis” (The Floridian, 02/04/21) “Rubio discusses China, natural rights, and 'human flourishing'” (The Pillar, 02/05/21) “More recently, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, a Catholic, quoted four popes in a speech at the Catholic University of America proposing worker-friendly policies such as paid parental leave, expansion of the federal per-child tax credit and changes to the tax code to incentivize job creation and higher wages. The senator now says that job losses and social dislocation caused by the pandemic have made even clearer the need for what he calls ‘common-good capitalism.’” (Can Catholic Social Teaching Unite a Divided America?, Wall Street Journal, 02/05/21) “Rubio has criticized the political right for promoting pursuit of profit divorced from community investment, and has criticized the political left for promising to enforce certain economic outcomes through socialist mandates. His own proposals focus on the dignity of human work and policies to incentivize businesses to reinvest returns in job growth and local communities.” (Analysis: The GOP at a crossroads - and what it means for the pro-life movement, Catholic News Agency, 02/02/21) “Montalto praised a bipartisan group of lawmakers who recently introduced the Luke and Alex School Safety Act in the House and Senate. Republican Senators Ron Johnson, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced the bill in the Senate Friday, and a bipartisan group of representatives introduced a companion bill in the House on Wednesday. The act will codify a federal clearinghouse for best safety practices in schools, Montalto said.” (Parkland parent calls Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments "painful," warns of risks as schools reopen, CBS News, 02/04/21) “Biden administration must continue defending Taiwan: Rubio” (Fox News, 02/04/21) |
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