FLORIDA - SENATOR MARCO RUBIO eNEWSLETTER 03/12/2021

 

This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio  On Wednesday, I joined America’s Newsroom to discuss reopening schools and Democrats’ partisan COVID relief bill. Watch the interview here.    On Friday, I published an op-ed in USA Today expressing my support for the  unionization effort underway at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. Read the full article here.    On Monday, I welcomed the Department of Homeland Security’s designation granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Venezuelan nationals residing in the U.S. for a period of 18 months. Read more here.    On Monday, the Wall Street Journal published my Letter to the Editor discussing rare-earth industrial policy and my RE-Coop 21st Century Manufacturing Act, which would convene private-market actors to establish a rare-earth cooperative. Read the letter here.    On Tuesday, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and I sent a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky following reports that the CDC “misinterpreted” research on school reopenings. In the letter, we “demand a Tiger Team composed of public health experts to identify and address the source of this failure, align the guidance with science, and get our students back to school.” Read more here.    On Wednesday, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and I sent a letter to Leaders Schumer and McConnell urging them not to weaken U.S. policy toward Cuba amid the new administration. Specifically, we indicated that we would not consent to any legislation that would benefit the oppressive Cuban regime. Read more here.    On Wednesday, I published an op-ed in RealClearWorld discussing how the United States can best utilize the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)  as a tool to deepen ties between the U.S. and Mexico and benefit our workers. Read the full article here.    On Wednesday, I joined Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss my Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and my opposition to Wendy Sherman’s nomination as Deputy Secretary of State. Listen to the interview here.    On Wednesday, I released a statement in opposition of President Joe Biden’s Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Dr. Colin Kahl.  Read more here.    On Monday, I joined Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the East Asia Subcommittee on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), as well as Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA), Chairman of the Asia Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Asia Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, James McGovern (D-MA), co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), and Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-Ranking Member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) in issuing a joint statement in response to the Chinese government’s decision to schedule a March 11 vote in the National People’s Congress that would impose new restrictions on Hong Kong’s electoral system. Read more here.    Last Saturday, the Senate approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Chairman Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and me, Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, to extend Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from its current expiration of March 31, 2021 to September 30, 2021. The provision allows a critical lifeline for federal agencies to maintain contractors, who would otherwise be at risk for layoff or furlough due to the pandemic, and was approved as a bipartisan amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.  Read more here.     On Tuesday, I joined Yoly Cuello on Actualidad 1040AM to discuss the Biden administration 's decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Venezuelans living in the U.S., the crisis at the Southern border, COVID relief, and U.S. policy toward Iran and Cuba under the Biden administration. Read more here.    On Thursday, I joined Oscar Haza on Zeta 92.3FM and Mega TV to discuss TPS for Venezuelans, COVID relief, the Biden administration’s policy toward Cuba, and the recent allegations made against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview and read more here.    Legislation Introduced On Tuesday, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and I  reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country. Read more here.  On Wednesday, Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and I introduced the Lacey Act Amendments of 2021 to address oversights in existing legal authority to prevent the importation of invasive species. Read more here. On Wednesday, I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Chris Coons (D-DE) in introducing a bipartisan resolution in observance of the 10th anniversary of the Syrian uprising. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), James Lankford (R-OK), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) in reintroducing the NICS Denial Notification Act , gun safety legislation that will help states enforce existing laws against individuals who attempt to purchase firearms but are prohibited by federal law from doing so. Read more here. On Wednesday, I  joined Senator John Thune (R-SD) and dozens of Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2021, legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, more commonly known as the death tax. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) as well as U.S. Representative Ami Bera (CA-D) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) in reintroducing the Taiwan Fellowship Act , which would establish a two-year fellowship exchange program for federal government employees in all three branches of government to learn, live, and work in Taiwan. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I joined Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Rob Portman (R-OH), and colleagues in introducing the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act , bipartisan legislation that honors the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman with the creation of a series of commemorative coins bearing her image. Read more here. On Thursday, I joined Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and seven other Republican colleagues in introducing the Strengthening Trade, Regional Alliances, Technology, and Economic and Geopolitical Initiatives Concerning China Act (STRATEGIC Act ), which would help advance a strategy for U.S. competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Read more here. On Thursday, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joe Manchin (D-WV)  and I reintroduced the bipartisan and bicameral Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventative Services Act of 2021, which would encourage more research into the prevention and treatment of lung cancer in women, particularly for those who have never smoked, and require federal agencies to evaluate and report their findings to Congress. Read more here. On Thursday, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and I reintroduced legislation to shed light on the 157 sister city partnerships between U.S. and Chinese communities. Read more here.  On Thursday. I reintroduced the Home Advantage for American Families Act, which seeks to reduce foreign investment in the urban real estate market, much of which is connected to illicit activity, and instead increase investment in affordable housing. Read more here. On Thursday, Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), and I introduced the Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends Act or FORCE Act , which would prevent President Joe Biden or Secretary Antony Blinken from removing Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List. Read more here. In Case You Missed It... “Sen. Marco Rubio: Amazon should face unionization drive without Republican support” (USA Today, 03/13/21)  “Rubio Calls for Rare-Earth Industrial Policy” (Wall Street Journal, 03/08/21)  “Rubio: Worrying Signs From Mexico on Trade” (RealClearWorld, 03/10/21)  “Rubio Says H.R. 1 Will ‘Eliminate’ Florida’s Election System’s Safeguards, Backs SB 90” (The Floridian, 03/11/21)  “Senator Rubio: China is depriving Uyghurs of their ‘humanity’” (Catholic News Agency, 03/11/21) “[T]he Sunshine Protection Act, proposed by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, calls for not ‘falling back’ in November and instead enjoying DST year-round.” (Senators once again introduce a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, CNN, 03/11/21)  “Sen. Marco Rubio also said that he supports Biden’s TPS designation and stressed that ‘Venezuela continues to be a nation in crisis.’” (Venezuelans in Central Florida celebrate TPS announcement by Biden administration, Orlando Sentinel, 03/09/21)  “In a letter sent Wednesday, Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Rick Scott told Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell they will oppose any attempts to change current U.S. laws toward the communist island.” (Cuba policy shift ‘not a top priority’ for Biden, White House says, Miami Herald, 03/10/21)  “‘Beijing’s efforts to stamp out democratic opposition in Hong Kong only [underscore] its own insecurities,’ the group of eight senators and representatives said on Monday, a mix of Democrats and Republicans including Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, and Senator Ed Markey and Representative James McGovern, both of Massachusetts.” (US lawmakers condemn Beijing’s plans to overhaul Hong Kong elections, South China Morning Post, 03/09/21) “Rubio: ‘Powerful Teachers’ Unions’ Taking ‘Pseudoscientific Cover’ from Dems to Not Reopen” (Breitbart, 03/10/21)  Keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter.