FLORIDA - SENATOR MARCO RUBIO eNEWSLETTER

 

This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio  On Wednesday, as Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I spoke at an open hearing regarding the counterintelligence threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Watch the video here and read my remarks here.     On Wednesday, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and I urged U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge to take immediate action to remedy unacceptable living conditions at Eastside Gardens Apartments and Eastside Terrace Apartments in Jacksonville, Florida. Read more here.    Last Friday, I published an op-ed in Breitbart News criticizing the Center for Disease Control’s confusing and misguided decision to encourage a return to mask mandates, regardless of vaccination status. Read the full article here.     Last Friday, I joined Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Rick Scott (R-FL) in applauding the Senate’s passage of our bipartisan bill to rename the street outside of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. as “Oswaldo Payá Way.” Read more here.     On Tuesday, I sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines to request a “formal inquiry into allegations that Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s communications were subject to NSA collection, and that Mr. Carlson’s identity was ‘unmasked’ component to that collection.” Read more here.     On Wednesday, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and I applauded the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s approval of our bipartisan legislation, the Secure Equipment Act of 2021 , which closes a loophole by directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify that it will no longer review or approve applications from companies on the Commission’s “Covered List.” The bill would also prevent further integration and sales of Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua – all Chinese state-backed or directed firms – in the U.S. regardless of whether federal funds are involved. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Read more here.    On Thursday, I sent a letter to American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker after the airline announced an “innovative partnership” with TikTok. Read more here.    On Thursday, I filed three amendments to the $1 trillion infrastructure package that is currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. Read more here.    On Wednesday, I released a statement after opposing Fiscal Year 2022 spending bills during markup in the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Read more here.     On Thursday, Senator  Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and I applauded Senate’s approval of our Reinforcing Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act , which would dramatically increase U.S. diplomatic engagement on targeted sanctions in order to promote free, fair, and transparent elections in response to the Ortega-Murillo regime’s continued use of repressive tactics to intimidate, inhibit, or arrest every aspiring opposition candidate ahead of the scheduled elections in November. Read more here.    On Thursday, I issued a statement after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Biden Administration will be granting Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Hong Kongers in the United States. Read more here.    Legislation Introduced Last Thursday, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and I introduced the HUD Inspection Reform and Capital Improvement Act to require that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) health and sanitation inspections take place according to a reasonable federal timeline, that HUD take enforcement action on failing properties to protect tenants, and to increase the Department’s authority to hold agency staff accountable for misconduct. This bill reflects recent findings of severe mismanagement in HUD’s Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance program, brought to light by the unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the Hilltop Village, Eastside Terrace, and Eastside Gardens apartment complexes in Jacksonville, Florida. Read more here.  Last Thursday, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and I introduced the Reef Safe Act of 2021 , legislation that would help protect our oceans and marine ecosystems from potentially harmful chemicals found in some types of sunscreen by creating Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards for the use of “Reef Safe” and “Ocean Safe” labels in the marketing of sunscreens. Read more here.  Last Friday, Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and I introduced the Protecting Students From Racial Hostility Act , which would direct the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) to investigate parent and/or student complaints against the use of curriculum, teaching, and counseling that promote divisive concepts and foster racially-hostile school environments. Read more here.  On Tuesday, I joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in introducing a bipartisan bill to reform the U.S. government’s investigation and response to suspected directed energy attacks, also referred to as “Havana Syndrome,” and improve access to care for impacted individuals. Read more here. On Tuesday, Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and I introduced the Greater Insight into Foreign Transactions (GIFTs) in Higher Education Act to target gifts and donations from designated foreign adversaries to American colleges and universities. Read more here.  On Wednesday, I reintroduced the Leveraging Opportunities for Americans Now (LOAN) Act , legislation that would reform the federal direct student loan system by eliminating interest and replacing it with a one-time, non-compounding origination fee that borrowers will pay over the life of the loan. Read more here. On Wednesday, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and I reintroduced the Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party’s Political Influence Operations Act , which aims to combat the Chinese Communist Party’s political influence operations in the United States and around the world. Read more here.  On Wednesday, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and I introduced legislation that would prohibit multilateral development banks from lending to projects controlled by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Read more here.  On Wednesday, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and I introduced the Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor the 52 Americans who were held hostage for 444 days by the Islamic Republic of Iran with a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that Congress can bestow. The Americans, including three Floridians, were held against their will from 1979 to 1981. Read more here.  On Thursday, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and I announced that we will introduce the Cambodia Democracy and Human Rights Act to hold the Cambodian government accountable as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen continues to engage in human rights abuses. Read more here.  On Thursday, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and I introduced the Sanction and Stop Ransomware Act , legislation to strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure and target foreign governments that knowingly provide safe haven for cyber criminals. Read more here.  In Case You Missed It... “Exclusive—Sen. Marco Rubio: CDC’s Lack of Transparency Undermines Covid Vaccine” (Breitbart, 07/30/21) “Rubio's chilling warning: China has weaponized US ‘corporate lust for profits'” (Fox News, 08/05/21) “Rubio, GOP Congressmen Warn Army Corps Against Limiting Water Supply to South Florida” (The Floridian, 07/31/21)  “Rubio introduces bill to reform HUD inspection process following I-TEAM report” (News4Jax, 07/30/21) “Curry, Rubio, Scott call for new ownership at deteriorating Eastside apartment complexes” (News4Jax, 08/04/21) “Sen. Rubio: ‘You're Not Gonna Mask Your Way Out of This Pandemic,' Urges Vaccinations” (NBC 6 Miami, 08/04/21)  “[Senators Marco Rubio, the Republican vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Democrat Dianne Feinstein, a senior member of the intelligence and judiciary committees] planned legislation on Thursday that would fight ransomware attacks on U.S. infrastructure by sanctioning countries the harbor cyber criminals, as well as by strengthening protections against attacks.” (U.S. senators target ransomware by targeting countries that allow it, Reuters, 08/05/21) “Rubio Urges American Airlines to Suspend Free In-Flight TikTok Access” (The Epoch Times, 08/06/21) “‘The massive infrastructure bill is NOT, as its authors claim, ‘fully paid for,’’ said Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), who has previously opposed procedural motions on the bill, in a tweet.” (CBO Estimates Infrastructure Bill Would Add $256 Billion to Deficits, Wall Street Journal, 08/05/21)  “U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, both Republicans, recently introduced the American Shores Protection Act, which would extend a drilling ban former President Donald Trump implemented last September until 2032.” (Florida Lawmakers Seek To Codify Trump Ban On Drilling Off Sunshine State Coasts, Tampa Bay Free Press, 08/03/21)  Coming up… My staff will host Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their communities. More information and locations near you here. Keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter.