This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio On Wednesday, I delivered the inaugural Henry Clay Lecture in Political Economy at Hillsdale College’s Kirby Center. In the speech, hosted by American Compass, which marked the 20th anniversary of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, I laid out how a “failed consensus” brought America to the breaking point and made the case for a “pro-American capitalism that protects our nation’s interests and serves the common good.” Read my remarks here and watch the speech here . On Thursday, I joined Mornings with Maria on Fox Business to discuss Russia’s threat to Ukraine, America’s overreliance on China, the Biden Administration’s lack of foreign policy credibility, and the radical Build Back Better spending bill. Watch the interview here . 
On Wednesday, I joined Special Report on Fox News to discuss the Beijing Olympics, the anniversary of China joining the World Trade Organization, woke corporations, and more. Watch the interview here . 
On Tuesday, I spoke during a full Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on the United States’ policy toward Russia.. Read my remarks here and watch the video here . 
On Tuesday, I spoke at a Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) hearing to discuss how the United States can counter the Chinese Communist Party’s use of economic coercion to silence international critics and spread its malign influence in the U.S. and other countries. Read my remarks here and watch the video here . 
On Monday, I published an op-ed in the Miami Herald outlining a more responsible way for the United States to help Haiti. Read the op-ed here . 
On Thursday, Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), and I led members of the Florida and Texas congressional delegations in urging the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack to reverse the Department’s unjustified decision to administratively suspend juice content standards for imported grapefruits, and to request information regarding the circumstances of the suspension, which was made without a proper rulemaking process, and for which Congress was not notified. Read the letter here . 
On Tuesday, I sent a letter to United States Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall urging him to discontinue consideration of a proposed joint use agreement (JUA) to allow civil aviation operations at Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB) in Homestead, Florida. Read the letter here . 
On Tuesday, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and I wrote to Michael Connor, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, ahead of the Army Corps Engineers’ finalization of their supplemental work plan for Fiscal Years 2022 through 2024, to ensure that “all proposed and ongoing projects in Florida receive full and fair consideration of their value to local communities, our state, and our nation.” Read the letter here . 
On Thursday, I sent a follow-up letter to A.G. Sulzberger, chairman of The New York Times Company and publisher of the New York Times, after receiving inadequate responses — and, in some instances, no response — to my inquiries, including my initial November 30, 2021 letter. My original letter demanded answers from Sulzberger as to why the New York Times engaged in selective reporting of top Chinese Communist Party officials’ involvement in the genocide of Uyghur Muslims, and why it continues to withhold these documents from the public. Read the letter here .
On Thursday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and I, along with Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), applauded the inclusion of our Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) amendment in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Read more here . 
On Wednesday, I issued a statement as the House of Representatives passed its version of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R. 1155). Read more here .
On Wednesday, I penned an open letter to Airbnb, Alibaba, Allianz, Atos, Bridgestone, Coca-Cola, Intel, NBC, Omega, Panasonic, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Samsung, and Visa, all members of the Olympic Partner (TOP) Programme, calling out each for “ignoring an ongoing genocide in the blind pursuit of profits.” Read the letter here .
On Wednesday, I joined Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Senate colleagues, in sending a letter urging Acting Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi to immediately reopen SSA’s field offices to resume in-person services for constituents. Read the letter here. 
On Tuesday, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and I sent a letter to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, urging him to condemn the Díaz-Canel regime’s treatment of political prisoners. Read the letter here .
On Tuesday, I led Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Boozman (R-AR), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Todd Young (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), James Inhofe (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in sending a letter to Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, urging them to prioritize the U.S.-Chile bilateral tax treaty by scheduling a committee vote on this important agreement. Read the letter here .
On Tuesday, I sent a letter to Brian Chesky, Chief Executive Officer of Airbnb, Inc., expressing concern about the company’s decision to list rental properties located in Xinjiang on land owned by the U.S.-sanctioned Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC). Read the letter here .
On Tuesday, Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and I introduced a Senate resolution reaffirming the importance of the partnership between the governments of the United States and the Dominican Republic. Read more here .
Legislation IntroducedOn Thursday, Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL) and I introduced the Land and Water Conservation Fund Amendments Act of 2021. The bill seeks to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to increase flexibility and allow states to utilize existing funds to support water quality projects that states are required to propose under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act for watersheds deemed impaired by nutrient loading. Read more here . On Thursday, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and I, along with Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), introduced the Protecting Ballot Measures from Foreign Influence Act, which would make it unlawful for a foreign national to contribute money, either directly or indirectly, to a State or local ballot initiative or ballot referendum. Read more here .
In Case You Missed It…“Opinion: Marco Rubio gets it. Our economic addiction to China is a national security threat.” (The Washington Post , 12/8/21) “Mr. Rubio said in a brief interview that while he was heartened to see the House pass its legislation, he was worried that reconciling the two versions of the bill would prove cumbersome.” (House Votes to Impose Forced Labor Ban on Goods Made in Xinjiang, The New York Times , 12/8/21) “Rubio demands answers from New York Times on Uyghur genocide 'cover-up'” (Fox News , 12/9/21) “GOP Sen. Rubio Urges Biden to Get Tough on Russia” (Newsmax , 12/6/21) “Jacksonville’s Congressmen Take Up Marco Rubio’s ‘Keep Children and Families Safe From Lead Hazards Act’” (Florida Daily , 12/6/21) “A vote on the legislation to crack down on human rights abuses against Uyghurs would come after the Senate struggled to advance the annual defense policy bill last week in part because Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) demanded a vote on his amendment banning imports from Xinjiang.” (The Hill , 12/6/21) “Rubio says financial deterrence only way to block US war with China over Taiwan” (Fox News , 12/8/21) “China trade deal strangled American dream: Rubio” (Fox News , 12/8/21) “U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sounded the alarm Wednesday night on what he claimed was the growing "control" China has over American corporations.” (Senate rejects Biden vaccine mandate for businesses, with 2 Democrats joining Republicans, Fox News , 12/9/21) “‘They Choose The Profits’ Over Their Country: Rubio Blasts Woke Corporations That Bend Over Backwards For China” (The Daily Wire , 12/9/21) 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 .
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