FLORIDA - SENATOR MARCO RUBIO eNEWSLETTER

 

This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio  On Tuesday, I spoke on the Senate floor following the Senate’s unanimous passage of my Sunshine Protection Act . The bill, which would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country starting in 2023, received widespread praise upon passage. Read more here .  On Monday, I joined The Brookings Institute to discuss my role in the creation of the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. Watch the interview here .  On Thursday, I sent letters to the presidents of 26 Florida research colleges and universities urging them to be on guard against efforts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to use research collaboration and education exchange with American academic institutions to advance their malign agenda. Additionally, I sent letters to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as well as Wilton Simpson, President of the Florida Senate, and Chris Sprowls, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, commending them for their work to combat CCP espionage and urging them to continue working to ensure Florida universities are prepared to defend against this threat. Read more here .  On Monday, I released a statement after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released its recommendations to ensure its infrastructure will meet the healthcare needs of Veterans in the 21st Century through the Asset and Infrastructure Review report (AIR Commission report) . The report includes several recommendations for the realignment of VA infrastructure and resources, many of which would benefit Florida veterans. Read more here .  On Sunday, I joined Full Circle Florida to discuss protecting Florida’s children and the latest on the conflict in Russia and Ukraine. Watch part one and part two of my interview. On Thursday, I joined The Faulkner Focus to discuss U.S. aid for Ukraine amid Putin’s invasion. Watch the full interview here .  On Tuesday, I released a statement after meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Read more here .  On Tuesday, I released a video message warning of the rising risk of cyberattacks amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. I urge American companies to be on guard against cyberattacks and report any suspicious incidents. Companies should visit https://www.cisa.gov/shields- up to learn how to protect against and respond to cyberthreats. On Monday, I joined Hannity to discuss the latest on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Watch the interview here .  On Friday, I published an op-ed on Fox News discussing Putin’s losses in Ukraine and the dangers of escalation that lie ahead. Read the op-ed here .  On Saturday, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and I published an op-ed on CNN explaining why Daylight Saving Time should be made permanent for a more productive America by passing my Sunshine Protection Act . Read the op-ed here .  On Friday, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and I  sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler to provide a comment on the Commission's proposed Share Repurchase Disclosure Modernization rule. Read more here .  On Thursday, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and I sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urging the Department to strengthen Entity List rules for China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and expressing concern that Beijing may divert technology to Moscow to evade U.S. sanctions. Read more here .  On Monday, I  joined 48 Republican senators in opposing a revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, which, according to public reports, will lift terrorism-related sanctions and weaken restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. Read more here .  Legislation Introduced On Monday, I joined Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in support of the U.S-Russian Federation Seafood Reciprocity Act ,  legislation which would impose a ban on the import of all Russian seafood products into the United States. Read more here .  On Wednesday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and I, along with Senate colleagues,  introduced legislation to prohibit the Biden Administration from waiving congressionally-mandated sanctions that prohibit activities that enhance Iran’s civil nuclear program, originally issued under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Read more here . On Thursday, I led 32 Republican senators in introducing a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Biden Administration’s 2021 Final Rule on the Title X Family Planning Program, which reversed the Trump Administration’s 2019 ban on federal funding to entities that provide abortion referrals to pregnant mothers. Read more here .  On Thursday, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Todd Young (R-IN), and I introduced the Crippling Unhinged Russian Belligerence and Chinese Involvement in Putin’s Schemes (CURB CIPS) Act to sanction Chinese financial institutions that conduct transactions with any Russian financial institutions using alternative financial messaging systems to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. Read more here . On Thursday, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and I introduced the Assessing Children's Academic Development and the Emotional and Mental Health Implications of COVID-19 Act . The legislation would authorize the U.S. Department of Education, in coordination with other relevant federal agencies, to include a new longitudinal component on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student outcomes and well-being to an existing longitudinal educational study. Read more here .  In Case You Missed It… “Rubio is right: Stop shifting those clocks | Editorial” (Orlando Sentinel , 3/17/2022) “Senate passes Rubio's bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide” (WTSP Tampa Bay , 3/15/2022)  “Sen. Marco Rubio’s Office Helping Haitian, Venezuelan, Ukraine Migrants Apply For TPS” (CBS 4 Miami , 3/15/2022) “Rubio secures win for Florida tomato growers” (Fresh Plaza , 3/14/2022) “Florida Republicans — including Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and Miami U.S. Reps. Carlos Gimenez, Mario Díaz-Balart and María Elvira Salazar — sent a letter to Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticizing the administration’s decision to open negotiations with Maduro.” (After political blowback, U.S. pauses talks with Venezuela to replace oil from Russia, Miami Herald , 3/14/2022) “Sen. Rubio blames economic troubles on being 'too dependent' on China and Russia” (Washington Examiner , 3/15/2022)   “Marco Rubio Applauds VA Asset and Infrastructure Review for Florida Veterans” (Florida Daily , 3/16/2022) “EXCLUSIVE: Rubio Files Resolution to Overturn Biden Administration's Pro-Abortion Title X Family Planning Rule” (Townhall , 3/16/2022) “On Thursday, Republican Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill specifically aimed at Chinese financial institutions that conduct transactions with Russian entities through any alternative to the SWIFT financial messaging system.” (Congress Takes Aim at China to Keep Up Pressure on Russia, Bloomberg , 3/17/2022) “US Sens. Rubio, Young And Scott Introduce Bill To Prevent Russia-China Financial Coordination” (Tampa Free Press , 3/17/2022) 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.