This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio
On Thursday, as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, I applauded the Senate passage of the Consolidated National Security Bill and the Consolidated Domestic and International Assistance Bill. The two appropriations bills include a number of critical priorities I advanced and will fund the federal government through Fiscal Year 2020. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I applauded the Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which includes the Fiscal Year 2020 Intelligence Authorization Act and critical provisions for Florida. The Senate’s action sends the final conference report to President Trump for signature. Read more here.
On Thursday, I published an op-ed in Fox News discussing the partisan impeachment process and urging the U.S. Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty to conduct a fair, impartial impeachment trial. Read the full article here.
On Tuesday, I met with Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez to discuss several important issues affecting Florida, including offshore drilling, human trafficking, and daylight saving time. We also discussed the great work the Lieutenant Governor is doing to address cybersecurity threats in the state as chair of the Florida Cybersecurity Task Force. Read more here.
On Wednesday, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and I were joined by Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Doug Jones (D-AL) in passing a resolution honoring the victims of the tragic shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola on December 6, 2019. Shortly after the Senate passed the resolution, I honored the victims in a speech on the Senate floor. Read my remarks here or watch the video here.
On Wednesday, I wrote a letter with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and U.S. Representative Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) raising concerns with Aviation Director and CEO of Miami International Airport Lester Sola regarding offers from firms like CIMC-Tiiana, a Chinese state-backed enterprise, that may seek to undermine American aviation security and industrial competitiveness. Read more here.
On Wednesday, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I issued the following statement after the committee approved Jovita Carranza’s nomination to be Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Read more here.
On Wednesday, I joined Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) in sending a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Administrator Stephen Dickson of the Federal Aviation Administration to express concerns regarding the national security threats posed by Chinese drones. Read more here.
On Thursday, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and I applauded the Senate passage of our bipartisan Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act (S.153), which would assist veterans re-entering the workforce by directing the National Science Foundation to encourage veterans to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more here.
On Thursday, I applauded the Senate confirmation of Anuraag “Raag” Singhal to serve as a federal district court judge for the Southern District of Florida. Read more here.
On Thursday, I met with Bolivian Foreign Minister Arturo Murillo to reiterate my support for Bolivian Interim President Jeanine Añez Chavez and Bolivia’s democratic future. I also highlighted the importance of holding free, fair, and democratic elections in Bolivia early next year. Read more here.
On Thursday, I joined Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and a group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres urging him to raise the issue of China’s violations of human rights and its destruction of its documentary record in both his discussions with member states and at the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. Security Council. Read more here.
Last Thursday, U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CEEC), and I led a bipartisan and bicameral group of 48 lawmakers in a letter urging Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to respond strongly and decisively to the Chinese government’s and Communist Party’s ongoing mass internment and forced labor of ethnic Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Read more here.
On Friday, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and I issued the following statements following the passage of the VERDAD Act, which was included in the FY20 appropriations bill and awaits the president’s signature. The VERDAD Act seeks to address the political, economic,and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Read more here.
On Friday, I penned a letter urging President Donald Trump to support Brazil’s accession to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and Brazil’s inclusion in NATO partnership programs. As I stated in the letter, “the U.S. and Brazil have too much in common as nations to succumb to political and trade disagreements that will only benefit authoritarian adversaries like China and Russia.” Read more here.
On Friday, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and I applauded the passage of our Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019, which was included in the appropriations bill to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2020. The legislation is a comprehensive recalibration of American diplomatic, military, and economic policy towards the Eastern Mediterranean and a strong and prosperous alliance between the United States, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus. Read more here.
On Monday, I joined Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) in praising the Senate passage of a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Read more here.
In Case You Missed It...
“Sen. Marco Rubio: On impeachment, Pelosi improperly playing games and threatening partisan stunt” (Fox News, 12/19/2019)
“Rubio says the bar for removing Trump is high, but his mind isn’t set on impeachment” (Miami Herald, 12/19/2019)
“Government funding compromise includes Rubio-backed Venezuelan aid bill” (Miami Herald, 12/16/2019)
“Rubio removes hold on appointment of Interior official after raising drilling concern ” ( Miami Herald, 12/17/2019)
“Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Praise the Heroes Lost in NAS Pensacola Terrorist Attack” (Florida Daily, 12/19/2019)
“‘Today’s announcement from FEMA is great news for Nassau County,” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) said in an email to WJCT News Tuesday. “I remain committed to assisting all communities around the state in hurricane recovery.’” (Nassau County Receiving More Than $1.2 Million For Shoreline Repairs , WJCT, 12/18/2019)
“‘Florida continues to be a priority in this NDAA, with funding for military construction projects across the state, including the recovery of Tyndall Air Force Base,’ Sen. Marco Rubio said in a press release Tuesday.” (Defense bill brings $1.6 billion in military construction projects to Florida Panhandle, Pensacola News Journal , 12/18/2019)
“On Wednesday, Florida Republican U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart raised concerns with Aviation Director and CEO of Miami International Airport Lester Sola regarding offers from firms, like CIMC-Tiiana, a Chinese state-backed enterprise, that may seek to undermine American aviation security and industrial competitiveness.” (Florida Senators, Congressman Urge Miami International Airport to Guard Against Threats From China, Florida Daily, 12/19/2019)
“Can Rubionomics Succeed? Boris Johnson Will Soon Find Out” (WSJ, 12/19/2019)
“‘I’m just truly grateful to Senator [Rick] Scott and Senator [Marco] Rubio and President [Donald] Trump for the privilege of becoming a federal judge,’ Singhal said in a text message.” (U.S. Senate confirms Raag Singhal as new South Florida federal judge, Sun Sentinel, 12/19/2019)
Legislation Introduced…
- I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution calling for the immediate release of Cuban pro-democracy and human rights activist José Daniel Ferrer and other members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba. The resolution also commends efforts by Mr. Ferrer and members of UNPACU to promote democratic principles and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. Read more here.
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