This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio
On Friday, I hosted a roundtable discussion on the coronavirus to speak with Florida and Palm Beach County officials on how local governments can best prepare for and respond to the coronavirus. Read more here.
On Sunday, I joined Fox News’ Sunday Futures to discuss China and the coronavirus. Watch the full video here.
On Wednesday, I praised the inclusion of critical funds for Florida and provisions to help small businesses in the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020. The package includes more than $27.2 million in funding for Florida and provides additional funding for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to allow eligible entities that have suffered economic injury due to the coronavirus to access SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The Senate passed the bill Thursday and the President signed it into law on Friday. Read more here.
On Wednesday, I joined Fox News’ America’s Newsroom to discuss the coronavirus and Afghanistan. Watch the full video here.
On Friday, I published an op-ed along with Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in Fox News discussing the need for Congress to end the outdated practice of switching our clocks and instead make Daylight Saving Time permanent by passing my Sunshine Protection Act (S. 670). Read the full article here.
On Monday, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and I sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with regard to the political targeting of journalists in the country. Specifically, we highlighted the case of Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who was imprisoned in 2014 on false charges and conditionally released in 2016. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I published an op-ed in the New York Post exposing China, Russia, and Iran for exploiting the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to sow chaos through disinformation campaigns. Read the full article here.
On Tuesday, I joined Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) in sending a letter to President Trump urging the administration to impose sanctions on seven specific Venezuelan military and intelligence officials related to agencies responsible for the ongoing arbitrary arrest of the six CITGO executives. Read more here.
On Tuesday, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I named Prestige Ameritech of North Richland Hills, Texas as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week. Prestige Ameritech is the largest domestic surgical mask manufacturer and has ramped up their production to confront the coronavirus outbreak. Read more here.
On Tuesday, I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rick Scott (R-FL) in sending a letter to Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States and Mexico, Rolandas Krišj??a, urging the Lithuanian parliament to reject the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement treaty between the European Union and Cuba. Read more here.
On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues, led by Senators Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), in urging the U.K. Parliament to reconsider the Johnson government’s decision to allow Huawei to supply some of the United Kingdom’s 5G telecommunications structure. This week, the House of Commons took up debate on the security implications of the United Kingdom’s Huawei decision. In January, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Huawei will be allowed to supply up to 35 percent of the United Kingdom’s 5G communications infrastructure, despite the significant security concerns related to Huawei. Read more here.
On Wednesday, I met with Ziba Murat, a Florida constituent, daughter of disappeared Uyghur Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and the niece of Uyghur human rights activist Rushan Abbas. During our meeting, I reiterated my strong commitment to shining a light on the Chinese government repression of Uyghurs. Read more here.
On Thursday, I released the following statement after the United States Trade Representative announced an April 7 field hearing in Plant City, Florida where Florida’s seasonal and perishable producers will be able to speak to Mexico’s trade-distorting policies that contribute to unfair pricing in the U.S. market and cause harm to Florida’s fruit and vegetable industry. Read more here.
On Thursday, I issued the following statement following the International Criminal Court’s authorization of an investigation into U.S. action in Afghanistan. Read more here.
On Thursday, I released the following statement after Daren Tang of Singapore won the nomination to be the director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Read more here.
In Case You Missed It...
“Marco Rubio and Rick Scott want 10-year ban on drilling off Florida coast in Senate energy bill” (Tampa Bay Times, 03/04/2020)
“Marco Rubio: Russia, China and Iran are waging disinformation war over coronavirus” (New York Post, 03/03/2020)
“Sens. Marco Rubio and Cindy Hyde-Smith: Congress should 'see the light,' make daylight saving time permanent ” (Fox News, 03/06/2020)
“Sen. Rubio introduces bill to help Bay County with disaster loan interest” (Panama City News Herald, 03/05/2020)
“Rubio: Florida to receive over $22M out of $8.3B bill to deal with coronavirus outbreak in U.S.” (Local10 News, 03/05/2020)
“Marco Rubio and the crusade to stop changing the time” (Florida Politics, 030/06/2020)
“Marco Rubio: White House Should Sanction Members of the Maduro Regime for Arresting CITGO Executives” (Florida Daily, 03/05/2020)
“Marco Rubio Champions Proposal to Help Infrastructure Deal With Severe Weather” (Florida Daily, 03/02/2020)
“'That's what they want': Rubio warns Afghanistan troop withdrawal will likely result in sharia under Taliban rule” (Washington Examiner, 03/04//2020)
“Sen. Rubio weighs in on coronavirus-related drug, medical equipment shortages” (CBS12 News, 02/28/2020)
Legislation Introduced
- I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Rick Scott (R-FL), ahead of the commemoration of International Women’s Day, in introducing a resolution honoring Las Damas de Blanco, a women-led peaceful nonviolent movement in support of freedom and human rights in Cuba, and calling for the release of all political prisoners in Cuba. These courageous women gather and march every Sunday in the streets of Havana carrying a picture of their loved ones, who are political prisoners, in one hand and a white gladiolus in the other. Read more here.
- I joined Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) in introducing the Protecting America from Foreign Investors Compromised by the CCP Act , which would require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review the United Kingdom’s place on the foreign investment “whitelist” if the country allows China’s Huawei to build portions of its 5G infrastructure. Read more here.
- I joined Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, in introducing a resolution shortly after the two-year anniversary of the enactment of the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act, expressing continued support for the people of Nicaragua as they fight to restore democracy. Read more here.
- I joined Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) in introducing the Fairness in Disaster Relief Act , which would authorize the President to reimburse local governments for qualified interest payments on loans from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for recovery and mitigation efforts as the result of emergency natural disasters. Read more here.
Coming up...
- My staff will host Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their communities. Find more information and locations near you here.
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