Saturday, March 14, 2020

FLORIDA - SENATOR RICK SCOTT'S WEEK IN REVIEW 03/14/2020

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Senator Scott has called for the most transparent, and up-to-date information from state, local and federal officials on the efforts to combat the Coronavirus, so Americans can keep themselves and their families safe.
See a list of resources and information available to Floridians below or by visiting www.RickScott.senate.gov/CoronavirusResources. 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

The CDC’s website offers a variety of information about Coronavirus cases in the United States and efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, including:
  • An up-to-date overview of Coronavirus cases in the United States (HERE)
  • Symptoms of the Coronavirus (HERE)
  • What to do when you’re sick (HERE) 
  • How to know if you’re at higher risk of getting very sick from the Coronavirus (HERE)
  • Steps to prevent illness (HERE)
  • Other Frequently Asked Questions (HERE)
The CDC Coronavirus Call Center is available 24/7 at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) for urgent issues related to Coronavirus.
Florida Department of Health (FDOH):
Please visit the Florida Department of Health’s website for Florida-specific information relating to the Coronavirus, including:
  • A current overview of cases in Florida (HERE)
  • How to find your county health department (HERE)
  • Other Frequently Asked Questions (HERE)
FLDOH has also activated a Coronavirus Call Center available 24/7 by phone at 1 (866) 779-6121 via email at COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
U.S. Department of State: 
  • For up-to-date travel advisories, visit the U.S. Department of State’s website HERE.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
  • U.S. Military veterans who believe they may have contracted the Coronavirus may contact the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ VISN 8 Clinical 24/7 Contact Center by phone at 1-877-741-3400. See more HERE.
Florida Attorney General’s Office:
  • Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline for Floridians to report price gouging and Coronavirus-related scams, available by phone at 866-9NO-SCAM or by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.
World Health Organization:
  • For information and guidance from the WHO regarding the Coronavirus, visit their website HERE.
National Institutes of Health:
  • For information on the Coronavirus from the NIH, visit their website HERE.
See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.
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Senator Rick Scott released a list of nine recommendations to quickly combat the spread of the Coronavirus in the United States. Senator Rick Scott is recommending the following actions:
  • Enhance the testing process and immediately open mobile testing sites nationwide to isolate the at-risk population;
  • Temporarily shut down all U.S. borders to foreign tourism. If Americans choose to go on an international trip, they must submit to a health screening and a 14-day quarantine upon their return to the U.S.;
  • Close all schools for 14 days in areas where we are seeing local transmission and community spread; 
  • All hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and senior centers need to severely limit visits and all people, especially employees, must be screened when entering these facilities;
  • When there is a new case that is linked to travel, the CDC must release locations the individual visited before returning home, the airports they traveled through, relevant flight or train numbers and if there were any underlying conditions;
  • Government buildings be shut down to visitors and only open for officials and their staff. Government must function at all times, especially during a public health crisis;
  • All hospitals need to prepare to halt elective procedures to ensure there are enough beds available for the sick;
  • Make sure researchers have the time and resources necessary to get a vaccine done quickly; and
  • States must immediately start implementing containment zones.
Read more in Senator Scott’s Fox News op-ed HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott introduced the Coronavirus Mobile Collection Site Act to expand access to Coronavirus testing by directing HHS to reimburse states for the costs incurred to setup and run as many mobile testing sites as possible. Read more, including Senator Scott's full remarks as prepared for delivery on the announcement, HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott released the following measures the federal government needs to implement immediately to keep Americans safe and healthy, including checking the temperature of every individual before they board mass transit. Senator Rick Scott also introduced the Coronavirus Mobile Collection Site Act to expand access to Coronavirus testing by directing HHS to reimburse states for the costs incurred to setup and run as many mobile testing sites as possible. 

Senator Scott is calling on the federal government to immediately take the following measures to protect families and healthcare workers:
  • Temperatures must be checked as part of a screening process before individuals can board mass transit, including planes and trains.
  • All students must have their temperatures checked as part of a screening process before school each day – if a student has a temperature, they will be required to stay home. 
  • While it is possible that individuals with Coronavirus may be asymptomatic, this is an important step the government can take to prevent the spread of the virus.
  • Ramp up production of personal protective gear so healthcare workers have what they need to keep themselves and the American people safe.
  • Release a public service announcement every hour explaining what the American people need to be safe.
  • Implement a hotline for Americans to call if they believe they are experiencing symptoms and find out if they need to be tested, and if so, where the closest testing site is located.
  • Mobile, drive-up testing sites with workers fully-equipped in appropriate protective gear to collect samples for testing.
    • While waiting for test results, the individual would self-quarantine.
    • If negative for Coronavirus, the individual may continue self-quarantining as a precaution.
    • If positive for Coronavirus, the individual would be under quarantine. If hospital attention is needed, the individual may call 9-1-1 and be escorted to the hospital by workers fully-equipped in appropriate protective gear for medical attention. 
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Senator Rick Scott spoke to President Donald Trump to thank him for stopping travel from Communist China, making sure Americans who want to be tested for Coronavirus are able to, and for making sure insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid waive all co-payments for Coronavirus tests. Senator Scott expressed his concerns to the President about the lack of publicly-released information regarding travel by individuals testing positive for Coronavirus. 

Senator Rick Scott said, “The health and safety of American families is my focus, and I was glad the President agreed that solving the Coronavirus should be our first priority and will be the best stimulus for the American economy. I expressed my concern over the lack of information available to the public, especially regarding the virus-related deaths in Florida. I am concerned the public doesn’t know all details of the victims’ travel, including which airports they were in or what flights they were on. I have repeatedly asked for this information from the FAA, DHS, CDC and County Health Departments. I urged the President to make this information available for all of the virus-related deaths in the U.S.
 
“Additionally, I urged the President to provide the public with information about what worked and what hasn’t worked in Italy and South Korea’s response to the virus so we can utilize the best practices here. All across the world, Florida is known as a top tourist destination and this virus is affecting our tourism industry. There are countless jobs – especially hourly and tip workers – that depend on people coming to visit our beautiful state. I suggested to the President that while we will need to look at economic actions in response to this crisis, we first have to deal with this virus. Until we fully respond to this virus, we cannot address the many residual impacts it is having on our nation. As I saw dealing with hurricanes, terrorist attacks and the Zika outbreak, a public health crisis is not a partisan debate. Americans expect all of us to come together to find solutions to protect each and every family in our country.” Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott released the following statement after President Trump announced the Administration’s plans to develop drive-thru Coronavirus testing sites across the country. This comes after Senator Scott’s discussions with both the President and Vice President, where he urged them to implement mobile testing as the fastest way to contain the virus and keep healthcare workers safe. This week, Senator Scott introduced the Coronavirus Mobile Collection Site Act to expand access to Coronavirus testing by directing HHS to reimburse states for the costs incurred to setup and run as many mobile testing sites as possible.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I applaud the President’s decision to declare a national emergency and to move forward with implementing mobile testing sites across the nation. In our discussion, the President agreed with me that mobile testing is one of the best things we can do to stem the spread of the Coronavirus and give Americans the information and peace of mind they need. We must continue to do everything we can to protect the American people, including screening all passengers for a temperature before they board mass transit.”  Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Wolf, CDC Director Redfield, FAA Administrator Dickson and the Administrators of Santa Rosa County and Lee County Health Departments requesting additional information surrounding the cases of Chinese Coronavirus-related deaths in Santa Rosa and Lee counties. Read more, including the full letter, HERE. 
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Senators Rick Scott and Kyrsten Sinema introduced the Lower Health Insurance Deductibles Act to give American families more flexibility in how they pay for health insurance. The bill would grant insurance companies the ability to split the deductible of a HSA (Health Savings Account) eligible High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) between drug and medical benefits. 

Senator Rick Scott said, “With the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, we should be doing everything we can to increase affordability for American families. Allowing flexibility in how health plans split deductibles is one easy way we can lower healthcare costs and give families more value when it comes to their health plans. Splitting the deductible between medical and drug benefits makes it easier for patients to reach their deductible and get their medications at a lower cost. This is a huge help to the 6 in 10 adults living with chronic disease.” Read more HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott applauded the passage of his American Security Drone Act of 2019 by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The bill, co-sponsored by Senators Murphy, Cotton, Hawley, Rubio, Blumenthal and Blackburn, prohibits the U.S. Government from purchasing drones manufactured in countries identified as national security threats, like Iran and China. 

Senator Rick Scott said, “Communist China continues to steal our technology and intellectual property, yet the U.S. Government continues to buy critical technology, like drones, with American tax dollars from Chinese companies backed by their government. This threatens our national security and has to stop. I was glad that the Department of the Interior decided to the ground it’s entire fleet of Chinese drones following many discussions between my office and the Department. It’s time to extend this policy to all federal agencies, as well as local law enforcement agencies that use federal grants. I thank the Committee for supporting the American Security Drone Act, and I hope all my colleagues join me in the effort to protect national security and quickly pass my bill on the Senate floor.” Read more HERE.
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Senators Rick Scott and Josh Hawley introduced legislation to ban all federal employees from using TikTok on government devices. The State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and TSA have already banned TikTok on federal government devices due to cybersecurity concerns and possible spying by the Communist Chinese government.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The use of apps like TikTok by federal employees on government devices is a risk to our networks and a threat to our national security, and I’m proud to join Senator Hawley to put an end to it. We should all be very concerned about the threat of Communist China, and I hope my colleagues will join me to implement this ban immediately and protect our national security.” Read more HERE.
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National Review: Rick Scott’s Moment
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Congratulations to World War II veteran, J.J. Corbett, who was sworn in as an Honorary Deputy Sheriff in Polk County this week. Thank you for your service, J.J.!
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Air commandos with the 4th Special Operations Squadron, based at Hurlburt Field, were recognized for their heroic efforts in defense of our nation in Afghanistan last year. Congratulations, and thank you for your selfless service.    
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WASHINGTON, D.C.716 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5274
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