FLORIDA - SENATOR RICK SCOTT'S WEEK IN REVIEW 11/20/2020

 

This week, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement after testing positive for COVID-19. Senator Scott came into contact with someone after returning to Florida last  Friday evening (11/13) who subsequently tested positive, and has been quarantining at his home in Naples since then. He took multiple negative rapid tests earlier in the week, but a PCR test he took Tuesday came back positive this morning. Read more HERE. Senator Rick Scott said, “After several negative tests, I learned I was positive this morning. I am feeling good and experiencing very mild symptoms. I will be working from home in Naples until it is safe for me to return to Washington, D.C. I want to remind everyone to be careful and do the right things to protect yourselves and others. Wear a mask. Social distance. Quarantine if you come in contact with someone positive like I did. As we approach Thanksgiving, we know this holiday will be different this year. But, listen to public health officials and follow their guidance. We will beat this together, but we all have to be responsible. I want to thank all the incredible health care workers who are working around the clock to care for patients and I pray that by next Thanksgiving, COVID-19 will be a thing of the past." — See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

Sen. Rick Scott: No Budget, No Pay Should Be Included in End of Year Spending Bill Senator Rick Scott released the below statement today calling for his No Budget, No Pay bill to be included as part of any budget negotiations. Congress must pass a government funding bill by December 11 to avoid another government shutdown. Senator Rick Scott said, “Washington is completely dysfunctional, and the unwillingness to work together has caused multiple government shutdowns. That’s unacceptable. As we consider this year’s spending bills, I’m calling on Congress to pass my ‘No Budget, No Pay’ bill, which simply says that if Congress cannot work together to fund the government, they should not be getting paid. Hardworking Americans across the country are still struggling to recover from the coronavirus. They don’t get to fail at their jobs and still collect a paycheck. Even members of the Coast Guard went without a paycheck during the last government shutdown. Washington politicians shouldn’t get paid if they can’t do their jobs." Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott to NBC: Don’t Let Communist China Hide its Human Rights Abuses During 2022 Olympic Games Senator Rick Scott wrote to the CEO of NBC Universal and President of NBC Olympics requesting information on NBC’s plan to cover the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, considering Communist China’s long history of harassing and threatening journalists, especially those reporting for American networks. Last year, Senator Rick Scott called on NBC to put human rights over profits by requesting that the International Olympic Committee re-bid the 2022 Olympics, which is being hosted in Communist China, or refuse to air the 2022 games. Read more, including the letter, HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Joins Congressman Ted Yoho in Letter Urging United Nations to Investigate Uyghur Human Rights Abuses in Xinjiang Senator Rick Scott joined Congressmen Ted Yoho and Tom Malinowski and Senator Jeff Merkley in a letter to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres urging the UN to investigate the Communist Party of China’s ongoing human rights abuses and genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Read more, including the full letter, HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Applauds SEC Proposal to Hold U.S.-Listed Chinese Companies Accountable Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following reports that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is moving forward with a plan to require Chinese companies with shares traded in America to use auditors overseen by U.S. regulators, or face being kicked off exchanges. For months, Senator Scott has been calling for additional protections and warnings for investors about the risks associated with Chinese-based companies trading publicly on U.S. exchanges. Senator Rick Scott said, “U.S.-listed Chinese companies present regulatory, oversight and enforcement challenges that undermine transparency and confidence in American markets. For months, I’ve called on the SEC to take action to strengthen and enhance the oversight of these Chinese-based companies. I’m glad they are taking this important step to protect investors by shutting Chinese-based companies out of U.S. exchanges if they fail to be transparent and play by the same rules as U.S. businesses.” Read more HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Requests Update on Audit of PPP Loan Fraud Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an update on the office’s work with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to audit potentially fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). These funds were intended for organizations and businesses hurting from the coronavirus pandemic, and any abuse of American taxpayer dollars is unacceptable. Read more, including the full letter, HERE. — Sen. Rick Scott Announces New Chief of Staff, State Director Senator Rick Scott announced that Craig Carbone will serve as Chief of Staff, effective January 2021, following the departure of current Chief of Staff, Jackie Schutz Zeckman, who will be serving as Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. John Tupps will serve as State Director following the departure of Leda Williams Kelly. Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m proud to announce Craig Carbone as my next Chief of Staff and welcome John Tupps to our team as State Director as we continue fighting for Florida families. Craig has been an integral part of my team for years and his organizational skills and commitment to serving the state of Florida will be a huge asset to me and my office. John was one of the earliest hires in my office after I was elected Governor and will bring significant experience to a job that is critical to serving Florida families. Both John and Craig are dedicated to our state and I’m proud to welcome John back to the team! They join an incredibly strong group of individuals that are working hard every day to serve the people of Florida.  "I’m grateful for the service of both Jackie Schutz Zeckman and Leda Williams Kelly, who have worked tirelessly for Floridians in these roles over the past two years. Leda has been on my team for years serving in various capacities before she took on the vital role as State Director when I was sworn in. She developed an incredible constituent services operation and a hardworking team throughout the state that works every day to solve problems and get information to Floridians. Jackie is truly a powerhouse and has been an integral part of my team since I was Governor – she successfully led my campaign for U.S. Senate, and has helped build our office from the ground up. I look forward to continuing to work with her at the National Senatorial Republican Committee.” Read more HERE.

ABC News: Florida Sen. Rick Scott tests positive, urges everyone to wear masks Fox News: Sen. Rick Scott tests positive for coronavirus: ‘Wear a mask. Social distance’ Washington Post: Sen. Rick Scott says he has tested positive for coronavirus Tampa Bay Times: Sen. Scott, get well soon | Editorial Florida Daily: Rick Scott, Ted Yoho Urge UN to Take Action Against Chinese Regime Over Xinjiang Crisis Florida Daily: Senate Passes Rick Scott’s, Marco Rubio’s Resolution Honoring Tampa Bay for Winning Stanley Cup Florida Daily: Rick Scott Makes One Last Push to Tie Congressional Pay to Passing a Budget Florida Daily: Senate Passes Rick Scott’s, Marco Rubio’s Resolution Honoring Tampa Bay for Winning Stanley Cup Univision: Senador de Florida Rick Scott informa que tiene coronavirus El Nacional: Rick Scott: Maduro es una amenaza para la seguridad de nuestro hemisferio Alberto News: Rick Scott: “¡Maduro es una amenaza para la seguridad de nuestro hemisferio!”

Hurricane Season is not over, and every family should take action now to make sure they are prepared for any future storms. Severe weather can approach quickly and should never be underestimated. Although preparing for a storm might look a little different amid the coronavirus, we cannot let our guards down, and must do everything we can to ensure our families stay safe. See more in Senator Scott’s Hurricane Season PSA, in partnership with The Weather Channel, HERE.  Read more on how to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus while preparing for hurricane season from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) HERE, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) HERE, or by visiting www.RickScott.senate.gov/Hurricanes. Floridians in need of assistance with federal resources following the impacts of Tropical Storm Eta or previous storms can contact Senator Scott’s office HERE.

TALLAHASSEE 111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: (850) 942-8415 WEST PALM BEACH  415 Clematis Street, Suite 201 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: (561) 514-0189 TAMPA 801 North Florida Avenue, Suite 421 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 225-7040 KISSIMMEE  1 Courthouse Square, Suite 300 Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 586-7879 PENSACOLA  221 Palafox Place, Suite 420 Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: (850) 760-5151 MIAMI  901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 505 Miami, FL 33134 Phone: (786) 501-7141 NAPLES 3299 Tamiami Trail East, #106  Naples, FL 34112 Phone: (239) 231-7890 JACKSONVILLE 400 West Bay Street, Suite 289 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 479-7227 ORLANDO 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410 Orlando, FL 32801  Phone: (407) 872-7161   WASHINGTON, D.C. 716 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5274     Fax: (202) 228-4535