This Week in the Office of Senator Marco Rubio
Last week, I was rated the most effective Republican Senator in the 116th Congress (2019-2020) according to a non-partisan analysis produced by the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL), an initiative of the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University. CEL also ranked me as the top performing Republican in the areas of Civil Rights, International Affairs, and Trade. Read more here.
On Friday, I praised the nomination of former Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Read more here.
On Wednesday, I joined Trace Gallagher on Fox News to discuss China and the humanitarian crisis at the border. Watch the full interview here.
On Wednesday, I released a video message addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the border. Watch the video here.
On Wednesday, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and I led a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to ensure our nation is taking all measures to assist Uyghurs and other Turkic or Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, including designating these Uyghurs and other targeted individuals with Priority Two refugee status and encouraging countries that are hosting Uyghurs to provide protection. Read more here.
On Wednesday, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and I, along with 39 Republican Senators, sent a letter to GAO Comptroller Gene L. Dodaro highlighting President Joe Biden’s suspension of border wall funding and construction without lawful justification, as required by the Impoundment Control Act. Read more here.
On Thursday, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and I wrote to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Cardona requesting a status update on school reopening dollars in light of reports that school officials are considering diverting funds intended to reopen schools to instead give teacher bonuses. Read more here.
On Thursday, Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) and I urged U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo “to apply the Foreign-produced Direct Product Rule (FDPR) to the SMIC Entity Listing.” Read more here.
Last Friday, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and I sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Biden Administration to re-designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Read more here.
Last Friday, as Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I joined Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Roy Blunt (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Richard Shelby (R-AL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in sending a letter to Yogananda Pittman, Acting Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, asking for additional information regarding the need for certain ongoing security measures at the U.S. Capitol. Read more here.
Last Friday, I joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in issuing a bipartisan call for Russia to halt its crackdown on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Read more here.
Last Thursday, I joined Carla Angola on EVTV Miami to discuss the Biden Administration’s decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Venezuelans residing in the U.S., Russia’s interest in Venezuela, and more. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview and read the transcript here.
Legislation Introduced
- On Monday, I joined Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Thom Tillis (R-NC), in introducing the Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act. This legislation holds Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro accountable by prohibiting federal agencies from doing business with anyone that supports the oppressive Maduro regime. Read more here.
- On Tuesday, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and I introduced a bipartisan resolution paying tribute to the brave members of Assault Brigade 2506, who fought to defend their beloved homeland from the Castro regime’s authoritarian grip 60 years ago. Read more here.
- On Wednesday, I joined Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in introducing a resolution recognizing the 9th Summit of the Americas and reaffirming the United States’ commitment to a more prosperous, secure, and democratic hemisphere. Read more here.
- On Wednesday, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), James Lankford (R-OK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Scott (R-SC), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and I introduced legislation to extend the deadline for businesses and nonprofits to apply for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program to May 31, 2021. Read more here.
- On Thursday, I reintroduced the Economic Mobility for Productive Livelihoods and Expanding Opportunity Act of 2021 (EMPLEO Act) , which would grow Puerto Rico’s economy by making it easier for employers to hire workers and give every American on the island an immediate pay raise through a federal wage subsidy. Read more here.
- On Thursday, I joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) in introducing the School Reopening and Spending Transparency Act (S. 827), which would require the U.S. Department of Education to publish information on the status of taxpayer dollars and schools’ operating status. Read more here.
- On Thursday, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and I introduced the National Manufacturing Guard Act of 2021 , bipartisan legislation to invest $1 billion over five years in the U.S. government’s ability to mitigate future supply chain emergencies. Read more here.
- On Thursday, Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), Ed Markey (D-MA), and I led a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing a resolution condemning the Chinese government’s ongoing crackdown against democracy and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, as well as Beijing’s violation of the commitments it made in the legally binding international treaty, known as the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. Read more here.
In Case You Missed It...
“Nonpartisan Group Ranks Marco Rubio as Most Effective Republican Senator” (Newsmax, 03/17/21)
“Senator Marco Rubio says business-as-usual with Beijing is ‘not an option’’” (The Critic, 03/17/21)
“‘There has been no greater champion, not just for Florida’s space industry, but for the space program as a whole than Bill,’ Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said in a statement.” (Biden picks former senator who flew in space to lead NASA, Associated Press, 03/19/21)
“Rubio On Amazon’s Worker Problem: ‘Let Their Woke Leftist Friends Come To Their Rescue’” (The Floridian, 03/13/21)
“Marco Rubio Brings Out Bill to Extend PPP Applications Until the End of June” (Florida Daily, 03/18/21)
“Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) tweeted Wednesday that Asian Americans ‘have nothing to do with a repressive Communist Party or with a virus that originated 7000 miles away.’” (Democrats link Atlanta massacre to anti-Asian rhetoric during pandemic, Washington Post, 03/17/21)
“Rubio tells 'The Story' China presents the most serious challenge to US since World War II” (Fox News, 03/18/21)
“Rubio, Scott Introduce Bill Targeting Venezuela’s Maduro” (The Daily Wire, 03/15/21)
“Marco Rubio, Bob Menendez Want Biden Administration to Re-designate Haiti for TPS” (Florida Daily, 03/15/21)
“Daily Caller Exclusive: Realignment? Cruz, Hawley, Rubio, Cotton And Other Top Republicans Gave Us Their Plan To Win Over Working Americans” (Daily Caller, 03/12/21)
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