This week, Senator Scott traveled to Latin America to witness the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis firsthand and show the people of Venezuela that the United States stands with them in their fight for liberty. Senator Scott will continue to do everything he can to fight for freedom and democracy in Latin America and support those who are oppressed by dictators and denied the right to live their lives freely. 

During his trip, Senator Scott traveled to Panama, Colombia and Argentina. He met with Panama President Juan Carlos Varela, Colombian President Iván Duque, Argentine President Mauricio Macri, and officials from Venezuela’s interim government under Juan Guaido to discuss ways the United States can help force Nicolas Maduro aside. Senator Scott also discussed the ongoing efforts to rid Latin America of the narco-terrorists that are wreaking havoc on their countries and creating a flood of migrants to our Southern border, as well as continued economic cooperation between Florida and our neighbors. 

Senator Scott visited the Simon Bolivar Bridge, which is the main crossing point between Colombia and Venezuela and the closed La Unidad Bridge, which is how aid would be delivered to the Venezuelan people if Maduro’s regime allowed families to get the help they need to survive.  

Senator Scott also visited the Corozal American Cemetery to pay his respects to thousands of fallen American soldiers and laid a wreath at the National Police Academy in Bogotá in honor of the victims of the deadly terrorist attack on the Academy earlier this year. 

See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

Sen. Rick Scott Tours Panama Canal

Senator Scott toured the Panama Canal and met with the Panama Canal Authority to learn more about the Panama Canal expansion project and discuss the continued economic partnership between the United States and Panama.

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Sen. Rick Scott Meets with American Chamber of Commerce in Panama

Senator Scott met with business leaders from the American Chamber of Commerce in Panama to discuss the continued economic partnership between the United States and Panama.

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits Colombia-Venezuela Border

Senator Scott visited the Colombia-Venezuela border to see the humanitarian crisis firsthand. Senator Scott toured the Simon Bolivar Bridge, which is the main crossing point between Colombia and Venezuela. Senator Scott also met with Venezuelan refugees in Colombia to express the United States’ support for the Venezuelan people. 

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits Closed La Unidad Bridge

Senator Scott visited the closed La Unidad Bridge, which is how aid would be delivered to the Venezuelan people if Maduro’s regime allowed families to get the help they need to survive. Senator Scott also toured a warehouse filled with humanitarian supplies and met with Venezuelan refugees at La Divina Providencia Food Kitchen.

See remarks from Senator Scott at the La Unidad Bridge HERE

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits the National Police Academy in Bogotá

Senator Scott toured the National Police Academy in Bogotá, which was the target of a deadly terrorist attack earlier this year. Senator Scott laid a wreath in honor of the victims and received a briefing by local law enforcement on the ongoing efforts to rid Latin America of narco-terrorists.

Sen. Rick Scott in Wall Street Journal: The U.S. Sticks Up for Victims of Cuba’s Theft

Excerpt below; read the full letter in The Wall Street Journal HERE.

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 The U.S. won’t stand by and let European interests, which have been complicit in the suffering of the Cuban people, block justice for the thousands of Americans who lost businesses and homes to the Castro regime.
 
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Miami Herald: Sen. Scott Warns Venezuela Will Become ‘This Hemisphere’s Syria’ if Maduro Not Ousted

Excerpts below; read the full article in the Miami Herald HERE.

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“People in America don’t know how bad this is. They don’t know that people are dying of starvation,” the Republican senator told reporters in Bogotá. “This is genocide going on this hemisphere. We have to figure out how to get Maduro to leave.”

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“Every country that says they care about the humanitarian crisis going on, they should team up with the United States and say ‘We are going to force the humanitarian aid into the country,’” he said.

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“If we don’t figure out how to get Maduro out of there this is going to become Syria,” he said. “You have Russia, you have China, you have Hezbollah, you have Iran there [in Venezuela]. We are going to have a Syria. It’s going to be in our hemisphere. It’s going to be not that many miles away from Florida.”

“If we don’t solve Venezuela then you should assume that all the bad actors of the world will be in Venezuela and they will be causing problems in the entire southern hemisphere,” he added.

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Miami Herald: FBI to meet with Florida governor to discuss election-hacking attempts by Russians

El Periodiquito: Senador Rick Scott visitó la frontera para conocer la situación de los venezolanos en Cúcuta

Florida Daily: Florida has Two Active Senators in Marco Rubio, Rick Scott

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Tours Venezuelan Border as Crisis Continues

El Universal: Rick Scott planteó que EEUU debe considerar uso de la fuerza para entregar ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela

El Nacional: Testimonio de una venezolana que conmovió al senador Rick Scott en Cúcuta

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