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Sen. Rick Scott: I Can’t Support Budget Deal That Increases Our National Debt
Senator Rick Scott released the following statement ahead of this week's budget deal vote.
Senator Rick Scott said, “I appreciate the work done by President Trump, Secretary Mnuchin, Leader McConnell and Senator Shelby. These are complicated deals to negotiate in divided government and I want to thank them for their hard work. This bill allows for significant investment in our military and doesn’t include the liberal poison bills that House Democrats usually try to insert into important legislation. That’s the good.
“Unfortunately, this bill allows for trillions of dollars to be added to our national debt, includes huge increases in nondefense discretionary spending, and doesn’t even try to pay for it by cutting wasteful spending. I’m worried about the staggering debt we’re leaving for our children and grandchildren. Too often in Washington, compromise means both sides get everything they want so that no one has to make a tough choice. I can’t support that. As Governor of Florida, I turned a $4 billion deficit into $3 billion annual surpluses and was the first Governor in 20 years to pay down state debt. We paid down $10 billion in state debt – almost one-third of total debt. It can be done, but you have to be willing to make tough choices.
“I will vote “no” on this budget deal. As long as I am a member of the United States Senate, I will fight to rein in the out of control spending that is putting our economy at risk.” Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott: We Must Find Solution to Allow TPS for Venezuelans
Senator Rick Scott made the following statement regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans fleeing Nicolás Maduro’s oppressive regime.
Senator Rick Scott said, “We need to find a solution now to allow TPS for Venezuelans. Maduro is killing his citizens. It’s a genocide. Every passing day, the situation on the ground grows worse. I’m disappointed that the Administration has so far declined to approve TPS for Venezuelans, though I do understand their concerns about approving TPS without reforming the program. The courts have basically made a temporary program permanent, which is not sustainable. We need to protect the vulnerable Venezuelan population while making sure human rights violators are clearly identified as ineligible. I’m working with my colleagues on legislative solutions to this problem and am committed to working across the aisle to resolve any concerns.” Read more HERE.
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Senador Rick Scott: Debemos encontrar una solución para extender el TPS a los venezolanos
El senador Rick Scott hizo la siguiente declaración sobre el estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) para los venezolanos que huyen del régimen opresivo de Nicolás Maduro.
El senador Rick Scott dijo: “Necesitamos encontrar una solución ahora para extender el TPS a los venezolanos. Maduro está matando a sus ciudadanos. Es un genocidio. Cada día que pasa, la situación en el país empeora. Estoy decepcionado de que la Administración hasta el momento se haya negado a aprobar el TPS para los venezolanos, aunque entiendo sus preocupaciones sobre la aprobación del TPS sin reformar el programa. Los tribunales básicamente han hecho que un programa temporal sea permanente, lo que no es sostenible. Necesitamos proteger a la población vulnerable venezolana y al mismo tiempo asegurarnos de que violadores de los derechos humanos estén claramente identificados como no elegibles. Estoy trabajando con mis colegas en soluciones legislativas para resolver este problema y estoy comprometido a trabajar con ambos partidos para resolver cualquier inquietud”. Lea más AQUÍ.
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Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislation to Get Peace Corps Out of China, Align Mission with National Security Interests
Senator Rick Scott introduced the Peace Corps Mission Accountability Act, a bill to get the Peace Corps out of China and align operations with the national security interests of the United States. The Peace Corps Mission Accountability Act will prohibit all Peace Corps activity in hostile countries, like China, and transfer oversight to the Department of State. Currently, the Peace Corps has no effective oversight, operating as an independent agency within the executive branch.
Senator Rick Scott said, “The Peace Corps has an honorable mission of promoting freedom and spreading American ideals to developing countries around the world. We want the Peace Corps to do good work across the globe - just not with our enemies like China. The Peace Corps continues to use taxpayer dollars to support programs in places like China, which continues to steal our technology and intellectual property, refuses to open up their markets, is militarizing the South China Sea, violates human rights and supports Maduro’s genocide in Venezuela. The Peace Corps Mission Accountability Act provides the oversight necessary to make sure all Peace Corps activities are in line with our national security interests and in underdeveloped countries that truly need our help – not wealthy nations like China. This is about protecting both taxpayer money and the American people.” Read more HERE.
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Senators Rick Scott, Chris Van Hollen Introduce Common-Sense Legislation to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs
Senators Rick Scott and Chris Van Hollen introduced the We Protect American Investment in Drugs (PAID) Act of 2019 to address the soaring cost of prescription drug prices. The We PAID Act prohibits Pharmaceutical companies developing prescription drugs using federally-funded research, like NIH or CDC grants, from charging American consumers unreasonable prices for life-saving drugs.
Senator Rick Scott said, “There is no reason drug companies, especially those using taxpayer dollars to fund their research, should be charging Americans unreasonable prices for life-saving drugs. Families in Florida and across our nation are struggling to afford the prescription drugs they need to survive. The We PAID Act is one thing we can do to reduce the costs of drugs. If you used taxpayer-funded research to develop your drugs, you can’t charge unreasonable prices to American patients. It’s as simple as that. I urge all my colleagues to join Senator Van Hollen and I in support of this bipartisan and common sense legislation.” Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Applauds Passage of Coast Guard Reauthorization, Including His Proposals to Support Coast Guard Missions in Florida
Senator Rick Scott applauded the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s passage of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2019 to continue United States Coast Guard (USCG) operations and programs through Fiscal Year 2021 and provide additional resources for USCG members.
Senator Rick Scott said, “Our Coast Guard keeps families in Florida safe by patrolling the beaches, shore waters, and maritime territory of our state and by conducting search and rescue operations. It is our duty to make sure they have every resource they need to be successful and protect American families. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues on the Committee to pass the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which includes my proposals to make sure members of the Coast Guard get paid during any future government shutdowns and expand the Coast Guard’s use of unmanned aircraft systems and maritime patrol aircrafts to help identify and interdict illicit drugs.” Read more HERE.
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Group of Bipartisan Former Governors Release Joint Statement on Why They Voted Against Budget Deal
Senator Rick Scott and a bipartisan group of former Governors released the below statement after voting “no” on the Senate’s massive 2-year budget deal that will add trillions of dollars to our national debt.
Senators Rick Scott, Joe Manchin, Mitt Romney and Tom Carper said, "We want to thank our colleagues, Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Leahy, for all the work they and their staffs did to put this package together. We recognize that theirs was not an easy task, and we’re grateful that they were willing to work so hard to put it together. Having said that, as former Governors, we were responsible for setting a budget each year that was fiscally responsible to fund our priorities. That’s why today, we, as U.S. Senators, cannot bring ourselves to vote for this budget deal that does not put our country on a fiscally sustainable path. We cannot continue to ignore the fact that our country’s $22 trillion national debt is dangerous and unsustainable. We did not run our states this way, and it’s why, now as U.S. Senators, we feel strongly that we must lead by example and say that this is not the way to run our country either.” Read more from Senator Manchin's office HERE.
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Senators Scott, Rubio, Schatz and Hirono Introduce Bill to Restore and Conserve America’s Coral Reefs
Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Marco Rubio, Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, along with colleagues from the House, to introduce the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019. This bill will reauthorize and modernize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to help restore and protect our nation’s coral reef ecosystems.
Senator Rick Scott said, “People from across the world come to Florida because of the state’s natural beauty. During my eight years as Governor, Florida’s annual investments to preserve the environment increased by $1 billion to make sure future generations can enjoy all that Florida has to offer. Today, I’m proud to join Senator Rubio, Senator Schatz, Senator Hirono and our colleagues in the House to introduce the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019, which will build on our efforts and help restore and protect our coral reef ecosystems.” Read more from Senator Rubio's office HERE. |