Senator Rick Scott's Week in Review

Senator Rick Scott traveled the state this week to meet with students, parents and education leaders on ways to make higher education more affordable and accessible. Senator Scott is committed to making sure every student in Florida has access to a great, affordable education so they have every opportunity to live the American dream.

Also this week, Senator Scott urged President Trump to keep up the economic pressure on China as China continues its attempt to put an end to the prosperity and remaining political freedom of Hong Kong.

Senator Scott also published an op-ed in The Washington Post on his support of red flag laws to help prevent mass shootings and keep our communities safe, and how Washington should learn a lesson from Florida's response to tragedy.

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

Sen. Rick Scott Meets with Students and Education Leaders in Jacksonville and Panama City on Higher Education Affordability

On Monday, Senator Rick Scott held roundtable discussions with students and education leaders at the Florida State College of Jacksonville and Florida State University's Panama City Campus on ways to make higher education more affordable and accessible.

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Sen. Rick Scott Meets with Students and Education Leaders in Tampa and Orlando on Higher Education Affordability

On Thursday, Senator Rick Scott held roundtable discussions with students and education leaders at the University of South Florida in Tampa and Seminole State College’s Heathrow Campus on ways to make higher education more affordable and accessible.

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Sen. Rick Scott Meets with Students and Education Leaders in Naples on Higher Education Affordability

On Friday, Senator Rick Scott held a roundtable discussion with students and education leaders at the Florida Southwestern State College’s Collier Campus on ways to make higher education more affordable and accessible.

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Also this week in Florida...

Florida welcomed a record 68.9 million visitors during the first half of 2019! That's great news for Florida's thriving tourism industry and growing economy.

Congratulations to Coco Gauff, a 15-year-old tennis star from Delray Beach, on being chosen as a wild-card entry for the U.S. Open's main draw. Good luck, Coco!

The American Legion will kick off its 14th Annual Legacy Run in support of the Legion's Legacy Scholarship for children of fallen Service members will take place on Sunday in Lady Lake. Thank you for all you do to support our American heroes and their families!

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Academy Nominations

Interested in serving our great country? Senator Scott has the honor to nominate candidates for appointment to U.S. Military Academies. Visit our website HERE and spread the word to all individuals seeking appointment to a service academy TODAY!

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Judicial Vacancies

Senator Scott remains committed to filling Florida's federal judicial vacancies in Florida’s Southern District and Middle District with the best-qualified candidates to serve our state and nation. Interested candidates may contact our office or find more information on current federal judicial vacancies HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott: U.S. Must Stand Ready to Defend Hong Kong’s Freedom

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement on China’s response to the ongoing protests in Hong Kong.

Senator Rick Scott said, “China is not our friend – that much is clear. They do not support freedom or the rights of individuals. Right now, China is attempting to put an end to the prosperity and remaining political freedom of Hong Kong. But China’s efforts to silence opposition and dissent won’t be tolerated. American taxpayers cannot continue to support China’s aggression, and must start supporting American businesses over Chinese products. This is about protecting human rights. The United States, and all the freedom-loving nations around the world, must stand ready to swiftly move to defend freedom if China escalates the conflict in Hong Kong.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott to President Trump: Stay Strong and Keep Pressure on China

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement urging President Trump to keep up the economic pressure on China.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I applaud President Trump for taking strong action to hold China accountable. China has shown it can’t be trusted. Right now, they are violating human rights and breaking their agreement to give Hong Kong autonomy and freedom. Now more than ever, the President must be aggressive and stay strong against China. We have to continue putting economic pressure on China, while doing everything we can to support U.S. taxpayers and job creators.” Read more HERE.

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AARP Endorses Plan by Senators Rick Scott and Chris Van Hollen to Lower Prescription Drug Costs

Senators Rick Scott and Chris Van Hollen applauded AARP’s endorsement of their 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 from charging American consumers unreasonable prices for life-saving drugs when the companies develop prescription drugs using federally-funded research, like NIH or CDC grants. Read AARP’s endorsement letter HERE.

Senators Rick Scott and Chris Van Hollen said, “The We PAID Act is a common-sense way to reduce the cost of prescription drug prices, and we thank the AARP for their support. Families across our nation, including seniors, are struggling to afford the prescription drugs they need to survive. There is no reason drug companies that use taxpayer dollars to develop prescription drugs should be raking in profits by charging unreasonable prices to American patients. This bill prevents that, and we urge all of our colleagues to join us in support of this common-sense, bipartisan legislation.” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott in The Washington Post: DC Could Learn a Lesson from Florida’s Response to Tragedy

Senator Rick Scott published an op-ed in The Washington Post on his support of “red flag” laws to help prevent mass shootings and keep our communities safe.

In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Since the evil killing sprees in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, this past weekend, I’ve tried to spend more time listening and thinking than talking. The pontificating and the politicking of elected officials do nothing to help grieving families or reassure Americans who fear that their friends or loved ones could be next.…

In Florida, about three weeks after the Parkland shooting — and after the views of experts in mental health, education and law enforcement were taken into account — I signed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act into law, surrounded by the families of those who tragically lost their lives.

Now, in the aftermath of the shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Washington should stop the partisan bickering and get to work on solutions. The steps we took in Florida, in addition to committing $400 million to increasing school safety, included a “red flag” provision. Properly constructed, the extreme risk protection order, as it’s known, is a common-sense public safety measure.

Anyone who has threatened self-harm, has threatened to harm others or is mentally unstable should not have access to a gun. At all. You can call it an infringement on rights if you want. I don’t care. Just get guns away from such people.…

We can’t bring back the 31 lives lost this past weekend in the shootings in El Paso and Dayton, or the 17 Parkland victims. But we can commit now to increasing safety measures so that fewer families and fewer communities face these tragedies.”

Read the full op-ed in The Washington Post HERE.