Senator Rick Scott's Week in Review

Although Florida families were spared from most impacts of Hurricane Dorian, our neighbors in the Bahamas experienced complete devastation, and Senator Scott is committed to helping them recover and repair.

Senator Rick Scott said, “At times of crisis, we come together. That’s exactly what we’re going to do to help our Bahamian brothers and sisters. I’m working on what we can get done on the federal level right now to help the Bahamas, and I will do everything in my power to help the Bahamas recover and rebuild.”

This week, Senator Scott released four proposals to help the Bahamas recover:

Changing the U.S. Tax Code to Incentivize Charitable Giving
Senator Scott will file a bill to eliminate the cap on deductibility of individual and corporate charitable contributions to organizations doing disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. Families and businesses should not have restrictions on how much they can donate to relief efforts.
Providing Humanitarian Assistance
Senator Scott is thankful for all the work by the U.S. Coast Guard to help with search and rescue and medical evacuations in the Bahamas. Senator Scott is also supporting efforts by NORTHCOM to provide additional humanitarian assistance to the Bahamas.
Redirecting Foreign Aid to the Bahamas
Senator Scott is proposing that the U.S. redirect some foreign aid currently being distributed to our adversaries, including Russia, North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba and Yemen, to support Bahamian recovery efforts.
Transferring Peace Corps Resources to the Bahamas
Senator Scott is calling on the Peace Corps to terminate all activities in China and instead use those resources to support recovery in the Bahamas. All Peace Corps personnel and resources should be transferred from China to the Bahamas by October 1, 2019.

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

Sen. Rick Scott: I’m Committed to Helping our Neighbors in the Bahamas Recover Following Hurricane Dorian

Senator Scott is committed to doing everything he can on the federal level to help families in the Bahamas recover and rebuild. This afternoon, Senator Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio in urging President Trump to waive or suspend certain visa requirements for Bahamian citizens with relatives residing in the United States.

Senator Rick Scott said, “What happened in the Bahamas is absolutely devastating. Your heart goes out to all the families impacted. I want to thank all of those that are coming together to quickly provide relief for families in the Bahamas – your efforts mean so much. The people of Florida are generous and the outpouring of support for our neighbors in the Bahamas has been inspiring. I’m committed to doing everything I can on the federal level to help the Bahamas rebuild and recover following Hurricane Dorian.”

See below for more details on efforts to help families and businesses in the Bahamas impacted by Hurricane Dorian:

The United States Coast Guard is positioned in the Bahamas to conduct medical evacuations, support search and rescue operations and provide humanitarian aid. The U.S. Coast Guard has also taken the Prime Minister and Bahamas opposition leader to survey damage.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the Bahamas to assess damage, identify humanitarian needs, and bring urgently needed assistance to those affected by this hurricane.
USAID is working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Bahamas to pre-position personnel in Nassau to help the Bahamian government with providing aid.
The Bahamian government has announced that any relief supplies being shipped or brought by boat to the Bahamas will be exempt from duties and fees.

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Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio Urge President Trump to Waive Some Visa Requirements for Bahamian Citizens with U.S. Relatives

Following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio urged President Donald Trump to waive or suspend certain visa requirements for Bahamian citizens with relatives residing in the United States. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott Visits Red Cross Ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Following a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Senator Rick Scott stopped by the American Red Cross on Saturday to receive an update on their efforts to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Dorian and keep Floridians safe.

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Sen. Rick Scott Thanks Law Enforcement for Hurricane Dorian Preparedness and Response Efforts

Senator Rick Scott visited the Atlantic Beach Police Department, Neptune Beach Police Department, and Duval County Emergency Operations Center to thank law enforcement officers and employees for their incredible work to keep Florida families safe before, during, and after Hurricane Dorian.

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits Bahamian Hurricane Relief Donation Sites in Miami

Senator Rick Scott joined City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez to tour donation and relief supplies collection sites for Bahamian families impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Senator Scott was also joined by Senator Rubio at the American Red Cross in Miami to learn about how they are helping families and business impacted in the Bahamas. Read more HERE.

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Were you or your loved ones affected by Hurricane Dorian?

Visit www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricanes/resources for resources and information to help your family recover from the storm.

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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.